The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-29 00:00:00

PIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS

The arrest of the leader of the Charterists in Lanca-
shire on the charge of using seditious language in one of
his recent harangues is a step for which the Magistrates
of that county are entitled to the hearty commendations
of the community. Our correspondent who communicates
to us the above mentioned fact intimates that the Magi-
strates have been induced to resort to this measure by
the pressing invitations of Mr. J. R. Stephens himself to the
effect that they would take him into custody. This can
only be true in so far as these pressing invitations, ut-
tered in a tone of insolent bravado and defiance of the
law, may have been one of the oratorical artifices by which
the seditious agitator sought to inflame the minds of his
hearers, and to prepare them for the commission of acts of
criminal violence. It had certainly become necessary to
repress, by a vigorous application of the law, such proceed-
ings as those which the reports of the Charterist
meetings in Lancashire and elsewhere have brought
under the notice of Government and the public. There
could be no security for the public tranquillity, and, indeed,
no satisfactory guarantee for the lives and property of her
Majesty's loyal and peaceable subjects, so long as these
proceedings were permitted to go on unchecked. It
might, indeed, be considered a ground of reproach to
the Magistrates of the districts, in which such persons
as the Rev. J. R. Stephens have for soma time been
in the habit of addressing violent and inflammatory lan-
guage to assembled multitudes, that their interference has
been so long delayed. But, in justice to those Magis-
trates, it must be recollected that the present Ministers
of the Crown, to whom they must account for their
conduct, have not disdained to carry measures of the
greatest national importance by means of violent and
inflammatory language addressed to assembled multitudes
of the people ; and have not always shown so much
alacrity, as they ought, to extend to Magistrates, in the
honest and intrepid discharge of their duty, that counte-
nance and support which no wise and upright Adminis-
tration ever for a moment withheld from the faithful depo-
sitaries of subordinate authority. We hope the arrest of
Mr. Stephens will have a salutary influence upon the con-
duct of other agitators both in Great Britain and Ireland,
who, like that individual, have hitherto been in the habit
of addressing incendiary harangues to the populace. Equal
justice should be administered on the two sides of St.
George's Channel, even though it should be attended with
the disadvantage of depriving Mr. O'Connell for a time of
commodious apartments in which to receive the return visit
of Lord Morpeth.—Morning Post.
It would appear from an article which we give from our
Manchester correspondent, that the Rev Mr. Stephens, of
Ashton-under-Lyne, has been arrestedby a warrant granted
by two local Magistrates. We hope and trust that this
proceeding on the part of the Government has been duly
weighed and well considered. That Mr. Stephens is a
violent and most imprudent person there can be no doubt ;
but it is equally true that he is exceedingly popular in his
own neighbourhood, and that his apprehension, in conse-
quence, may lead to more mischief than the just contempt
with which his proceedings ought to have been viewed.--
Morning Advertiser.

THE COAL TRADE.

