dividend than 1 per cent., though arguing that the surplus should be appropriated to the reserve fund. Eventually the shareholders decided upon a higher dividend, but only the moderate one of 2 per cent. In Vauxhall-row, Lambeth, a row of lodging-houses with shops beneath, have been erected by the Duchy of Cornwall, from designs by Messrs. Hunt and Stephenson. The entire frontage is 320 feet, and on the first and second floors there are nine small sets of rooms with living-room and bed-room, two larger sets with livingroom and two bed-rooms, and three sets with living-room and three bed-rooms, or in all twenty-eight sets. Each set has a separate water-closet and sink, and the usual conveniences of such improved dwellings. Tenements are also provided in the basement to be let with the shops. The buildings are fire-proof, the total number of dwellings is fifty-four, and the cost was under 12,000. The evidence of results as to investment, however, is not satisfactory. The important subject of "Dwellings for the Labouring Classes in the Metropolis," has been very ably elucidated in a pamphlet under this title, by Major-General G. B. Tremenheere, late Superintending Engineer in the Punjab. His object is to show, from examples, that with proper economy in building, and judicious choice of situation and arrangements, such undertakings will answer commercially. 10. BRIDGES, Docks, &c. In another article in the Companion' we have noticed the present state of the Westminster Bridge, and we have only to subjoin the reference for the plan and section of the foundations on the opposite page: REFERENCE TO THE PLAN AND SECTION OF WESTMINSTER BRIDGE A Brickwork. FOUNDATIONS. The letters refer to the same parts in Plan and Section. Granite plinth as bond, over whole D Granite blocks, on the timber-bear- E Timber-bearing piles. F Concrete of Portland cement and gravel. G Concrete of Portland cement in trench, around the piles, externally. H Gravel, to be left in. J The London clay. K Cast-iron cylinder-piles, about 4 feet apart. L Cast-iron plate-piles, with flanges. placed intermediately. M Granite slabs, 8 feet long, and 1 foot 8 inches thick, also intermediate, above the plate-piles. N Tie-rods through the pier, one to each pair of cylinder-piles, nutted and screwed inside, before the cap of pile is fixed. P Tie-rods through the pier, two to each pair of plate-piles, nutted and screwed outside. Q Curved line intended to be given to the bed of the river by dredging. The principle adopted in the foundations of Chelsea Bridge was the same, excepting that the iron plates on flat piles were carried up the full height of the base of the piers, whilst at Westminster Bridge, for a certain distance, granite slabs are advantageously substituted. The length of the bridge is 922 feet, or 18 feet more than London Bridge: the width between the parapets is 45 feet; and the cost of the bridge, including approaches, will be 88,000l., or less by 10,7607, than the Hungerford Suspension Bridge; Mr. Thomas Page is the Engineer.-We give a view of the new iron bridge at Rochester (for the roadway), which, as well as the railway bridge (which last, as will be seen by the plan, closely adjoins the other), is supported on stone piers, founded on cylinder piles, without coffer-dams, in the manner referred to in the other article. The railway bridge is formed of large riveted iron girders, each extending in one length across the river. Their position is shown by a dotted line on the elevation: they would nowhere be very beautiful portions of a bridge; but here they absolutely conceal the road bridge in looking up the river. The swing bridges required for the passage of vessels exhibit great skill and ingenuity. Mr. William Cubitt designed the road bridge; and his son, Mr. Joseph Cubitt, the railway bridge. Mr. John Wright, the resident engineer to the former work, has designed an efficient landing-stage (shown in the plan), which is constructed of plate-iron, and rises and falls with the tide, and should suggest a much better system for the Thames landing and embarking places than is now in operation. The old bridge at Rochester is being removed. The Victoria Docks, in the Plaistow Marshes, provide a much larger area of water, and will admit larger vessels, than the other London Docks. The lock-gates, cranes, and capstan, are all worked by hydraulic power.-The great works of the Holyhead Harbour and Breakwater are still in progress, and are found insufficient for the requirements. Before they are completed, it is estimated that the outlay will have reached 1,000,000l.-The extensive marine works, the north and south piers, at the mouth of the Tyne, designed by Mr. Walker, for the improvement of the river, are being proceeded with; but doubt is felt by some engineers whether the effect will not be to substitute for the one bar, two bars, one within and the other without the new mouth, and whether the water in the Tyne will not be lowered so much as to prevent ships from getting up as far as they do at present. LONDON FRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET. OF THE BRITISH ALMANAC AND COMPANION. ALBERT LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY. ESTABLISHED 1838, PRINCIPAL OFFICE, 11, WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL, LONDON. Assurances, Annuities, and Endowments granted, and every other mode of Provision for Families arranged. Half the Annual Premiums for the first five years may remain on credit for any period until death, on payment of Interest at Five per Cent. per Annum. Parties allowed to go to, or reside in, most parts of the world, without extra Premium. Naval and Military