The Sun.
London, England, 1838-10-25 00:00:00

New Edition, with 43 Coloured Plates, 305., cloth,
10IN CLAIR on the GRASSES and WEEDS
of AGRICULTURE (Hortus Graminius Wbburnonsis).
Fourth Edition, revised and improved.
Ridgway, Piccadilly.
Also,

1. The GARDENS and GROUNDS of WOBURN ABBEY
(Hortus Woburnensis). A Descriptive Catalogue of more than
6,000 Ornamental Plants, Plants of the Gardens, Forcing Houses,
&c. By James Forbes, Gardener to his Grace the Duke of Bed-
ford. 21s.

2. FORBES' HORTICULTURAL TOUR through GER-
MANY and BELGIUM. ss. 6d.
3. The LANDSCAPE GARDENER. By J. Dennis, B.C.L.
Coloured Plates. 9s.
4. MORTON on SOILS ; the best means of increasing their
productiveness, and the Rent and Profit of Agriculture. ss.
b. The HARLIAN DAILY SYSTEM, with Plans. PriceBg.
6. ROGERS' FRUIT CULTIVATOR, 1 vol. 6s.
7. MAIN on BREEDING, REARING, and FATTENING
POULTRY. 1 vol. 6i.

T. HILL, Medical Bookseller, Great Windmill-street,
Haymarket,
has just published
NEW EDITIONS of the following interesting
and important MEDICAL and SURGICAL WORKS:—
Net. 1., pri. 6d.
A PRACTICAL ESSAY once the2s DEBILITIES of the GE-
NERATIVE SYSTEM, their Varieties, Causes, Treatment,
and Cure. By a Member of the Royal College of Surgeon', Lo -
don, and Surgeon to a Metropolitan Infirmary.
No. 11., price 3s.
A PRACTICAL TREATISE en the TREATMENT and
CURE of STRICTURES of the URETHRA ; wherein is re-
commended a New and Improved Method of Treatment, its effi
caeTbeing illustrated by a variety if highly interesting Cases. BY
C. B. COURTENAY, M.D., 42, Great Marlborough-street.
No. 111., price 4s.
An HISTORICAL and PRACTICAL TREATISE on SY-
PHILIS ; Its Varieties, their Treatment, and Cure. With con-
cluding Observations on an Improved Mode of Treatment adopted
by the Anther for the Cure of Gonorrhea, and all Urethral Disor-
ders. By C. B. COURTENAY, M.D., 42,Great Marlborough-
street.
Sold by Sitripkin and Marshall, Stationers'-hall-court ; Onwhyn,
Catherine-street, Strand ; Templentan, Regent-street, London
Marton, Birmingham ; Bess and Nightingale, Liverpool ; and all
Denktellers in Tow* or Country.

