by houses built by different proprietors. As Whitehall was considered the principal palace, and that of St. James only an appendage, though there have been no remains of the former left, and there are several houses of the nobility scattered about the place where it stood, it still maintains its antient ideal consequence; the great offices of state are kept in the detached edifices, and all public business is still dated from Whitehall.

Before we quit this place, we must notice the brazen statue of James II. erected by Grinlin Gibbons; the attitude is fine, the manner free and easy, the execution finished and perfect, and the expression in the face inimitable: it explains the very soul of that unhappy monarch, and is therefore as valuable as if it commemorated the features and form of a hero. In short, it is a pity that it has been so long suffered to be in its present state of neglect and obscurity, and not removed to some more public and open place, that it might be better known and deservedly admired..

An improvement has taken place here. The long wall extending along the street has been lately removed, and an iron railing, with shrubberies, erected before the several houses, which gives the whole an airy and enlivened appearance.

Hence advancing southward, through Parliament Street, an avenue erected since the construction of Westminster Bridge, we arrive at CANON Row, which was antiently denominated St. Stephen's Alley, on account of its being the residence of the dean and canons of St. Stephen's collegiate chapel. Upon the dissolution of the college, this place became deserted, and the site was occupied by several of the nobility and gentry, who erected mansions, and formed gardens to the river. Of these the most eminent was DERBY HOUSE, belonging to the earls of that name. was used in the reign of Charles II. for the office of Admiralty, but being afterwards taken down, and the site converted to separate dwelling houses, it retained the name of Derby Court. Opposite to this Henry Clinton, carl of

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Lincoln,

Lincoln, possessed a handsome mansion; as did the family of Sackville, earls of Dorset, still preserved in DORSET SQUARE; the earl of Manchester's house was situated on what is at present called MANCHESTER BUILDINGS, adjoining to which is BRIDGE COURT, and BRIDGE STREET, leading to

WESTMINSTER BRIDGE.

This structure is formed in a neat and elegant taste, but with such simplicity and grandeur, that whether viewed from the water, or by the passenger, it fills the mind with admiration. The semi-octangular tower, which form the recesses of footway, the manner of placing the lamps, and the height of the balustrade, are at once beautifully and judiciously contrived."

It is forty-four feet wide; a commodious foot-way is allowed for passengers, about seven feet broad on each side, raised above the road allowed for carriages, and paved with broad Moor stones, whilst the space between is sufficiently spacious to admit three carriages abreast, without inconve nience or danger.

-The extent of this bridge from wharf to wharf is one thousand two hundred and twenty-three feet, which is above three hundred feet wider than at London Bridge.

The free water-way under the arches is eight hundred and seventy feet, more than four times as much as is left be tween the sterlings of London Bridge; this, together with the gentleness of the stream, is the chief reason why no sensible fall of water can ever stop, or in the least endanger the smallest boats, in their passage through the ardlies,

It consists of fourteen piers, thirteen large, and two small semi-circular arches, and two abutments.

The length of each pier is about seventy feet, from point to point; and the ends are terminated with a saliant right angle against either stream.

. The two middle piers are seventeen feet wide at the springing of the arches, and contain three thousand cubic feet, or near two hundred tons of solid stone; the others decrease in breadth equally on each side, by one foot; so that

the

the two next to the largest are each sixteen feet wide; and, in proportion, to the two least of each side, which are twelve feet wide at the springing of the arches.

The piers are four feet wider at their foundation than at top, and each is laid on a strong bed of timber, of the same shape as the pier, about eighty feet long, twenty-eight feet wide, and two feet thick.

The value of 40,000l. is computed to be always under water, in stone,, and other materials. And here it may not be improper to observe, that the caisson, on which the first pier was sunk, contained one hundred and fifty loads of timber; which (if sound when laid, and always kept wet) not only remain sound, but grow harder by time.

The depths or heights of every pier are different, but none have their foundations laid at a less depth than five feet under the bed of the river, and at a greater depth than fourteen feet under the bed. This difference is occasioned by the nature and position of the ground, the bed of gravel lying much lower, and more difficult to come at on the Surry than on the Westminster side.

"All the piers are built inside and outside, of solid Portland block stones, none less than one ton, or twenty hundred weight, unless accidentally a small one, called a closer, placed between four other large stones; but most are two or three tons weight, and several of four or five tons. All the stones are set in (and their joints fitted) with a cement called Dutch tarris; they are also fastened with iron cramps, run in with lead, and so placed, as to be imperceptible, nor can they be ever affected by the water.

All the arches spring from about two feet above low-water mark; which renders the bridge much stronger than if the arches sprang from taller piers.

The middle arch is seventy-six feet wide, and the others decrease in width equally on each side by four feet; so that the two next to the middle arch are seventy-two feet wide, and so on, to the least of the two arches, which are each fifty-two feet wide. As to the two small ones, close in shore to the abutments, they are each about twenty-five feet wide,

The

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