In consequence of the complaints made by the Ship-
owners' Society in Sunderland, with respect to the work-
ing of the new by laws, sanctioned by the Board of Trade
for the regulation of colliers in the Thames, the Lord
Mayor determined upon a personal investigation to ascer-
tain whether there was or was not foundation for such
complaints. His Lordship, therefore, accompanied by Mr.
Saunders, the Deputy Conservator; Mr. Robinson, the
Chairman of the Navigation Committee ; Deputies West-
wood and Larkins ; Messrs. R. Taylor, Fenning, Mitchell,
Muddeil, and Hoard, Members of the Committee ; Mr.
Elmes, the Surveyor of the Port of London, together with
the clerks and other officers of the Corporation, pro-
ceeded on Wednesday last from London Bridge to
Gravesend, and surveyed the colliers in the pool, and the
ships in the different °.-ections lately appointed for them
on each side of the ltiver. Captain Fisher, the principal
the
harbour mast e,:, Went on board at London Bridge, where
CaPtdin of the Upper Pool also embarked, the latter
to be, substituted at the boundary of his division by the
captain of the second division, who at the proper place
was to make room for the captain of the third division—a
plan of succession appointed to be observed through the
whole progress of the investigation, each officer producing
his maps, books, and papers, and explaining his mode of
transacting his duties.
The river was in most excellent order—all the colliers
were within their lines, and there was a clear passage the
whole way of two hundred feet, but generally through the
river the width of unoccupied space extending to 300, and
in many places to 500 feet.
Captain FISHER stated that at this time of the year some
of the East India ships brought coals to London to the ex-
tent of nearly 700 tons each, to unload which nearly the
fifteen days allowed by the by-laws would be necessarily oc-
cupied, but in general the average load brought by the col-
liers being about 300 tons, six or seven days would be quite
enough time for the discharge of the cargoes of the latter
vessels. The large vessels could not, he added, pass in
turn through every section, as in some sections there was
not depth of water sufficient for their accommodation,
and it often happened that ships upon their arrival at
Gravesend were passed up immediately into the first or
second section, and the next tide they would be unload-
ing in the pool.
Upon reaching Gravesend the Committee were met by
Captain Cousins and the other officers of the establishment,
who conducted them to the new office, where he explained
the mode of doing business, and produced a board which
was kept in the counting-house window, exhibiting at one
view the number of colliers in the pool, and in each sec-
tion of the river. The Captain is ready at all times
when the ships arrive to give them permits to pass to the
different sections. A copy of his orders is sent to the
Harbour-Master at Greenwich, who sees that they are
strictly obeyed, and also to Captain Fisher, who goes
down the river and returns daily, to ascertain that the
officers aro all on duty, and that no vessel transgresses her
bounds.
The LORD MAYOR said that his principal object in visit-
ing Gravesend was to enquire into a complaint contained
in a memorial forwarded to him from the Shipowners'
Society at Sunderland, through their Chairman, a body
which he ascertained was highly respectable, and very de-
serving of attention. They complained " that the inte-
rests of the shipowners and of others connected with the
coal trade bad been overlooked in the passing of the by-
laws for the regulation of colliers in the Thames, for the
accommodation and advantage of the owners of steam-
vessels and the Dock Companies on the river ;" and he
(the Lord Mayor) wished to know from Captain Cousins
what reply be had to make to that statement.
Captain COUSINS—I think quite the contrary is the
case, for the upper and lower pools and a large portion of
the lower part of the river are given over almost exclu-
sively to the former interest, whilst the latter only claim na-
vigation room under your Lordship's protection to pass and
repass on the river.
The Committee then proceeded to examine Captain
Cousins on the several allegations contained in the memorial.
COMMITTER—The memorial goes on to state, after re-
citing the second by-law, " With this by-law it will, in
many instances, be totally impossible for the masters of col-
liers to comply. The anchorage at Gravesend is not of
the best, and the tide runs very strong ; in addition to
which, Gravesend is a point at which it is the custom for
many outward and homeward-bound vessels to bring up ;
besides colliers arrive in fleets of 150 or 200 in a tide ; and
suppose the wind to be easterly at the time such fleet ar-
rives, the damage and loss to the sbipowners would be im-
mense.' What is your opinion of these asseverations ?
Captain COUSINS--I beg to say, if it can be proved that
there is not good holding ground and helter fro the Lower Hope Point to the City boundary stone,, hen, and
only then, the by-law alluded to cannot be complied with.
But this is not the case, and it is very desirable, and my
most anxious wish is that the arriving colliers should lay to
Or anchor there, and then provide themselves with orders
previously to going up to the section appointed for them.
This would prevent their heaving to or anchoring off
Gravesend, and stopping the navigation, which they fre-
quently do, and which is grievously complained of.
COMMITTEE—Then they are not compelled to come as
far as Gravesend before they cast anchor ?
Captain Coustsis—No, certainly not. They may wait
down below the Lower Hope Point, on the western side,
where there is good holding ground and slack tides. The
harbour-masters would then have some controlling power
over those large fleets, which it is so difficult to manage. They may send a man in the boat for the order.
COMMITTEE—WouId it not be a disadvantage to them
if obliged to remain so far off?
Captain Cousisrs—l have known colliers pass Grave-
send, particularly at this time of the year, to wait for two,
three, and sometimes four weeks in the river before they
have been able to find room in the pool to deliver their
cargoes. lam at a loss to conceive where the necessity
is for the great haste when, if they would attend to the
by-laws, they would reap a benefit themselves, and the
navigation of the river would not be obstructed off
Gravesend.