Yesterday was a proud day for Southampton.
Under circumstances the most auspicious was laid the
foundation-stone of the magnificent Docks, of which
the plans have been for two years before the public,
and which are destined, when completed, to place
Southampton in a distinguished position among the
commercial ports of England. Of the proceedings
which preceded and followed that important ceremony,
a full report will be found in another part of The Sun.
In the history of nations there are few circumstances
more impressive than those which may be said to
mark the rise of • great commercial emporiums ; and
therefore we are not surprised to learn that the good
folks of Southampton exhibited on an occasion of
such moment an extraordinary degree of joyful ex-
citement. Already may they begin to regard them-
selves as " citizens of no mean city," as from the re-
cent improvements in steam navigation ; the pecu-
liarly favourable situation of their port ; the capacious-
ness and safety of their harbour ; and their facility of
railway communication with London, they can safely
calculate upon-their town-becoming one among the first
in commercial importance in the kingdom. When the
London and Southampton Railway and Docks are
finished, most of the merchant vessels that now
lose nearly a week in endeavouring to make the
port of London, will then put into a port which they
may enter without delay or danger—where they will
be effectually sheltered by the Isle of Wight from every
wind, and from whence their cargoes can be easily
conveyed to the metropolis. The rise of Southamp-
ton into commercial importance necessarily involves no
diminution of the trade of London ; but, on the con-
trary, may be made to prove of the utmost benefit to
it. .The navigation of the Thames is not only ex-
tremely difficult from the great number of vessels in
the River, but much time is lost to vessels entering and
clearing out, from the crowded state of the Pool adja-
cent to the principal docks. As the commerce of the
country increases, consequent upon the opening of the
great lines of railway, a greater - outlet for the foreign
twtore know traffic of
fLondon, than can be afforded by the Thames,
will become absolutely necessary ; and for such outlet
u nilinoa d:r
al advantages
port so
eS Southamp-
ton—the u
veryt h a mp -
the proceedings
cor-
rectlysmuof
ypinestthereday,to introductionwiiloh twootlhremßTe Report of
referred. The following is the Report :
The interesting and important ceremony of laying the
foundation stone of the Southampton Docks took place
yesterday with all the Masonic honours, in presence of the
municipal authorities of the town of Southampton and an
immense assemblage of spectators. The peculiar eligibility
of this port as a commercial entrepot will be at once ac-
knowledged, when its position with regard to the rest of
England and the French coast is considered. The general
range of the railways already executed or in progress in this
country, and which are destined ere many years to effect
such important changes in our mercantile and commercial
arrangements, is from North to South, and a line carried
from Edinburgh to. Southampton would divide the country
between them into twb nearly equal parts—the East and
West branches of the main trunk, already opened and in
progress of formation, affording to every part of the king. ,
dom access to the sea on either side of the island. The
position of Southampton on the English Channel ; its
proximity to the sea ; the complete shelter afforded by
that natural breaker, the Isle of Wight ; the great
depth of its main channel ; freedom from bend or sinuosity ;
and the peculiar adaptation of the site selected for the •
docks, at the confluence of the river lichen with South-
ampton Water, presenting two sides of deep water for
dock entrances ; and the termination of the London and
Southampton Railway, at the Southern extremity of the
town, abutting on the dock premises ;—all these circum-
stances seem calculated to confer upon that port a decided
superiority over any other on the coast, so soon as the
completion of capacious docks will afford proper accommo-
dation to the maritime trade of the port. The evidence
of some of the most able, practical men, before a Par-
alimamonencrtawrhm wereyoCommittee
iofT. the House oHom
fComcmapotnasininElisli3ost:
one of the Lords of the Admiralty, Captains Forder,Ward,
and Cator, R.N., Mr. Stephens, &c. is all conclusive
in favour of the advantages which this port possesses for the
most extensive mercantile arrangements, its facility of ac-
cess in all winds, and at all times of the tide, for vessels of
the largest burden, when contrasted with the perils and
delays which vessels to or from London are frequently
subjected to in the Downs,' would almost lead us to predict
that it will hereafter become a formidable rival to the me-
tropolitan port. We are, however, fully justified in saying
that the proceedings of yesterday will be looked upon, ere
many years have elapsed, as the commencement of a new
era in the history of that town.
hoistedfin ewas
up
uuushearleld in
the
The morning,u of bells
w; afisagexstrver
extremely
pbyubtlhice bruinilgdiinnggs of the town, and banners, with various
appropriate devices, were displayed across the principal
streets, or from the windows. The balconies of many of
the houses were tastefully decorated with laurels, most of
the shops were closed, and tha influx of strangers during
the early part of the day, all betokened that it was " high
holiday" throughout the entire district of Hampshire.
At nine o'clock the Provincial Grand Lodge, and the
various Lodges and visiting brethren of the county, assem-
bled at the Freemasons' Hall, Bugle-street ; and at ten
the Lodge was, in Masonic phraseology, " close tiled."
The Mayor, Joseph Lobb, Esq., the Aldermen and Town
Council, the Chairman, Directors, Officers, and Proprie-
tors &c., assembled at the
tAorusdoitf tHouse,he DocHkighti-osmtrepeatn,ya,
at ten o'clock, where they were
joined by the Masonic Body, which had formed in proces-
sion, and proceeded from their . Lodge-room, down Bugle-
street, along the Quay, and up High-street. The whole
t6hheunrcmh 72.2 on, in the following order,
Union Jack.
Banner. Banner.
Southampton Dock Company." " Trade and Commerce."
Body of Mcn employed on the Works.
Banner.
,‘ God Save the Queen."
Band of Music.
Town Crier.

Silver Oar Mace
Borne by Town Sergeant. Borne by Town Sergeant.
Principal Mace—Borne by Town Sergeant.
The \Vorshipful the Mayor—JOSEPH L 01313, Esq.
The Reverend the Rector of All saints' Church.
Aldermen:—Two and Two.
Councillors—Two and Two.
Town Clerk.
The Chairman of the Southampton Dock Company,
Joseph Liggins, Esq.
The Board of Directors—Two and Two.
Engineer—Francis Giles, Esq.
Solicitors to the Company.
Contractor and Director of Works.
Assistant Engineer.
Proprietors—Two and Two.
Colours.
Band of Music.
Tyler, with Drawn Sword.
Visiting Brethren, not Members of any Lodge, in Attendance.
Banner of the Southampton Lodge, No. 555, Southampton.
The Worshipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the
Southampton Lodge.
Banner of the Lodge of Peace and Harmony, No. 462, Romsey.
The Worshipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the
Lodge of Peace and Harmony.
Banner of the Ronal Sussex Lodge, No. 428, Portsea.
The Worshipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the
Royal Sussex Lodge.
Banner of the New Forest Lodge, No. 401, Lymington.
The Worshipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the
New Forest Lodge.
Banner of the Phcenix Lodge, No. 319, Portsmouth.
The Worshipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the

Phoenix Lodge.
Banner of the Lodge of Hengist, No. 230, Christchurch,
The Worshipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the Lodge

of Hengist.
Banner of the Lodge of Unity, No. 154, Ringwood.
The Worshipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the Lodge

f Unit.
Banner of the Royal o
Gloucesyter Lodge, No. 112,
outhampn.
The Worshipful Master,S Officers, and Brethren of the Royal
Gloucester Lodge.
Banner of the Lodge of Economy, No. 90, Winchester.
The Worshipful Master, Officers, and Brethren of the Lodge

of Economy.

