The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-15 00:00:00

MANSION-HO USE.

Mr. Tickner, a Proprietor of the Star Gravesend Steam-
vegsel Company, and formerly a leading member of the
Corporation of London, waited upon the Lord Mayor,
accompanied by Mr. Matthews, the solicitor to the Com-
pany, in consequence of the complaint made by the Rev.
Mr. Palin, Rector of Slifford, Essex, on Tuesday last.
'rho complaint, it appears, has excited a sensation ;
particularly among the innumerable visitors to Gravesend.
Mr. Tickner said that a statement having been made be-
fore his Lordship, injurious to the Company he repre-
sented, trading to Gravesend, he attended at the request
of his colleagues, to answer the matter of complaint. A
gentleman who had nearly lost his life, and had providen-
tially escaped, made, as appeared from the newspapers, a
highly-coloured statement, which had very much the tone
and feeling of partisanship about it, before his Lordship.
He should, however, say nothing on that point. Great
allowances were to be made for a person who had
been so circumstanced. The Directors of the Com-
pany had, immediately after the accident to which
he adverted, caused an examination of the strictest
nature to be mad(' into the circumstances, and the
result was that those who had the management of the Star
steam-vessel were wholly exonerated from blame. The
facts from that investigation appeared to be that the Reve-
tend Gentleman and other passengers wished to land at
Grays, and the vessel stopped as usual on the occasion.
nr, Palin got into the boat, but perceiving that there was
a fracture in it determined to return to the vessel. It was
the habit of the watermen when it was proper to let go the
hook to cry out "all right." That notice had been given,
and then it occurred to Mr. Palin not to go in the boat,
and having two large parcels with him, in trying to return
he fell into the river. The fault lay not in those who ma-
naged the steamer, who exceedingly regretted the accident,
but entirely originated in the gentleman's new movement.
The LORD NIAYOR—This statement is very different
Irt►m that which was made to me.

Mr. Tickner said that he faithfully related to his Lord-
ship the substance of the result of the investigation.
Mr. Matthews (the Solicitor to the Star Company)
begged to add a few words to Mr. Tickner's statement.
It appeared that the Reverend Mr. Palma's, brother, had
said that an advertisement had appeared from the Star
Company, signed by their agent, challenging to race for
200 guineas. Now, neither the Directors nor their agent
knew anything at all of such a challenge, and if the agent
or any person employed by the Company,had inserted such
en advertisement he would be immediately dismissed.
There were express instructions issued to the vessels of
the Company, not on any account to race, but if a new
Company chose to run at the same time, it was not the
fault of the old Company. There was no evidence what-
ever to prove that any blame lay with those who were ac-
cused, except what existed in the apprehensions of the
gentleman who had met with the accident. Two other
persons had slipped into the boat from the steamer, and
kept their places; and it was actually in the attempt to
jump back from the boat to the steamer, that Mr. Palin
fell into the water. Such a statement as had been made,
was calculated, therefore, moat unjustly to prejudice the
public against the Gompany.
The LORD Mayan said he was convinced that the an-
swer to the accusation would be as fairly represented to
the public as had been the accusation itself. As to any
ulterior proceedings, however, what took place before him
bad nothing to do with them. He considered it proper to
state, that the account of the transaction, as given by the
party accused, differed most essentially from that given by
the complainant. Mr. Palin had declared that he saw
the water rushing over the bows of the boat, and that the
steamer did not stop at all.
Mr. Marthea s declared that there was the strongest
evidence to prove that the vessel was stopped, and that
much misapprehension must have arisen from the trepida-
tion Mr. Palin very naturally felt.
The LORD MAIOR—I have been in the habit of going
to Gravesend in the vessels of the Star and the Diamond
Companies, and I must say that I never witnessed any-
thing like racing, and never heard of anything like inci-
vility upon any occasion.