The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-28 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

SlR—From the judicious impartiality with which you
treat all subjects in your well written paper, I am encou-
raged to request a place in your columns for a few cursory
obrervations I wish to make on a pamphlet understood to
be written by Mr. J. H—, in favour of the proposed St.
Katharine's Dock.

In page 7, he brings forward as an argument for erecting'
new docks, the " ruinous charges, vexatious regulations,
and mismanagement in certain water-side establishments."
These heavy and sweeping accusations, it' correct, have
every probability of being destroyed when the existing ex-
clusive privileges expire, without the erection of new docks,
because, if the present establishments do not correct them,
they will lose their business, which will then only he pre-
served to them by their superior management ; the ex-
istence of such evils is not to he attributed to the want of
docks, but to the grant of exclusive privileges to docks, in
place of leaving the trade free to docks, quays, and wharfs
indiscriminately.He says—" l'he total number of ships and vessels that
entered the Port of London in 1823 was 26,419; so that,
.calculating an equal number of departures, no has than
5.2,838 vessels, exclusive of small craft, &c. entered and de-
parted from the Port of London during the year 1823."
This is a most extraordinary inference, and incomprehen-
sible to my weak understanding. As well might he have
said, that if this new project succeed, it will put 1,0001.
into his pocket ; so that calculating the same sum will find
its way out again, no less than 2,0001., exclusive of pence
and farthings, will have entered and departed from the
pocket of Mr. J. 11. during the year 1824. If this new
Dock Company pay their Secretary's salary and all their
expenses upon this principle, I can at once perceive how
they are to make such amazing savings.
Presuming, however, that raking together all the cod-
smacks, Margate boys, &c. he cannot muster more than
the first-mentioned number (26,419), I would ask him
how many of these are vessels seitkfbrrigir eargwes, likely
Ito go into docks or alongside wharfs? He will find an
answer in a document to which he refers. This paper is
titled, "Accounts relating to the Port of London. Or-
I eler by the House of Commons to be printed, 19th
March, 1824. No. 148." In this paper the Customs
make the following statement of vessels entered the Port of
London :

Britiah. Foreign. Total.
The year 1811. 2 773 - . 5.870
1821 - - 3.527 571 - 4,0911
18:0 - 3,648 - 1105 - 4,513

This paper likewise states, that the total lineal frontage
to the river, of the legal quays and sufferance wharf's, is
6,451 fret. Now, reckoning that only two-thirds of the
vessels which entered this port in 1623 were discharged,
in the West India. East India, London, Commercial, and
East Country Docks, and Surrey Canal, and that they
were the largest description of vessels; and allowing that
the other third measure, on an average, 75 feet in length,
and take each six days to discharge, there would not have
been two months' employment for the legal quays and suf-
ferance wharfs last year ; but the fact is, that a much
larger proportion go into those docks. Out of 60 sufferance
wharfs, which is the number in the Port of London, not
one-fifth part avail themselves of the privilege ; and if this
small proportion are to have their trade invaded by a body
offering accommodation equal to eve times what they can
afford, backed by partners who are the employers of these
wharfs, the consequent ruin of the wharlingers must he I
obvious. 1 have been told that the two sufferance wharfs
whose premises and business are to he absorbed by this
new dock, land and house upwards of 26,000 tons of goods
annually. If this is correct, it furnishes us with some idea
of the magnitude of the accommodation afforded by the
sufferance wharfs in general. The new (lock promoters
have made a great noise, and appear very much alanned
about the 200 additional articles which the Legislature
hare been so imprudent as to invite into the port of Lon-
don, without providing lodgings for them. On referring
to the list, I find that there is in fact only 163 articles (so
notch for erroneous statements and anonymous publem-
tions, of which the anonymous defender of the docks com-
plains), and if I am not trespassing too much on your
valuable columns, I shall beg leave to extract a few of the
articles, in order that the public may judge how bulky they
are; and whether they will require thousands of people to
be turned out of their houses, and 26 acres of lard con-
verted into docks to receive them:—Jewellery, trinkets,
lace, dice, tooth-powder, beads, prints and drawings. com-
fits, marmalade, tobacco-pipes, garnets, medals, snaps and
charts, tel, scopes, wafers, amber, essences, pomatum, co-
ral, pencils, and a great many more such like, which my
grandmother's china closet could with ease accommodate.
As to what he says about the wharfs only being capable
of receiving flat Dutch-built vessels under 200 tons ; this
is absolutely false, as I, myself, have seen very fine
British-built coppered vessels of upwards of 260 tons bur-
then discharging at the wharfs without the least injury, or
rssk of it.

