The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-19 00:00:00

but this number will be more than doubled as the spring
Belson advances.

" I remain, Gentlemen,
" Your obedient and faithful servant,
" FRANCIS GJLRS."

Much error having prevailed with the public in refe-
rence to the depth of water at Southampton, the Directors
felt it their duty to open a correspondence on the subject,
of which they subjoin copies; this correspondence they
caused to be published, and they trust it will have effec-
tually set the question at rest.
In accordance with a provision of the Company's Act,
four of your Directors now go out of office. The four so
retiring arc Mr. Liggins, Mr. Cruikshank, Mr. Burt, and
Mr. Hill. They are eligible, and offer themselves, for re-
election.

On behalf of the Directors,
JOSEPH LIGGINS, Chairman.
Southampton Dock Office, London, Feb. 18, 1841.
The Secretary also read the following :
ABSTRACT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS,
From the commencement of the undertaking to 31st
December, 1840. •
RECEIPTS.

Shares. Per Share.
Deposits on 6,610, at 21. 10s. £16,525 0 0
lgt Call on 6,181, at 2/. 10s.
2d Call on 5,635, at 3/ ' 16,905 0 0
3d Call on 5,543, at 51.
4th Call on 5,302, at 51.
sth Callon 4,431, gt 5/.
Interest on Calls in arrear. 649 2 3
Interest and Profit on Exchequer Bills 384 19 2
Interest from Bankcr: 2 11 11
Produce of Sale of Fixtures and Fittings
of the " Ro3al Gloucester Baths," at
• :Tharopton
Fee...

226 11 0
26 18 0

£126,552 12 4

PA YMENI 5.
Law and Engineering Charges,
Parlia-
mentary and other expenses incident to
the establishment of the Company £5,900 19 5
The Corporation of Sonthampton for the
Dock Land (208 Acres) 5,000 0 0
For the Interest of seleral persons in cer-
tain Oyster Coves situste on the Dock
Land
For the Leasehold interest of the late Wm
Lintott in the Dock Land
The Lessees of the " Royal Gloucester
Baths," for their Leasehold Interest (in
full)
Purchase of Stom, in the Osborne Quarry,
and of Soil and Timber at Woolston Cliff,
as materials fur constructing the Works 2,371 5 0
Directions, from 19th May, 1836, to 31st
December, 1840.
Engineering
Works of Survey, Boring, and other preli-
tninary opera:ions
The Contractors on aecourt of si ork done
and materials supplied
Office Expensee, salaries of Secretary and
Clerks, Postag.-, Advertising, Agency,
and Miscellaneous disbursements ' 4,042 15 11
Livr Charges
Travelling Expenses
Stationery and Printing
Vote of General Meeting in aid of cell-

100 0 0

400 0 0

gious instruction to the Dock labourers 50 0 0
South Hants Infirmary ; first instalment of
a Life Subscription
Holt-yearly latercst on Capitol
Assignees of Messrs. Wiight and Co., ha-
lime of deposit account ........

126 9 10

113,725 3 9

Invested in Exchequer Bills
3,000/. —cost £3,034 10 0
B,lances and Securities in
hand ... £12,186 12 3
Less Accounts
outstanding
and checks
uncleared to
this day ... 2,393 13 8

