The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-10 00:00:00

UN. FEBRUARY 10, 1848.
7

century. He had devoted to this subject his best
energies, and it had demanded many hours of harass-
ing. attention. In those days there were many diffi-
culties to be overcome—many interests to be recon-
ciled ; but to their chairman must the inhabitants of
Sunderland stand indebted for the accomplishment of
that great undertaking, and he trusted the inhabi-
tants would be grateful to him, and that posterity
would give him all praise. But for his determination
to be brief; he might have enlarged much upon this
topic ; he could not, however, sit down without
offering his fervent aspirations that the prosperity of
British shipping and the welfare of Sunderland docks
would be evally great, and go hand in hand.
D. JoicAssouN, Esq., proposed the next toast—
" The health of Robert Stephenson, Esq., the Member
for Whitby."
Mr. STRPHENSON, in returning thanks, said he
could not help expressing the pleasure he felt at see-
ing the foundation-stone of that great work laid—a
work which he believed to be most important to
Sunderland at the present time, and one which was
colculated eminently to increase the wealth of the
town, and excite the enterprise of the people.
\\*metals DIGBY SEYMOUR, Esq., of the Northern
Circuit, said—l am called upon at a late hour, and
when in no small degree fatigued by the heat of the
room, and the pervading excitement of the day, to
give a toast which certainly does not yield in impor-
tance to any which has preceded it this evening.—
(Hear.) Before addressing myself to my appointed
task, 1 must express my thanks to the directors for
the singular compliment they have paid me in send
ing me a special invitation to be present upon this
auspicious occasion. lam connected with Sunder-
land by such a near and happy tie—(Cheers)—l am
so closely related by the bonds of kinsmanship and
by the impulse and affections of an enduring friend-
ship with one of the most honest, most able, and most
eloquent of her public men, and I have at all times
received such proofs of attention and respect from the
people of Sunderland, that I would be failing in a
sense of duty if I did not—no matter at how great
professional inconvenience—come down to witness
and bear a part in the proceedings of this happy day
—a day the most fortunate and remarkable in the
annals of this ancient town and borough.—
( Loud cheers.) The laying the first stone
of the Sunderland Docks is an event in our
national as well as our local history, and suggests re-
flections lull of public as well as private interest.—
(Hear, hear.) To-day an example has been set to the
industrial enterprise of the country.—(Hear, hear.)
To-day an impulse has been given to the energies of
British shipping and of our northern trade.—(Hear,
hear.) To day we commemorate an advance in our
maritime architecture—and to- day another stone has
been laid in the temple of general peace.—(Cheers.)
Suppose at:the beginning of this century some one now
present, who was then full of youth, and hope, and
eagerness, had seen a vision, and had heard a voice of
prophecy—that he had been taken to some com-
manding eminence whence he could view the port of
Sunderland and the surrounding country, and that
it was told him that within fifty years the genius and
industry of man would construct a highway between
London and Sunderland, over which he could pass and
repass with arrowlike speed, accomplishing in nine
hours the journey of several days—what a look of
incredulity he would assume ! But, suppose further
it was said to him—" See you those goodly ships
which lie crowded and nestling together, like water•
fowl upon the bosom of the river—(Cheers)—and see
you yonder those high and jutting banks, that rough
and rocky shore; those ships will grow old and
decay, but within fifty years, and when other ships
trade in our northern sea, that headland will have
been removed, that rocky shore sunk and ex-
cavated, and there will be safe and inviting
docks, pleasant moorings, and sheltered harbours,
where the largest ships may repose in safety, free
from the rage of the ocean and the fury of the
storm.—(Loud cheers)—would he believe his in.
formant ? Would he not treat as a delusion this
promise of industry:so great, and enterprise so am-
bitious ? Yes ;he would rouse, as it were—he would
stir himself from a dream—and exchange for the
less cheering impressions of real life the picturings of
a romantic fancy. What he could not believe we
have witnessed—what he would have doubted we
have done.—(Hear, hear.) And yonder, on that wall
of the room in which we are now assembled, is a
writing which is fall of heavenly wisdom, of sublime
and eternal truth—a writing which needs no Daniel
to interpret it, a writing which is the proper motto
of labour, and should be inscribed on our banners
in every enterprise—" Nil desperandum auspice
Deo."—(Cheers.) My friend Mr. Wright has re-
ferred with his usual eloquence and power to the
shipping interest of Sunderland, but I cannot refrain
from a brief allusion to the subject. I know the topic
is a somewhat difficult one upon which to speak
without giving offence to some gentlemen here ; but,
properly considered, I think the question of the
support or repeal of the navigation-laws is not a party
question, it is a public, a national, an imperial ques-
tion. It is an abuse of language to call it a question
of party politics. It is a question of life or death, of
rise or ruin to the port of Sunderland.—(llear, hear.)
