Part 8

The fire began on Tuesday the 11th of April 1758, at about eleven at night; and by nine o’clock the next morning, the whole temporary bridge was consumed; though the drawbridge and some pieces of timber among the ruins of the old structure continued burning all the next day.

Various have been the reports of the manner in which this useful structure was set on fire. Some have said, that about ten in the evening they saw several persons who appeared in liquor, coming over the bridge with a torch, and endeavouring to get it from him who held it, while he strove, in play, to defend himself by burning them, at last threw it over the boarded fence of the bridge, when the light disappeared, till the timber below burst into a flame. On the other hand, the watchmen on the Customhouse key on the east side, and at the Steelyard on the west, with many others, are said to have observed about eleven, some lights under the bridge, which appeared in several places like candles in lanthorns; and that soon after, the bridge, from one end to the other, burst into flames: but those who first saw the progress of the fire, observe, that it began in one spot, and extended itself both ways progressively.

At this disaster the citizens were filled with consternation, imagining that the communication between the city and borough of Southwark would for a long time be in a great measure cut off; and every body naturally concluded, that this dreadful disaster was occasioned by some vile incendiaries. The Lord Mayor, who had attended almost the whole time of the conflagration, and did his utmost to stop it, waited in the morning on Mr. Pitt with the dreadful account; and having immediately obtained his Majesty’s pardon for any person who would discover the authors of the calamity, except the identical perpetrators of it, called a court of Common Council, who came to the resolution to offer a reward of 200l. for discovering the base and villainous incendiaries. But though a considerable time is elapsed, no discovery has yet been made.

This prudent step being first taken, the builders of the bridge were asked, how soon they could possibly render it passable for carriages; when they promised to complete it within three weeks, on condition of being allowed to work on Sundays, and to employ a sufficient number of men. This news filled the people with equal joy and surprize; but this surprize was greatly increased, when they found that by keeping men constantly at work day and night, this great work was completed and the old bridge opened again in less than a fortnight; and that in this short time those arches that had been taken down, and the deep cavities in all the piers lately used for cellars, were covered over; the piers which had been demolished had stages formed of large beams of timber raised to support the upper works, and the whole track of ruins was covered with rows of strong beams placed close together; these were gravelled over to a considerable depth; and a strong wooden fence, on each side, raised about six feet high, with places formed for foot passengers to stand in at proper distances, to secure themselves from being hurt by the carriages.

This great work was no sooner finished with such amazing expedition, than preparations were made for a new temporary bridge, which was soon after begun, and in a short time was opened.

The great loss the city had suffered by the burning of the temporary bridge, induced the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, to apply to Parliament for relief; when that body, rendering the repairing and the beautifying of London bridge a national concern, an act was passed the same year for granting the city 15,000l. towards the carrying on of that work; upon which two toll booths that had been erected for receiving the toll granted by a former act, were immediately taken down, and all horses and carriages suffered to go toll free.

To prevent posterity being deceived by the pompous elogiums bestowed on this bridge, which has been stiled _The wonder of the world_, _The bridge of the world_, and _The bridge of wonders_, the following faithful description of it, we apprehend, will not be improper. And indeed this is the more necessary, as no accurate description of this bridge has ever yet been published. The Thames in this part is 915 feet broad, and that is the length of the bridge, which was forty-three feet seven inches in height. The street, which before the houses fell to decay, consisted of handsome lofty edifices, pretty regularly built; it was twenty feet broad, and the houses on each side generally 26½ feet deep. Across the middle of the street ran several lofty arches extending from side to side, the bottom part of each arch terminating at the first story, and the upper part reaching near the top of the buildings, the work over the arches extending in a strait line from side to side. These arches were designed to prevent the houses giving way. They were therefore formed of strong timbers bolted into the timbers of the houses on each side, and being covered with laths and plaister, appeared as if built with stone; and in some of them a closet, or little room, was formed in the cavities next the houses, with a window to the north, and another to the south.

It has been already observed, that this street had three openings on each side, adorned with iron rails, to afford the passengers a view of the river, and placed over three of the widest arches, called navigable locks; because vessels of considerable burthen have been used to pass thro’ them. That arch next the gate has obtained the name of the rock lock, from the cause already mentioned: that under the drawbridge was called the drawbridge lock; and the third, near the chapel (which could not easily be distinguished from the rest of the houses) was called St. Mary’s lock: and there was a fourth between St. Magnus’s church at the foot of the bridge, and the first vacancy northward, called the King’s lock; from its being customary for the King to go thro’ it in his passage through the bridge.

