The Sun.
London, England, 1822-12-05 00:00:00

PUBLIC SUB-WAYS.

Yesterday a Second Meeting was held at the
City of London Tavern, for the purpose of entering into the
preliminary arrangements respecting the establishment of a
Public Company to construct Sub-ways to obviate the recur-
rence of those constant repairs on the surface of the pavement
by the Proprietors of the Water and Gas Companies in the
progress of their works.
The Meetinr, was but thinly attended, and the business was
entirely confined to the consideration of the appointment of a
Committee to consider the whole plan and report thereon to a
future meeting.
Mr. 'WILLIAMS, who is the patentee of the new project, was
called to the Chair.

Mr. BARBEIt then read from the specification in the patent,
the following proposition of Mr. Williams, explanatory of his
intentions :

" To effect the object, I construct Sub-ways and Passages ;
they may be of various descriptions as to capacity, form, situa-
tion, and materials. In constructing these sub-ways, I pro-
pose to open the ground to the required depth, say of ten feet ;
lay a course of bricks, stones. or iron, nearly level, or rather
curved on the ground, live feet wide. with drains to go into the
sewers ; raise a wall on each side five feet high, and arch it
over, so as to leave the height, in the centre of it, seven and a
half feet clear; leave openings of nine inches in each upright
wall, at the distance of every twenty feet, three feet from the
base, from these openin,rs carry tunnels to the sides of the
street, and at the end of the tunnels, fix gratings or doors, to
be opened from the inside; leave similar openings in the top of
the arch, at the distance of every hundred feet, for the admis-
sion of light and air ; and doorways five feet high, and three feet
wide, in each side wall where these openings are made. These
sub-ways may be entered at the sides by doors and passages
wherever required, from the houses anti buildings in the streets
and roads, in the same manner as into cellars that arc under
the streets ; and the main pipes for every purpose may be placed
therein, on iron cradles or otherwise, anti the service pipes for
the supply of the public through the tunnels or openings in
the side walls. These sub-ways may also be formed double,
or another parallel to the first---one for water and the other for
gas-pipes, and in any number that may be required, within or
without doors, communicating into each oreither pf the other sub-
ways. From these sub-ways and passages access may be had
into the sewers and drains, or springs and wells of water, anti
for almost every purpose for which the pavement and carriage
paths in streets, roads, and public ways have hitherto been
opened, &c.
Mr. WI itIAMS made a few observations which had reference
to objections started at the former meeting, and suggested the
appointment of a Committee as the best course now to be taken.
Mr. S. DIXON remarked that many difficulties to such an
undertaking were apparent : in the first place, the work could
not be carried on without the concurrence of the present exist-
ing public water and other companies; and in the next place,
in those parts of the city which were excavated for valuable
storage, great difficulties would arise.
Many gentlemen observed that the undertaking appeared to
them absolutely impracticable, and that at all events some pro-
bable estimate of the expense and of the sources of revenue to in-
demnify the share-holders ultimately, ought to precede the ap-
pointment of a Committee. Some objections were also started
from the escape of gas in the proposed sub-ways, and also re-
specting the lateral communications to service-pipes.
Baron de BErtENGE It suggested the propriety of putting
scientific men of high influence upon the Committee; and Mr.
Sam 11EL DIXON said that it ought also, if possible, to include
men of great commercial influence in the city.
A Committee was ultimately appointed to consider of the
plan and probable expense.
The intention of the patentee is to apply to Parliament for
a bill to establish a company of share-holders to undertake the
work.

A Gentleman said, that in Rome these sub-ways were com-
mon to convey the water tubes to the public fountains; but
there was no modern instance of their erection.

Tile Committee are to report to a future meeting.

Extract of a letter dated Valparaiso, August
7 :—" Our Naval Commanders seem to be sent'
here only to make money, and it must be ad-
mitted they attend to their business : the Ameri-
can Commodore also attends to his, which he
seems to think is to protect American trade. He
has declared that he considers the blockade of
the coast, as decreed by the Government of Lima,
to be informal and illegal ; and that he will pro-
tect American ships in their intercourse with the
coast, nor suffer any to be seized if he can pre-
vent it. The consequence of this declaration is,
that British merchants are shipping their pro-
perty to the coast in American vessels, and
seeking the protection under the flag of the
United States which their own does not afford.
An effectual interference on the part of the
British Commanders was made in the instance of
one vessel seized at Lima—she was released, and
a large amount of money being on boatd was
trans-shipped to a vessel of war ; being again
seized, we do not hear any further trouble was
taken about her."

The outside, facing,St. Martin's-lane, •of that
ancient building, called Northumberland house, is
just completed. In many instances the stone was in
so dilapidated' a state, that the workmen were
obliged to remove it and replace new in its
stead. The interior is likewise nearly finished.
There is every reason to expect, that in the spring
the residence will be in a fit state for the recep-
tion of the Duke and his family. The decora-
tions of the rooms are of the most splendid
character. The tapestry is of a most expensive
nature, and with the exception of the staircase at
Chesterfield House, there are very few to equal
what may be seen at Northumberland House.—
The new carriage entrance from Scotland-yard
will not be completed for some time, in conse-
quence of the public house called the Sun being
in its way, and the terms for the purchase not
being agreed upon.
A trunk, a dead goat, and several painted
boards, supposed to be part of a vessel's cabin or
binnacle, were on Wednesday night cast on shore
on the Burrow of Ballyteigne. The trunk con-
tained some articles of female wearing apparel,
and a few books, in one of which was a receipt
in the following words :—" Received from Mrs.
Dobell 65 dollars, for rent of her lodgings, to
March instant." It is dated at Boston, March,
182, and signed " Wm. Little."—(Wexford
Herald.)