The Sun.
London, England, 1833-05-10 00:00:00

OBSERVATIONS ON PORT WILLIAM AT

REDCAR.

(From the Nautical Magazine of May.)

" The difficulty experienced by vessels of entering the
river Tees in had weather is well know❑ to be so great as
to render it of no avail to those that may run for it to
avoid being wrecked. The entrance is so badly situated
with respect to the sea, and the channel of the river so
narrow, and its direction so unfavourable, that even after
a vessel has arrived within the bar, there is every
chance of her striking on the dangerous sands by which
she will be encompassed. This unhappily is of too
common occurrence, and renders the great estuary of the
Tees, instead of a place of security, one of infinite dan-
ger at present to the unfortunate mariners who may be
embayed on this coast in an easterly gale. Compelled
to seek refuge from the fury of the storm, or to founder
at sea, the devoted vessel runs for the river Tees as a
last, and too often as a fatal, resource. Mr. Brookes
has given us some lamentable instances of the want of
a harbour which vessels might easily run into in case
of bad weather ; and while we are yet writing, a fine
vessel, the Wesley, of Sunderland, lies on the North Gare
sand at the mouth of this river, a prey to the dangers
to which we have just alluded. The want of a harbour
on the east coast of England in the vicinity of the Tees, on
this account alone, is generally acknowledged; but there
are others which render it, if possible, still more to be
desired.
" Let us consider it in the light of a naval station. Our
naval arsenals are all seated in the southern portion of the
country, and we can see no other reason why they should
be so, than that of nature having granted local advan-
tages there which suited such a purpose. The vicinity of
a foreign shore (frequently that of an enemy) could be no
reason; for in this case the southern and the eastern coast
of England would be pretty nearly on a par ; and there
can he little doubt that, had the eastern coast possessed
such excellent ready-made harbours as Pottsmouth and
Plymouth, and had the southern coast been one straight
line of cliff without any opening, that we should have
the same first-rate naval arsenals on the former as we
now have on the latter. We have alluded already, in a
previous number, to the inconvenience occasioned by this
want of a harbour to our fl-ws, which have in conse-
quence been compelled to ride in an exposed anchorage
for many days together on our coast, without the possi-
bility of communicating with the shore; and while har-
bours of lesser pretensions are constructing on the same
coast fir the purposes of commerce, we see no steps
taking to supply the deficiency in this more extended point
of view.

" For the purposes of a naval station many good quali-
ties are required in a harbour, which we are sati-fied will
be iound at Redcar, in the Tees Bay. In such a harbour
there must be ample room, while there is ample security,
and there must be an ea-y ingress and egress at all times
of tide, besides which, these facilities should be the same
by night as by day. Now, we will advance the unqua-
lified assertion that the proposed harbour at Redcar could
he taken at all times of tide, in the severest weather, by
the largest class of vessels. The breadth of the entrance
is 1,300 feet, and the depth there, at low water, five
fathoms; so that by the arrangement of lights, vessels
could enter by night as well as by day. In point of se-
curity, it is a rem itkatile fact, that even in its natural
condition the anchorage between the two ridges of alum-
shale rocks, called the Scars, which are proposed as the
ba-es of the piers of the harbour on its north and south
sides, has afforded ample safety in bad weather; a fact
which vet: far indeed to prove that we have here substance
and not shadow. The bottom is formed of sand lying
over blue clay, the tenacity of which added to the protec-
tion of the Silt Scars, once enabled a smuggling brig,
which had been caught there in bad weather, to ride out a
north-east gale at her anchors in safety, even at high-
water. But we have artutLer fact to advance, which is no
less important, regarding the s curity of this anchorage
in bad weather, even in its present a itural condition, which
is, that the fishermen and pilots of Redcar, when, in con-
sequence of the bad state of the weather, they cannot go
to their usual fishing ground at sea, employ their nets on
the site of the proposed harbour, between the Scars, and
in the south bay , a tolerably good prof both of the quiet
state of the sea and the nature of the bottom ; for if this
were rocky, such a thing would be impossible. Another
instance may also be mentioned, of the comparatively quiet
state of the sea at Redcar in bad weather. On the 27!h
of March, 1808, the smack, Caledonia, of Aberdeen, was
wrecked on the outer part of the Salt Sear, when seven-
teen of her clew and passengers were drowned, and six
only saved. Part of this vessel's cargo consisted of granite
paving blocks for London; and although a period of
twenty-five years has elapsed since that event took place,
the same blocks remain where she was wrecked ; thus
affording a convincing proof of there being little or no
groundswell, or weight of sea, where it is proposed to
make the harbour, in comparison with that which is found
on other parts of the coast of England. In fact, there
never is much sea at Redcar ; a rock called the "High,"
on which there is fifteen feet of water, assists to protect
the site of the proposed entrance of the harbour ; and the
ridges of alum-shale, called the Soars, completely secure
the enclosed space on either side. The area of the har-
bour would amount to 435 acres at high water, and 313
acres available at low-wirer spring tides, for loaded ships :
that at Kingstown, in Dublin bay, is not more than 230
at high water; from which some idea may be formed of
the superiority of Redcar. We shall have ample space,
therefore, for any fleet that may be employed in the North
Sea. In some pier harbours, a great oversight has been
committed—sufficient room has not been left tor vessels to
round to, and shake the wind from their sails; a failing
which will be avoided at Redcar by the plan before us.
" Having considered some of the first qualities which a
naval asylum harbour ought to possess, and which will be
found at Redcar, let us now examine the advantages
afforded by the adjacent country, to render it a great naval
arsenal. We have briefly touched on these in a former
number, but we will now consider theta more fully. Mr.
Brooks tells us, that "as inexhaustible supply of free-
stone is to be found in the quarries at Upleatham, situated
ab ,ut three miles from the harbour, the intervening
country presenting every facility for the formation of an
advantageous line of railway, and inclined planes for the
descent of the material ; from which it appears that this
material is at hand, and only requires a trifling car-
nage, which Mr. Brookes calculates will cost sixpence
per ton. But, considering it as the site of a nay