Thus the street on the bridge had nothing to distinguish it from a common handsome narrow street; but the high arches towards the middle, and the three openings on each side, which afforded an agreeable view of the river. But on the outside the view from the water, and from the keys, was as disagreeable as possible. Nineteen unequilateral arches, with sterlings increased to a monstrous size by frequent repairs, supported the street above. These arches were of very different sizes, and several that were low and narrow, were placed between others that were broad and lofty. The back part of the houses next the Thames had neither uniformity nor any degree of beauty; the line was broken by a great number of closets projecting from the buildings, and by mean necessary houses hanging over the sterlings. This deformity was increased by the houses extending a considerable distance over the sides of the bridge, and by some of them projecting farther over it than others: by which means the tops of almost all the arches, except those that were nearest, were concealed from the view of the passengers on the keys, and gave the bridge the appearance of a multitude of rude piers, with only an arch or two at the end, and the rest consisting of beams extending from the tops of flat piers, without any other arches, quite across the river.

But most of these deformities will be soon removed. Instead of a narrow street of twenty feet wide, there will be a passage of thirty-one feet broad for carriages; with a handsome raised pavement of stone on each side, seven feet broad, for the use of foot passengers; and, instead of houses projecting over the river, the sides will be secured and adorned by an elegant balustrade. Like Westminster bridge, it will be handsomely enlightened with lamps from sun-setting to sun-rising, and guarded in the night by a number of watchmen; the expences of both which are to be defrayed out of the bridge-house estate.

LONDON BRIDGE WATER WORKS. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth were erected in the arches at the south end of this bridge, mills for grinding corn, in order that the city might supply the poor with meal, at a reasonable rate, in a time of scarcity, or when the price was unjustly raised by avaricious badgers and mealmen. Afterwards, in the year 1582, Peter Morice, a Dutchman, contrived a water engine to supply the citizens with Thames water: this was, about fifty years ago, improved by Mr. Sorocold; and, since that time, by that great master of hydraulics, Mr. Hadley, who rendered it far superior to the so much famed water-engine at Marli in France; which is so ill contrived in its cranks, that it is said to cost 25,000l. sterling _per annum_ to keep it in repair.

This machine was at first made to force the water no higher than Gracechurch street. The first engineer obtained from the city a lease for 500 years, at the annual rent of 10s. for the use of the Thames, and one arch, with a place for fixing his mill upon. The citizens soon experienced the benefit of this invention, and granted him a like lease, two years after, for another arch: by which means he grew very wealthy; and it continued in his family, under various improvements, till the year 1701; when the property was sold to one Richard Soams, a citizen and goldsmith. Morice having first, at the purchaser’s request, obtained another lease of the fourth arch, for the further improvement of the said works, after selling the whole property thereof for 36,000l. Mr. Soams, to prevent all disputes with the citizens, then applied to the city for a confirmation of his bargain with Mr. Morice, and obtained a fresh lease from them for the term unexpired of that gentleman’s lease, at the yearly rent of 20s. and 300l. fine. After which he divided the whole property into three hundred shares, at 500l. each share, and made it a Company.

The wheels placed under the arches are moved by the common stream of the tidewater of the river Thames. The axle-tree of the water wheel is nineteen feet long, and three feet diameter; in which are four sets of arms, eight in each place, whereon are fixed four rings on sets of felloes, twenty feet in diameter, and twenty-six floats, fourteen inches long, and eighteen inches deep.

The wheel lies, with its two gudgeons or center pins, upon two brasses, fixed on two great levers, whose _fulcrum_ or top, is an arched piece of timber, the levers being made circular on their lower sides to an arch, and kept in their places by two arching studs, fixed with a sock through two mortises in the lever.

By these levers the wheel is thus made to rise and fall with the tide: the levers are sixteen feet long, that is, from the fulcrum to the gudgeon of the water wheel six feet, and thence to the arch ten feet. To the bottom of this arch is fixed a strong triple chain, made like a watch chain, but the links are arched to a circle of one foot diameter, having notches or teeth to take hold of the leaves of a pinion of cast iron, ten inches diameter, with eight teeth in it, moving on an axis. The other loose end of this chain has a large weight hanging at it, to help to counterpoise the wheel, and to preserve the chain from sliding on the pinion. On the same axis is fixed a cog-wheel, six feet in diameter, with forty-eight cogs; to this is applied a trundle or pinion of six rounds or teeth; and upon the same axis is fixed another cog-wheel of fifty-one cogs, into which a trundle of six rounds works, on whose axis is a winch or windlass, by which one man with the two windlasses raises or lets down the wheel, as there is occasion.

