The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-26 00:00:00

WESTERN CIRCUIT.—Exeter, July 24.

Before Mr. justice .777.1.1.1Am5.). _
William Ford, the captain -of a merchant vessel, was
found guilty of the death of one of his seamen from ill
treatment, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment
with hard labour.

NISI PRlUS.—(Before Mr. Justice WILLIAMS, and a
Jury of the city of Exeter.)
BROOKS V. ROOKS-SEDUCTION.
_

This case, which was commenced at eight o'clock on
Tuesday evening, occupied the court till half an hour
after midnight, when the defendant's case was not con-
cluded, and was resumed next morning. It was an
action for seduction, the plaintiff being a poor widow,
the mother of three daughters, living in Bear-street,
Exeter; and the defendant, the Rev. Charles Rooks
(" Dr. Rooks" by virtue of a German University di-
ploma), a clergyman of the Established Church, holding
the living of Nymet Rowland, Devon, but for some years
past residing in Hill's-court, Exeter. The defendant
pleaded, firstly, that he was not guilty of the seduction;
secondly, that the woman seduced, the plaintiff's daugh-
ter, was not "in the service" of plaintiff ; and thirdly,
that the claim for compensation was barred by the
Statute of Limitations.

Mr. Collier and Mr. Kerslake were counsel for plain-
tiff ; Mr. Greenwood, counsel for defendant.
The defendant was present during the trial.
Divesting the case of the strong and indignant
language used by the plaintiff's counsel, the facts stated
by the witnesses, who were chiefly the three daughters
of plaintiff and the medical gentleman, were as follows:
—Several years ago (whether in September, 1841, or
1842, was a disputed point) the plaintiff's second
daughter, Mary Maria Brooks, being then 24 years of
age,. was in the domestic service of Mr. Rooks. During
six weeks or two months that she was there he some-
times kissed her, while he was under the influence of
liquor. In November she went home to nurse her
mother and elder sister, who were both ill. During that
winter defendant used to come to see her mother, bring-
ing brandy and medicines, and also administering spiri-
tual counsels; he brought her religious tracts and books,
and prepared her for receiving the sacrament, which he
wished to administer to her. He then engaged Mary
Maria Brooks to make shirts and to mark pocket hand-
kerchiefs for him, bringing the calico and cambric him-
self. He insisted on her bringing the shirts to his
house singly, as they were finished ; and be also re-
quested her to come to his house and make patterns for
sofa cushions, which she did. On one occasion, in the
beginning of January, 1843 (as she stated), she brought
home some pocket handkerchiefs. At his desire she
went up stairs into his bedroom to put them into the
drawer. His female servant was out at that time. As
soon as she had got in the bedroom he locked the door,
threw her on the bed, and the intimacy was effected.
Both before and after that defendant frequently urged
her to come back to his service; and in the early part of
March, her mother and sister being better, she went back.
She then felt sickness and headache, and told defendant
she was afraid of being in the family way. He said "he
would give her some pills." She asked what they wore
made of, and he said Never mind, they'll do you ao
harm, if they do you no good." She took the pills, and
a fortnight afterwards a miscarriage happened. At a
subsequent time she became pregnant again, and he gave
her pills, and she miscarried again. He desired her to
tell her mother she was in the family way, but not to tell
of the pills. She told her elder sister, Eliza, in Novem-
ber, 1843. According to the statement of Eliza Brooks,
on this occasion, defendant met her at the parlour door,
and wished to shake hands with her, but she refused,
saying " No, sir, look at my sister's condition. You have
deceived my mother. You said we should never regret
her coming to live with you." He said he was " very
sorry, but that they must make the best of
a bad matter. All I want (added he) is your confi-
dence." The eldest sister said, " Remember, sir, you
are a clergyman." The defendant shook and trembled
very much, and crying, with his face between his hands,
replied, " I know I am. Hush! hush !" He asked the
sister to come and take wine, but she would not. He
then gave her 30s. to get necessaries for her sister's con-
finement. On the Bth of February, 1844, Mary Maria
was confined. At two o'clock in the morning defendant
came to the plaintiff's house, and entreated her to come
and see her daughter. She did go, and defendant was
there all night, attending to the fire and nursing the
child. He also fetched Mr. Land, the surgeon, and paid
him. The child died in three days, and defendant went
with plaintiff to order the coffin, which he paid for, and
superintended the funeral. All this was proved by the
sisters, and by old Mary Shepherd, the monthly
nurse, who said defendant warned her " to be sure not
to tell anybody, particularly Mr. Latimer, be-
cause he was no friend to parsons." [Mr.
Latimer is editor of the Western Times, and
the old nurse had been employed in his family.]
Mary Brooks was seriously ill from coming down
stairs too soon after her confinement, and the surgeon
recommended her sister to call in Dr. Shapter. At this
defendant was alarmed, and, weeping and trembling, he
went down on his knees to the sister, entreating her,
" For God's sake, Eliza, don't have Shapter, or else the
Bishop will know all, and I shall lose my gown." He
frequently told the mother and Eliza that if " they would
not expose him he would provide for Mary for life; that
he had liked her from the first moment he saw her, and
if his wife died he would marry her." [Defendant has
been separated from his own wife for some years.] He
told Mary Brooks the same; and, according to her state-
ment, gave her a written promise to provide for her. She
locked up this document in her work-box in a drawer
in her bed room, and kept the bed-room door always
locked. The paper was safe for years, but lately,
in 1847, she missed it, and she then discovered that
Mr. Rooks had another key to the bed-room door.
She charged him with taking the paper away, but he
denied it—he did not (she said) ever deny having
given her the written promise. She stated that for a
year or two previous to her leaving defendant's house
another woman (who was named) used to come there at
night to see him, and that since that his manner was
more distant towards herself; she thought defendant
ought to confine himself to her. A t the limn of her
confinement, in the early part of 1844, her youngest
sister Anne, who was then about nineteen years old, was
allowed to go and live in the house as Mr. Rooks' ser-
vant, to answer the door. She lived there two years.
Mary Brooks herself used to dine with the defendant,
and sat in the parlour. He taught her to write. He
used to read prayers with her, and sometimes she read.
Whenever Mr. Rooks had to assist in performing any
marriage service he and she used to read over the service
together beforehand. After her confinement she was
churched in the parlour by the defendant himself. She
lived in the house of defendant till November, 1848.
[The action was commenced 12th December.] She had
been ill ever since, and was now ill. The defendant had,
she said, given her pills and mixtures on several occa-
sions, and in consequence she had four miscarriages
within one year.
- -

