The Sun.
London, England, 1835-12-25 00:00:00

LIGHTHOUSES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. -
SlR,—The letter on "Lighthonses," by Magnet, toge-
ther with your own remarks, which appeared in The Son,
November 26, have been very generally read, and approved
of, by the shipping interest of this port ; and it has been
long a matter of astonishment to us that the most dange-
rous sand-banks on the coast, and on which so many' ships
are continually wrecked, should still be left unguarded.
. Some years ago an application was made by a portion of
the .shipping trade to the Corporation of the Trinity House
on this subject. I never could, hoWeVer, rightly understand
the answer given to that application, whether dictated by
apathy, indifference, or poverty—" they had no funds."
This reply may have been correct ; but, with all due sub-
mission, I humbly think that charity ought to begin at
home ; and that public grievances should be redressed, be-
fore private charities to the amount of 28,0001. should an-
nually be paid away indiscriminately.
The Corporation of the Elder Brethren of Trinity
House, London, have 55 lights under their management,
which, in 1834, yielded a gross revenue of 83,041/. ; the com-
mission for collecting this sum was 6;670/., and the charge
of rent and maintenance 35,904/., leaving a net surplus of
40,244/.
There are, besides these 55 lights, 14 other lights in the
hands of private individuals ; which, in 1832, yielded the
enormous sum of 79,676/. ; the collection amounted to
10,2441., and the expense of maintenance was only 9,1091.,
leaving a net surplus of 60,3221.
The Commissioners of Northern Lights (Scotland)
in 1834, taxed the shipping interest for 25 lights under
their management, 35,5261. ; charges of collection 3,2611. ;
expense of maintenance 11,314/., leaving a net surplus of
20,051/.
The Commissioners of Ballast Board (Ireland) have 40
lights under their management ; which, in 1834, yielded
42,0611. ; charges of collection 1,9601. ; expense of main-
tenance 18,5051., leaving a net surplus of 21,596/. ;. so
that, according to these returns on 134 lights, the shipping
interest paid, in 1834, 240,304/., of which 96,967/. was
paid for collection and maintenance, leaving a net surplus
of 142,436/. to be accounted for.
But in order to show the gross jobbing that has existed,
and does still exist, amongst the lessees of some of the pri-
vate lights, I will refer more minutely to the Parliamentary
Reports. Mr. Coke, of Holkham, lessee of Dungeness
Light-house, received, from 1823 to 1825 inclusive, the
gross amount, as dues paid for that light, 44,190/. 3s. 6d.,
while the expense for maintenance, during the same period,
was only 5,571/. 10s. Bd., leaving a clear net balance for
his share of the public money of no less. than 38,619/. 12s.
10d. On the 13th of. March, 1829, the lease was renewed
for 21 years, on condition of a moiety to the Crown of the
net surplus of light dues received ; and, therefore, from
1828 to 1831, Government received of the spoil 9,047/.
16s. 6d.; while Mr. Coke pocketed 12,874/. 14s. 4d.
From Christmas 1817 to the 16th of October 1827,
there was received for Harwich Light dues net 53,0281.,
which, after deducting 8,547/. for new Light-house and
repairs, was divided-26,688/. to the Woods and Forests,
and 17,792/. to the lessee, General Rebow ; and, by the
accounts for 1832, the gross collection was 9,273/. for light
dues ; of which 4,594/. was paid to the Crown, and 3,060/.
to the lessee, while the whole cost for collection and main-
tenance was only 579/. 9s. 11d.
Next comes my Lord Braybrooke, lesiee of Winterton
arn.l Orfordness Light-houses. From the proceedings of
Parlialent, it appears that the lease of these lights was re-
newed on the lit June, 1828, for 21 years, to Lord Bray-
brooke, the old lessee. The old lease expired on the 13th
of April, 1826, during which period, under authority of the
Lords of the Treasury, his Lordship continued to levy tolls
to the amount of 23,754/. ; of which sum 11,877/. was paid
over to the Crown. In the three years, 1823,1824, and
1825, Lord Braybrooke received a net income of 40,184/.
from these lights. In the next three years, the gross col-
lection of dues was 47,9221., of which Lord Braybrooke re-
ceived 20,9851., and the Woods and Forests received
17,839/. In the nine years up to December, 1831, the
gross collection was 124,5051. for these lights, and the clear
sum received by Lord Braybrooke was 72,106/. So much
for Lord Braybrooke.
In the year 1832, the Spurn light• houses, in the hands of
Mr. Benedict .Thlin Angel Angel, and Mr. G. L. Thomson,
yielded the gross amount of 12,863/., charge for collection
1,626/., maintenance 2,279/., leaving a clear surplus in the
year, to Mr. Benedict John Angel Angel and Co., of
8,958/. , Yet, as if this sum was not sufficient, they seem
to have demanded, and were paid, 1,276/. from the Conso-
lidated Customs under the Reciprocity Act.
But Mr. Sutton Morgan, lessee of the Skerries, appears,
from refusing at first to comply with the Order of the Com-
mittee, to have supposed himself above alllaw, and at liberty
to act with regard to these lights just as he pleased. Mr.
Sutton Morgan did think proper to furnish the Committee
with seven years' accounts, %Odell show that the gross col-
lection of light dues, from the year. 1827 to 1833, was
102,595/. ; that after paying 11,229/. for commission on
collection, and the expense of maintenance, Mr. Sutton
Morgan, received the net surplus of 87,673/. Yet, like
our friends, Mr. Benedict John Angel Angel and Co., Mr.
Sutton Morgan seems also to be unsatisfied with this share
mulcted from .the public ; for we find him likewise paid
1,711/. out of the Consolidated Customs, under the Reci-
procity Act.
Lieutenant Henry Smith, lessee of.the Longships Light-
house, out of the gross collection, 7,3931. for the year
1831, pockets the net sum of .5,036/. ; and Mr. John
Phillips, lessee of the Smalls Light-house, appears to have
pocketed out of the gross sum paid in two years, 1831 and
1832, 28,9431., no less than 21,0211. But Mr. John
Phillips, like our other worthies, was not satisfied, and he
also received, out of the Consolidated Customs' Fund,
1,566/.
. Really the heart sickens while recording those atrocious
proceedings ; but the exposition of them, chiefly extracted
from the evidence taken before a Committee of the House
of Commons, therefore incontrovertible, will, I trust, arouse
the shipping interest of Great Britain, not only to a sense
of their long accumulated wrongs, but, in the ensuing Par-
liament, to render Mr. Hume every assistance towards
establishing aeCentral Board of Management for the Lights
of the three kingdoms, whereby every public abuse of this
nature may be corrected ; and, if possible, to make Mr.
Cote, Lord Braybrooke, General Rebow, and others of this
stamp, who have so long.preyed on public industry, disgorge
part of those immense sums wrung from the most merito-
rious, yet despised class of society.
I must, however, admit, that the Corporation of Trinity
Honse, London, as appears from the evidence of Mr. He-
bert, have acted, on recent occasions, a disinterested
part—ever anxious to serve the public, with a due regard
towards benevolence enjoined 'by Act of Parliament. Still,
as before observed, if other lights on the coast are required,
or those complained of rendered more serviceable for the
greater safety of navigation, it then becomes the duty of
the Corporation to establish such as are wanted ; and, if
unable to maintain them according to the present dues
levied, to call on Government or the House of Commons
for support.
Independently of the immense number of ships continually
passing up the Channels from the North, about 5,000 tots
of steam shipping, valued at 220,0001., from Scotland, pass,
generally in night time, weekly ; and pay light dues annu-
ally about 5,0001.. When, therefore, in addition to the
value of the ships, their cargoes, and lives of the passengers
are considered, I think I am not asking too much that every
public facility ought to be provided for their safety.
Dundee, Dec. 21, 1835. - D.

