The Sun.
London, England, 1835-12-04 00:00:00

STEAM NAVIGATION.

Yesterday was held, at the London Tavern, a very re-
spectable meeting of the owners and agents of steam-

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packets and of wharfingers, and other proprietors of pre
mises connected with steam-navigation, to consider the bes
means of promotinc, the more safe navigation of the river
Thames, below Bridge,' and of obtaining an enactment of
such rules and regulations for all steam-vessels, shipping,
barges, and boats, as may tend to lessen the risk of acci-
dents from collision or otherwise. Sir Alexander Crichton
was in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the meeting,
said he supposed they knew the object for which they were
assembled ; they had no doubt gathered it from the circu-
lars which had-been published ; it was to put an end to the
degree of risk existing at present of accidents occurring on
the river in consequence of the great increase that had
taken place in the navigation. He was sure that the gen-
tlemen present would be disposed to give all the assistance
they could towards the attainment of such an object. He
was ready now to hear what resolutions there were to be
proposed, and any observations which those resolutions
might suggest. Before the regular business was commenced,
however, he read a letter addressed to the meeting by a
Mr. James Wright, ordnance storekeeper, Waltham Abbey.
This gentleman recommended a means by which accidents
might be avoided—that each vessel should be furnished
with a horn or trumpet, and that when it was dark this in-
strument should be sounded at short intervals. A code of
signals might be determined upon this principle—for ex-
ample, one blast might mean, " starboard the helm," and
two blasts, " port the helm." The writer sent a horn with
the letter ;it was of the common tin kind. He said that by
making a mouthpiece to it, it might answer also the pur-
pose of a speaking-trumpet.
Mr. G. CRICHTON said that some explanation was per-
haps expected of the circumstance of the meeting having
been called anonymously. In consequence of the accidents
that had happened of late, such a degree of alarm had been
excited as required that notice should be taken of the mat-
ter promptly. There was some difficulty, under the pecu-
liar circumstances, in getting people to come forward. It
was thought, however, the matter was of such importance,
that the names of individuals of great weight and influence
were not necessary to insure it the consideration which it
demanded. He was one of the parties who took this view ;
and having stated that he was connected with the Leith
Company, he perhaps had said what would relieve the
meeting from any discredit that might attach to it in conse-
quence of its having been anonymously called. It might
appear extraordinary that Scotchmen were the principal
promoters of the meeting ; but the fact was, it was known
to them that regulations were in force on some of the rivers
in Scotland, which prevented accidents occurring there as
they did here. If regulations were necessary on such a river
as the Clyde, surely they were called for in a tenfold degree
on such a river as the Thames, as well on account of the im-
mense number of vessels as the power of the tide. This
would be a sufficient apology for gentlemen from a distance
taking the lead. It was evident that things could not go on
in their present state.(Hear, hear.) The frequent acci-
dents that had occurred within the last few weeks must
create melancholy feelings in all engaged in the trade, and
there was no doubt but they had made a great impression
on the public mind. If, under these circumstances, other par-
ties were allowed to come forwa.rd and make regulations
for them, it was not likely that such individuals would be
very scrupulous in attending to the interests of the parties
here present. If, on the other hand, themselves went to
the Government, and stated that they thought regulations
might be advantageously enforced, other parties would then
have to state their case, and would be expected also to be
prepared to make concessions. That regulations might be
adopted that would materially reduce the risk of accidents,
he would undertake to say ; but that accidents could be
wholly prevented in so great a thoroughfare, was out of the
question.—(Hear, bear.) They occurred: occasionally in
the open sea, and they were sometimes attributable even to
the anxiety which existed to avoid them.—( Hear, hear.)
In the river Clyde there were as many steam-boats as in
the Thames, and the whole breadth of the Clyde was not
equal to that of the inner channel of the Thames used by
small boat. He held in his hand a copy of the regulations
in question ; they had been drawn up by the Parliament ary
trustees of the Clyde. They applied to boats and vessels
of all descriptions, particularly to steam-boats and ferry-
boats ; they required steam-boats to be manned in a cer-
tain way s to have experienced seamen on board, and a
proper number ; they obliged the vessels to adhere to