The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-24 00:00:00

l-

% (AP'

:-t:i-

. - •
. .
......
, 1 . .
• _.....,.k.„...,....,
.."....., iJatiliN --
,44 -
411r111
#4,1,1i1
.•
• ,E-', • Not ,
.....„../..E:•'r•-• --- • ~....".
' •.. 4. • t"-'-' •31 ' •• ' . , , iir_ , . ----t --,...L .. • ,e,.. ,f • 4. :
,1 11_
.4::
• - ..
,---- ~.:,-.., -. , . \ e 41W '‘'t • -41: Ijire
opt:,II,
l'." ',l9k,orte(*. ----- -- -' -
t '-. ,:.., 'W:, A • , ,/,,
~'.. \illAi" ''''' 1,„ ittf,l :,,t1
~,,fjlkl4l, •
~.,,, ..,.441# ,9,,, 1 4:-.44,,,e.-
. ~ •• . ,:
_.4
la.t; ) !_,
- ..p....."„ ..
\ - ....
,
p ....., -) -•- ,,.A.! . .
,''. • .sco,4 1-7 d
.._,...„..V• ,
• - .6- • --0 r,... '.
--.7-_____.-4,„ ----, ...,- \ -,--,, :...., \„, - f--. ..._ . ,
...\ ..204-r -4Z-, 6.- ' ''? 1 V ' --''':s '' ' ';?
o'l' 'l• T - Olt -•1 *- ' *614 ~ ~.. ItS ' -;: . -- '' c 54 - v - -
, , ,,'
':.l. ) ,-4, i ,
.., , -,..., : :a. ~..-1551. Ll_ , •Dip , ~., m' pri,,,,,,,.„t5, . ~./4,,4,!;,,, \
..e;........4,..,,
..... °TT. -. : , ----.4---
V-0 ''''' v- •
-
-..:_:-.-.-._A

11-2- - G

'7

• ;7' ;

PRICE 4D• STAMPED, SD•

LIGBIROUSES IN THE RED SBA AND
211ED1TERRANEA N.

The following remarks on this subject appear in
a contemporary :—You have been good enoug!l to
find a space in your powerful columns fora letter
from " A.Commander in the Peninsular and Orien-
tal Service at Home on Sick Leave," on the subject
of lights in the Red Sea, perhaps you will also en-
deavour to promote the cause he is advocating by
granting me a similar favour on the same subject,
but nearer home. _ ,

The " overland route" to India from Southamp-
ton was opened in 1840, and every succeeding year
has tended to show how important a feature it has
become in the history of our country. To endeavour
to render it, therefore, as free from danger and risk
as is possible to make a voyage to the other side of
the,globe , needs no apology in asking the aid of
your most influential assistance, and under this im-
pression I address to you the following remarks and
suggestions.
To make this route as safe in the Mediterranean
as it would be in the Red Sea if your correspon-
dent's suggestions are acted on, it will be necessary
to have three more lights between Southampton
and Alexandria than at present exist.
I. can well remember, sir, When there was no
light on Cape St. Vincent, nor was it till late in
1845 that
,the present excellent one was placed •
there. I can also remember when the north coast
of Spain, from Corunna to Vigo, was also without
a similar. advantage ; nor was it until after the total
loss of oneof the two mail packets then conveying the
India mails between Southampton and Alexandria,
near that grim and terrible headland, Cape Finis-
terry, in Feb., 1846, that a light was placed on it;
and I may add, had there been one before, neither
that steamer nor the West India Royal Mail packet,
lost just three years previously not far from the
same spot, would in all probability have been sacri-
ficed. Since that period the west coast of Spain
and Portugal has received the advantage of several
lights, including a most excellent one on Ceuta, just
opposite Gibraltar. There are still, however, three
more required to make, as I before observed, the
route on this side the isthmus complete in that re-
spect.
.The points on which these lights are re-
quired are Cape Trafalgar, Cape de Gatt (156 miles
cast of Gibraltar), and on the island of Galita. This
latter is undoubtedly the most dangerous part of
the Mediterranean, and therefore should be the first •
to be strongly advocated.
Had there been a light on this bold and barren
island,.you would not have had to recorl, in the
winter of 1847-48, the total loss of her Majesty's
ship Avenger on the Sorelli Rocks, 13 miles from :
th7s•spot, with all (save four) of her magnificent
ship's company ; and your present correspondent
was some time since in a ship, commanded by the
most experienced Mcditerraneen navigator, which
was-perhaps owing to the currents, which, are
about there very uncertain both in their. direction
and strength, or perhaps to some hitherto undis-
covered' local attraction on shore—so set. in that, .
although steering a course which would, under or- .
dinary circumstances, have taken the ship 12 miles
N. of Galita,•she was at daylight, to the' surpri,e
and anxiety of her commander and all Who knew
the fact, inside Galita, and had passed close (God
knowe how close) to those-dreaded " Sorellis."
•
Is it not, therefore, imperative that every exer-
tion
.should.be made to prevent., as far as human
in-
genuity can, the possibility of a recurrence of 'snail
frightful losses as have already too often taken
place from the want of lights on these dangerous
points P. -
I may here mention that on the Cane Rocks, 55
miles S.E. of the Galita, a fine light is nearly com-
pleted, which I believe was obtained through the
earnest representation of its necessity to the bey of
Tunis by the senior managing director of the :Pen-
insular and Oriental Company (Mr. Anderson).
The next most valuable light would be on Cape
Trafalgar or Spartel. Either of these capes is a
leading mark to run for to enter the Straits of Gib-
raltar from the westward, and if a light were
.on -
either (Trafalgar, perhaps, the best), the 'com-
manders of the packets, as of all other classes of
vessels trading up the Mediterranean, would be
after passing Cape St. Vincent, to run boldly for the
Straits, thereby shortening the passage and being
relieved from a deal of anxiety, to which they are
now subject from the fear of being set in too closely
to the shoals off Cape Trafalgar. .
• 'lnc third. light rcquix.vd „to make the route;cbni-
plet.c is the. one referred to at Cape:de- Gact, this •
could be 'used as a " laud," or, more properly,
" light fall," by all vessels coming up the Mediter-
ranean from the eastward, and would be of infinite
service in dark, dirty weather,
You will see by the chart that two of these lights
must be sought for from the Spanish Government,
while the third would be in the hands of the Bey of
Tani's, or his chief, the Sultan of Turkey, both of
whom have shown themselves well disposed to aid
in the furtherance of science and the advancement
of mercantile, interests.
The subject is one of great importance, not only
to England, but to all nations trading to the Medi-
terranean, and I hope, therefore, you will consider
it sufficiently so as to give it the aid of your ad-
vocacy.
I beg to subscribe myself, as one who has made
considerable over 100 voyages to Alexandria and