These wero the statements of tho plaintiff's wit-
nesses. Little effort was made in cross-examination to
break down their general credit ; but Mary Brooks was
subjected to a strict inquiry by Mr. Greenwood as to
whether she had not " made a mistake " about the year
of her entering the defendant's service. lie showed her
several little red memorandum books of household affairs
purporting to record payments of wages to herself and
her fellow-servants, and asked if they were not attested
by her signature. She denied the handwriting, as far
as concerned the dates in 1842 ; but there was much
confusion in this evidence, and her sister Eliza thought
two of the signatures, in March and May, 1842, were in
Mary's handwriting. A man named Charles Southard,
formerly servant to defendant, stated Mary Brooks was
there in 1842, an 1 that the signatures were
hers ; but ho had only seen her write three times.
Mary Hanger, who had been in the service previous to
Mary Brooks, and came away ill of the smallpox, when
the plaintiff, the mother, attended her, also stated
it was in the winter of 1841 she was ill, from which
it would follow that in the spring of 1842 Mary Brooks
came into defendant's permanent service. On this point the
counsel for the defence relied. lie stigmatized the action as
entirely one got up by the attorney for the sake of the
costs; he indignantly inveighed against the conduct of
the plaintiff in permitting her daughter to live so many
years in impure concubinage, and in allowing another, a
younger daughter, to go and live within reach of the
seducer's embraces; he declared that a mother who
could so act was unworthy of any compensation; and he
protested against the delay of several years in bringing
this action. The counsel for the defendant mainly
relied, however, on his argument, that the woman was in

