The Sun.
London, England, 1830-06-17 00:00:00

THAMES•POLICE OFFICE.

Yesterday Simeon Howard, commander of the
Pearl steam-boat, appeared to answer a complaint
laid at the instance of the Watermen's Company
against him by Mr. Charles James White, one of
their officers, for suffering his vessel to be propelled
at a faster rate than a]owed by Act of Parliament,
on the 7th of June last.
The defendant pleaded " not guilty."

Mr. Charles James \Vhite—Tl know the de-
fendant, Simeon Howard, and I also know the
Pearl steam-boat. I saw her on the 7th of June,
about four o'clock. She was coming away from
the Custom-house stairs. I was myself in a four-
oared boat,. myself and three other watermen row-
ing. The Pearl was then between London-b.idge
and the eastern end of Limehouse. Mr. Howard
was on board, and seemed to have the command
of the vessel. When I first saw her she seemed to
be going at the rate of three or four miles an hour
mail she reached St. Katharine's. The Eclipse
seemed to be lying by for her, and on her arrival
oil the spot where the Eclipse lay, the latter put
out, and the two boats had nearly got foul of each
other : in fact, if the Pearl had not backed her
paddles, this must have been the case. The Pearl
was at this time astern, and the Eclipse put on her
whole power, as did the Pearl, and they both went
away as hard as they could go. I am positive the
Pearl went at the rate of between nine and ten
miles an hour, and she continued this pace until she
was out of sight. Our boat would carry 20 per-
sons, but so greet was the swell occasioned, that I
am sure if we had not had our wash-streaks on, we
must have sunk.

Mr. BALLANTINE—Mr. White, this is a very
portant question, and the first that has come before
us. I am sure you will not answer my question
without serious consideration. Was the Pearl going
at the rate of more than five miles an hour ? Mr.
White—She certainly wag, Sir. She was going at
the rate of from eight to ten miles an hour.
Mr. BALLANTINE—If you go at the rate of more
than five miles an hour, you act contrary to law, and
are liable to the consequences. I see Mr. Evans is
in the room, I will ask him a question. Mr. Evans,
how does the Pearl conduct herself—does she go
with great speed ? Mr. Evans—She goes with
very great speed in fact they all do.
Captain RICIIBELL—I have myself seen her go
at the rate of eleven knots an hour.

Mr. BALLANTINE (to the defendant)—r find that
you have exceeded the speed prescribed to you by
the Act of Parliament. This proceeding► is only
meant to prevent accidents, and I had hoped to tind
that you had conducted yourself more moderately on
other occasions.

A conversation here ensued as to the amount of
coils to be given, the Act of Parliament prescribing
the payment of all reasonable costs in addition to the
fine ; in the course of which it was intimated that
the costs were a minor consideration, at the conclu-
sion of which—

Mr. BALLANTINF. said the object of this prosecu-
tion is to prevent a recurrence of the offence, and
not to ruin the defendant : therefore let bins be
fined 31., and 21. costs.

The next case was against Mr. JVm. John Reed,
Captain and Commander of the Eclipse. The fact
of the defendant having been admitted a freeman of
the Watcrmen's Company on the 6th June, 1816,
having been proved the same evidence was adduced
as in the former case, the complaint arising out of
the same transaction.

The Magistrates, considering the defendant to
have been the aggressor in the first instance, fined
him 5/., and 21. costs.

In the course of the investigation Captain Melt-
BELL observed that it WEIS only a few days since
that several of the police-boats were staved at their
moorings by the steamers being so close in shore.
Before leaving the office the Magistrates thanked
Mr. White for bringing the cases forward. Mr.
White declared ►hat not one farthing of the penalty
would go to himself, but to the poor of the Company.