The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-31 00:00:00

THE PROJECTED BREAKWATER
OFF BRIGHTON.
(Abridged from the Brighton Guardian.)
On Monday afternoon a highly respectable meeting
was held at the Town-hall, " fur the purpose of taking
into consideration the advantages likely to arise by set-
ting up a breakwater in front of the town, and the pro-
ject of Captain Taylor for a floating breakwater, and to
take such measures as to the meeting may appear ex-
pedient."
Amongst the gentlemen present we noticed I. N. Wig-
nay, Esq. 31. P., Captain Sir Samuel Brown, R.N. (the
proprietor of the Chain Pier), Major Allen, Captain
Heaviside, Thomas Attree, Esq., C. Wigney, Esq., W.
Scott Stonehewer, Esq., —Robinson, Esq.,Captain Tay-
lor, R.N., Captain Morgan, RN., Captain 31‘Quhae,
RN., the Rev. James Edwards, &c. &c. &c.
The High Constable, Mr. THOMAS FULLER, was
called to the Chair.
Mr. SOME is CLARKE read the requisition and the no-
tice convening the meeting, and also the following letter
from Captainl'echell, R.N. :

" Hampton Court Palace, Saturday, Aug. 21, 1841.
" .DEAR Sla—l have received an official intimation
from Mr. Sormrs Clarke that you have convened a pub-
lic. meeting of the inhabitants of Brighton for Monday
next, to consider Captain Taylor's project of a floating
breakwater; aqiil regret that, being detained here under

circumstance:, of a most afflicting and distressing nature,
I shall be deprived of the opportunity of being present
on the discussion of a subject of such essential import-
ance to the borough.
" I shall, however, hold myself in readiness to give
effect to :he wishes of the meeting to the utmost of my
power; and, should the invention of Captain Taylor be
approved or; it will afford me the greatest pleasure to as-
sist in carrying out the views of Lkat talented and distill-
gui.!,hed officer.
" I have the honour to be, dear Sir, your very faithful
servant, 44 GEO. PECiIELL.

'• Thomas Fuller, High Constable, &e."
The HIGH CONSTABLE opened the business by saying
that he had' much pleasure in presiding at the meeting.
If the object for which it was convened should be car-
ried into effect, it would be of great advantage to the
town. It would conduce to its advantage in every
respect. They had now a railroad, and he thought, from
what he. heard from Captain Taylor, the project of a
breakwater would add to the benefit of the town, espe-
cially as it would provide a harbour for our seamen in the
season of distress.