COMMITTEE—The next complaint is, that upon the ar-
rival of a large fleet the masters are compelled to go on
shore, with a part of their crew, to obtain their orders,
while their vessels are unprotected for two or three hours
at a time when their sem ices are most particularly required on
board ; and that on the „jai instant Uu sail areived, the
value of the vessels and cargoes not being less than
400,000/. ; and that, but for the very calm state of the

weather, the loss of property, and perhaps of life, would
have been very great.
Captain COUSINS—There is no necessity for the captain
' of a collier to leave his ship or come on shore at all, as far
as my office is concerned. Any person from the ship re-
ceives the permit to pass up the river either by night or by
day. I believe that the captains must land to deliver their
papers at an office which you see just by, belonging to
the factors in London, or a Committee in London. It
has a large board on the window, with " Coal-office" upon
it, and there every vessel has to pay some fee. We do not
charge them any.
COMMITTEE—The Committee of Shipowners of Sunder-
land wish to come as far as Long Reach.
Captain COUSINS—We place 150 ships there already.
' Once let the coal vessels get there again, and it would be
next to impossible for the harbour masters to distribute
them from thence.
COMMITTEE—What do you say to the charge of favour-
ing the Newby on the evening of the sth, in consequence
of the interference of a member of the Coal Exchange,
who happened to be at Gravesend at the time ? The me-
morial states that upon the master's coming onshore at four
o'clock in the afternoon of the sth, he was ordered to come
again at nine the next morning.
Captain COUSINS—My books show that the Newby bad
her permit at half-past seven, and that the same afternoon
permits were granted at half-past three, four, and half-past
five to other ships. Ido not recollect seeing any m-mher
of the Coal Exchange that afternoon, but at eleven o'clock
on that night, when the 120 sail arrived, the disturbance
was so great that I was compelled to go out and get the
strong iron bar you now see placed before the window, or
the window would have been forced into the room. The
confusion was so great that I found it necessary to go out
again and remonstrate with the men, and I told them if
they would have a little patience I would not detain them
long. At this time I saw amongst the men some of the
gentlemen of the Coal Exchange, or some of the Committee.
What brought them down here I cannot say, but it was
eleven o'clock at night, and the Newby had her order at
• half-past seven.
Com MITTEE—Then if any one states that upon the Newby
applying to you at four o'clock for a permit you told the ap-
plicant to come again at nine the next morning, they state
that which is untrue ?
Captain COUSINS—Most certainly-4 made no such
statement, and I have no recollection of having seen any
gentleman connected with the Coal Exchange till eleven
o'clock that night.
COMMITTEE—Another grievance complained of is, that
after the sale of the cargo, and a meter has been appointed,
the order to remove has not been received in time to get
into the pool on the same day, whereby the whippers have
compelled the master to pay fora baulk day ?
Captain COUSINS (producing a list of ships)—The Coal
Trade send me lists such as these, without any official sig-
nature, that the ships are sold ; but I do not give any per-
mit until it is applied for. It does not necessarily follow
that because the ships are reported to me as sold, they are,
therefore, to come into the pool instanter. The trade ap-
plies for orders for the pool as the ships may be wanted.
COMMITTEE—You have now been in work some time,
what do you think of the regulations ?
Captain COUSINS—I am sure your Lordship will per-
ceive through the whole tenor of the letter that the ex-
ertions of the Navigation Committee have not been properly
appreciated, and that had a liberal construction been put
upon the new laws, and had they been allowed a little time
to work, and had time been given to make the necessary
arrangements instead of this hasty condemnation, this ap-
peal to your Lordship might have been avoided altogether.
If the Committee will go straight forward in carrying out
these by-laws, and not allow themselves to be interfered
with by the coal trade, I believe they will confer a great
benefit on the community.
Here the examination of the Gravesend station harbour-
master terminated. The Committee were inclined to make

further inquiries in Gravesend, but were obliged, on ac-
count of the lateness of the hour, and the engagements of
the Lord Mayor and others of their body, to return to
London, which they did not reach till near six o'clock.
The DEPUTY CONSERVATOR of the THAMES said he be-
lieved it was the first time a Navigation Committee had left
their Christmas firesides to go down the River on a view.
Mr. Robinson, the Chairman of the Committee, showed a
perfect knowledge of all the arrangements, which he mi-
nutely pointed out to the Lord Mayor to his Lordship's
very great gratification and surprise.
It may be proper to state here that every ship freighted
with coals, wishing to go to any wharf or dock in the river,
will be allowed to pass up directly, without remaining longer
at Gravesend that the necessary time t(i obtain the pass-
order ; and all vessels engaged in the free trade will, upon
producing a certificate from the buyer of the coals that they
are sold, be allowed to pass into the pool instanter, with-
out waiting for any order from the Coal-factors or Coal
Committee ; and what are called gas ships, containing coals
from the new collieries, for immediate consumption, are al-
lowed to go at once into the pool.
The LORD mkiroa, upon returning to London, declared
that he was much gratified with the information which he
had gathered, and which would, he said, justify him in his
future proceedings, and render him better able to grapple
with the important question of the influence of the quick
delivery of coals upon the price of the article—a subject
which, next to the price of bread, affected the inhabitants
of the metropolis.