By means of this machine, the strength of an ordinary man will raise about fifty tons weight. But, besides these levers and wheels, there is a cog-wheel eight feet diameter, fixed near the end of the great axis, and working into a trundle of four feet and a half diameter, and twenty rounds; whose axis or spindle is of cast iron, four inches diameter, and lying in brass at each end: a quadruple crank of cast iron, six inches square, each of the necks being turned one foot from the center, which is fixed in brass at each end, in two head-stocks fastened down by caps. The end of one of these cranks is placed close abutting to the end of the axle-tree last mentioned, and fixed thereunto by an iron wedge drove through a slit in them both for that purpose. The four necks of the crank have each an iron spear or rod fixed at their upper ends to the respective lever, within three feet of the end; which levers are twenty-four feet long, moving on centers in a frame, at the end of which are jointed four rods, with their forcing-plugs, working into four iron cylinders, cast four feet three quarters long, seven inches bore above, and nine below, where the valves lie, fastened by screwed flanches over the four holes of a hollow trunk of cast iron, having four valves in it, just at the joining-on at the bottom of the barrels or cylinders, and at one end a sucking pipe or grate, going into the water, which supplies all the four cylinders alternately.

From the lower part of these cylinders come out necks, turning upwards archwise, whose upper parts are cast with flanches to screw up to a trunk; which necks have bores of seven inches diameter, and holes in the trunk above, communicating with each of them; at which joining are placed four valves. This trunk is cast with four bosses, or protuberances, standing out against the valves, to give room for their opening and shutting; and on the upper side are four holes stopped with plugs, which take out, on occasion, to cleanse the valves. One end of the trunk is stopped by a plug; and iron pipes are joined by flanches to the other end, thro’ which the water is forced up to any height or place required.

Besides these four forcers, there are four more placed at the other ends of the levers, which work in the same manner, with rods and cylinders, as above. And the same works are repeated at the other end of the water-wheel, viz. a cog-wheel, a trundle, a spindle, a crank, sucking-pipes, four levers, eight forcing-rods, eight cylinders, &c. four trunks, and two forcing-pipes: so that one single wheel works sixteen pumps.

In the first arch next the city, is one wheel with double work of sixteen forcers. In the third arch, where the first wheel has double work at the one end, and single at the other, there are twelve forcers: the second wheel, placed in the middle, has eight forcers; and the third wheel sixteen forcers. In all fifty-two forcers.

One turn of the four wheels makes 114 strokes; and when the river is at best, the wheels go six times round in a minute, and but four and a half at middle water; so that the number of strokes in a minute are 684; and as the stroke is two feet and a half in a seven inch bore, which raises three ale gallons, they raise 2052 gallons in a minute; that is, 123,120 gallons, or 1954 hogsheads in an hour, which is at the rate of 46,896 hogsheads _per_ day, to the height of 120 feet, including the waste, which may be settled at a fifth part of the whole. _Desaguliers Mathematics._

LONDON BRIDGE _yard_, Tooley street.

LONDON _court_, 1. London street. 2. Rosemary lane.

LONDON HOUSE, on the west side of Aldersgate street, was anciently called Dorchester House, and afterwards Petre’s House, from its having been possessed by the Marquis of Dorchester, and afterwards by the Lord Petre: but after the restoration being purchased for the residence of the Bishop of London, it obtained the name of London House. It is a large commodious brick building, with a neat chapel belonging to it; but being deserted by the Prelates of this see, is now let out into several tenements and warehouses.

LONDON HOUSE _yard_, 1. Aldersgate street. 2. St. Paul’s church yard.

LONDON INFIRMARY, on the south side of Whitechapel, is one of the many foundations that distinguish our country and the present age. It is supported by charitable and voluntary contributions, for the relief of all sick and diseased persons; and, in particular, manufacturers, seamen in the merchants service, and their wives and children.

This charity was instituted on the 2d of November 1740, in a large house in Prescot street, Goodman’s Fields, which is now the Magdalen hospital; but that becoming too small for this extensive charity, a new, more capacious, and more commodious building was erected by the voluntary contributions of several Governors, in an airy situation, near the Mount in Whitechapel road.

This is a very neat brick building, contrived to be plain and yet elegant, without being very expensive; and it consisting of one extended front, without either wings or inner courts, the whole is seen at one view. To the middle door is an ascent by a flight of steps, and over this part extends a very large angular pediment, within which is a dial. Above the ground floor extend two series, of each twenty-three sash windows, their number and the length of the building giving it an air of dignity. The architect has properly considered the use for which it is designed, and has suited every thing to convenience. It is properly furnished, and fitted up with about 160 beds for the reception of the patients.