—.on the morning of Friday, the 13th of April, a bun-
dle containing the body of a newly-born female child was
found in a mill-stream below the mill-wheel at Rugeley,
so placed, that when the mill would be set to work, the
water would carry it down to where the stream was
arched over, and so passed under the entire town, so
that in all probability the body would never be disco-
vered. On examining the body the head was found to
be wrapped in a brown holland apron, secured round the
neck with two strings. The next day a napkin was
found in the stream with the prisoner's name on it. She
was found on examination to have been recently delivered
of a child. The strings found on the neck of the child
were identified as having been torn off her dress, and a
great mass of proof was adduced which left no doubt
that she was the mother. Tho only question was, whe-
ther she had murdered it. Of that the only evidence
was. that she had concealed her pregnancy and the
birth, and made no preparations for it, and that there
were on the neck of the child two livid marks under the
places where the knots were tied. A medical gentleman,
the only one who had examined the body, swore posi-
tively that in his opinion these marks were caused by
strangulation; but the case ended in a verdict of Not
Guilty of murder, but Guilty of concealing the birth,
for which she was sentenced to twelve months' im-
prisonment, with hard labour.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—Derby, July 24.
(Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.)
Thomas Doxey, 25, a mild and slender man, was
charged with the murder of his father on the 30th of
last December.

Mr. Wilmoie and Mr. Dennison prosecuted; Mr. 11.
Adams defended.

The deceased, Job Doxey, lived with his wife and
family, of whom the prisoner was one, at Glossop, in this
county. He was an old Waterloo-man, a pensioner;
they were in humble circumstances, but industrious. On
the morning of the 31st of December, which happened
to be on Sunday, the body of the deceased was found
under one of the dry arches of a small bridge called
the Victoria-bridge, at the end of the town of Glossop.
His skull was fractured, but it was thought to have been the
result of accident, and the coroner's jury so found. On
Good Friday, however, a man of the name of Clough,
a shoemaker, made the following statement;—" He
had been to a public-house on the night in question,
and was coming over the Victoria-bridge about eleven
at night, when he saw old Doxey coming along. He
was shortly after met by his so❑ and a man whom
Clough thought was a person of the name of Rawson,
whom he had seen before. The prisoner he had known
for three years. Saw the prisoner catch hold of his
father, call him an old rogue, and say he would strike
him, which he did, suddenly. He (the prisoner) knocked
him down, hit him over the head, and the other man
kicked him. Thomas Doxey said, " Let us finish the
old ," and kicked him twice over the breast.
Witness called out " What are you going to do with
the old man?" One of the men said, "If you do not go
away we will serve you the same." Clough then stated
his wife caught hold of him and persuaded him to go
away , but as he was going he turned sharp round, and
saw the two men lifting the old man up to the top of the
battlement of the bridge, and shortly after he heard
something fall; that though he went to a public-house
with his wife again that night, ho did not mention what
had occurred, being under fear; that a few weeks
afterwards he met the prisoner and began to address
him, saying " Aye, Tom," upon which the prisoner
immediately said. " If thou mentions what happened on
the bridge, thou shalt be no more, thy life's in danger;"
that he did not mention it until the evening of Good
Friday.
The man's wife corroborated him so far, that she was
on the bridge with him on the night in question, and
heard what sho was pleased to call a scrimmage; a shut.-
fling of feet, and heard something fall ; that being fright-
ened she persuaded her husband to go away.
The defence was the improbability of the story; the
fact of there being ro cause of quarrel, and none sug-
gested between the prisoner and deceased; and an alibi
which, though not clearly made out, threw such an air of
doubt about the transaction, as to lead to the Acquittal
of the prisoner. _ _

The Commissions for the county and borough of Lei-
cester were opened in the course of the day by Mr.
Baron Parke. There are but three causes; a heavy
will, in which Sir F. Thesiger was retained special,
having gone off since the arrival of that learned gentle-
man in the town. There are 16 prisoners; 2 being for
arson, 3 for horse stealing, 1 for burglary, 1 concealing
birth, 1 rape.