But if I must not speak in the language of argument,
lest I may disturb our harmony, I shall speak in the
voice of warning what will find a response in every
breast. I implore our rulers to be cautious. I ask
for calm reflection. I demand, in the name of British
shipping, that they will deeply meditate, that they
will patiently inquire before they lay their inter-
fering hands upon this ark of the constitution.
I would remind them that the shipping interest is not
a child of yesterday. 1 would bid them to become
students of history, and read how the shipping of this
country has steadily increased and is daily increasing
under our existing legislation. If they hesitated, or
doubted, I would tell them a significant and stubborn
fact—that in 1844 the tonnage of this port
was
164,592—that rising steadily from that, in 1845' it
was 178,580, and at the close of 1847 the
registered
tonnage of the port was 192,057.—(Hear, hear.)
would say, beware of the fallacy, that the supply
cannot equal the demand.—(Hear, hear.) The argu•
ment which, justly or unjustly, overthrew the corn-
laws is not to be repeated here, for whatever the
demand for British:ships may be, British shipowners
can meet and satisfy it.—(Cheers.) If I was for-
bidden from using the word protection, they dare not
hinder me from using the word persecution. I would
say, pause before you provoke or injure the greatest
interest in the country; experiments in states are like
experiments in the human frame, and your empiric
skill must not make its first essays among the ship-
owners of England. Were my voice unheeded, I
would call to my aid the great name of William
Huskisson.—(Hear, hear.) I would remind them of
his opinion expressed in the debates on the Reci-
procity system, and how he said, in effect, " Thus
far you shall go." Let this be the frontier and limit
of your concessions. If I was still unheeded, I would
appeal to the parent himself of political economy, the
author of the " Wealth of Nations," who said,
" Two interests require protection."—(Hear, hear.)
The first I must not allude to now ; but
the second was the shipping interest of the country !
—(Cheers.) Sir, the coal trade, too, must receive an
impulse from the construction of these docks, and
ether carrying trades will visit us more frequently.
I believe it will lead to a better trade with the East
and West Indies, with America and the Baltic.—
(near, hear.) I believe it will lead to a larger ex-
port from the mineral districts around, and that
assisted by increased railway accommodation, and
facilities of transit, a wide field will be opened up of
inland traffic. I believe the most sanguine man in
this room cannot over-estimate the probable amount
of good to be derived from the construction of these
docks.—(Hear, hear.) It will lead besides to peculiar
results affecting us locally and at home in Sunderlan
da d.
Sir, I remember to have read in my schoolboy a
.'a
something in the elegant Eneid of Virgil, which
applicable to the rising hopes and opening prospects
of Sunderland. He tells us that serpents at times
rub off their old skin among rough and pointed rocks,
and come forth in bright and glittering youth again.
And it seems to me as if Sunderland,
flinging off the
slough of age and indolence, was rekindling the light
of her juvenile days, and bracing herself with new-
born vigour !—(Loud cheers.) When I look to her
Athenaeum—when I hear of her Committees of Im-
provements—when I consider her sanitary measures
—I hail the advent of prosperity and happiness.. I
ulnlocmoman
admire the swift-going wheels of this moral revolution
—and I regard the construction of these docks as a
extravagance of
record—a monument—and
.a. perpetual triumph of
this patriotic and enrerprising spirit I—(Cheers.)
ce
at ri en
remember
ef.
tthesehbeelr. docksuxtuhrayt
sa
uaeslxts
,tor
theaov ta*
nd
the splendid age he lived in and, adorned, alluded to
" the building out of the sea,'
.as he expressed it.
Had lie lived in our time, I think we could have
shown him a work
.of public utility, of which old
'sheihi os
historian, rail architecture
iisttpe.
