The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,'

• the part of the railway were sent in together, the one
framed on the assumption that Plymouth was to be
abandoned as a depot, as suggested by the Commis-
sioners themselves ; the other, that it was to be re-
tained, but that Southampton was to be the port of
embarkation for the emigrants collected in London,
and housed at Nine Elms. The Commissioners, how-
ever, subsequently determined on retaining Plymouth
as a port of call. As regards, then, the second tender,
that of the railway company proved to be the lower
by 30 per cent., the Commissioners, nevertheless, de-
clined it in favour of the higher, and manifestly the
less eligible of the two : this, moreover, in the very
teeth of the report of Lieutenant LEAN, R. 1., the
chief officer of emigration at the port of London, who,
on the eligibility of the offered depot at Nine
Elms being referred to him by them, pronounced in
favour of its superiority to all other suggested de-
pats, as well as of the contingent advantages afforded
to the public service and the comfort of the emi-
grants in the facility provided thereby (by means of
the South-Western Railway) for embarking all emi-
grants at Southampton instead of in the Thames.
The tenor of this report was what might naturally be
expected from a naval officer of judgment, to whom the
casualties to life and shipping, and the indefinite and
serious delay which so commonly occurs to ships in the
Downs and in making the North Foreland, likely to at-
tend on. the Thames embarkation, were apparent. No
wonder then that the South-Western directors labour
under a difficulty of understanding why much the
lowest tender, made by parties of perfect responsibi-
lity, and much the best depot, were rejected in favour
of a greatly inferior der6t at Deptford, consisting of
an old dwelling-house, so old, it is said, as to have been
once inhabited by Peter the Great, and not placed
either on a railway or on the river. The Commis-
sioners indeed maintain, in their report to Earl GREY,
dated the 18th March last, that embarkation at
Southampton would cost more than that on the
Thames by 2s. sd. per head, or a total in the year on
6,000 emigrants of 725/. ; and further, that
ships engaged to take emigrants from the for-
mer port, and calling at Plymouth, would make
a higher charge for passage money than if
engaged to take them up in London, and also call at
Plymouth. On the latter point their assertion is
directly at variance with the recorded opinion of
Lieut. LEAN, their own officer, besides its being ob-
vious that a greater charge would not be made where
the amount of provisions, which must necessarily be
consumed during the passage from London to South-
ampton, would be saved, than if they were consumed
on the longer route. As to the previous calculation,
are we to allow nothing for the saving to the
ship in provisions and water during the
number of days, often amounting to ten or
twelve, occupied in getting out of the Thames
and reaching Southampton ? Taking the low average
of five days, the correct result of the calculation of
the Commissioners is (in lieu of what they contend
for), a saving of 4751. upon the whole 6,000 emigrants,
or of ls. 7d. per head, by adopting Southampton for
embarkation in preference to the Thames. Thus, on
the comparative economy of the two schemes there can
be no reasonable doubt, and as little as regards the
comfort of those embarking from a railway carriage at
the wharf side at Southampton, instead of in the
stream of the Thames, or the needless wearisome-
ness of achieving the circumnavigation of the coasts
of Kent, Sussex, and Rants. But the still more
important element of safety remains to be considered.
The returns at LLOYD'S show that during seven
years, between 1837 and 1843, the following fearful
loss of life and property took place on the sea voyage
between the Thames and the Isle of Wight :-56
vessels were totally lost, with all or several of their
living cargo ; 260 were wrecked or foundered, the
lives being saved, but property lost; and 1,057 re-
ceived severe damage, by running on the shoals or
otherwise. Since then, the loss of the Royal Ade-
laide, with all on board— 250 souls—will occur to
our readers, as well as that of the Amphitrite, who
was driven from her anchorage in the Downs, and
all hands lost, including upwards of 100 female
convicts; of two Indiamen, the Conqueror
and the Reliance, with almost a total loss
of life ; of the Burhampoota, freighted with
emigrants, who lost all except their lives ; and of the
Sarah Bridges, in tow of a steamer, who broke
adrift, and neither vessel or crew were ever seen
afterwards. Of such a lamentable nature are the
casualties risked by wantonly encountering this un-
necessary navigation, whereas the perils of the Good-
win Sands and the east end of the Channel would be
altogether avoided by constituting Southampton the
starting point for those who transfer their household
gods to the distant shores of Australasia.
It results, then, that the Commissioners have
acted in this instance in contravention of the fitting
considerations of safety, convenience, and economy ;
that they have erred both on the score of
humanity and of finance. The directors of the Lon-
don and South-Western Railway Company have, in
our opinion, a substantial claim on the support of all
who are interested in Australian emigration, and in
a fair and judicious treatment cif public tenders,
in applying to the Legislature to insist on the ques-
tion of depOts and the best ports of embarkation for
emigrants collected in London being re-opened for
public tender, at the earliest date consistent with the
present engagements of the Commissioners, and that
in the meantime the Commissioners take no steps to
prejudice the full and fair reconsideration of the
question next year. The subject is one in every re-
spect eminently deserving the consideration of all
who feel interested in the well-being of those among
our fellow-countrymen who are impelled to transfer
their all to that distant hemisphere, which offers to
British enterprise a genial climate and a virgin soil.