From a paragraph, in page 21, of this dock pamphlet, it
appears they are also to extend their paternal care to the
coasting trade, whose charrfes they are also to reduce, so
that not only the fraction of tlie sufferance wharfs, who still
avail themselves of their privileges, are to be invaded, but
those who, in the absence of other trade, have betaken
themselves to coasting, are to be swallowed up.

YO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

Oxford, April 28, 1824.
SIR,--I must apologise for troubling you with a com-
munication on a subject which may, perhaps, at first sight,
he deemed of too local a nature to merit a corner in your
Paper; but when you consider how shackled is the liberty
of our newspapers in this place, in consequence of their
dependence on academical favour, you will perhaps be good
enough to notice it.
Of how great importance it is, that into whatever other
places corruptions may creep, the pulpit should ever be
free from them, you are well aware; and it is with sincere
regret I discover, that even this sacred channel is not un-
polluted by the most open and disgusting adulation.
In a sermon delivered to the University of Oxford, on
Easter-day, the preacher having gone through the evi-
dences of the Resurrection, requested that it might be
expressly understood, that he had brought forward those
evidences, not for the rwairmical but for the poruchi ti part
lof his congregation, who, from their many other occupa-
tions, could not be expected to have bestowed attention to
these things. He added, that he should not presume to
offer instructions to that learned body, from whom he
ought rather to come there to learn his own duty.
Now if the preacher was really so happily conscious of
the slenderness of his abilities, as to consider that he
should be guilty of presumption in offering instruction to
that body, why did he accept the appointment to fill the
pulpit on that day, and not rather resign it into such
hair% as might have done justice to the ample subject
which the solemnity presented?
Every clergyman osight to know, that it is not expected
he should bring forward new theological matter, but press
upon the attention that which, though often repeated,
finds too easy an escape from the mind ; so that, in spite
of his anxiety to establish a belief of his diffidence, the
charge of presumption will return upon this gentleman,
who considers the minds, even of the most learned, so
naturally inclined to retain religious knowledge, as to
render admonition unnecesszry,--stfen at those seasons
which the wisdom of the chu, ch has set apart for this very
purpose.

Besides the courtier-like servility which the above pro-
fession displayed, it must not be unnoticed, that the
preacher evinced a gross ignorance of the object of his ap-
pointment, in acknowledging that his remarks had been
purposely prepared for the parochial hearers, because be
was expressly chosen to preach to the academical body,
there being distinct and separate services for the parishi-
oners, who are only present at the University sermon upon
sufferance. The distinction, too, openly drawn, between
the two parts of the congregation, at all times invidious,
was here peculiarly unhappy, the parish being composed
of the most enlightened and educated people in the city.
Adulation so uncalled for, and so undisguised as that to
, which I have adverted, could not but excite a suspicion,
that the sermon looked farther than the profit of the
people, and included that of the preacher too: and it is a
fact most unfavourable to the removal of such a suspicion,
that the Rev. Gentleman, who already enjoys the favour
of the University in one situation, has a decided eye to
another of the most lucrative posts therein, the appoint-
molt to which rests with the very body from whom he
would rather learn his own duty than dictate it.
It is submitted, whether such sneaking courtship of
patronage, joined with so much ignorance, is likely to
increase the chances of success to this individual in a
future canvass for the Registrarship? or, whether, in all
probability, it will not effectually obstruct those interests,
which it was so palpably intended to promote?
I am, Sir, your obedient Servant.
SINCERUS.