COMMERCIAL BANK OF LONDON,
On Tuesday the annual general meeting of the share-
holders was held at the Banking-house, Lothbury, Thos.
Barnewall, Esq., in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, before the business of the day was
proceeded with, adverted, in eloquent and feeling terms,
to the loss sustained by the bank in the death of the late
chairman, John Taylor, Esq., recently deceased.
The SECRETARY then read the ninth annual state-
ment of the affairs of the Bank, in which the directors
state that after writing off the bad and doubtful debts,
and paying the charges and current expenses of the
past year, the net profits amount to 12,0771. 16s. Id.
Out of these profits a dividend at the rate of six per
cent. per annum for the halt-year ending December 31,
1848, has been already paid; and a dividend for the half-
year ending June 30, 1849, at the same rate, and, as hi-
therto, free from income-tax, becomes payable on the Ist
August. After paying this dividend and deducting the
rebate of interest upon current bills, there will remain a
balance of 2,596/. 17s. Id. to. be added to the reserve
fund, increasing that fund to 20,0141. 19s. 9d. From
the balance-sheet it appeared that the balance carried
down after deducting bad and doubtful debts, and pay-
ing all charges and current expenses, amounts to
12,077/. 15s. Id., which is disposed of in the following
manner, viz:—

Dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per
annum, for the half-year ending 31st
of December, 1848, already paid *3,848 8 0
Ditto, at ditto, for the half-year ending
30th June, 1849
Rebate of interest on current bills
Balance carried to the Guarantee Fund
making that fund 20,0141. 19s. 9d.

412,077 16 1

Mr. ➢TARRIOTT moved that the report be approved
and printed, and circulated among the shareholders, and
on their behalf warmly thanked the directors for the zeal
and efficiency which they manifested in the management
of the affairs of the bank during a period of great coin-
wercial depression and difficulty.
Mr. lIUNTEA seconded thn motion, and congratulated
the proprietors on the steady advance which the es-
tablishment had made under the auspices of their present
able board of management.
The report was then adopted.
Wm. Beresford, Esq., M.P., John A. Chowne, Esq.,
John Savage, Esq., and Joseph Thompson, Esq., the four
directors who retired from office according to rotation,
were unanimously re-elected.
The Chairman declared a dividend of 6 per cent. per
annum, free of income-tax, payable on the Ist of
August. _ _ _

Votes of thanks were then given to the Secretary and
to the board of direCtors, and the meeting terminated.

PRINTERS' PENSION SOCIETY.—The completion of
the twenty-second year of the existence of this valuable
society was celebrated yesterday evening by an anniver-
sary dinner at the London Tavern. In consequence of
increasing applications, the number of pensioners has
been raised during the past year from 50, the number
originally contemplated, to 55. An increase of 28/. has
been this year divided among the pensioners, and, to
carry out more fully the objects of the society, it is in-
tended that the pensions shall be still further augmented,
which will add nearly another 100/. a year to the ex-
penses of the society. Last evening the chair was taken
by J. A. Roebuck, Esq., M.P., who was supported by
Messrs. R. Taylor, Luke James Hansard, J. Hodge, J.
Causton, L. Thompson, and other gentlemen. After
the usual loyal tonsts had been drunk, the chairman
proposed, " The Printers' Pension Society," and in doing
so, paid a deserved tribute of praise to a society which
lends support to the declining years of a class of men
who are the immediate agents in the diffusion of know-
ledge and civilization, and who, by the rules of the so-
ciety, are encouraged in a spirit of self-reliance and in-
dependence, as no one is eligible for a printer's pension
who has not been a subscriber to the society for a period
of seven years. Tho healths of the chairman, Mr. R.
Taylor. the treasurer of the society, and the committee,
were also drunk. The subscriptions received in the
course of the evening amounted to 140/. 48., including a
donation of 10L from Mr. L. J. Hansard. The musical
wh
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Robinson, o
of Mr.
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We regretservedinto say
excellent
thatstyl eby
Messrs.the
chairman became so seriously indisposed in the oourst
of the evening that he was obliged to retire at an early
hour.