The society for carrying on this laudable undertaking, consists of a President, two Vice Presidents, and a Treasurer, annually elected out of the most considerable benefactors to this charity, and of such persons, who by giving a benefaction of thirty guineas or more at one time, become Governors for life; and those who subscribe five guineas or more a year, are Governors during such subscription.

A general court of Governors is held in the months of March, June, September, and December, to take the report of the committees, elect a house committee for the ensuing quarter, inspect accounts, and transact such other business as may be then laid before them. The anniversary feast of this charity is held between the first of February and the last day of April, when a printed account of the general state of the hospital, the number of patients received and discharged, and an abstract of the accounts for the year past, is laid before them.

A house committee of thirteen Governors is appointed at every general quarterly court, who at their first meeting elect a Chairman to preside for the first quarter; who meet at the hospital, on Tuesdays weekly, at eleven in the forenoon, to receive and dismiss patients, to order and inspect the provisions and furniture sent in, and such necessaries that may be wanting, and to examine and regulate the conduct of the servants and patients; and other matters which come before them, according to the constitution of this charity. All Governors that please to attend, have a vote at this committee, and their attendance is esteemed a favour.

A committee of accounts, consisting of twelve Governors, is appointed at the general quarterly court in June, for one year, who meet at the hospital once a quarter, to examine and audit tradesmens bills, which are paid by the Treasurer within a fortnight after. The accounts are open at all times for the inspection of the Governors,

A physical committee, consisting of all such Governors who practise physic, surgery, or pharmacy, or are conversant in the knowledge of drugs or medicines (excepting such as shall be directly or indirectly concerned in serving the hospital with such necessaries) are summoned by order of the Chairman of the house committee for the time being every first Thursday in the month, and have power to order and inspect the necessary drugs and medicines, and report their proceedings to the general quarterly court by their Chairman.

Two Governors are appointed visitors by the house committee, for one fortnight, to attend twice a week, or oftener, if they think proper, to inspect into the management and conduct of the house, during the interval of the meetings of the house committee.

A Clergyman of the church of England reads prayers every day, and preaches every Sunday, and reads prayers morning and afternoon; administers the sacrament regularly every month; and is ready to visit, pray by, and administer the sacrament at all times when required, to the patients in the wards.

Three Physicians attend alternately; two of the Surgeons daily, from eleven o’clock till one, without fee or reward, and give their advice and assistance to all such objects as come within those hours, whether recommended or accidental. A Surgeon extraordinary attends in consultation, in all dangerous cases. The Surgeons in waiting have an apprentice, or pupil, constantly in the house, to receive, and, if necessary, to call the Surgeon to such accidents as shall be brought in at any hour of the day or night.

An apothecary (with an assistant) constantly resides at the hospital, who compounds and dispenses all medicines used there, and solely attends the business thereof.

A steward, (for whose fidelity proper security is given) has the charge of the house and furniture, keeps an account of every thing brought to or expended in the house, and subjects the same to the examination of the visitors, and house committee, and has the inspection likewise of the conduct of all the men-servants. Two matrons have the direction of the nurses and other women-servants, and see the diet and medicines administered according to order. Under them, are nurses, and watchers, in proportion to the number of patients, who are guided by written orders to prevent any misconduct. Proper diet for the patients has been settled by the Physicians and Surgeons engaged in this charity, and is fixed up in the wards for the satisfaction of the patients and their friends.

No officers or servants are permitted upon pain of expulsion to take of any tradesmen, patients, or other persons, any fee, reward, or gratuity of any kind, directly or indirectly, for any service done, or to be done, on account of this hospital.

Every Governor is intitled to send one in-patient at a time, and out-patients without limitation. Subscribers of smaller sums may likewise send what number of out-patients they please. All subscriptions are during pleasure, and any small sums from well-disposed persons will be thankfully received; but in order to carry on this undertaking, all persons are desired to pay their subscription at the time of subscribing.

The poor objects recommended as in-patients, if there are beds empty, are received at any hour without difficulty or expence, and are supplied with advice, medicine, diet, washing, lodging, and every comfortable assistance during their cure; nor is any security required against future contingencies, they being, in case of death, buried at the expence of the charity, if not removed by their friends. All out-patients have advice and medicines administered from eleven till one.

All accidents, whether recommended or not, are received at any hour of the day or night.