On Saturday last the annual dinner of the Yeomanry
Officers of England took place at the Thatched House
Tavern, Sir Thomas Turton in the Chair. Amongst the
company, which consisted of between fifty and sixty, were
Lord Grantham, Lord Cioninell. and several other distin-
guished Members of the Club. The dinner was excellent,
die toasts of the usual description ; and after a very con-
vivial meeting, the company separated at about eleven
o'clock.

In page 61, he very liberally concedes that if the legal
quays are aireettd, " it might hereafter afford a Fround for
re-consideration in the amount of future rental ; that is to
say, I suppose, that their present exorbitant rents, given
on the faith of not being invaded, will probably at the end
of their sixty-one years lenses be reduced, if the whartin-
gers, or their heirs and successors, are able to pay them up
to the end of that period.
Now, Sir, I shall not intrude farther on you, than merely
to put a question which I have often heard asked: What is
Mr. Dyng about? In all the debates on this Bill I have not
observed his name mentioned, and yet I am told, that, in-
dependent of his constituents, he is personally interested in
the question. Whether is it public or private reasons which
seal his lips ?

The revenue cruisers on the coast of Scotland have
been placed on the same footing, with respect to con-
trol. as those in England ; the dmiral commanding at
Leith has no longer the direction of them ; but this service
will henceforward be vested in the Inspector-General for
the Preventive Service in Scotland, which office is at pre-
sent held by Captain !Night; fortherly Inspecting-Com-
mander of the coast on Sussex.
No license is required for a person to dispose of cider of
his own making ; but such cider must he made from fruit
of his own growth, and not from fruit purchased. A trades-
man in this county recently Rohl about forty hogsheads of
eider, part of which was made of his own, and part of pur-
chased fruit ; the whole has been seized, and forfeited under
the Excise Laws.— Worcestrr.harrnal.
Rene tonarry.—Now living in the parish of Enville,
near Bridg,north, a man aged serenly, who has drank a
gallon of ale per day for the last forty years, independent
of small beer ; and he is now in the habit of doing so
daily. He therefore has drank the quantity of 228 hogs
heads, 63 gallons each, in forty years.—Gleuerster Paper.
ANOTHEN FOSPIT, Wirsr.r..—The workmen on the new
line of road from the Alloa ferry to Glasgow, while cutting
through some dry clayey land, a little distant from Dunmore
park, discovered several immense sized bones lying in re-
gular order, and traced out the spine and ribs to a length of
about 70 feet. Except a few, however, the hones crumbled
to powder on long exposure to the atosphere, owing likely
to the dry matrix is which they were incased. It is
certainly very remarkable, that, in the comparatively few
situations where excavations are made on the banks of the
Forth, remains of these huge inhabitants of the deep should
occur ; and it seems highly probable thnt a great number
of these animals have been stranded about the same period,
when the river flowed above the present level of the
corn fields.—Stirling Journal.
INTELLICENCE.—Copper Ores sold at Redruth
on Thursday last, 2,291 tons ; average produce, 8.--Quan-
tity of fine ('upper, 184 tons.—Amount of sale, 13,7541. Is.
—Average standard, 1091.
On the night of IVednestlay last, a house was malici-
ously burned, the property of Coppinger Mac Mahon,
Esq., at Lackanashane, in the barony of Clonderlaw,
county Clare. The reason surmised is, the old tenants
being rejected for non-payment of rent.
FtzES.—The town of Wellington, Sbropshire, was, on
Tuesday night, alarmed by a dreadful fire. About nine,
the extensive printing-offices, binding-rooms, and ware-
houses of Messrs. Houlsten and Son, took fire, from a can-
dle being left a few minutes near some sheets hanging in
the drying-room. The progress of the fire was uncom-
monly rapid, but from the speedy arrival of the engine,
and an abundant supply of water, by two o'clock it was
quite extinguished, after completely desttoying the greater
part of the buildings (except the walls) extending nearly
100 feet, and also a valuable stock of books and printing