ROADS.
(TRox A CORRESPONDENT.)
This project originated, as it is generally known, by
the late Mr. John flarvey, engineer, of Weymouth, since
whose death, it has been advocated by his son, post-
master of the same place, with a zeal and ability, that
entitle him to the highest respect and commendation.
The utility of such an undertaking, arising from a consi-
deration of the importance of its situation, the facility
of its access and egress at all times and seasons, the ex-
cellence and security of its anchorage, its vast extent,
and capability of affording every accommodation, and of
supplying the demands of all classes of shipping, render
it one of the most desirable and valuable objects that has
been offered to public attention for many years. The
estimated expense of its erection can never be regarded
as an obstacle to its adoption with a humane, liberal, and
patriotic nation—a nation distinguished above all the
other nations of the globe by the unlimited circulation of
its commerce, and its proud pre-eminence over the sea.
It cannot, however, be too strongly impressed upon the
mind, that "in the piping times of peace"—in the hour of
danger and distress—in a war with ambitious invaders,
or of the elements themselves—our gallant and enter
prizing navies may always here alike secure a place of
rendezvous, of defence, and safety—
" Portusve propugnacula bello
Tuta."—vine.
Crowned, therefore, with such numerous, unparalleled,
and incomparable advantages, in peace, in war, in stress
of weather, what a great accommodation is afforded. In
addition, however, to the able and judicious remarks of
Mr. John Harvey, embodied in a small pamphlet,
and illustrated with three engravings, the subject
of the Portland Breakwater has been
fully in-
vestigated in Nos. 355, 382, 412, 555 and 563
of ,the Mechanics' Magazine, in Lewis's splen-
did " Topographical Dictionary of England," and
by many other portions of the press. From these no-
tices, it is satisfactorily proved, that the subject has ob-
tained extensive notoriety and popularity, and that its
advantages and importance are properly appreciated by
the maritime and commercial interests of the kingdom.
Indeed every day's experience confirms the favourable
impression so generally entertained in relation to this
project, and furnishes most powerful arguments for the
necessity of its adoption. In one word, can it be sup-
posed, that a place, where, in bad weather 50 sail upon
an average per week, and where, during a winter's tem-
pestuous gales, 100 sail at one period, and upwards of
3,000 altogether, have found a secure asylum, will ever
fail to attract the attention, and occupy the consideration
of the British nation, to a cultivation of all the benefits,
of which its situation and capabilities will admit. Whilst
life and property are valued and respected, the break-
water for Portland Roads will doubtless never cease to
appeal in the most affecting and imperative terms to our
humanity, pride, and ambition, as an enlightened, great
and glorious people.
Having been lately travelling in the West of
England, I accidentally became detained here by circum-
stances of a private nature, and -was thus afforded an
opportunity of acquiring some local information relative
to the projected breakwater in Portland Roads, which I
think of too interesting a nature to withhold from the
public; and as you have alluded to the subject in some
former numbers of your valuable and highly esteemed
journal, I consider it, with your permission, the most
proper medium for giving it publicity.
I found that among persons interested—especially
such as are in any way concerned with shipping—the
subject of a breakwater for Portland Roads continues a
favourite subject of conversation, and still more, of
serious reflection. There have been few winters more
lamentably distinguished than that of Nov., 183364, for
the sacrifice of life and property by shipwreck; yet it is
a remarkable fact that not a single accident has occurred
within a considerable distance of this roadstead. During
the whole of the late tempestuous weather Portland
Roads presented an incessantly varying scene of bustle
and activity; but though the craft driven in here for
shelter by the southern and westerly gales were con-
stantly changing, they seldom averaged less in number
than an hundred sail. Among the detenus there were
some Americans, whose commanders came occasionally
on shore and were loud in the expression of their admi-
ration of the roomy protection afforded to shipping in
Portland Roads. I may particularly mention Captains
Davis and Libbits, who observed that although they had
made several voyages to this country, they had not had
a previous opportunity of witnessing the commodiousness
and security of this roadstead, having been not only ig-
norant of its peculiar locality, but actually given to un-
derstand that, so far from its affording protection, it was
exceedingly dangerous of approach, and offered equally
bad anchorage! If, then, its present natural advantages
aro so palpable as to call forth such admiration from
strangers—and these strangers persons fully competent
to judget of its capabilities—how would it be raised in
estimation and utility by the addition of the contem-
plated breakwater? The number of vessels which took
refuge here during the late tempestuous weather was up-
wards of 1,000, and ful 2,000 more entered the bay, to
avoid the flood tide. There was no other haven in the
channel where they could have come to an anchor; and
but for this convenient roadstead there is every probabi-
lity that many hundreds of lives and many thousand
pounds' worth of property would have been added to the
heavy losses of the winter of Nov., 1833-4. To the
original projector, the late Mr. Harvey. and his son, Mr.
John Harvey, too much praise cannot be awarded tor
the zeal and perseverance with which they have never
ceased to press it on the public attention.
We have been favoured with the copy of a letter ad-
dressed to the late Sir Herbert Tajlor in reference to
the above project, which, with the answer, we have the
pleasure to communicate to our readers. Considering
the consequences attached to any proceeding of this
kind, we cannot but hail with confidence and anticipation
the flattering reception which the subject received in so
high and influential a department ofethe Administration.
Having so lately and so repeatedly expressed our senti-
ments upon the innumerable advantages to be derived
from this undertaking, we are sure that we cannot do
better on the present occasion than introduce to imme•
diate notice the above-mentioned correspondence.
(op.)
"To Lieutenant-GeneralC Siry Herbert Taylor, &c.,
Windsor.

