This bridge was opened to the public, in 1829. It is about one hundred
and fifty yards higher up than the bridge of boats, which was formerly
almost opposite the _rue du Bac_[19]. We may almost say that it is
formed of two separate bridges, of which the two ends join each other on
the western extremity of the _Ile Lacroix_. Each part of the bridge is
composed of three arches. The span of the middle arch is of thirty one
metres (93 feet french); the lateral arches, are of twenty six metres
(78 feet); the whole length of the bridge is two hundred and sixty six
metres (798 feet). In the centre of the platform on the bridge, is
placed the bronze statue of Pierre Corneille, on a pedestal of white
Carrara marble, which rests on a base of granite.
This statue is twelve feet high, and weighs 4540 kilogrammes (9274
pounds _de marc_). It was cast by Mr Honore Gonon, at Paris, after the
model by Mr David. The pedestal is by Mr Gregoire, the civil architect
of the Seine-Inferieure. The height of the monument is twenty six feet.
The first stone was laid by the king, on the 10th september 1833. The
statue was solemnly inaugurated, on the 19 october 1834. On one side of
the pedestal, we distinguish the following inscription:
TO PIERRE CORNEILLE,
BY SUBSCRIPTION,
1834.
This statue was erected by means of a subscription, opened by the
Society of Emulation of Rouen. It is to this society that we owe the
first idea of this national monument.
A medal was struck for the occasion, and represents on one side the head
of _Pierre Cornellie_, with the following inscription:
_Pierre Corneille, born at Rouen the 6th june 1606, died at Paris on
the 1st october 1684._
And on the reverse, the statue, with this inscription:
_Statue of bronze, erected by subscription to Pierre Corneille in his
native town, through the exertions of the Society of Emulation of Rouen,
in 1834._
[Footnote 19: Erected in 1626, it was demolished in september 1836.]