The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-28 00:00:00

THE GREAT PEN DEL UGE.

An important and influential meeting of the
several commissions for drainage of the Fens was
yesterday held at the Guildhall, Lynn ; the chair-
man of the Court of Sewers, the Rev. C. Currie, of
Finey, presided. There were also present, L. W.
Jarvis, Esq., mayor of Lynn ; R. Bagge, Esq., of
Longwood Hall ; Alderman Seppings, of Lynn ; E.
R. Maning, Esq., and R. Pitcher, Esq., of Lynn; E.
Edwards, Esq., C.E., A. Saunders, Esq., C.E., of
Lynn ; James Walker, Esq., C.E., of Terrington ;
J. Patrick, Esq., of Lermans ; the Rev. J. Bratn-
hall, J. Freeman, S. Munford, and a large number
of other influential landowners and occupiers from
Marshland.

The first business transacted was to receive the
report from the deputation to the Home Secretary.
L. W. JARvis, Esq., said they waited upon the
Home Secretary at half-past 3 o'clock on Friday
afternoon, and after they had gone most fully into
the matter entrusted to them, Sir George Grey ex-
pressed a wish to have the purport in writing, and
he sent him a letter, a copy of which was published
in the daily London papers that day (Tuesday). The
Home Secretary promised to forward it to the chair-
man of the middle level commission.

After some conversation the following resolution,
proposed by R. Pitcher, Esq., and seconded by the
Rev. J. Bramhall, was unanimously agreed to :
" That a representation be made from this court to

the chairman of the middle level commissioners,
stating that it is the opinion of this court that the
work now in progress for making a dam is progres-
sing in too unsatisfactory and tardy a manner; and
that it is advisable that relays of men be provided,
so that the work may at all times be conducted
without the slightest intermission."
An order was made for strengthening the Marsh-

land Mere Sluice, by piling the wings.
The MAYOR of Lynn (L. W. Jarvis, Esq.) said
that he did not know whether this was the time or
place to introduce the matter of the distress and
absolute ruin that had come upon many of the
small occupiers through this dreadful catas-
trophe. He had no doubt that many of
them were utterly ruined, and some had applied
already for admission to the union workhouse. He
had received several subscriptions from a distance,
and he did not know whether it would not be ad-
visable to commence a subscription forthwith.
The feeling of the meeting was that the middle
level commissioners ought to be compelled to make
full and proper compensation, and to commence a
public subscription would be to take away the re-
sponsibility from the commissioners.
The meeting adjourned.

LYNN, MONDAY EVENING,
Fortunately
promptitude which had been
manifested to hestotpthe hole in the east bank, which
bereeedn
tshceouerffeodrt2oEalfeeceetsdsfeuelp, and 40 feet long, has
and happily (for the
hr
eandd
present at least) averted
deluging of the whole such a catastrophe as the
of the country on the Down-
ham side of the cut.
This
afternoon we found a
greater state of acti •
vity on the works than we have
previously witnescalled, is sed. The coffer-dam, as it is
progressing
•
being gressing very nicely—all the piles
connected together as fast as they are driven
with iron bolts, by an expert diver, who stays at
the bottom of the cut for three-quarters of an hour
at a
.time. This circumstance alone has drawn
hundreds of persons to
the spot, such a novelty
never being witnessed in the Fens before. It is
felt to be a most unfortunate thing that Mr. Muller
is not permitted to go on with the earth dam, as
the piling is liable to be carried away so soon as it
is exposed to any force of the tide ; and should it
give way, there will be no obstacle again to the
free course of the spring tides. A cargo of stone
has arrived at the mouth of the cut to be deposited
between the two rows of piles that form the coffer-
dam. A temporary line of railway has been laid
down by the side of the cut to assist the transit of
the materials, and to supersede the necessity of
using tumbrils and carts. Trucks have also been
received for this purpose.
Within a few yards of the outfall of the middle
level sluice, and emptying into the same channel,
the river Ouze, is the outfall of two other cuts for
the purposes of drainage. These sluices are of
course smaller than that the destruction of which
has led to this sad catastrophe, They are known