" Weymouth, 22d August, 1831.
" Sir,—As eminent public men are at once the surest
and most proper means of introducing any object of
general interest to notice, I hope I do not presume too
much in requesting the favour of your acceptance of the
the accompanying Remarks on the subject of a Break-
water for Portland Roads.' I am assured your well-
known liberality will excuse this liberty; the import-
ance of the subject speaks for itself, and will be a suffi-
cient introduction, and, however it may be regretted
that it has not fallen into abler hands for illustration, 1
feel a conscious pride in adding that it could not hare
fallen into more zealous.

" I have the honour to be with the greatest respect,
Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

" JOIIN HARVEY."

" To Mr. John Harvey, Weymouth.
" Windsor Castle, Aug. 26, 1831.
"Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 22d inst., and its enclosures, with many thanks for
the communication. I have had the honour to submit
them to the King, who was pleased to order me to refer
them to the Navy Board.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
"Your most obedient servant,
"11. TAYLO?t.":

The great benefits which the naval and mercantile in-
terests will derive from such an undertaking are obvious,
and a work of such magnitude and such public utility,
cannot be too often brought into discussion, for, by so
doing, its merits are more apparent. No local society
could commence, with the chance of success, so Hercu-
lean a labour, whereas, as a national undertaking, it
must succeed.

