The Sun.
London, England, 1802-08-28 00:00:00

OPLNIKG OF iVES7 IkDIA-DoCX,S4.
---

YEsa-Cttba:l-, was the day- fiked Upon for the
ceremony of receiving • the first ship into the Great
DOck: The name of the ship Made use of on this
occasion was the Henry
finest
vessel newly
built, and One of the finest in the West India
Trade ; she had been for some days lyingofF,Black-
wail, in order to be adniitted into the Docks:,
. Yesterday morning she displayed an appearance
as beautiful arid splendid as.'can be conceived ;
her masts, yards, iand rigging,: were decorated
with about zdo elegant -Flags; vhich represent-
ed the. Colours of all, ,the.. Nations, in the world.
Four Of these were immediately. applicable. to our
own 'Cbuntry.. The British-Standard was hoisted
at the main-top-gallant-mast-head. • On the fore-
top-gallant-mast was the Admiralty Flag. At the
mizen-top.gallant-mast the Union Jack was hoisted;
and at the stern, was the great English Ensign, fas-
tened to a rope, which reached from the top of
the mizen-peak to the quarter-deck. The dif-
ferent other Colours were flying from the stays,
the braces, and various other ropes communicating
between the masts and•the yards. Among these the
Colours of America; Spain, Portugal, France, Rus-
sia, and those countries with which we carry on the
greatest commerce, were the most conspicuous.—
There were American Colours near the bow-sprit
and 'thefore.itip:mast. those of France were 0,--
ing .near 'the- plain-top,yaid-arm, on the larboard
side. Penchints of all descriptions waved at each
yardarm, and the ship moved amidst the plaudits
of an immense multitude.
About twelve o'clock, themuter gates, Communi,
'eating between the River and the Etritrance Bason
Were opened, and the ship was towed in by men on
• each side of the Bason, who were about one hun-
dred in number: The motion of the ship through
the Bason was very slow. At one o'clock she en,
rered the Great Dock ; Immediately on which the
Company on board of her, together with all the
people assembled along the shore, gave three.cheers.
The band of music on board, as well as the band of
the West. London Militia, which was on _shore,
played " God save the King:" The 'vessel was
then fastened to one of thetnoorings that lay next
the Entrance Bason ; and of which there are four
and twenty in the Dock.
The Earl of ROSLYN ; Lords HciOD, PELHAM,
HOBART, HAIVRESSIIKY, SHEFFIELD, HARVEY,
and GLENB-ERVIEJ Sir SIDNEY SMITH, the LORD
MAYOR, Sir GEORGE SHEE, Mr. Alderman CUR-
TIS, Mr.-MANNING, &c. &c. went on board the
ship,. from which a salute of twenty-one. guns was
fired on their stepping upon deck. By that• hospi-
table tune, 44 The Roast Beef of Old England,"
which the band struck up at this time,. they were
invited to an elegant cold Collation which was pro-
vided for-the company.on board, and of which they
partook. At two o'clock they landed from the,
ship under a discharge of fourteen guns fired as a
second salute; and they afterwards 'returned to
dine with the Diredors at the London Tavern.
Shortly after. the Henry Addington, another West
Indianian, called the Eebo," entered the Dock, and
was -brought to a mooring. The former was light,
but the latter contained between 6 and -9-caci hogs-
heads of sugar, which will be the first goods depo-
sited .in the new warehouses, .of which there are
three now ready for the reception of merchandize.
It was 4 not to be expeded that in a work of such
magnitude and difficulty as the present, every thing
could be•perfed ; and therefore we were not sur-
prized
.at finding that a part of the gate next to the
Great Dock could not be immediately opened,
owing to the chain that communicated between it,
and the capstan haVing been broken. But the ship
in moving along did what the chain was.unable to do.
• It Was not alone at this place that the day was
celebrated. Numbers of ships lying near Lime_•
house Hole and at Blackwall, had their Colours fly-
ing, •and Colours were displayed on•land at various.
places adjacent. The Royal Standard was all day
hoisted on the top of the Warehouse No. 8.
. The company on board the - Henry Addington
consisted chiefly of West India Merchants and their
friends, Several persons were admitted on board
with tickets, and the-ship was very crowded. Al-
-Most the -whole of her quarter-deck was covered
with a beautiful awning; between which and the.
stern a kind of stage was- ere led, on which the
band of music waft placed. The company; attong
which were nutriberS of elegant females, had every
kind of refreshment, and they coritintieci bh bead to
a late hour in the evening.
Although the crowds On each side of the Dock,
particularly on the South sides <Where all persons-had •
free access, were immense; we have not heard of
any one accident having taken place. Several Gen-
tlemen and Ladies on the North Quay, were at one
time thrown down cm the sand and loose timber;
but-that was occasioned chiefly by the carelessness
of the men who were towing in the ship.
'The-Warehouset.are- the grandest, the most cwt_
rt.:odious and spacious we have .ever seen,. and are
capable of containing a vast quantity of goods.
When the Noblemen and Gentlemen we have
already Mentioned arrived at the London Tavern,
they were met there by His Royal Highness the
Duriti of Yoftk, the Right Hon: Mr. AtitiitsthTdri,
and a number- of Noblemen and Gentlemen, who
partook of a very sumptuous dinner, which was
provided on the occasion, and the day was spent
with great conviviality. After dinner the follow-
ing toasts were drank
The Kx tre and Constitution.
The QUEEN.
The Dun.x. of YORK and the Army. .
Lord Sr. Vlrrcr.pr and the Navy.
Success to the West.:lndia and London jocks; anif may
every future Improvement of the Portliroduce.the need of
more.

Mr. ADDr NOT orli and Thanks for his. steady and zealous
Promotion of the, great national-Objects committed to the
Conduct of the West-India Dock Company.
Lord HAW Kasai:lay; and the other Noblemen-and Gentle-
. men -who patronised and supported in Parliament the estab-
lishment of the West-India Dock Company.
Mr. Prrri and Thanks to him for his distinguished Pa-
tronage in the Foundation of-the West India Dock Courpany.
Prosperity to the British West-India Colonies.
Lord Hoot, and the other surviving Heroes of theglarious
Twelfth of April.
Thanks to the Statesmen and Warriors; who: by their ex.;
ertions and braiery have procured us the blessings of Peace,
Lord --Sat a v rfa L o the steady friend of the West-India
Dock
.Company.
Cordiality and Unanimity to' the Imperial Kirgdom Of
Great Britain and Ireland.
Thanks to the Noblemen and Gentlernen-who have ho-
actireti u with their (company this day.