I. N. WIGNEY, Esq, M.P., as nne of tho requisitionists
for cuneening the meeting, and as an inhabitant of the
town, felt much pleasure in attending and moving the
resolution placed in his hands. He should not trouble
the meeting with many remarks, as Captain Taylor
would follow and point out more particularly the nature of
his plan; but he wished to call attention to one or two of
the important advantages that would arise to Brigh-
ton from making it the means of direct comma
nication between London and Paris. He had made
it a particular point to come down from London
to attend the meeting that day—(Lend cheering)—
considering the plan would be of vital 'importance
to this great and important town. Every one, he
thought, must see the propriety of something being
done to provide shelter in the event of storms, qn a coast
which was deficient in harbours. It was a very Treat
and important object to protect that useful class of our
townspeople, the Brighton fishermen ; every one know
the great dangers to which they were exposed, and would
readily join in contemplating some plan by which it
might be remedied.—(ileac, hear.) Captain Taylor
olllsren that plan, which held out an inducement for them
not to be backward in providing the remedy. They were
all aware that the Government commission had been
appointed to make a report on the state of the meets in
general, and of the propriety of forming harbours of re-
fuge. That Commission had reported, recommending the
formation of two hundred such harbours ; but the ex-
pense would be so enormously great, involving an
outlay of many millions sterling, that it was almost
hopeless to expect that the Government would incur it.
Ceptaia Taylor's plan offered a very safe and effective
remedy at a very small cost ; and he (Mr. W.) thought,.
knowing as he did the dangers of this coast, that it would
not only be very desirable, but very gratifying for the
people of Brighton that they should show the country
the benefit of carrying out Captain Taylor's views
in providing for the safety of so large and valuable a class
of our fellow-creaturesen-(llear, hear.) If a break-
water were established at Brighton,: it would increase
the means of communication with the Continent.
They all knew that packets going out had been de-
tained for hours, and even days, because there was
no place of refuge for vessels to go into in stormy wea-
ther ; but if this breakwater was erected, it would pro-
vide the means of safe embarkation, and must bring
Brighton into a direct route with Paris, which would
not only be of great local advantage, but of great na-
tional advantage, shortening the communication be
tween London and Paris, which, vie Brighton, _Might
Then be accomplished in eixteen hones. Another advan-
tage would be this. Brighton we said to be a heated-
fui coast; but still a great atteaetioa was wanting that
was foued in other parts. There was a great paucity of
shipping at Bsighton, arising from the shallowness of
_:oast ; and in consequence of this want of approach
they lost the sight of shipping. Mit if the breakwa-
ter were constructed, vessels might approach the coast
with greater safety ; and in stormy weather they would
run in and ensure safety and protection. Another
inducement for them to adopt the plan would be found
in' the encouragement it would offer to the gentle-
men of the Yatch Club. They had tried boat races
in a humble way ; but if they had the breakwater it
would be a safe mooring nor yachts, and gentlemen,
instead of going to Southampton, would make Brighton
a place of resort, and the townspeople would see
their beautiful shipping lying within the reach, and
have the pleasure of their company. Taking this cur-
sory view of the matter, he (Mr. Wigney) felt himselfjus-
titled in asking the High Constable to call this meeting,
and take the opinion of the town on the plan, and adopt it
if it met with their approbation. As a Brighton man he
had brought the subject forward ; it was a measure they
ought to take up warmly; it was one of great importance,
and such as all who felt desirous of furthering the sue-
cess
of the town ought most readily to concur in. He
felt great pleasure VI submitting the first resolution.
Major ALLEN seconded the first resolution, and after
making some remarks on the plan, said, with regard to
the safety of the coast, he would advert to its usefulness
in making the town the resort of many thousands of per-
sons from distant parts of the country. In late years the
progress of steam in this countrylad been very great, and
its gigantic power was now perfectly governable and
tractable. They had railroads formed in this and other
parts of the country connecting them all together. Some
two hundred years ago it was so great a difficulty to un-
dertake a journey from York to London, that a monu-
ment was to be found in York Minster erected to the
memory of a man who, while travelling into a foreign
parts,' that was, to London—(Hear and laughter)—had
died upon the road.(A laugh.) At that time it took
eight days to get from York to London ; but now, ow-
ing to the formation of railroads, the journey was ac-
complished in- twelve hours. A railroad was coming
to this town ; it was already opened as far as
Hayward's Heath, and in a very few weeks it would be
opened throughout the whole line, and the journey
from London to Brighton would then be performed
in about two hours, which would enable the people of
York to come to Brighton in fourteen or sixteen hours
at the most. From Brighton to Dieppe was an eight
hours' voyage ; and when the railroad, which he under-
sewed was
.projected from Dieppe to Paris, was finished,
the entiee tourney from York and all the other northern
parts of England to Paris might be accomplished in
about thirty hours. This was an all-important consi-
deration ; and connected with a floating breakwater it
would be a great inducement to the people to travel by
steam; and would make Brighton one of the most im-
portant towns in the kingdom. The project to be ex-
plained by Captain Taylor was that of it floating
breakwater. A stone breakwater offered such resistance
that the sea breaks over it, and in some instances vessels
had been carried over it by the force of the waves ; but
a floating breakwater yielded to the most violent and
tempestuous storms, let the sea rage ever so much or eve. ,
so high. Waves generally were nine feet high ; the
breakwater would be six feet above the surface of the
water, and by yielding to the pressure and violence
of the waves, and by the water being thrown
through the interstices and corning over the top of
the breakwater, there would be comparatively smooth
water within its range. If that object could he obtained,
it would be of very great advantage to the town ; it
'would benefit the country at large by protecting the
coast from foreign foes, and be of great advantage to
this town by increasing its trade.—(Hear.) A notion,
however, estisted, that it would spoil the bathing,
and make Brighton a mere commercial town. No inten-
tion of the sort existed. There were to be no warehouses
built ; . but the breakwater was to nerve more as a refutem
for vessels to run into from storms than as a place whet.°
they might receive or discharge merchandise. How the
money for carrying out the plan was to be obtained was
to be left to the judgment of the meeting. It would
entail a great expense, but not anything like that of a
stone breakwater. Each section would extend about
60 feet in length, and would cost about 6001. A patent
had b. en obtained by Captain Taylor for the improvement
of breakwaters, and a company was before the public,
although, he believed, not yet incorporated by Act of
Parliament, for the purpose of carrying out the inven-
tion. That Company challenged public inquiry, and
stated that they would contract with harbour trustees
:and other parties for the formation of floating break-
-waters. Some outlay would certainly be required to
carry the object into execution, and the means must be
raised either by public subscription, or by the aid of the
public companies, such, as the Chain Pier Compauy and
Me Railroad Company.—(Hear.)
Capt. TAYLOu then presented himself, and was received
with muoh cheering. After it had subsided, he ob-
served, that from the very able manner in which their
worthy member (Mr. Wigney) and the gentleman who had
just addressed them, hid pointed out the advantages
of the floating breakwater, it would be unneces-
sary for him to dwell at any length upon them. In-
deed, they had exhausted the subject, and he would
therefore merely touch upon it in a nautical point of
aeew. In respect to the protection the breakwater would
afford, it would become a very important appendage to
the harbour of Shoreham, because vessels would he
enabled to anchor at all times of the tide, and those
passing up and down the channels would avail them-
selves of the same protection. If the meeting would
allow him he would read to them the details of the plan,
and afterwards he should be most happy to give any
explanation that might be required. The calculations
on which the plan was formed he would not then
explain, .as it would take up too much time but he
would ine ;
stibmit them with the, ,utmost confidence to prac-
tical men and ensineers. The Gallant Captain here read
at great length a manuscript description of his scheme and
the presumed advantages it would cl
went onfer ; and afterwards
on to state that the most eminent, mathematicians.
and shipbuilders had declared that a breakwater con.