Wentworth House, which used to be the scat of un-
bounded hospitality, particularly at this festive season, is
not so at present, in consequence of the lamented death of
the late Lord Milton. Earl Fitzwilliam and his family are
residing at his Lordship's housi, Grosvenor-square.
An old miser named Coleman dropped dead a few
days ago in Fermoy, while in conversation. The subject
of conversation (which Coleman introduced) was the most
economical way of living. The wretched man, although he
denied himself the common necessaries of life, had two
Savings' Bank books, containing entries for deposits of 701.
—Limerick Chronicle.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT NOTTING-HILL.—
Wednesday, afternoon, between one and two o'clock, the fol-
lowing dreadful accident occurred to James Taylor, Esq., a
gentleman of fortune, residing in Connaught-terrace, Edge-
ware-road. It appears from the statement of several per-
sons who witnessed the melancholy accident, that Mr.
Taylor was proceeding down Notting-hill, on the Uxbridge
road, mounted on a high-couraged horse, when one drawing
a cart came along the road at a furious rate (having taken
fright), and before the unfortunate gentleman had time to
ride on one side of the road, came in violent contact with
him, and dashed him from his horse with tremendous vio-
lence. Surgical assistance was promptly procured, and on
examining the injuries he had sustained, it was • disco-
% ered that he bad received a severe fracture of the skull,
besides a compound fracture of the right arm. The cart
was overset, and the horse belonging to it killed on the spot,
from the violence of the fall.

The Marquis de Saint Paer was formerly the pos-
sessor of the fine domain near Andely, in Normandy, from
which lie took his title, and which now belongs to the Vis-
count d'Arlingcourt, in consequence of his wanton ex-
travagance, he was obliged to part with the whole of his
estates, and at length became reduced to the utmost de-
gree of want, receiving charity from those upon whom in
his prosperity he had bestowed it. still he could not
leave the scenes of his former splendour, and lived for
twenty years in a low thatched hut, in the confines of his
Ancient chateau. On the 19th inapt he was found dead,
from--404 4nd hunger, under a, hedge .not. fig from its
walls 1.-oa/iignani,