9,792 IS 7

12,827 8 7

£126,552 12 4

The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, the question I have
now the honour to submit for your consideration is,
that the Report which you have now heard read be re-
ceived and adopted, and that it be printed and circu-
lated amongst the Shareholders. But before I put that
question to the vote, I must state that it is my anxious
desire, and that of all my colleagues, that every Pro-
prietor should have an opportunity of asking any ques-
tion that may in his judgment elicit any further infor-
mation respecting the very interesting matter contained
in the Report ; and I will take this opportunity of
stating, both for myself and my colleagues, that it is
with the utmost pleasure we meet you at all times, and
that pleasure is heightened the nearer we advance to
the completion of our vast undertaking—the more we
approximate to the happy season, when it will be in our
power to make you some return for the capital- you have
expended. It will be in the recollection of many Pro-
prietors present, that at a previous meeting a Pro-
prietor stated that he had been down to Southampton,
but he could see nothing partaking of the form or shape
of a dock. I do not know whether that Hon. Pro-
prietor is now present, or whether he has been down
lately or not, but I can affirm that now it will be no
longer a matter of surprise that nothing has been done,
but that it will be a matter of much surprise to all that
so much has been done in the time which has expired. I
am happy to have it in my power to congratulate
you upon the firmness and stability which attaches to
your works so far as they have gone. Most of the gen-
tlemen present will remember that in November last
they were submitted to the most severe test that could
have entered into the contemplation of any human
being. In that month one of the most severe gales
which has visited our coasts for many years assailed our
works, and I feel perfectly justified in asserting that such
was the effect produced by the fury of the elements—
such the appalling scene that nature then exhibited, that
it was enough to have appalled even the stoutest heart ;
however, Gentlemen, the result showed that our works
were as firm as a rock, and bid defiance to the war of
the elements.—(Hear, hear.) Many unfounded ru-
mours of destruction went abroad respecting our works,
and I am happy to ease the mind of any gentleman who
may not have seen our denial of the facts ; and I cannot
permit myself to pass from this part of the subject with-
out declaring my opinion, and speaking in the presence
of my colleagues, theirs also, of the skill displayed by
our engineer in the making of his plans, and the ability
with which he has carried those plans into effect. Ido
not hesitate for one moment in saying that the result of
the trial to which his works have been put has shown
that he is fully entitled to the respect and confidence of
the Company.—(Cheers.) It is also very gratifying to
find that after such a severe test as our works have un-
dergone, that the contractors under him have performed
their duty most faithfully and honestly, and that in place
of having to lament tbe destruction of any portion of our
works, we have the gratifying fact to announce that no-
thing his been done that will lead to any amount of
expense that can possibly be ascertained—indeed, I
have no hesitation in saying that our works are
now in a better position than if the storm had not
raged and expended its force against them. So
far from being prejudicial to us we have rather de-
rived some advantage from it ; we have derived from it
some practical information which we can apply in our
future proceedings, and I will take upon myself to say
that the works are now in a better state than if that
event had never occurred. You are quite aware that
reports bare been drawn up from time to time by your
engineer, and that these reports have been approved
and confirmed by the reports of other eminent engi-
neers. I need only mention the names of Cubitt and
Mylne. These reports, however, he might have looked
upon with suspicion, emanating as they did from your
Directors. But, gentlemen, fortunately for us another
Company has been established since we came into the
field, and they being likely.to use our Docks were natu-
turally and properly very anxious to have our state-
ments and the reports of our engineers confirmed by
one selected by themselves. They appointel an engi-
neer, and required him to make a special Report upon
the eligibility, of our Docks for the purposes of
the Company which he represented. I regret much
that I am not permitted to lay that Report
before you, because lam perfectly sure that if I had
that permission, it would have fully confirmed and esta-
blished the reports made by your own engineer, and
have increased your confidence in him. No doubt can
be entertained for one moment of the independence and
honeity of the gentleman to whom I allude. I have
only to mention the name of Smeaton to set that ques-
tion at rest. Although I cannot officially submit that
Report for your inspection, I may take upon myself to
say that it fully and in every part confirms the Report
of your own engineer, and he says that our Docks will
d t,
be the best situation in England for the home station
of the R o
Gentlemen
You
lu;
bum MailsuttS Steam w
eake l ami tathatke 1p
upon
Packetuup Company.—(Loud
myself
cheers.)l
i ruy o
wtno state ere-
that Mr. Smeaton has so reported to the Royal Mail
Steam Packet Company. You are all aware that we
have been for a long time negotiating with that Com-
pany, and I certainly did expect to have been abl :to
congratulate you upon its conclusion. [The Secretary
put a document into the Chairman's hand.] Gen-
tlemen, hero 13 a communication put into my
hands this moment from that Company. I have
. not yet read it, as has arrived since the commence-
ment of the proceedings. You therefore get the infor-
mation it contains as early as your Directors. (He
then read the note, which was from the Secretary of
the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, and saying,
that that Company had selected Southampton as their
home station. This announcement was received with
cheers.) I beg to congratulate you, Gentlemen, upon
this most gratifying result of our labours. Allow me,
for a moment, now to allude to
that statement in the
Report, which relates to the increase in the expendi-
ture upon the Tidal Dock, above 119,0001. In the
discharge of those duties, which you have delegated to
os, die theC Xereiee 4,1 orir ,!:toretlon, and avtlag
the Lest leterckas uI ull evu4.creed, we test eur4elves
obliged to deviate from our first plans: You are
aware that the 119,000/. was the estimate for the