Rome, in her pal.miest days, would have proudly
claimed the execution. It seems to me as if Sunder-
land was happily destined to exhibit to the world the
rarest :specimens of British engineering, talent, and
architectural skill. Look at her bridge—(Cheers)—
and tell me is it yet surpassed ? If it be, is the time
long gone by, when thousands hastened hither to
gaze upon it as an arch flung by very magic over
your tall ships and busy river?—(Cheers.) And
where else can we find labour so wonderfully directed

and applied as in these docks ? Where else such
piles of huge and solid masonry ? Where else such
vastness of general design, such carefulness in minute
detail ? For my own part lam lost in wonder and
delight when I look upon these works, now rapidly
advancing, and this delight is not lessened when I
consider that every pile driven, in the construction of
those docks, is a new fulcrum for the prosperity of
the country.—(Hear, and cheers.) Lastly, Sir, when
you laid the foundation stone of the Sunderland
hocks, you laid another stone in the Temple of
orGeu trade,
ser
pr ene
car
credit,ta
at t
hob
inlPeae and c
Peace.—(Hear,
fortunes,
eo.
r—htue
suspension(cnlke-
es e
d, a
merchants—amidstr, hear.) Amidst commercial
difficulties, springing, in the main, from providential
l
afflictions, amidst the fall and ruin of old esta-
blished houses, and the insolvency of the most
itoheisoadoaiorgks aonfdwgaloro_my parenthesis in
hoieefn impededta
mo duhpetetpt a
ler
history
i mutterings
capital—amidst
rmioaonyai
actiond
noos
ofand
ofw we
labour,hcirculatione ar h
swmeartoeths which
reatenedcawllitfhor the
are startled by the dialne
ap-
proach of hostile invasion—and our unwilling ears
mili-
tary preparation ! Sir, I believe the French are
not a nation of buccaneers and freebooters.—(Hear,
hear.) Piracy is not part of their tactics, nor is it
legalised by the code of Napoleon. Besides, they
are an essentially discriminating people—they knew
there is a difference between an Arab chief and an
English yeoman.—(Cheers.) Nor will they argue
so strangely that John Bull may be taken asleep,
because they coaxed Abd-el-Kader to Paris.—(Hear,
and laughter.) Far be it from me to say that we
should slumber when danger approaches, or be slow
to assume an imposing attitude when an enemy is at
our gates, or frowns upon our shores—(Hear, hear)
—but I would not have our national energies roused
unnecessarily into action. I would not have us irritate
the foe by providing too zealously for the supposed
consequences of his vengeance.—(Hear, hear.) To
fear an enemy is to flatter him; and too eagerly to
make ready for war is to shake the stability of peace.
—(Cheers.) Sir, I respect great military talents, and
no tame is more deservedly bright than that of him
who has led our armies to battle in defence of our
rights, our liberties, our national existence. I would
not detract from the honours our soldiers have ga-
thered on well-fought battle-fields, or pluck a laurel
from their victorious brows. I would not lower the
dignity of our flag—that flag which has floated tri-
umphantly in every clime under which a Sydney oon-
quered and a Nelson fell—that flag
Which has braved a thousand years
The battle and the breeze."—(Cheers.)
But, if I am to learn the state of a nation from the
character of its triumphs I would sooner argue for
the wisdom and stability of England from a triumph
at which you, Mr. Hudson, presided—(Hear, hear)—
a triumph over natural difficulties surmounted, over
time and distance vanquished—a triumph of waggon-
roads led across fens and marshes—of merchandise
and passengers carried through divided hills and
filled-up vallies—of bridges crossing deep and rapid
streams, and spanning them with giant arches—of
rocks excavated—of heights levelled—of matter and
masses yielding to human industry and skill—a tri•
umph of peaceful labour and successful enterprise—
than from the proudest triumphs of our most memor-
able battles.—(Loud cheers) Who would not prefer
that campaign of art, and science, and skill, to the
squandering of a nation's money. or the shedding of
a people's blood ?—(Hear, hear.) Who would not
prefer the glory of a newly-opened dock or railway
to the brilliant recollections of a Blenheim
or a Waterloo ?—(Cheers.) Who would not
prefer the peaceful works we have this
day witnessed to the toils, the troubles, the tears of
war ? War ! the lord of desolation! the autocrat
of ruin ! widowing and wasting, depopulating and
unhallowing—paralyzing the strong man's arm and
frenzying the ood man's heart—sacrificing the
hopes, the comforts, the liberties of a free people to
its own overwhelming and tyrannous necessities 1—
(Loud cheers.) Sir, lam told of national defences,
and that the necessity for them is urgent. If by
national defences it be understood that we should have
a sufficient standing army at home ready to check
the advance of an invading foe, and show a battlefront
in the hour of peril and the first alarms of war, I
agree with the wisdom of such a preparation ; but if
forts and bastions, and watchtowers, and military
