The Sun.
London, England, 1837-08-31 00:00:00

RAND ENTERTAINMENT at DEAL ;
PROJECTED ERECTION OF A PIER.

A great dinner took place on Friday last in the long
room of the Royal Hotel, Deal, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the expediency of erecting a pier at this
ancient port to facilitate the landing of passengers from
steam and other vessels, and thereby restoring to it some
portion of its former prosperity. The. company consisted of
the Mayor of Deal, Captain 'Harvey, Dr. Hulke and
sons, Captain Hodges, and Mr. Metcalfe (of Ramsgate),
of Sir William Rawlings, of several Members of the Com-
mon Council of the City of London, and of most of the
Directers of the Commercial Steam-packet Company. The
chair was taken at six o'clock by C. Bleaden, Esq., sup-
ported by Mr. Deputy Peacock as croupier, and the im-
portant business of despatching one of the most tasteful
and excellent dinners to which any company of gentlemen
ever sat down was immediately proceeded with, and de-
apatcb.ed with the zest and hilarity which superior wines and
harmonious feeling never fail to engender.
After the cloth bad been removed, and the usual loyal
toasts been drunk with hearty English feet: ig—particularly
health and long life to the Queen----and the Army and
Navy, to which last Captain Harvey replied in a strain of
modest but impassioned eloquence,
The CHAIRMAN rose, and proposed the health of the
Mayor of Deal, to whose merits his townsmen had only
done a simple act of justice in raising him to the exalted
position which he now so deservedly occupied. He had
always employed his best exertions in promoting the inte-
rests of the town of Deal, and, therefore, as he was pre-
sent, and he knew that his modesty was only excelled by
tla alacrity in benefiting all who came within the sphere of
his protection, and his alacrity by his prudence and discre-
tion, he should not enlarge farther upon his merits, but pro-
ceed, at once to propose his health.
The health was drunk amidst loud and long-continued
cheers.
The MAYOR returned thanks in a neat speech, in the
course of which he dwelt with great force upon two points;
first, the great capabilities of Deal both as a port and a
watering-place ; and, secondly, the good behaviour of its
inhabitants, notwithstanding the deserted and melancholy
position in which they had been placed since the close of
the war. Not a day passed, he observed, that from 300 to
400 able4odied men did not rise from their beds, ignorant
When and where they were to find employment and food,
sad yet in no town in the kingdom did greater order and
tranquillity reign. What was wanted to remedy this state
Uf destitution was, in his opinion, the erection of such a
Pier as would enable passengers to land with less inconve-
nience, and vessels of war and commerce to approach more
nearly than they did at present—an object which could be
easily accomplished, if undertaken in the spirit of good
faith and determination, and at an expense of capital small
111 amount, and certain to produce a handsome return.
" The Corporation of Deal" was then proposed, and
drunk with the usual honours ; as well as those of the Lord
Wardell of the Cinque Ports, of Sir W. Rawlings, and
'wally other gentlemen, whose names we have not time to
enumerate • after which, " Prosperity to the Commercial
Steam-packet Company" was given amidst the highest en-
thusiasm, and the most tremendous cheers.
The CHAIRMAN responded to the toast in a speech of
,great eloquence. He observed that the shareholders of the
Company had embarked in what was originally a specula-
tion, but was now a successful commercial undertaking,
with no political object in view, and with no feelings of
envy towards others. Their object was to employ their
capital in a manner at once beneficial to themselves and
Useful to the public ; and though the undertaking did not at
first assume that appearance of importance which it had
siace attained, yet even from the beginning it had been
eminently serviceable to the public. It had rendered
the communication between the metropolis and the nu-
tnerous ports which studded the Thames and nearest
sea ports of London, both cheap and easy of access ; and al-
though exposed for a considerable time to an unparalleled and
Unfair rivalry, the Directors had now the pride and sa-
tiafaction of stating that they possessed twelve instead of
!We steam-vessels ; that these were unrivalled in safety and
In 'Peed, and that instead of being limited to the mere
conveyance of passengers and parcels to ports on the banks
°f the Thames, they wafted the commerce and the enterprize
.7,1 the greatest metropolis in the world to the shores of
.nlince, of Spain, of Africa, and, ere long, he bad good rea-
fll" to hope, they would carry them to those of India.—
ratnense cheering.) He would not, however, dilate far-
er on this subject. He, along with his brother Directors,
cas proud of the grateful remembrance in which their ex-
were held by the good people of Deal, and if it was
''ought proper, by the erection of a pier, to convert it into
4 watering place, for which, by its position and its beautiful
tleighbourhood it was especially adapted, he begged to as-
:tire themthat the Company's boats should be at their
_Pecial service, and at fares which, while they yielded a fair
Dfit% should not be deemed by any one to partake of un-
fl'ut .ess or extravagance.
ApiAPtain HODGES here rose and exhibited a model of a
ver which had been just put into his hands, and which he
as given to understand might be erected at an expence
'clt exceeding 150/. or 2001. Of course, it could not be
expected that this pier could enable steam or other vessels
hesitation in stating that it would answer every requisite
purpose.