The Provincial Grand Chaplain, the Rev. W. H.
BROOKFIELD then advanced and repeated the following
prayer :—" Oh Lord God Almighty, who stretchest out
the heavens like a curtain and lavest the beams of thy cham-
bers in the waters, thy seat is high in heaven, and yet
thine eyes behold and thine eyelids try the children of men.
Without thee nothing is strong, nothing is holy : except
thou build the city their labour is but lost that build it ; ex-
cept thou keep the city the watchmen watched' but in vain.
Therefore we beseech thee to hear us in heaven, thy dwel-
ling-place, and to bow down and bless and sanctify the work
which we have this day begun, in bumble dependence upon
thine aid and protection. In this, as in all our doings, we
pray thee preserve and follow us. Prosper thou the work
of our hands upon us—Oh ! prosper thou our bandy work.
We devoutly ask of thee, if it be thy good pleasure, that '
the issue of this day's undertaking may be an enlarged
prosperity to our town, and that thou wilt deign to sanctify
that prosperity to thine own honour and the happiness of
men. If riches increase, let not men set their hearts upon
them, but let them seek evermore the true riches of thy
grace, and lay up their treasure where moth and rust cloth
not corrupt, and where thieves break not through nor steal.
And forasmuch as it is likely that this our enterprise will
call forth many to occupy their business in great waters,
and encounter the dangers of the sea, we therefore pray
thee, who past the winds in thy keeping, and the waters in
the hollow of thine hand, always to save and defend the ma-
riners of England. Accompany them, 0 Lord ! in their
safety, and in their hour of peril hear their cry, and stretch
forth thy right hand to deliver them, that being delivered
from their distress, they may live to serve thee, and glorify
thy name all the days of their life. Bless, we pray thee,
the intercourse between this country and foreign lands, not
only to their temporal, but also to their eternal prosperity ;
and amid the merchandise that shall be carried to and fro
upon the earth, let not the goodly pearl of great price be
wanting, but let this country be the honoured means in
thy hands for spreading abroad the knowledge of thy
name, that thy ways may be known upon earth, thy saving
health among all nations. And, oh Lord, we beseech thee,
to bless this our town and neighbourhood, and if it be in
thy councils that her inhabitants should be multiplied, and
her borders enlarged, we pray thee also to enlarge upon
her always more and more the riches of thy grace. Endue
her ministers with meekness and truth, and her magistrates
with wisdom and justice ; make the rich bountiful, and the
poor contented ; and may thy grace and heavenly bene-
diction rest upon all sorts and conditions of men. And
may all things be so ordered and settled, that truth and
justice, religion and piety, may be established among us
for all generations. Hear us, oh Lord, and answer, for we
ask all in the name, and for the sake of thy son, Jesus
Christ, our Lord."
The P. G. TREASURER then deposited a glass bottle
containing the various coins of the past and present reign
in the lower stone.
The cement was then applied, and the stone slowly
lowered to its place, the Provincial Grand Master proving
it to be properly adjusted by the level plumb-rule and
square, which were presented by the P. G. J. Warden, the
P. G. S. Warden, and the Deputy P. G. Master.
The P. G. Architect then delivered the mallet, with
which the P. G. Master gave three knocks, saying
I May THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE
enable us successfully to carry on and finish the work of
which we have now laid the Foundation Stone, and every
other undertaking that may tend to the advantage of the
Town and County of Southampton, and its Harbour.
May He be a guard and protection to them, and may they
long be preserved from peril and decay."
The several implements were then returned, and the
plan of the work presented by the engineer, F. Giles, Esq.,
of which the P. G. Master signified his approval and re-
turned it to the Engineer.
The P. G. M. then scattered corn and poured wine and
oil upon the stone, saying :
" May the bountiful hand of HEAVEN ever supply this
country with abundance of Corn, Wine, and Oil, and all
the necessaries and comforts of life."

The P. G. Master having rc-ascended the platform,
formally announced to the Chairman that the stone had
been duly laid. He trusted that the great work which
had been just now so auspiciously commenced, would be
carried to a happy termination. The undertaking was one
which was calculated to promote the welfare and prosperity
of the town and neighbourhood, by giving a new stimulus to
commercial enterprise and affording permanent and remu-
nerating employment for a large number of the working
classes. He trusted that they would shortly see those
docks crowded with the vessels of all nations freighted with
rich and ample cargoes from the remotest climes of the
east and west, and that they would render Southampton
the grand southern erirepot of commerce in that tcalcu-
lated country.
It was undertakiinzs like the present that were b
to promote the peace and prosperity of mankind,es and