Mean-While, I Am Ever, -
Dear Sir, Your Affectionate And Obliged Humble Servant.
LETTER IX
MONTPELLIER, November 5, 1763.
DEAR SIR, - The city of Lyons has been so often and so
circumstantially described, that I cannot pretend to say any
thing new on the subject. Indeed, I know very little of it, but
what I have read in books; as I had but one day to make a tour of
the streets, squares, and other remarkable places. The bridge
over the Rhone seems to be so slightly built, that I should
imagine it would be one day carried away by that rapid river;
especially as the arches are so small, that, after great rains
they are sometimes bouchees, or stopped up; that is, they do not
admit a sufficient passage for the encreased body of the water.
In order to remedy this dangerous defect, in some measure, they
found an artist some years ago, who has removed a middle pier,
and thrown two arches into one. This alteration they looked upon
as a masterpiece in architecture, though there is many a common
mason in England, who would have undertaken and performed the
work, without valuing himself much upon the enterprize. This
bridge, as well as that of St. Esprit, is built, not in a strait
line across the river, but with a curve, which forms a convexity
to oppose the current. Such a bend is certainly calculated for
the better resisting the general impetuosity of the stream, and
has no bad effect to the eye.
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