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

The ordinary meeting took place yesterday at
Guildhall, City, Mr. J. Thwaites presiding.
From various causes several important questions
were postponed, comprising those relating to the
outfall service at Deptford, the deodorization of the
Thames, and matters relating to main drainage ; in
consequence, the business of the day resolved itself
generally into a mere matter of routine, which re-
lated to applications for consent and approvol as to
the erection of certain buildings and alterations.
Among the letters read was one from Mr. Chap-
pell, vestry clerk of St. George, Hanover-square,
declining to attend to the precept for the main
drainage rate, and also intimating that such rate
must (if at all) be collected by the board, as it would
not be undertaken by the parish authorities. In
regard to this it is understood the board will apply
to Parliament for additional powers. The following,
however, was the chief operation of the day :
THE ORDNANCE SURVEY OF THE METROPOLIS.
A claim having been made by the War Depart-
ment, as representing the late Board of Ordnance,
upon the Metropolitan Board of Works, as succes-
sors to the late Commissioners of Sewers, for ex-
penses incurred in the late survey of London,
amounting to £24,226 17s. 3d., a letter was written
by the clerk (Mr. E. H. Woolrych) to Gen. Peel,
urginc, that such claim should not be enforced
against the ratepayers of the metropolis, &c.
To this the following was reciveel :
" Treasury Chambers, Aug. 20.
" Sir,—l am commanded by the Lords Commis-
sioners of her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you
that the Secretary of State for War has referred to
this board Mr. Woolrych's letter to that department,
dated the 23d of April last, on the subject of the
repayment of the expenses incurred in making a
survey of London for the late Metropolitan Com-
missioners of Sewers.
" I am to observe that it appears quite clear that
the commissioners, by their resolutions of April and
May, 1848, rendered themselves liable for the re-
payment of the expense of making the block plan
in question. The resolution of the 30th May, 1848,
directs ' that the Ordnance Department be requested
to proceed with the block plan of the metropolis, so
far as may be necessary for the purposes of the com-
missioners, with all practicable speed, and that such
payMents on account as may be requisite for pro-
ceeding with the survey be made from time to time
out of the sewers rates, making it evident that the
work was undertaken at the time on this distinct
understanding, and at the request of the Commis-
sioners of Sewers ; and it appears from the subse-
quent correspondence down to 1852 that the Com-
missioners never disputed their liability,. and pro-
mised payment whenever legislative provision should
be made to enable them to raise the requisite funds.
" It is equally evident that the liabilities of the
Commissioners of Sewers have devolved on the
Metropolitan Board of Works, so that it app upon the
Metropolitan Board of Works, so that it appears to
admit of no question that the board are under a dis-
tinct legal liability to repay to the Government the
whole a the sum of £24,212 17s. 3d. which was ex-
pended upon the block plan in question. My lords do
not feel that they would be warranted, by any of the
general considerations stated in the letter from
your board, dated April 28, in abandoning this
claim. The conditions ur.der which the survey was
undertaken were perfectly well known at the time,
and. the authorities by whom the ratepayers of
London were represented had the option of waiting
for the benefit of the national survey, to which they
had contributed as taxpayers, and which they
would have had, like the other large towns men-
tioned, without any further payment, or of antici-
pating that benefit by paying for it; and, without
any pressure on the part of the Government, they