[1] Britton, Arch.  Dict. art.  Bridge.  On the decline of the Roman
        Empire, travelling became dangerous, and robberies and murders
        were frequently committed.  To check this system, and protect
        travellers, several religious persons associated in fraternities,
        and formed an order called the “Brothers of the Bridge.”  Their
        object was to build bridges, establish ferries, and receive and
        protect travellers in hospitals, raised near the passes over
        rivers.  In like manner we account for the erection of many
        bridges in England.  According to Stow, the monks of St. Mary
        Overie’s were the first builders of London Bridge:  and Peter of
        Colechurch, who founded the first stone bridge, also built
        a chapel on the eastern central pier, in which the architect was
        afterwards interred:  his remains, as we first communicated to the
        public, were found as aforesaid during the recent removal of the
        old bridge; and “the lower jaw and three other bones of Peter of
        Colechurch” were sold by auction a few days since.

    [2] At the old bridge at Droitwich, the high road passed through the
        midst of the chapel, the reading-desk and pulpit being on one
        side, and the congregation on the other.  Other public buildings
        were not uncommon on bridges.  In 1553 an alderman of Stamford
        built the Town Hall upon the bridge there; and on an old bridge
        at Bradford, Wills, there is a sort of dungeon, or prison raised
        on one of the piers.

    [3] Camden.  Tindal’s Notes on Rapin.

* * * * *

THE BROTHER OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

(To the Editor.)

As I was personally acquainted with Charles Goldsmith, the younger brother of Oliver, the Poet, I am enabled to furnish a few particulars in addition to those of Philo, contained in No. 573 of The Mirror.  Charles, on his coming to this country, from the West Indies, had with him two daughters, and one son named Henry; all under 14 years of age.  He purchased two houses in the Polygon, Somers Town, in one of which he resided:  here, the elder of his girls died; I attended her funeral; she was buried in the churchyard of St. Pancras, near the grave of Mary Wolstonecroft Godwin.  Henry was my fellow pupil; but not liking the profession of engraving, after a short trial, he returned to the West Indies.  At the peace of Amiens, Charles Goldsmith sold his houses, and, with his wife and daughter, and a son born in England, christened Oliver, he went to reside in France, where his daughter married.  In consequence of the orders of Buonaparte for detaining British subjects, Charles again returned home by way of Holland, much reduced in circumstances, and died, about 25