The Sun.
London, England, 1823-09-15 00:00:00

WEST INDIA DOCKS..

REPLY TO MR. MARRYAT'S OBSERVATIONS
ON THE WEST INDIA DOCK CHARTER, &c. kc:

(coNTntruti).)
(No. III.)
No. 4.—SOLIDITY OF BUILDFSGS AND 'WORKS.

It is difficult to imagine why the importance of a separate
title was given to this head, except to indulge the spleen of the

writer.

He again quotes the Company-la Memorial; btit' afraid of
fairly and openly combating anything advanced in that docu-
ment, he'takes little more than a line and an half, and that
without its context., for the purpose of introducing a vulgar
sarcasm; his remark is this :
" In the memorial of the "%Vest India Dock Company to the
Board' of Trade, they mention r the extraordinary energy and
rapidity displayed in the execution of this great work ;' but
from the evidence given upon this branch of. the subject, they
seem to have studied rapidity rather than durability ; and
to have verified the old proverb, the more haste • the worse
speed.' " „

This demands the following quotation from the Memerial
itself:—
" To shed the objects which were in the contemplation of
the Legislature, it is only necessary to refer to the Reports of
the Committees of the House of Commons, from the year 1796
to the year 1800, on the improvement of the Port of London ;
the Report of 1796 (p• 16) states, in a comprehensive form,
the general considerations of Mercantile Accommodation and
Public advantage,' viz.
" • Practicability and expence.' .
44 • The time necessary for completion, and progressive uti-
lity until completed.'
" accommodation 'and arrangement of Ships' and
Trades at their moorings and stations.'
" • The facilitating Navigation into Port and outwards.'
" The speedy landing and delivery of Cargoes.'
" The security of Cargoes from plunderage and from

smuggling.',
- " "rhe.expediting both Imports and Exports with safety
to the Revenue.'
" ' The obviating circumstance of new dangers to Shipping
from fire, stranding, or other' accidents.'
" Just regard in avoiding
i unnecessary trespass op local
concerns or private interest.' '
The passages of which it has suited Mr. Marryat to take so
small a portion, refer to the accomplishMent of all the-original
objects, as above quoted, by the West India Dock Ccanyany.!
They are as follows
" The Act of Parliament constituting the Company, passed
on the 12th July, MY; the purchases being completed, and
the excavations considerably advanced, the first stone of the
Warehouses was laid on the 12th July, 1800 ; and the Docks
opene4l far business, by the. admission of ships, on-the 2d of
September, 1802. •
" The extraorlinary 'energy 'displayed in the execution of
this great work, of itself argues that a strong feeling as to its
necessity must have existed; the progressive extension of the
works was equally rapid; and their utility fully tried, by the
resources of the establishment. haring been called into action
and put to the test,:et,periods of peculiar difficulty during the
late war,* when Item an almost total stagnation of export, the
accumulation of produce on hand became excessive."
31r,11.1arryat concludes his observations under this head, thus
• "If the Blackwell' entrance is in the alarming state described
by 111 r. Longlantla ; if it is subject to a great number of
casualties, as stated by Mr. Rennie ; if any casualty should
actually betel it ; and If, us -Mr.- Walker recollects, the Lime-
house entry is hardly wide enough to receive the largest loaded
ships, to what a situation is the West India trade exposed ?
Without, however, anticipating evils; which, although possible,
are not certain, (bat against .which it is the duty t.t, the IVest
India Dock Conipany' to provide,) the evidence of their own'
officers,stifficiently proves, that in the execution of their works
and buildings, they paid greater regard to rapidity, than to
that solidity which they who deposit their property in them have
a• right to expect."
To all this it is only necessary to reply, that IF Mr. Mar.
ryat had placed it under either of the other heads he has chosen
for his observationi, wjtiCh relate to "repairs and improve-
ments," or the " accumulated fund," to shew the necessity of
makinglittch repairs, and retaining a fund for the purpose, it
might have heen applicable.
As to the dreadful situation to which the Street India Trade
might be exposed, it seems necessary to intbrrn Mr..Marry.att
that the Legislature was not so unwise as to omit a provnuon
for any calamity which might betel the Docks, which he will
perceive if he can take the trouble to refer to the original Act.
No. IL—MEANS OF ACCOMMODATION.
This title Is chiefly confined to castles in the air, to ware-
house* in the. London Decks, which are only ground floors,
and could be raised upon at any time," and to their having
having" the meani (which may be-questioned) of extending
their weter by making another Dock. Scmilardreanttare indulged
in, as respects the Commercial Docks; they are to be deepen-
ed,' a new entrance niade, and warehouses, to any extent, built
if weszerv. In addition tO. all this (although it is not so
stated), they are probably like the Chapel of.-our Lady of Lo.
retto, to be taken up through the atr, and deposited in the
borough of Southwark, tbr the mercantile ttecorninodation of
which Mr. Marryat seems very solicitous. -
It is with reference to these visionary speculations that Mr.
Illarryat declares in solemn seriousness, under this head,"
" that ample means of accommodation for every branch of cam-
" mace are provided by the different Dock Establishments in
" the port of London! !"
had he said that they, had provided ample means for their re-,
spectivo branches of commerce the obeervatien might pass ;
but with what motive can any, thing so delusive as this be ad-
vanced Mr. Marryat will reply, " recollect what I stated
" before, tithe proprietors raise funds for these undertakings
" (and capital may always be found in/this metropolis for any

"• In the period between the beginning-of July and the be-
ginning of December 1808, a space of, five months, when cir
can►stances of die greatest difficulty occurred, apwardi of 46t
ships were unloaded, exclusive of xmaller vessels and craft, w•''
cargoes consisting of

159,804 Ilhds, and Trs. of Sugar
26,917 Puns, 4nd Inds. Rum
a 1 ,67c,15. and Its 1 eta,
- Br
: Pockets,es a-c. Cotton:
35 C"ks Pimento
351: Cl:l4::ftiltsksas Ginger
822 Cita* - 1. Cocoa
Bars -
I-797 GaAs - Wine
Dale Stags Casks
Making a total of 11,842 137,051 221,401
and from the 10th October to the 211th NovembLr of the same
year, 150 ships were entirely unloaded at the quay s.”

125,480

10,855
'487

2,732

2,411

7,228