The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-27 00:00:00

unanim usly condemned in the house, and therefore he
hopEd the Government would feel that, as a great mari-
tin e people, it was our duty to provide for the recnrity
not only of the lives a• d properties of our fellow-subj,cts
but also those cf foreigners who visited our coasts for the
purpose of commerce. (3eat.)

- Lord A. V. TEMPEST bore his cordial testimony to
the ability and fairness with which the cha'rman of the
committee bad presided over its pr seeedings and entered
into details to show that the north-eastern coast had A
more espechl claim to consideration than any c tber part
of the coast mentioned in the report of the com-
mittee. He also urged upon the First Lerd of the
Adm;ralty the great necessity there was that the com-
mis ion about to be appointed should be impartially con-
stituted, and especial y that the engineers connected
with it should be men bee from all keel prejudice.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said, having already stated, in
answer to a question put to him the other evening by the
hen. member for Davenport, that it was the inteet,on of
the Government to grant this commission, it was unne-
cessary that he should attempt to follow the speakers
who bad taken part in this debate. But he could not
help saying that he quite teemed with the hen, gentle-
man opposite (Mr. Wi:con) in the opinion that the com-
mittee had done full ju-tine to this important subject.
(Hear, hear.) He bad read with great interest their
able report, which he thought fully justified her Majcs-
ty's Government in conceding the commission. It would
be the wish of the Government, in the constitution of
that commission, to provide as fer as they possibly could
for its strict impartiality ; and he hoped,-on the part elf
the house, there would be no indisposition to provide
the necessary funds for carrying out objects so extremely
important fir the protection of shipping, nhich had in-
creased and was still increasing with such astonishing
rapidity, and which was so closely connected with the
wealth and pro;perity of the country. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DODSON complained that the wreck chart ap-
pended to the report indicated only the number of
veseele lost, and not Vie comparative value of the pre-
perty or the number of lives ; and he contended that if
the value cf the shipping wrecked sod the number of
the lives lost were taken as the test, the southern coast
would have an equal, if not greater, claim for c insiders-
eiun than the coast between Flarnborough Head and St. ,
Abb'e, Head, which had been described as the mend dare
gerous. It appeared that in the five years from 1852 to
1856 inclusive 763 vessels were wrecked between Flan,"
borough Head aud SteAbb'e, while between Portsmouth
and Dever only 177 vessels were wrecked in the same
period. But he found, on referring to the registers
kept at the Admiralty and the Beard of Trade, that
the 763 vessels wrecked between Flamborough Beal
end St. Abb's involved the loss of 260 lives, while the
177 vessels wrecked between Portsmouth and Dover
involved the loss of as many as 218 lives. The .hee•
member for Trignmouth bad spoken as if the committee
bad come to a decision with reference to the mode of
paying the expenses that might be incurred, but the
committee had made no distinct recommendation on the
subject.
Sir F. SMITH thanked the Government for having At
once consented to appoint a commission, and tough°
the question of the expense might be deferred' till a
Enure occasion.
Mr. CLAY was glad to find that the Government
had so readily consented to grant a commission. The
erection of harbours of refuge was a national duty, and
ne advantage derived from them would not be con'
fined to the shipping interest alone. He hoped the
Government would not, in this case, fall into the error
which had so much prevailed of late years, that parti-
cular daises of the community ought to pay for wbat
were great national works. (Hear, hear.) When the
commission reported it would be time to consider the
best mode of paying the expenses, but be hoped the fact
would not be lost sight of, that these harbours o efugie
would be for the benefit of the whole community, and
not of the shipping interest only.
Mr. M'CANN moved, in addition to Mr.
motion, that the commissioners be instructed to visit
",
the harbour of Skerries, in the county of Dublin, and
report upon its capabilities and circumstances as 11 el"
for a Barbour of refuge.
Mr. INGHAM had no doubt that, noder the terms ef
their commission, the commisioners would have
power to institute the inquiry suggested by his 11013'
friend. He hoped, however, that the whole body of the
commissioners would not be expected to inquire iot°
the four divisiees e f the qtiestien which bad been rd
commended for consideration, but that the work evee'.
be distribut d among thew rn suers a manner that the'..
inquiries might be brought to a simultaneous conclusioe• '
Mr. YOUNG observed that only one hon. member
connected with the ports on the eastern coast had been
placed upon the committee ; but as representing Yer;
month, he might state that his constituents regarded tbi
ject with c ,nsiderable interest. 1 he harbour accorno3°,.
dawn at Yarmouth was amply ,uffisient for the trade
of the port, but the place was in time of war a naval
station of great importance, and an immense amount °f
shipping passed through the roads every year. 1"."„
thought, therefore, that the attention of the comfy':
signers ought to be special y directed t) that part of the
coast. As many as 2,000 ships had been known to page
Yarmouth Roads; in a day; there were frequently fro
1,000 to 1,400 vessels of various sizes at anchor in tu
roans ; and there was scarcely ever a gale, especial! 9
t
from N.N.E., or S.S.W , in which loss of life did voa
occur. Efficient shelter for shipping might be provides
by comparativdy small expenditure, and he hoped tP
attention of the commissioners would be directed to the
subject_

