The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-22 00:00:00

THEATRE-ROYAL, OLYMPIC.

TIM EVENING, at 7, SLASHER &CRASHER: Messrs Atkins,
Taughan, G. Vincent, &c.: Miss Lennox Grey and Mrs Caulfield.
After which. at 7.45, PAPER WINGS : Messrs. H. Wigan ,
H. Neville, E. Atkins, H. Vaughan, H. Cooper, and Smithson;
Mesdaroa. Furtado, Schavey, N. Harris, and st. Henry.

ROYALTY THEATRE.
tuner the Management of Miss M. Oliver.

TIPS EVENING, at 7.30, A LOVING CUP. Mr. Dewar, Miss
M. Oliver. To be followed by CLAUDE DUVAL; Mr. Dewar,
dtc. To conclude with FAMILY JARS.

PRINCE OF WALES'S ROYAL THEATRE.
Under the Management of Miss Marie Wilton
THIS EVENING, SCHOOL: Messrs. Hare, H. J. Montague.
Addison, Glover, and Bancroft; Mrs. Buckingham White. Miss
0. Addison, and Miss Marie Wilton. After which, A WINNING
HAZA RD. And INTRIGUE.

ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. AND CIRCUS, HOLBORN.
Tins EVENING, the Great Carre Troupe and magnificent Stud
of 50 Horses; also Alfred Bradbury, A. Carre, &c.

ST. GEORGE'S THEATRE, REGENT STREET.
This EVENING, at 8, THE ROYAL ORIGINAL CHRISTY'S
MINSTRELS' Ethiopian Entertainment: and the Burlesque
Extravagi.nza, THE VERY G I:AND DUTCH—S.

CHRISTY MINSTRELS. St. James's Hall, Every Night, at 8
Wednesdays and t'aturdays, at 3 and 8 all the year round.

ROYAL AL HAMB RA PALACE. THREE BALLET -,
Promenade Concert. Band of GO. Begin at 8. Is. Box-office
open from 11 to 4.

ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, Regent' k, OPEN daily (ex-
cept Sundays). Admission, is.; on Mondays, 6€1.; Children
under twelve, M.

71/7 r. Aor
rat)3 r7s9lllt

LOADOS, MONDAY, FEB. 22, 1869.

Those who appreciate the importance of our mer-
cantile marine will see with satisfaction that the ex-
President of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
has made some more remarks on the subject. Ile
has directed his attention this time to marine in-
surance, and has succeeded in showing its importance
in matters beyond those which are pecuniary. Great
improvement is called for in the manner in which the
rate of Iretnium is conducted, and a little considera-
tion cannot fail to show the evils wi,ich result from
the present systetn. The underwriters
for the most part adopted time injudicious system of
basing the rate of 1 retnian upon the classification of
the ship, irrespective of the character of the coin-
wander and the quality of the nautical instruments
that are employed. It is indeed an anoma'ons state
of affairs, and it is only surprising that something
should not have been done in the matter before this ;
but public attention is often slow in observing such
inconsistencies until some chance arouses it. It is in
every way unfair that the careful and conscientious
shipowner should be called upon to pay
as much es the careless and indifferent one. While
it is certain that the sea has risks which cannot be
avoided, it is also very evident that far greater
hazard must be run by an unseaworthy ship, badly
equipped and with an indifferent crew, than by one
which possesses the due requisites for a voyage, and
has a careful commander. It is truly observed in
this letter referred to that our underwriters can do
much if they like to render the State important ser-
vice, and that it is most important that " the living
agency whence alone these vessels must derive their
safety should be brought out and maintained by the
highest state of efficiency." It is to be hoped that
thesej udicio us remarks may receive the attention
they so justly
merit, and that those most specially re-
ferred to will take heed to their ways, for it is evident
that a reform is loudly called for. The suggestion
contained in the concluding paragraph of this state-
ment is likewise well worthy of attention. It is to
the effect that the Government should aim at render-
ing it impossible for unseaworthy and insufficiently
equipped vessels to leave our ports. The under-
writers should be more careful in the discharge of their
duties, and encourage the efforts which are made
by the conscientious shipowner, while last, and not
least, the shipowner himself should remember the
" deep responsibility" which rest upon him if he fails
in the fulfilment of his duty to the ship. The large
shipowners who are self-insured enjoy comparative
immunity from loss, and this is owing to the care
and caution they adopt in guarding against those
causes from which great sacrifice of life and property
have arisen. It is scarcely necessary to impress the im-
portance of these considerations on all whom they may
concern, and if the result of these communications be
to awaken a spirit of inquiry into the causes of recent
disasters with a view to find a remedy the objects of
the writer will surely be attained. 'Wherever there is
an error there should be found a willingness to im-
prove, and if the present system of underwriting be a
bad one let it be amended, changed or controlled as
the case may be ; but let us not fold our hands while
property is being sacrificed, and the national charic-
ter for maritime efficiency remains at a discount.

THE history of the Dagenham Docks is, indeed, an
extraordinary narrative. Seldom has a Government,
which sins more in omission than commission, been
guilty of such an inexplicable act of arbitrary inter-
ference. The story as given in our columns on
Saturday, is simple, the facts beyond doubt. Far
beyond the Eastern confines of London, in the
Essex marshes, is situated a small lake, which it has
been proposed to convert into docks. The ;site is
some distance from London, but land there is cL.eap,
On Friday evening a measure of some importance the position very advantageous for some purp oses,and
was introduced into the House of Commons and read communication with the entire railway &ystent is
the subject may not possess many immediate. A company was formed to transform
special attractions to distinguish it from the host of the waste into a port. Three Acts of Parliament
were obtained. The public subscribed much of the
bills and motions which press on
.the notice of
members at the opening of every session; it rulers,capital, and the works were commenced. Land
indeed, to a branch of our Administration which is
around the lake was bought, and by the spring of
1868, though the docks were still in pcome, a pi( T had
been made with all necessary appliances for la Tiding
singularly unsuccessful in gaining the attention of
our legislators. Indian affairs, whether they refer
and unloading, warehouse accommodation had been
to finance or famine, to cotton cultivation or the provided, and a railw ny station was close at han d. It
transfer of the scat of Government, are alike apt to was thought that this part of the works :ijght
weary the listening Few of them have at once be put into operation. The; ~17,;ttr
studied Indian subjects, and they do not attempt is deep at this point of the river, the situati,m is well
to understand them. It is doubtful whether any- adapted fcr storing dangerous goods, u.,nd much
thing less momentous than a mutiny would have in- business had been secured beforehand. But w' den
duced the House of Commons to go patiently through application was made to the Customs' Commission ers
f
the clauses of the great Act of 1858. The question for the necessary license to land goods free of du
involved in Mr. GRANT DUFF'S Bill, however, is one it was decisively refused. It vain it was shewn -t hat
whose importance can be readily appreciated by any the whole property would be injured, the works in
fact suspended by such a decision. Very mar, .Y

a first time.