- The subject of the propriety of erecting a pier having
been farther canvassed by several gentlemen, who all cx
pressed themselves in favour of the project,
Mr. ANDERSON rose and observed, that as all present
"'elated to be unanimous in its favour, as well as to antici-
Pate great benefits from its realization, not only to the
town of Deal, but to the public at large, he was inclined
to think that the sooner their good wishes were attempted
to be carried into effect the better. If they were really in
earnest, a fair opportunity was now before them, which
'night not occur so readily again. He was not in fa-
vour of the temporary pier proposed by Captain Hodges,
!?ecause he deemed that from its insufficient and fleet-
lug character, the money expended upon it would be in
great measure thrown away ; but when he heard it
Stated that one of a permanent nature, which would
41Iow vessels of a large size to approach it, might be
erected for 4,0001. or 5,0001., he could not help thinking
that the people of Deal would stand greatly in their own
l'ght if they did not immediately come forward and sub-
Scribe towards its erection. The Directors and Sharehol-
'lets of the Commercial Steam-packet Company were ready
t° furnish them with every legitimate aid ; and from what
fthey bad done to Margate, where they had been most
amefully treated, and the benefits which they had
con-
rared Upon Ramsgate, where their vessels had been joy-
tl"Y received, some estimate might: be formed of the ad-
il"tages which Deal would receive by an immediate and
.tilt"t communication with London. He concluded by
thBistiog that those present should prove their sincerity in
undertaking by immediately subscribing the number of
Shares which they were inclined to have in the projected
undertaking.
rll. is address was received with loud cheers—a subscrip-
n Irotnediately entered into—and a sum of 6501., which
atlas afterwards carried to 1,750/. and will no doubt amount
em
ihs 11 short time to the requisite sum of 5,0001., completely
aranteed.
th Mr. GAME having made some excellent observations upon
ms".ieet, which we have no time to report,
e GEORGE METCALFE, of Ramsgate, Solicitor of the
hiZgrOercial Steam-packet Company, was glad to avail
tO tlelgof the permission of the worthy Chairman to offer
de 'e notice of the meeting the health of Mr. John Blea-
NZ, the Secretary of the Commercial Steam-packet.Com-
tion's He had for many years previously to the lorma-
of ihuf the Company the pleasure of the aequaintance
Set, at gentleman, and was in a situation to state that the
gest,„el4rY, at the early part of their friendship, had sug-
th, measures to his friends, t. Trough his knowledge of
tarok do, which their Dir,ctors had so fully and fairly
Of tiw' out for its own Interests and the great advantage
nrti. e tovvn. The gentlemen around him most probably
ke ds° well
infartned of the business habits and merits of
t° -L-Headen that they might consider this reference
041"neceSsary ; but however that might be, he could
litlqtt
over the occasion without giving his very made-
hey I,l3t4ise of the services of that gentleman, so far as
been
rild fallen under his notice. He hoped it would have
4'441 :It" .11 some one more capable, altllough. he could
INhismet it could not come with greater sincerity.
kr. Ats3ast was received with loud approbation.
and
.41.1,11),_
kid asoN proposed the health of Captain Hodges,
bili°44:l4it gentleman a just tribute of thanks for his ex•
t e4l, th "aging Director at Ramsgate, the Mayor of
„° health of the Chairman ; after which, prosperity
A°:;ai Hotel, Deal, having been proposed, and duly
°'ifthife,eined by Mr. Bathe, the company separated, highly
even ins with the proceedings of the day.
ere furtruniental hand was present, and the company
tit:ll7 kothver delighted by the musieal exertions of Messrs.
who were specially invited to attend upon

h kr. R . ---------
r4Ptr ,"'lcard Clarke, of the Chapel Royal, read a
thq tk4' 4 tneeting of the Purcell Club, in which he stated
Dr.-"e tuel
1,A.1111 °dY of our National Anthem. was composed by
i .en by the
1,:- At ' arid first sung at an entertainment g.%
King PahiPFUI Company of Merchant Tailors in 1607, to
,°l'.e(tDe area the First, in honour of his marvellous and happy
"%it:" the powder lot , and that it was not the com-
pe Otrsor,-,°' Henry Purcell, •
has been averred by soim
et, aLittely, but that it mast have been well-known to him
lii4lllip"
twbrote his sonatas, in one of which an air very
Th t°
't of " God save the King" is introduced.
di. , e reow
-'r 1" of Mademoiselle Clairon, of the Come(
Ilais "taise, are about to be transferred to the Pere a
4Ctrei; the Vaugirarcl Cemetery, where that celebrated
-'ilVal bUried in
es
1803, being d tined to other purposes.