bulwarks and erections be the national defences in-
tended, then, Sir, I think there are other defences
more worthy of attention. I think that inland traffic,
maritime trade, security to the shipping interests, a
steady rate of wages, a mild and humane poor-law,
an extended education o: the people, sanitary im-
provements, commercial credit, and a more freely-
acting currency, are far better national defences.—
(Hear, hear.) Am Ito be told that an enemy would
feel less jealousy at seeing the ships in our northern
harbours freighted with British coal instead of being
armed with British cannon ? Am Ito be told that
an enemy would look with more disquiet at a new
fort built upon the heights of Dover than upon new
docks constructing in the ports of Sunderland ? No,
Sir. The first best way to defend the country is to
make the country best worth preserving.—(Loud
cheers.) Merchant ships and merchant seamen,
maritime trade and commercial credit—here lie our
true strength—no foe can be really terrible while we
are girt around with this national panoply I—(Hear,
hear.) The man who leaves his plough to defend his
fireside may be unskilled in military tactics, but he
supplies the deficiency of his skill by the bravery and
fervour of his heart, and believe me, Sir, it is not the
fear of future defeats, nor the memory of ancient
triumphs, but it is a spirit of peaceful enterprize—
the steadier action of labour and capital—domestic
happiness and social contentment—which can keep
alive in this country a genuine and indomitable cou-
rage—which can foster our native strength—which
can develop our insular resources, and make us
feared, envied, and respected by the nations of the
world !—(Cheers.) Therefore, I rejoice, above all,
in the proceedings of this day, for we have given to
the public good, new hostages of public tranquillity !
In conclusion, Sir, when you gave " The Docks,"
and Mr. Wright "The Shipping Interest," you gave
between you the toast which I have now to give con-
jointly. The shipping interest is so related to the I
docks, and trade to the shipping interest, and
the port of Sunderland to all of them, that its
wishing success to one you wish it to all. Sir,
I do wish success to all. May they form an
enduring and happy co-partnership. Long may
they flourish, dispensive of local and general good.
Whatever clouds lower elsewhere, may the sunshine
of prosperity be upon the decks, the shipping, and
the trade of Sunderland ! (Loud cheers.)
May they advance and be promoted together; and,
inasmuch as they are so closely and intimately con-
nected, may their success be one and mutual !—and
may this golden band be never disunited !—(Cheers.)
.1.:
Dr. 13Kow.si proposed the health of Mrs. Hudson,
to which the Chairman responded.
was
hreonspderriutnyktowtihthe
enthusiasm. rort and Trade of Sunderland,
Tuossas BROWN, Esq., next proposed the health
of the Master and Brethren of the Trinity
House.—(Applause.)
The CUALRMAN then proposed the health of the
i
contractors and their workmen, which was responded
to by Mr. CRAVEN. He then gave "The Ladies of
e ntdhs e, Docktnok place Company
n thbe
Sunderland,"
GRAND which the co
BmpALanyL separated.
.
At night, a ball on a very extensive scale, which
Polytechnic Hall of the Athenaeum, which was deco-
rated with a profusion of laurel and evergreens.
Between four and five hundred cards of invitation
d
were issued, and full that number of persons were
sentperot-u nte principalss at
gentlemenotfhEe asss
es exmabnldNwere
Mrs.
Hudson.
'theser
u i e
thewas shareholdersgiveni b 3. the
and directors
their
f nsaten.lued most of the
the dinner, and
several ladies of rank and station, including the
s

IRELAND.
STATE OF THE POOR.

DUBLIN, FEB. 7.—The accounts from the western
counties are not altogetherso deplorable as those received
last week. In Galway union, where paid guardians
areinstalled, steps have been taken to save the desti-
tute peasantry from absolute starvation. The Poor
law Commissioners have directed that there shall be
no election of guardians this year, so that the affairs
of the union will continue to be administered by the
paid vice-guardians.
The Limerick Examiner gives a further most
afflicting account of the condition of the poor in that
quarter. That journal says :
" Some unaccountable fatality must attend the
deliberations of the Limerick board of guardians.
At
comprehends many men of undoubted intelligence
i
and great personal humanity, and yet ts measures
are defective and abortive ; the depopulating process
thrives under it as well as under the most landlord-
ridden board in Ireland. Within the
.workhouse
the deaths for the last week v4Tre thirty-three
and without, the number, preventible by a proper
application of the poor-law,
must amount to twice
as many more. In this union perhaps one hundred
graves are filled every week by the defective opera-
tion of the poor-law. A bill of 30/. was recently
paid one party for the conveyance of patients from
the workhouse to Barrington's Hospital, and some of
these ill-fated beings were taken from their beds in
I the very crisis of their sickness, trundled into a