Lives, not in Active Service, assured at the ordinary rate. Policies forfeited by non-payment of Premium, revivable at any time within Six Months, on satisfactory proof of health, and the payment of a trifling Fine. No charge for Policy Stamps. Loans (in connexion with Life Assurance) on Real or Personal Security. Reversionary Interests in every description of Real or Personal Property purchased. Forms of Proposal, with every information, may be obtained at the Office of the Company, or by letter, addressed to HENRY WILLIAM SMITH, Actuary and Secretary. PERFECT SECURITY: CAPITAL, FIVE MILLIONS STERLING. ALLIANCE BRITISH AND FOREIGN LIFE AND FIRE ASSURANCE COMPANY, BARTHOLOMEW LANE, LONDON. Branch Offices: EDINBURGH, IPSWICH, and BURY ST. EDMUNDS. JAMES ALEXANDER, Esq. Life Assurances are granted Directors. CHARLES GIBBES, Esq. SAMPSON LUCAS, Esq. THOS. MASTERMAN, Esq. L. N. DE ROTHSCHILD, OSWALD SMITH, Esq. Esq. under an extensive variety of forms, and at Moderate Premiums; the Rates for the Younger Ages being lower than those of many of the older and most respectable offices. Participation of Profits.-Four-fifths, or Eighty per Cent. of the declared Profits will be divided quinquennially among those entitled to participation. Non-participating Scales of Premium.-Policies issued at minimum Rates without participation in Profits. Life Policies are not liable to Forfeiture by the Lives Assured proceeding beyond the prescribed limits without the cognizance of the holders of such Policies. Reduced Extra Rates for residence out of Europe. No charge for Stamps or Medical Fees. Fire Assurances both at home and abroad, are accepted at very Moderate Premiums. The Assured participate in the Fire Profits in respect of Policies in force for five complete years at each period of Division. Losses by Lightning are made good; and the Company are liable for Losses by Explosion, except when occasioned by Gunpowder, or in cases specially provided for in the Policy. Detailed Trospectuses will be furnished on application. FRANCIS AUGUSTUS ENGELBACH, Actuary and S cretary. M ATLAS FIRE & LIFE ASSURANCE OFFICE, 92, CHEAPSIDE, LONDON, DIRECTORS. JOHN OLIVER HANSON, Esq., Chairman.' Auditors.-JOHN GEORGE MACLEAN, Esq., and PHILIP AINSLIE WALKER, Esq. LIFE DEPARTMENT. Persons assured for the whole term of Life, for £100 and upwards, in Great Britain or Ireland respectively, will have an addition made to their policies every fifth year (instead of every seventh, as heretofore), or an equivalent reduction will be made in the future payments of Premium, at the option of the Assured. Policies may also be effected for the whole term of Life by payments yearly or halfyearly, also by a limited number of yearly payments, a mode of assurance which originated with this Company in 1816. Assurances for Short Periods may now be effected in this Office at considerably reduced rates of Premium. The next Valuation will be made at Christmas, 1859; and Policies which may be effected before that date will, if the parties be then alive, participate in proportion to the time they may then have been in force. The Income of this Branch for the year 1855 exceeded £184,000. The Investments for the Life Policy Holders now amount to £1,565,551. The Interest and Dividends arising therefrom are invested for the sole benefit of the Policy Holders. The Company has paid to Claimants under Life Policies, from the year 1808 to the close of 1855, the sum of £2,992,692, of which a very considerable proportion was for Additions, by way of Bonus on the sum originally assured. FIRE DEPARTMENT. The Company undertakes the assurance of Property in the Manufacturing, Agricultural, and other Districts, on favourable terms. Risks of extraordinary hazard on special agreement, upon survey. An Allowance for the loss of Rent of Buildings rendered untenantable by Fire, is one of the advantages offered by the Company. The Assured are entitled to participate in the Profits of this Branch every fifth year. The Office Proposals and Forms for Assurance on Lives or against Fire, with full particulars explanatory of the constitution, &c., of the Company, may be obtained at the Office in London, or of any of the Company's Agents in the principal Cities and Towns of the United Kingdom. HENRY DESBOROUGH, Secretary. CIRCULAR NOTES, LETTERS OF CREDIT, AND BILLS OF EXCHANGE. THE LONDON AND WESTMINSTER BANK issues Circular Notes of £10 each, payable at every important Place in Europe. These Notes are issued without charge, and they are cashed abroad free of commission. The Bank also issues, free of charge, Letters of Credit on all the principal Cities and Towns in Europe, and upon New York and Chicago, United States; Cape Town, Graham's Town, Cape of Good Hope, and Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony. Letters of Credit and Bills of Exchange are likewise granted upon Melbourne, Geelong, Avoca, Belfast, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Maryborough, Sandhurst, and Hobart Town, Australia, AT PAR. The Circular Notes may be obtained at the Bank or Branches, 1, St. James's Square; 214, High Holborn; Stratford Place, Oxford Street; 217, Strand; 3, Wellington Street, Borough; and 87, High Street, Whitechapel. The Letters of Credit and Bills of Exchange are issued only at the Head Office in Lothbury. J. W. GILBART, General Manager. Just published, price 1s. DWELLINGS OF THE LABOURING CLASSES IN THE METROPOLIS. By MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE BORLASE TREMENHEERE, F.G.S., Late Superintending Engineer of the Punjaub, and Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers. London: KNIGHT & Co., 90, Fleet Street. |