Mr. RIDLEY expressed his satisfaction at the statn.
went cf the bon. member for Davenport, and his COn'i,l°'
tion that if the commis•sioners followed the course dirt
t,
'
quiry suggested by the committee the result of Oc
investigation would be most advantageous, not•onlY ,
the maritime:interests of Great Britain, but to those °
the whole world.
Mr. DUFF said, the committee did not receive
evidence as to the desirableness of constructing as:¢
tidal harbours of refuge. He wished to know evbetueo
there would be any opportunity of laying such evidenee
before the commission. (Hear, hear.) Many parts n..'• •
the coast of Scotland required small harbours of refog;
and it was owing to the want of such that 42 setainst,
lost their lives some months ago on the Banffshire roe
s#
Mr. HAMILTON did not know why no evidence WBO
taken with reference to Skerriee. It was not theintevti°
of his hon. friend, he believed, to exclude from the o°°.
sideration of the commission any particular localiti;
They would exercise their judgment with reference to 013.7.
locality that might seem to require a harbour of relnges
(Hear.) But the main object of this commission 01.4
he understood, to direct attention to such great harbin
of refuge as were necessary fix the protection of life OA
property. His hon. friend the member for Devonet;
was entitled to great praise for the ability and zeal whib;
he bad bestowed upon this subject, and there could
no doubt that the 'ahem; of toe commission would
be
attended with most beneficial results. He was (1°1,,,0
sure that her Majesty's Government would place tirri,
the commission gentlemen in whose talents and expe
ence the publ c would have the greatest coefidence. to
Mr. PHILIPPS thought it would be inexpeslientbe
name any locality in the resolution, and approved to
remarks of the hon. gentleman opposite (Mr. Duff) 0
the construction of small tidal harbcure of refuge. la
Mr. II A.TCHELL hoped that the commission n'°°
direct their attention to the coast of Wexford. oi
L Lord H. VANE was glad that the Government °p,
assented to the issue of a commission. The loss ofl f 1.6
and property along our coasts bad, owing to the iccren,
of cemmerce, greatly increased of late years. He aPilc
pated most gratifying results from the commission. 0
Admiral I,vALcorrr thought that great praise Oil
due to the committee for the ability and judgment Wi'ef
which they had fulfilled their task. The formation
these harbours would unuestionehly effect a greataAl
jug of life and property, and that was the duty °
f
Governments. (Hear, hear ) lie knew from hie ?
experience that to avoid the payment of harbour utii",#
ships had been wrecked and lives lost, and therefore'
trusted that the commission would direct their attentiFo
to those dues. He was confident that when the conel/
elan made their report the house would not be niggar°
in the performance of its duty. „ne
Mr. WILSON briefly replied, and expressed a °I,
. that the hon. gentleman the member for Drogb:bo
would not press his amendment, because he ininb'sot
satisfied, after what had been said by the Secretary
"
the Treasury, that the subject would not be overloolte
After a few words from Mr. J. H. HAMILTON, be
Sir J. ELPHINSTONE said that the benefit t°
anticipated from harbours Of refuge would be lost if
cat
were not freely open to every flag. He would Deco
consent to laying a passing toll upon ships for Liarh°l3o;
of refuge, but he would readily concur in voting A ic°pi
siderable sum of money to avert the scandal arising ity,s
the great loss of life which occurred every year upon n'"
shores.
Captain MANGLES said that unless the commiel
which was about to be appointed exercised a great at°
of caution a large amount of money would be wasted '0
very little purpose. The idea of harbours of refuge
remarkably Popular with shore going men, and with bolt.
members who represented seaports—and no doubt
looked very pretty upon paper—but until both ',a
foreign and the coasting trade should be carried on ninte,
more generally than it was at present by sti ambles:l,
harbours of refuge would be really vain and 10;isiS
things. An experienced seaman navigating a eel 0,
vessel always avoided the chore when a gale came see
and be did not think, theref ire, that the advany°4el.
which kind and philanthropic people were apt to e:_00
buts to hereours of refuge were likely to result 1100
their more general establishment. Ho cautioned re•
Government to be careful how they listened to repeatr
sentations from the county of Wexford and distant P°
the inhabi,ants of which were all anxious to 110! eon
boors, arel not to be led away by the idea that the 'llf-dge
rune upon vessels which had to pass harbours of re the
would be lessened in consequenco He poir.tcd Vg
hard,hip imposed upon London shipowners in hal!tnesse
pay duties f passing Ramsgate harbour, when I,,oter
notorious that ship; of a certain burden could not ;boo
it, and irstoad;:of naelt.p'ying the occatioos for joist'
imposts he called upon the Government to dull"
those which already existed.
Mr. M'CANN withdrew his amendment, and
The motion was agreed to. , cir•
The house adjeuened at a quarter Wore 10 o

____
dthiC' jout dayguer
uished regiments being ord,rect on actor° se
dared
to Alif.erribw, a wealthy captain t,"3„er"!
his resigi ration, whicll his Royal Highlaws the `.-010',
ClonninaLding-in-Chief declined to accept, and bis °o'3
.„Aill
hal si, cc prevailed upon the gallant captain to recroo
in the regiment, and undergo for a short Peri°,.,3 can
vicissitudes cf carop life. particularly as no owes" vairy.
/low b 3 &veined hr the Household Brigade olCo
---'-4
r.iCted Service Gazette.

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