arsenal, the construction of docks becomes the first point,
and the nature of the shore at Redear is such, that docks
for our first rate men•of--war might be constructed there

for one-fourth the usual-expense of such works at other
places, and without the pos.,ihility of such failures which
som,times attend their construction. The champ, rs of

the ducks would have to he quarried out of th, half•tide
,lum•dhale rocks to nine teet or so only, below the level
of low water, to enable them to receive a line•of-hattle
ship, the ordinary rise of spring-tides exceeding sixteen
feet ; in fact, nothing can be more favourable than the
alum-shale rock in its nature for this purpose, on account
or the solidity and facility with which the required docks
or basins on the grandest scale might be constructed. A
short distance to the south of Reilcir is a manufactory of
cement, the material for the formation of which abounds
in the neighbourhood ; an important consideration, where
such works are contemplated. The adj scent rocks con-
tain large quantities of iron-stone ; and when we take

into consideration that by means of the ship canal, pro-
jected by Mr. Brooks, to be made between the coal port
of the Tees and the naval station of Port William, an

abundant supply of coal can be also obtained at a light ex-
pense—with these important advantages, a c moon and
anch,.r foundry may be esta'dished there, to supply those
iirtici,s3o per cent. cheaper than at other places.
4‘ The sand hills among the Marake shores could also be
converted into an excellent artillery ground ; and there is
also an abundance of pure spring water, for the supply of
shipping. These are the principal desiderata in a naval
station ; the rest of the works, such as rope walks, mast
and boat howes, storehouses, and such other component
puts of a naval arsenal, would all follow in their usual
order. The locality of Redcar, we must therefore con-
clude, is decidedly favourable for such a purpose. As a
rendezvous for our North Sea fleets in a future war, where
they would lie in ample security, and be enabled to put to
sea on the shortest notice, anti in the severest weather to
keep up an intercourse with the shore, the projected
harbour at Redcar would be most desirable—for such ad•

vantages were never yet experienced on the eastern coast ;
but, instead of them, as we have befo?e observed, the con-
trary, with all the attendant inconvenience to the service,
and expense to the country, was to be found.
" But we have yet to consider Redcar in the light of a
trading port; and in this point of view, so many and so
great are the promised advantages, that even on this ac-
count alone it ahou'd be no longer neglected.
" The fact of there being no port between the Humber
on the south, and Leith Roads on the north, that a vessel
can enter at low water, throughout so great an extent of
our eastern coast, is a prolific cause of the loss of life and
property, affecting not only the shipping interest, but the
commercial prosperity of the country. By the establish-
ment of the proposed harbour, that protection would be
afforded ; for, in consequence of its peculiar situation,
being so far to leeward in easterly gales, vessels might
always run for Redcar with the certainty of making it.
130 allowing that the harbour were full, or that by ace,-
dent they should miss the entrance, the bay then to the
south would afford them the desired shelter, by the posi-

tion of the piers of the harbour, and the sea being broken
by the high rock. The nature of the bottom in this bay
is soft blue clay, which also lies beneath the sand on the
shore ; and the anchorage there is so good, that vessels,
even in the present rate of the place, have been known
to ride out gales in safety : added to which, there can be
no better situation as a ►ast resource for a vessel to run
ashore on, than the sands between Redcar and Marske.