Kistoirrs or MALTA.-It appear by the following let-
ter from Paris, which we received this morning, that the
Holy Alliance entertains the idea of restoring the Knights
of Malta to something like the rank which they formerly
held in Europe :—" Paris, April 24.—Some sensation has
been caused hereby the receipt of letters from Trieste, in
which it is stated that the Allied Sovereigns intend to
cede to the Knights of Malta one of the islands of the
Archipelago. It is even said that the negociations on this
subject are terminated. and that the result has been trans-
mined to Catania, in Sicily, where the heads of the Order
reside. It is added, that as soon as the Knights are in-
stalled in their new residence, they will enter into a treaty
of alliance, offensive and defensive, with the Greeks against
the Turks. 1 give you this news as it is circulated here;
all that I know positively is, that M. de Villele and M. de
Chateaubriand have both unequivocally expressed them-
selves in favour of such restoration."

NEWMARXET.—The Craven Meeting concluded on Fri-
day last. The report of each day's sport, and better run-
ning in general has scarcely ever been witnessed, has been
given fully id our paper. Few Meetings have boasted of
greater rank or a more numerous assemblage of sporting
and professional visiters. The First Spring Meeting will
commence on Monday next ; and we understand that an
equal number of Nobility and Gentry is expected from the
sport, which is more than anticipated. ilia Royal High-
ness the Duke of York, the Duke of Rutland, and Lord C.

materials, which became a prey to the flames, or were de-
stroyed in the removal.—On Wednesday afternoon, a fire
of a most destructive nature occurred at Long Compton,
11'arwicksbire, occasioned by a boy's going to a neighbour's
house for the purpose of procuring live embers, part of
which he dropped on some loose straw. The wind being
very high at the time, the the quickly reached a thatehed
cottage, from which it spread in every direction, and in less
than two hours seven houses, several ricks of corn and Lay,
and some live stock, were entirely destroyed. The inha-

. _
Manners, were the visitors to Mr. Douglas, at his apart-
ments at his Majesty's Palace, during the late races, at
the conclusion of which most of the stars returned to town,
but his Royal Highness the Duke of York, with the other
visitors, and a few private friends, partook of a parting din-
tier with their host, and are again expected to join his con-
vivial board at the ensuing meeting. Newmarket has been
placeusually designated a " s
of business" during the races,
but it has established its name as a delightful resort of the
first characters in the kingdom, particularly during the
season, for the hospitality and conviviality which then pre-
vail ; and the urbanity and attention of Mr. Pars, the pur-
veyor of the moms, fully justifies his appointment, which,
by the last October Meetings, must be attended once at
each meeting, by every member of the Jockey Club.

bitsntsof the houses, who are poor people, are reduced to
the greatest distress by this drtadful calamity.—G fouceeer
Journal.
On the 14th died, at his house in Sandymnunt Park,
county of Dublin. aged 114 years, William Ashford, Esq.,
President of the Royal Hibernian Academy, and one of the
original Members of the Incorporated Society of Arts of
London.
MELANCHOLY CA T A ATILOTII E.—Me. Jame! Milne,
mason, and Mr. John Smith, manager of the Clayhills brick-
works, near Aberdeen, left ClaybiUs in a gig, drawn it appears,
a very restive horse, on Monday, with die intention of going
to the old salt works at the bay of Nigg. On their return, it is
presumed, the horse had become unmanageable, and, in endea-
vouring to turn him into the right road, the reins broke; when
darting off, the gin had come in contact with some large stones on

The lovers of the Fancy will learn with Pleasure, that the road side, and both were thrown out and killed on the spot.
They had been thrown with such extreme violence upon the stones,
Ilanlan, the Irish pugilist, la to obtain his discharge im-
that it is supposed their deaths must have been instantaneous.
mediately from the Ist Royals, stationed here, shortly after lt
itt afflicting to state that they have each left a widow and family
which he intends figuring again in the ring, for the honourtodeplore their loss, Mr. Smith having nine children, and Mr.
of his country.—lrish raper. Milne bun—Cake/value Mercury.