The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-29 00:00:00

REPORT.

The Directors have the pleasure of presenting to the
Proprietors a Report, no longer confined to the announce-
ment of what they would wish to effect, or have hopes of
effecting, but of what has already been done, and is ac-
tually now doing, in prosecution of the important under-
taking iu l'hich they ara cng,,ged,
From the period of the List half-yearly General Meeting,
the works have been steadily adTancing ; and although the
unusually tempestuous and trying weather during the
autumn and winter has necessarily retarded the Contractors'
operations, the result of their labours is decidedly encou-
raging, whilst the present condition of the works affords
satisfactory evidence of their solidity.
The norks arr, in fact, already in such a state of ad-
vancement, as to have enabled Mr. Giles, the Company's
Engineer, to make a substantive Report on the subject ;
and the Directors present it to the Proprietors, assured
that they will find it accceptable.
Mr. GlLus's Report is as follows ;
" Beaufort Buildings., 110th February, 1540.
" TO THE DIRECTORS of the SOUTHAMPTON

- - _ _ _
DOCKS.
" Gentl:men—l beg to report to you that the clock-
works have been carried on by the Contractors through the
last autumn, and up to this time, with great energy.
" It having been deemed advisable to complete and open
one portion of those docks et as early a period as possible
for the reception of the largest class of stearo.ve,sels, and
sailing vessels up to 600 or 700 tons burthen, my attention
has been particularly directed to this object, and to make
the Tidal dock in the first instance ; lam accordingly
constructing the pi's foundations necessary for the quay
walls on both sides of the entrance, and on the southern'
(or seaward) side of this dock. This piling is in great
forwardness.

" I am also forming the embankments for inclosing the
ground of the Close dock from the tideway, the western
side of which is completed. Its southern and eastern em-
bankments are also is full progress, and likely to be
finished in the course of the ensuing spring ; and the con-
struction of the remainder of the Tidal dock and of the
Close dock will be carried on in due progress.
" The number of men hitherto employed on the works
has averaged 50 ; but there are now about 300 on the
ground.
The extent of work performed to this time consists
of abo..it 1,1400 feet length of pile-driving tor the
foundations of the quay. walls, upon which upwards
of twenty engines are at this moment in full operation ;
and of excavations amounting to nearly 70,000 cubic
yards. The soil produced bt the latter is advantageously
applied to the formation of the embankment for the Close
Dock ; it is very adhesive and impervious, qualities
particularly favourable for sea embankments, and for
making and maintaining the Docks ; and this the late
storms have sufficiently tested, tio damage having been
done thereby to the embankment, nor to the piing.
" The o!,b,)rne Quarry, the property of the Compan',
has also been opened by the Contractors, and pmparatiors
are made for conveying its stone to the docks. The Con-
tractors have also made arrangements for obtaining
other stone from Gurnet Bay, Portland, and Swanage;
and have deposited a large quantity of blue Lias lime-
stone, an I sf timber in store upon the Company's ground.

" Means are likewise in preparation for conveying
thither thither the ►oil purchased from Mr. Buchan at Walston

" Considerable preparation of machinery for carrying
on these works has likewise been made by the Con-
tractors. Independently of the pile engines, already a;
work, a powerful dredging engine. lighters, waggoas, &c.
are also making, and near completion. I have therefore
reason to expect that the entrance and southern side of the
Tidal dock will be ready for the reception of trade by the
end of the present year. I remain, Gentlemen,
" Yew very obedient faithful Servant,
" FRANCIS GILLS."

subject of the Engineerinz De.
On the very important
partment the Directors have further to report, that in
::edition to the practical experience of Mr. Giles they haye
securai the able cc-operation and advice of Mr. Cubitt, as
Consul:iv, Engineer ; and it will gratify the Proprietori
to learn, that that gentleman's opinion and Mr. Gilea..,
as to the expediency and advantage of the plan on which
the works are now proceeding, under all the circum-
stances, perfectly coincide.
Tae Directors announced to the last half-yearly Meeting
their hope of securing the important connection of the
Royal Mail Steam Packet Company," the magnitude
of whose intended establishment and operations they
th !ri described.
That Company has now obtained a Royal Charter--
it has concluded its contract with her Maj,:sty's Govern-
maent—and that contract the Directors are now enabled
to state, leaves little doubt of the adoption of Southampton
as the Company's Home Station.
The Directors cannot too strongly represent the import-
' anco. of this connection—a connection for which other
I Poets have not only offered largely, but have contended so
\ perseveringly as fir a time to impede that Company's de-
\ eis'ion. The result, however, has been their firm rej c-
r", of every other Port, the superiority of South-
alnoton, with its Railway, and such unequalled
th.m by your Directors, defyinn.
1 Dock accommodation as has been marked out for
i world, Southampton ‘ point of eligibility for steam packet intercourse between
I the British Nletro I. P
Packet t.ompany,t;eith,all competition. In
po is and nearly every other part of the
i
disinterested parties,
stands confessed, both he the " Mail
whom they have
The Directors, therefore,
Government Departments with
earnestly
as superior to all oti cr ports in the
i in negotiation, and by all practical
kingdom.
impress upon every
individual Proprietor the
necessity for a prompt and pone-
' tual contribution of his
, 'the means of
quota of the capital req
uircd to
I push on and complete the works, as Sole
,realizing the advantages thus b rought within the Com-