1752. An Account of WALTON BRIDGE. 5. That Shepperton ferry is not paffable in floods. 6. That as the bridge is to be carried from Cowes-hill on Walton fide in Surrey, to Windmill-hill in the parish of Shepperton, Middlesex, the two highest oppofite banks between London and Windfor, which are never overflowed, the paffage to A the bridge will be always fafe. 7. The bridge to leave fix foot waterway more than before, fo that no fall or increase of motion will be in the ftream. 8. The bridge to be built on fuch principles as will obviate all objections as to the navigation, the dimenfions of the middle arch being 132 feet, which is much longer than any weft country barge, and 26 feet high in the greatest flood. 9. The largest barges cannot be in danger of ftriking against the ftone piers (as objected) because they require 4 or 5 feet water, and the piers ftanding where the water is but 2 feet deep, they will be on ground before they come to the piers *. 539 for the publick utility, especially as the defign cannot but be executed in a proper manner, fince it is to be brought before the legislative powers for their fanction, which whether it deferves or not, depends upon their approving the foregoing reafons; to which may be further added, that the whole is to be executed, both as to architecture and expence, by natives of this kingdom only, without the affift-ance of any foreigner † whatsoever. It may not be improper to take notice of the conveniencies (which were proved to the committee of the houfe) that would refult from the carrying into execution this publick-fpirited undertaking, and the B Ineceffity for a bridge in this place. 10. The objection as to the rapidity of C the river is without foundation, this place being 10 miles above the flow of the tide, and the ftream is but at the rate of 3 miles in an hour; whereas at Fulham and Westminster it never runs at less than the rate of 5. 11. The objection on account of the twift of the river has no weight; for it D runs ftrait here 600 yards, fo that thelargest barges may be brought into a strait line with the middle arch 400 yards above the bridge, and will proceed fo 200 below it. The bargemen with their poles may always manage their barges, and as the bridge cuts the ftream at right angles they cannot go wrong. This neceffity arifes, in a great measure, from the increase of buildings and inhabitants in and about the cities of London and Westminster, and parts adjacent, in the counties of Surrey and Middlefex particularly; which require more convenient means of communication, than formerly: And it was obferved, that there was no bridge betwixt Kingston and Chertsey, both which are county bridges, and at the diftance of ten miles from each other; and that the new one propofed would be in the midway between both, and would be a means to extend the commerce of the two counties, to counties more remote. That villages and fmall towns are dependent one upon another for the conveniences of life; for further illustration, one has a butcher and baker; another a blacksmith and farrier; another a phylcian; another a furgeon; another an apothecary; another a brewer, a wheelwright, &c. That manufacturers and labourers of one kind live in one village, thofe of another kind in another; and as these people must pass from one to the other, to make their paffages eafy, fafe, convenient, and quick, is as profitable to their employers, as to the labourers themfelves, who may be enabled to work the proper hours, and go and return at all times. It was ftill more particularly obferved, that butchers, as well as others, F who live on the Surrey fide, are to be next morning early at Hounslow or Smithfield markets, or at fairs, and have been obliged to pafs the ferry over night, and lie out from their homes, in order to avoid the delay and uncertainty of paffing the next morning, and the danger alfo in. dark and foggy mornings, especially as it generally fell out, as well in other ferries as this, that there was no getting over, but at the humour of the ferryman, and feldom before 7 or 8 in the morning. 12. This bridge is to be built at the E fole expence of a private gentleman, who can have nothing but the convenience and welfare of the publick in general, and his neighbours in particular, for his motive, fince the expence will be fo great, that there is no probability that the toll at a place fo far from London can ever repay him. If it will, the ufe of the bridge will be the greater, and the gentleman's offer more acceptable to the publick. 13. That the publick has a right to the more commodious paffage of any river, tho' it be fome prejudice to private perfons who keep ferries. Laftly, That it was not neceffary to get the concurrence of private persons, as infinuated in the reafons against the bill, G becaufe Mr. Dicker could not be under any obligation to confult them, whether he thould or should not lay out 10,000l.. For fecurity of the smaller barges (and also of the flone pier) that they may not be carried again the fon pier by the ftream, or for vint of care, a frong poft is ereċied to keep them off it. This alludes to M. Labelye, the architect for Westminster Bridge, who is a Swifs. 540 A Defcription of WALTON BRIDGE. Dec. Then, as Shepperton and Walton have a right of inter common, as it is called, there was equal danger and trouble in getting fheep and cattle backwards and forwards in a ferry boat, nor could the cows swim over without rifquing being loft, the banks on one fide, as at Lalam, and other places, being high. The nobility and gentry, many of whofe feats are in thefe parts, must find a very agreeable benefit from this laudable undertaking being carried into execution; especially, as the ferries are dilatory, dangerous, and at times impracticable. Shepperton ferry was noted to be particularly fo: Walton ferry ftill more fo: Hampton ferries are long ferries, and, when the wind is high, both troublesome and dangerous to man and horfe, and all forts of carriages. Kingston and Chertfey bridges are narrow and bad. A The road from Kingflon to Walton on the Surrey fide, is deep and bad, often impaffable by reafon of the floods and C mills pouring up the water on the river Mole, &c. The road from Walton to Chertfey on the Surrey fide, is alfo deep, watery, and dangerous. Whereas the roads to Kingston, or Chertsey, from Walton, &c. thro' Middlefex, are not only good, but nearer, and very convenient at all times, either for man, or horfe, or carriages. Here follows