The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-28 00:00:00

qt SEPTEMBER -2a, 141.

DESTITUTE SEAMEN AND THE
" SEAMEN'S CHEST."
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—My attention was lately attracted by read-
ing in your paper of a circumstance which took place
place in the Thames Police-court relative to an old
blind seaman, who is represented as being in the
seventy-ninth year of his age, fifty-nine years of
which he spent at sea, and lost his sight by the fire
on board the Canton, of which ship he was quarter-
master. Thus, in his old age, was this "poor old
fellow" (as you so justly describe him) reduced to
poverty and blindness, and even debarred the wretched
resource of the workhouse, from his being obliged to
attend the ophthalmic infirmary in the hope of reco-
vering his sight. He concluded his tale of woe by
" begging the magistrate to afford him some relief, as
he was starving," which was done, the case being one
of such extreme necessity and suffering that the pre •
siding magistrate felt compelled to award him a trifle,
though contrary to the rule, which limits relief to
objects connected with his own district.
The above melancholy tale affords ground for much
serious reflection, and possesses peculiar claims on the
sympathy of the Christian patriot and philanthropist.
I fear it is by no means an isolated case, but that
many such instances of suffering and wretchedness
are of daily occurrence by the worn-out, decayed,
and disabled members of a gallant body of men, of
whom Britain is so justly proud, and who possess
peculiarly strong claims on their country for protec-
tion and support in their hour of necessity.
There are two matters connected with it, to which
I would respectfully and earnestly invite your atten-
tion, and that of the public, as, perhaps, it may not be
generally known that there is a fun'd generally deno-
minated by the name of the " Seamen's Chest," to
which every seaman in the British merchant service
is obliged to contribute, under the authority of an Act
of Parliament, each master of a vessel paying two
shillings, and each seaman one shilling per month,
carefully exacted from their wages, and enforced, in
like manner, as any dues or customs to which the
vessel may be liable to, at the custom-house of the
port where she may be clearing out.
These monthly subscriptions, Sir, for the year
1845, amounted (balance inclusive) to nearly one
hundred thousand pounds !—an immense sum, which
lies scattered about in the hands of the various trea-
surers and trustees of about one hundred seaports,
but which, under a proper system of management,
and by an annual grant from the public purse, would
be amply sufficient for the founding and endowing a
hospital on a scale commensurate with the wealth and
opulence of a great country, who derives so much
importance and affluence from the skill and courage
of her seamen, who carry her commerce to every
clime, through every danger and every vicissitude of
climate.

I am sure, Sir, you will agree with me, that is
a crying injustice—a national sin, and one that re-
flects discredit on the country, calling loudly for
amendment, when we see the disabled and worn•out
members of such a gallant body of men as the British
seamen, after contributing for years, perhaps, to the
" Seamen's Chest" from their hard earnings, yet, in
their hour of need, in danger of perishing before our
eyes, like the poor old quartermaster of the Canton,
whose case you have so feelingly described.
The fault, Sir, is in the system. I hope I shall
not for a moment be understood as conveying the
slightest imputation against the present managers of
the fund.

Leta different system be adopted—let the fund be
amalgamated, subject to the control of a central
board of officers, the same as the army and royal
navy pension boards, and I think it will be found
there would be a sufficiency, along with some aid
from the State, in the shape of an annual grant, or a
tax of one shilling per ton on the tonnage of the mer-
chant shipping, which, taking it at 3,000,000 tons,
would yield a revenue of 150,0001. per annum, a sum
which, taken in connexion with the seamen's monthly
subscriptions, would be found amply sufficient for the
maintenance of a hospital on a large national scale,
with 2,000 inmates, and 8,000 as out-pensioners—to
be relieved according to seniority of claim and sub-,
scription, on the presentation of certificates properly
vouched for, as at present specified under the Act 4
and 5 Wm. IV.