There are numerous springs of excellent water conti-
guous to the proposed breakwater, sufficient for the
use of the whole British navy if required. The Channel
off Portland, on the English side, and off Cherbourg, on
that of the French, is the main passage for all vessels
coming to England eastward, and going from it west-
ward; it has been ascertained that during fine and clear
weather a vessel mid-channel can command a sight of
Cape la Hogue, Alderney, Portland, and the Isle of
Wight. A relation of the different shipwrecks that have
occurred in the neighbourhood of Portland is deemed
needless, the public) not being ignorant of them. The
prevention of such lamentable occurrences must surely
supply additional excitement to our exertions in order
to accomplish the great national work proposed. It is a
material fact that Admiral Christian's fleet would, in all
probability, not have persevered to reach Torbay had the
breakwater been then reared, so that Portland Roads
might have been considered a safe refuge on the occasion.
A few of the transports succeeded in clearing Portland-
bill from the west-bay, and took shelter in Portland
Roads on the same unfortunate night. (1,500 perished
on that occasion.) Nature seems to have placed this
island, or more properly peninsula, in a peculiar position
for the use of man when exposed to storms.
The intended railroad, now under survey, between
Weymouth and Dorchester, in connexion with
general subject of railways in this country, will
an object of vast importance, as is boars on thesubbecomeject of
the breakwater. The harbour of Weymoutco could also
be extended into the sea to any depth required,
the protection that would be a ffotrdaedr,
ebeyu•
rtrheencle'oorftlatohiel
breakwater, which would preven
disastrous effects of the storm of November, 1824.
Situated as Weymouth is in a direct line with Bristol,
what an efficient i
auxiliary may it not be made, now that
the breakwater is commenced, for the transport of mer-
chandise and Portland stone from so central a depot of
the British Channel, and in the direct line of thorough-
fare to and from Guernsey and 'Jersey, as well as the
south of France.
It is bruited far and wide through " the tight little
island," and meets with universal approbation. A con-
trary result, indeed, could not well e expected from a
nation whose commerce and freedomb depend so much
upon her uncontrollable sovereignty by sea; and we sin-
cerely hope that all who are concerned in the affairs of
the great deep, and love and honour " the land they live
in, will concur in promoting it. At a time of general
tranquillity and prosperity it more properly becomes a
wise and gallant people to make provision against the
contingencies of war, as well as to establish a surer and

.ING THE FIRST STONE OF PORTLAND
BREAKWATER BY PRINCE ALBERT.
SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.—His Royal Highness
Prince Albert arrived in the Fairy yacht at a few mi-
nutes before nine o'clock, this morning, on his way to
Portland, near Weymouth, where he had engaged to lay
the foundation-stone of the breakwater about to be con-
structed there. His Royal Highness, who was attended
by Colonels Phipps and Seymour, landed immediately
on his arrival, and at once entered: the state railway
carriage; and after a few minutes spent in conversation
with Mr. Mills, Mr. Stovin, and other gentlemen con-
nected with the London and South Western Railway,
started for Dorchester. The train, which was a special
one, was one hour and a half in performing the journey.
His Royal Highness was received at Weymouth with
every demonstration of attachment and respect, and
with expressions of sincere gratefulness for his kind
condescension in complying with the solicitations
of the civic authorities to give eclat to the
commencement of the Portland Breakwater, by
personally identifying himself with that great national
work. Attended by the Gallant Naval Commander-
in-chief at Portsmouth, Admiral the Hon. Sir Thomas
Bladen Capel. and other officers, the mayor and corpora-
tion, the staff of engineers, the clergy of the neighbour-
hood, &c., the Prince went through the interesting cere-
mony in a most business-like manner, the conclusion of
which was marked by salutes from the Ons of the Royal
Marine Artillery, and the enthusiastic cheering of the
crews of the men-of-war, and the many thousands of
spectators. Subsequently his Royal Highness received
the congratulations of the authorities, to which he re-
plied in appropriate terms ; and after partaking of some
refreshments, returned by land to Southampton at 6.30
o'clock, when the train proceeded at once to the docks,
where his Royal Highness alighted, and having em-
barked in the Fairy, steamed at once for Osborne.
The Victoria and Albert yacht was at Portland, in
readiness to convey his Royal Highness across the
Channel to Osborne, but the weather proving boisterous,
the Prince preferred returning by the special train by
way of Southampton.
In addition to the royal yacht, the following of her
Majesty's vessels were present at Portland on the occa-
sion:—the Fire Queen, steam-tender, with the flag of
Admiral the Hon. Sir T. B. Capel, K.C.B. ; the Sphynx,
6, steam-sloop, Commander Hewlett; the Stromboli, 6,
stQam- sloop, Commander Lord A. W. Beauclerk, and
the two exercising brigs for the naval apprentices;
Nautilus, 6, Lieutenant-Commander Dolling, from
Devonport; the Rolla, 6, Lieutenant-Commander Fen-
wick, from Portsmouth.