THE OUSE BRIDGE Is an object highly deserving of notice from the lover of drawing; with the surrounding objects, it composes a scene that would have delighted Cannaletti, and rivals many of his finest Venetian views. The bridge is composed of five arches; the centre arch is a noble portion of a circle* twenty-seven yards wide, and from the spring of the arch seventeen yards high. On the Bridge is the Great Council Chamber, and the Prison for Debtors and Felons; these, with the various irregular buildings that decorate the A a 2 banks * In this assertion, though corroborated by a subsequent remark, MR. DAY ES appears to stand alone. Among the artists who have made drawings of the Bridge, are the Royal Academician, FARINGDON, whose view of it was engraved by BIRCH; VARLEY, the Elder; and GIRTIN, two of whose sketches are now before me; all of whom have delineated the great arch as pointed. That it should assume a different appearance in the eyes of my deceased friend, who made a sketch of each side of the Bridge, from one of which the annexed view was engraved, is extremely singular; but that it really did so, is evident, not only from the sketches themselves, but also from a note twice repeated in his sketchbook in these words, the Great Arch is circular. This contrariety of opinion was unknown to me when I visited York in December, 1803, or I should have endeavoured to have discovered the cause in which it originated: since the present work was at press, however, the subject has been mentioned to a friend, who, in a letter lately received from York, observes, that he went beneath the arch in a boat, and that it is certainly pointed. E. |