Mr. C. Villiers paired with Mr. Hudson in favour
of Mr. Bathe amendment on Tuesday night.
THE HIPPODROME AT KENSINGTON.—TESTIMONIAL
OF RESPECT.—On Wednesday evening the members of the
corps dramatique and equestrians attached to Astley's Am-
phitheatre, and the Hippodrome at Kensington, with a num-
ber of private gentlemen, assembled at Mr. Macintosh's
Tavern, Westminster-bride, for the purpose of presenting
Mr. Richard Ballard, of 1\ orwich, a gentleman of fortune,
and who is associated with Mr. Batty in his new, extensive,
and successful speculation the Hippodrome at Kensington,
with a massive gold snuff-box, of exquisite handicraft,
manufactured by Mr. Church, the jeweller of the Westminster
road, as a slight token of their regard and esteem. Mr. T.
Barry was unanimously called on to preside, who, on taking the
chair, briefly opened the business of the evening by making
a few preliminary remarks explanatory of the nature of the
meeting. The testimonial, which bore the following in-
scription, was then presented in due form—" Presented to
Richard Bullard, Esq., by the proprietor and gentlemen of
Astley's Royal Amphitheatre, as a mark of their regard, and
of the estimation in which they hold him for his urbanity
of manner and gentlemanly conduct towards them." A
first-rate supper was then served (Mr. Barry acting as pre-
sident, and Mr. Stephen Smith croupier), to which ample
justice was done; likewise the wines, which were of the best
vintages. The healths of Mr. Batty, Mr. Bullard, the chair-
man, vice-president, &c., having been drunk with the
greatest enthusiasm, several speeches followed from the im-
mortal Widdicombe, and his merry colleagues of the circle,
Mr. Batty, Mr. Vickress, Mr. Macintosh, and other gentle-
men, and it was at a late, or rather an early hour on the
following morning, that the company separated, harmony
and conviviality reigning throughout the proceedings.
ROBBERY AT THE GREAT EXIIIBITION.—Yester-
day information was circulated throughout the Metropolitan
and City Police Stations that a case in the Exhibition had
been plundered of a silver medal of the Royal Dublin So.
ciety, 1844 ; a gold medal of the Dublin Society, 1851, with
the name of Bradford on both ; and some razors, marked
" Bradford, Clonmel, cutler to H. R. H. Prince Albert." A
second case was plundered of a silver medal of the same
society.

THH GREAT EXHIBITION.—The compensation dis-
pute long subsisting between the Society of Arts and the
Messrs. James and George blunday, who had entered into an
agreement to erect an edifice suitable for the " Great Exhi-
bition of 1851," but which agreement was afterwards can-
celled upon promise of adequate remuneration for outlay,
risk, liability, anxiety, trouble, and loss, has at length been
settled by Mr. Stephenson, appointed sole umpire in the
matter, who has awarded the said Messrs. Munday the sum
of 5,1201.

SUDDEN DEATH.—Yesterday (Wednesday) morn-
ing, between three and four o'clock, Peter Miller, who re-
sided at 3b, Russell-street, Liverpool, was found dead in the
area of 101, London-road, in that town, by a sergeant of
police. lie had been seen in apparently good health but a
short time previously. The body presented no external
marks of violence. An inquest and post mortem examination
will take place to. day.

SUDDEN DEATH.—Yesterday afternoon a man of
respectable appearance was found sitting in a doorway in
Bishopsgate-street Without, quite dead. He had been ob-
served but a few minutes previously resting himself. The
body was taken to the East London Union; it is that of a
man about forty-five, dressed in dark coat and trousers, and
light vest. Had a quantity of wearing appar2l with him,
and some silver spoons in his pocket.

BITERS BIT.—Mr. W. France, of Coll ingwood-
street, Liverpool, has left at our office a large oyster, by means
of which two mice were caught in a most remarkable man-
ner. It appears that the oyster was, a few evenings since, left
upon a table, and during the night must, as his species are
wont to do, have opened his jaws. Two mice, probably
attracted by the prospect of a dainty meal, unsuspectingly
entered the oyster's habitation, when their adversary chose
to close his shell, and the unlucky intruders paid for their
impertinence by the forfeit of their heads, being completely
armslied to pieta.—Liverpool Mirctory.

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