a defcription of this bridge at Walton. It confifts of four ftone piers, between which are 3 large trufs arches of beams, and joifts of wood, ftrongly bound together with mortifes, iron pins, and cramps; under thofe 3 large arches the water constantly runs; befide which, are 5 other arches of brick work on each fide, to make the afcent and defcent the more eafy; but there is feldom water under any of them, except in great floods, and four of them on the Middlefex fide are topt up, being on high ground where the floods never reach. The middle arch, when viewed by the river fide, affords an agreeable prospect of the country, beautifully diverfified with wood and water, which is feen thro' it to a confiderable diftance, and makes an excellent back landschape. D E F The prodigious compafs of this great arch, to a perfon below, occafions a very uncommon sensation of awe and furprize, as it appears like an over-ftretch, or an G extreme; and his wonder and attention are reifed, when he proceeds to take notice, that all the timbers are in a falling inclination (there not being discoverable one upright piece) and confiders alfo the very fmall dimenfions of the piers that fupport the whole. In paffing up the bridge, when you come past the brick work, the vacant interftices between the timbers yield a variety of profpe&ts at every step, which when at the center are feen to a greater advantage. But tho' each fide of the road is very well fecured by the timber and rails to the height of 8 foot; yet as it affords only a parapet of wide lattice work, and the apertures even with the eye are large enough to admit the paffage of any perfon to go thro', provided he climbs, or is lifted up, and as the water is feen thro' every opening at a great depth below, thofe who are not used to fuch views cannot approach the fide without fome little fear. Thefe openings between the braces and rails might have been cafly clofed with boards, but they are left fo to admit a free paffage for the wind and air, to keep the timber more found, and that any the leaft decay might be at once perceived, and repaired. If there be any thing wanting in this bridge, it is only a larger quantity of earth upon it; as a greater weight would not only ftrengthen its parts, but the earth might be difpofed, to leffen the afcent and defcent; for, as at Maidenhead, Kingfton, Datchet, Fulham, and perhaps all other wooden bridges, fo in this, if a perfon is ftanding at reft and attentive, while a horfe or carriage comes hastily over the wideft arch, he will perceive fome motion or fpring from the elafticity of the timbers; which cannot be in arches of stone or brick; and might be prevented in this at Walton, by a greater preffure of earth or pavement, which would increase its folidity, the parts being fo contrived, and the abutments fo fecured, that it is fufceptible of any weight. Upon the whole, it is, without doubt, a noble work, and very well worth the trouble of going many miles to take a view of it. Walton Bridge is difiant in measured Miles, from JO S.E. Darking 11 N. W Hounflow 6 . W. 1 Sou. JOUR UNIV OF TES 02. ving to ve will act of ·les II. ign for eep or e muft rement sma to re>me of at our ɔe un tended of our ›ne gegeneral ought vals in by our com we can e who ngaged a, Sir, nature ce who t-India is bill we can · of his 541 1752 The next Speech I ball fend you in the Debate, begun in your last, was a Reply made by L. Babius Dives, to what had been faid againft bis Motion; which was in Subftance as follows, viz. Mr. Prefident, A prefent manufactures were owing to refraints upon trade; and if we will but look back to the famous act of navigation in the reign of Charles II. or the act paffed in the fame reign for making it felony to export fheep or A wool out of the kingdom, we must confefs, that the great improvement of our navigation, as well as manufactures, is chiefly owing to reftraints laid upon trade. Some of these restraints may, now that our trade is established, feem to be unneceffary; but the fuccefs that attended thofe retraints in the infancy of our trade, muft point out to us one general exception from this general maxim, which is, that we ought never to allow any of our rivals in trade to make an advantage by our people, or by our native commodities, if by any reftraint we can confine that advantage to ourselves, and this exception militates much more powerfully against thofe who may probably be our enemies, than against thofe who in all probability will be our friends and allies in the next war we happen to be engaged in. C S there is no gentleman whofe opinion I have a greater regard for, than for that of the honourable gentleman B who spoke laft, and as his knowledge and integrity are fo well known, that his opinion must always have great weight with every gen. tleman here, I hope the houfe will give me leave to add a few words to what I have before said in favour of this bill, by way of anfwer to the objections he has been pleafed to make against it. As to the maxim of policy, which he fays ought always to be followed by a trading nation, I really do not know what maxim he means, unless it be that which fays, that no restraint ought ever to be laid upon trade, but that it ought always to be left to pursue its natural course. If this be the maxim referred to, the prefent flourishing condition of our commerce, manufactures, and navigation must convince us, that it is a general maxim, which, like moft others, admits of a multitude of exceptions; and I hope to fhew, that this bill is founded upon what has always been thought to be a very juft, prudent, and neceffary exception. Let us but recollect, Sir, the many laws we have for laying reftraints upon trade, efpecially thofe of Edward III. and queen Elizabeth, and we must allow, that moft of our Mr. AB December, 1752. E F It is upon this exception, Sir, that the prefent bill is founded; and upon this exception, it must be allowed, that it has as folid a foundation as any bill of the fame nature can have; for as to the prince who is the patron of the infant Eaft-India company, against which this bill feems chiefly to be defigned, we can never expect, that he or any of his fucceffors will be our friend, whilft we have the good fortune to have the prefent royal family upon our throne, or to be in clofe alliance with the house of Auftria; therefore the Hon. gentleman needs be under no concern about what may, or may not, irritate that prince: Our only concern ought to be, and I Zzz hope E " |