" In a commercial point of ♦iew, the establishment of
Port William would be of material benefit to the general
trade of the eastern coast, from the security it would af-
ford to the navigation of the North Sea, and the impetus
that will be given to the capital, which now lies almost
dormant, and consequently deteriorating, during the winter
months. Instead of this, constant employment would he
found for thousands of seamen, who are now unable to
maintai❑ themselves in those months. One inevitable re•
suit of the present condition of the coast is an increased
charge to the consumer of the produce from it ; and, we
believe, it may be safely anticipated that the colliers of the
north, by the establishment of Port William, will be ena-
bled to make on an average one-seventh more the annual
number of voyages to London.

: -
" But it is not to the coal trade alone that we would
I confine ourselves, in considering the claims of Port
Wal-
liam. The various little harbours on the coast are natu-
rally entitled to become the outlets for the supply of coal
from their respective districts; and in this capacity we
hope to see them flourishing Ports. Port William has
far higher pretensions. The extent of the acconamoda-
' tions which the size of it would afford, are such as would
entitle it to partake of the advantages of the East India
trade, according to the alterations proposed in the Coin-
, pony's charter—advantages which the people of Newcastle
are already thinking of. Newcastle is proverbially a coal
port, admitting vessels only of a certain tonnage ; and as
a coal port Newcastle will flourish, as it always has, but
from natural causes could never vie with Redcar. The
peculiarly good qualities which Redcar possesses of a great
depth of water, a la•ge superficial extent, and an advan-
tageous local situation, are such as would render it an
eastern Liverpool, the channel by which the manufactures
of Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, &c., would find
their way to the Baltic, as they do already to nearly every
part of the world through Liverpool and Bristol. This is
the light in which we would consider the proposed harbour
at Redcar as a trading port; and if we are not mistaken,
in this sense, far from interfering with its lesser sisier
ports, it would benefit them and the whole surrounding
country, in no trifling degree. Tate facilities which it
would afford as a shipping port for Baltic ships, which
would thus avoid the dangerous and intricate navigation
of the Thames, are important considerations, for they
would act powerfully on the whole central commerce 01
the country, and be the means of as easily introducing
other foreign produces. As a harbour fir the northern
ream-boats to call at, for the put pose of taking in fuel
and landing passengers, no situation would he more con-
venient than that of Redcar; and they would thus be
enabled to start will half the quantity of coals now ne•
cessary for the voyage to London, and thereby be enabled to
take a greater freight of goods. In the time of war, now
that steam navigation has so materially affected our naval
warfare, there can be little doubt that a permanent and
secure station on our eastern coast would be required for
the safety of our steam vessels of war ; which Redcar
would well supply, on account of its being the nearest
coal sea-port to the Thames.
" A duty yet remains to be performed towards our-
selves. We must not be supposed to have advocated the
construction of Port William on any other than purely
national motives. While we find other works of a similar
description immortalising the names of our Monarchs
under whos, government they were projected and formed,
we are fully satisfied that an opportunity here presents
itself of following the example with far more splendid re-
sults; and, as before observed, the projected ha. boor of
Redcar would be worthy, when completed, of bearing the
name of our most gracious naval Sovereign, surpassing, as
it would, all of them in magnificence and national utility.
Satisfied as we are of the great advantages which Port
William would afford in a truly national point of view,
we consider it our duty to lend such a project our firmest
support. Sooner or later, we are convinced that it will
be adopted. Those advantages which it possesses ri quire
only to be known, and Redear wi.l gradually become a
flourishing port; supplying that lamentable deficiency in
harbours which our eastern coast has so long laboured
under, and assisting us in preserving unimpaired that ma-
ritime supremacy over other nations, which belongs to
England, which she has secured with the blood of some
of her bravest sons, and which Englishmen have been
taught, from the very nursery, to look upon as their na-
tural and undeniable birthright."

IRISH CHURCH REFORM BILL.

CORRECTED LIST
WHO VOCE!) ON THE SECOND REA
FORM.

OF THE MINORITY
LDING OF THE IRISH CII WRCH RE-
BILL.
Pigot, R.—Bridgewater
Plumptre, J. P.—East Kent
Pollock, F.—Huntingdon
Price, IL—New Radnor
Ross, C.—Northampton
Sanderson, R.—Colchester
Scarlett, Sir J.—Norwich
ISomerset, Lord G. C. H.—Mon.

mouthshire
Stanley, E.—West Cumberland
Stewart, John—Lvmington
Stormont, Lord—Norwich
Villiers, Viscount—Honiton
Welby, G. E.—Grantham
Williams, R.—Dot chester
Williams, T. P.—Marlow
Wood, T.—Brecknockshire
Wynn, Right Hon. C. W.W.—
I Montgomeryshire

SCOTLAND.

Arbuthnot, Gen.—Kincardine-

shire
Gordon, Capt. W.—Aberdeen,

shire -
Hay, Sir J.—Peebles-shire
Johnston, A.—St. Andrews