lowing manner: A row of piles is driven in, extending from
one ihore to -the other ; each pile is from 25 to 40 feet long, according
to the depth o f the river, and appears about four feet
above the level of the water. To thefe piles the feveral parts of
.the bridge are loofely fattened, by means of iron chains fixed to
-the tranfverfe beams: The bridge rifes and falls with the river ;
and when heavy laden carriages pafs over it, plays under thé
wheels as if aituated by a fpring. This bridge is the faihionable
walk, and is an agreeable bufy fcene, when crowded with people,
and lined on -each fide with (hips taking in or unloading their
cargoes. In the beginning of winter, when the froft fets in, the
■bridge is taken to pieces, and removed ; the piles remaining in
•the water, are forced up by the ice, and conveyed to land : the
whole is again laid down, on the melting of the ice, in the
-fpring.
The importance of the trade of Riga will appear from the
¡following tables:
L I S T
L I S T of the Number of Veffels arrived at R I G A , 1782
and 1783.
1782. x783*
Daniih - - - 125 145
French - - - — 8
From St. Peterlburgh - 43 38
Engliih - 94 200
Dutch - - 6 122
Swediih - - - 298 422
Pruflian - - - - ' - *53 123
From Oftend - - 123 66
Portuguefe - 7 7
American - - — i
From Bremen - 16 34
Dantzic - .5 10
Lubec - 29 26
Roftoc - 33 3
Hamburgh - S S
Pernau - - 4 6
From Riga - - 3° 38
Total I 961 1,254
Vol. HI. L I S T