This would be doing something, on a national scale,
worthy of a great country. This would go far to
prevent such harrowing and distressing scenes as
daily meet our view, and of which you, Sir, have
given us an instance in the case you have so
feelingly described. This would be founding
an establishment, a worthy accompaniment to
noble Greenwich Hospital, which reflects so much
honour on the nation, and the founding of
which has redeemed a vicious reign from total
execration. It would, Sir, be but an act of justice
to a body of men, who, for skill and courage, stand
unrivalled, who render the winds and waves the
obsequious agents of wafting Britain's commerce to
every clime, and pouring the wealth of nations into
her lap—of men by whose agency " her march is o'er
the mountain wave, her home is on the deep ;" and
strong in her " ships, colonies, and commerce," she
almost fulfils the prediction of Virgil, of being a na-
tion " whose dominion is bounded by the ocean, and
her fame by the stars of heaven."
These are the men for whom I plead—men pos-
sessing nearly as strong a claim on the national
sympathy as the seamen of the Royal Navy—for it
should never be forgotten that from the ranks of the
former the latter are supplied.
Should the above meet your approbation, may I
request your insertion of it in the columns of The
Sun, as I deem it a duty to invite public attention to
this subject ? I could go more into detail, but shall
not for the present, lest I should trespass on your
patience ; and therefore, soliciting most respectfully
your attention to the above facts, and perhaps your
co-operation in bringing it before the public, I have
the honour to remain, Sir, your obedient humble
servant, GEO. HARLOW.
1, Oriel-street, Dublin, Sept. 18.

RAIL WAY TRAVELLING FOR
THE POOR.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir—Every one can appreciate the great facilities
afforded to commerce by the establishment of rail-
ways. They have done a vast deal of good, and been
the ruin of many. The few whose interests have
been affected, have been sacrificed for the benefit of
the whole community. lam not a croaker against
railways, but am one of those who believe that they
might be made more beneficial to the poor, the small
annuitants, and persons of a limited income—a host
of themselves—in this country.
The Legislature, in compelling railways to run
one carriage daily at a penny per mile, had in view
the interests of the million, without damaging the
revenues of the various companies. In return for the
permission to cut up and divide property—to form
roads whereon other carriages were not allowed to
run, and from whence the public were to be excluded
—to found a monopoly of lines for the conveyance of
goods and passengers—to divert from the highways
the original traffic, whereby thousands were deprived
of a living, and hundreds of inn-keepers ruined—it
was but a small boon to exact from the joint-stock
companies the conveying of the needy at a penny per
mile once every day.
All railroad companies, no doubt, carry out the in-
tentions of the Legislature; but they do it, in some
instances, in a most niggardly spirit. For instance,
the traveller who wishes to reach London on Sun-
days, from York, in one day, at the cheap fares, can
only reap the benefit of the penny per mile trains,
from York to Derby. If he wishes to proceed further
by the same train, he must pay the second-class fare
from Derby to Rugby, to be carried on to London
by the cheap trains from that place. On working
days the poor of Whitby and Scarborough can only
reach as far as Rugby in one day, though the public
may leave Edinburgh, or other more northern places,
and proceed throughout.
It may be urged that, for example, on the London
and North-Western Railway it may not answer the
purpose of the shareholders to run a third-class car-
riage more than once a day. If that holds good on
that line, it should be equally applicable to other
companies; but it will be seen that other railway
establishments are either more liberal to the public,
or less careful of the property entrusted to their
management. The following tells its own tale :
London and North-Western Railway, out of
twenty-four trains, have one with third-class carriages.
Great Western, out of twenty-two trains, have two
with third-class carriages.
South-Eastern and Dover, out of twelve trains,
have five with third-class carriages.
London and Brighton, out of eleven trains, have
the ee with third- class carriages.
Eastern Counties (Cambridge line), out of ten
tra ins, have four with third-class carriages.
South-Western, out of eighteen trains, have two
with third-class carriages.
By the preceding table the reader will observe
that out of twenty-four trains the London and
North-Western Railway Company have only one
train at a penny per mile, or with a third-class
South-Eastern, car-
riage attached thereto, whereas the outh-Easte rn, out
of twelve trains, run third-class carriages with five
of them.
I recommend this wide discrepancy to the notice of
those who take an interest in railway matters, and
who have really the good of the poor at heart.
I am, Sir, &c.
September 25. T. M.

DISCOVERY OF OLD COlL—Yesterday a number
of gold and silver coins of the reigns of Henry VII.
and VIII., and several spade guineas and gold seven-
shilling pieces, were found by some labourers removing
the ruins of some old houses, that recently fell down in
Dudley-court, St. Giles's. The coins were in a fine
state of preservation, particularly the guineas of George
111., and were purchased for a mere trifle by a clothes-
man, who happened to come up whilst they were ex-
amining them, and before they had had gale 0 ostler-
gala glair actual Tact% _