The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-16 00:00:00

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P i4ac,E P. STAMPED, 6

DEFENCE OF THE EAST MAST,

The corporations of Ipswich and Harwieh (says
the Ipswich Journal), by bringing to the notice of
the Government the very deficient condition of the
defences of the latter town, have taken a step which
we trust will be productive of much security to the
eastern counties. Harwich harbour may ipdeed be
said to be th,s3 key to the Eastern Cdunties. An
army once in possessidn of either of the shores which
are washed by the, Orwell and,.Stour could, by a
rapid march upon Ipswich, cut off all communica-
tion between the camp at Colchester and the
coun-
ties of Suffolk and Norfolk; or, if in sufficient force,
could at once marir..l upon Colchester, and drive its
garrison
of recruits back upon Lond.dn. It there-
fore behoves every borough in East AUgliti to join
with Ipswich and Harwich in insisting on the Har-
wich fortifications being at once placed in a proper
condition. For in what state are they at present ?
As regards Landguard Fort, we believe that it could
not withstand the fire of the ordnance of the pre-
sent day for Ave minutes; we aro even doubtful
whether the concussion consequent upon firing from
its brick embrasures the 68-pounders now in use
would not of itself suffice to render its ramparts a
ruin. So well aware of this were the authorities
that some years ago an earthern battery was
erected outside the fort, but the encroach-
ments of the German Ocean are already begin-
ning to tell on this, and in a few short years it will
have totally disappeared. Then, again, the im-
portant positions at Walton and, Shotley Ferries,
from which good roads lead direct to Ipswich,
through an exceedingly :rich country, have each
but ea old Martello tower t o defend them. Except
in a country like ours, who over heard of a harbour
like that at Harwich. with a, magnificent opening
into it, with a depth of water available at all times
to vessels of large tonnage, having such points as
those at Walton and Shotley totally unprotected ?

It is all very well to say that our fleets protect our
shores ; to a certain extent they do so, but let us
suppose for a moment that a Continental war had
broken out, that the French had invaded Belgium
and occupied Antwerp, and that, while a French
fleet from Brest was making a feint towards the
coasts of Devon, a real expedition of some 20,000
men from Antwerp should steer for Harwich, occupy
it, and send its main body to take Ipswich. What
would be the position of the eastern counties under
such circumstances ? It is• true that the troops in
camp at Colchester might hastily march to Ipswich,
but in the meantime the French would have reached
Bury, perhaps Norwich, and would have destroyed
every wheat-rick and factory on their road. Again,
let us suppose, what is very probable, that the
French fleet which had sailed from Brest had been
driven back there, and that the whole available
forces of England had been directed against the ex-
pedition which had of& cted a landing at Harwich,
and that before very long the invaders were sur-
rounded and captured. In what condition should
we then be ? Our prestige would be gone, numbers
of people would have been ruined, and all we should
be able to show as a counterpoise would he some
thousands of prisoners of war, who would be made
perfectly happy till they should be exchanged.
There is nothing improbable in all this ; we are
merely describing, as applicable to the eastern coun-
ties, the French expedition under Humbert, which
landed in Ireland in 1798. But it will be asked, if
Harwich is a point of so much importance, bow is
it that its defences are such as they are ? This is a
question which we are not prepared to answer.
All we know is, that in the time of the Spanish
Armada Lord Burleigh laid great stress on
the necessity of fortifying it ; that in the days
of Marlborough a great deal of money was expended
in purchasing land there for defences ; that at the
beginning of the present century its fortifications
were sufficient to withstand the gunnery of that
day, and that there were large garrisons at Ipswich,
Harwich, and Woodbridge ' • while in the year
1859-60, if there be a redoubt at Harwich there is
no garrison beyond a few infantry, and on the other
two sides there are neither redoubts nor garrisons.
It may be that we have been as lax in reference to
the coast defences as until recently we have been
with regard to the volunteer movement ; but in the
coming session of Parliament we hope that the
matter will be effectually taken in hand' by the
representatives both of our counties and boroughs,
and that the people of East Anglia will back them
in their efforts, whatever may be their political
creeds. It may, we think, be taken for granted
that volunteer artillery cer.pA cannot successfully
defend our coast if earthworks be not provided, and
if the means of communication between the cliffs
of Essex and those of Suffolk be not of a description
to admit of rapid flank movements.

Great Northern, the Great Western, and other A.;
railway companies, so as to ascertain whether arty
other_publie company would undertake to construct
the warehouses; for it was to be borne itOniud that,
the report,distinctly recommended the corporation'
neither to construct the railway nor the warehatises
while the committee as distinctly recommend that,
in order to reimburse the corporation for their e4,A
penditure upon their market, there should not onry
be a rent for allshops and holdings, but also a small
toll on the meat sold. In conclusion, he asked the
conitt to agree in the report.
Mr. *SURRIDGE moved as an amendment that,
while the' report should be referred hack for fur 7
ther inquiry, there should be an instruction to the
committee to take no farther steps in connexion
with.the erection of warehouses as a• part, of the
scheme, as the court Considered that the result of
the erection of warehouses would be incompatible
with a beneficial result from the establishment of
the market its-elf. -
Mr. Ross seconded the amendment.
Mr. ELLIOTT said the model before the court re
sembled a cloister rather than a market, and was so
utterly defective with regard to space and ventila-
tion, that if: the plan were carried but the result
would be to destroy the meat which was brought
there for sale. The fact was, that economy had
been studied too much, and the preservation of the
meat, as well as the comfort of the people, had been
entirely neglected when the model was prepared.
(Hear, hear.)
After some further discussion, the amendment
was negatiVed by an overwhelming majority, and
the reports were referred back to the 'committees,
according to the terms of the original motion. ,
The court then adjourned.

LADY LONDONDERRY AT SE tILAIf

HARBOUR

The ceremony_ of laying the first stone of a series
of extensive iron blast furnaces, about tome erected
by Lady Londonderry in the neighbonrhood of
Seaham Harbour, took place on Monday last. The
works will ,consist of four large blast furnaces
capable of smelting 200 tons each per week, 120
coke ovens, calcining kilns, and all the necessary
adjuncts of works of this nature. Two lines of
railway—one to bring in the materials at a high
level, the other to take out the manufactured goods
at a lower level—will join the Bradyll line on the
south side of the harbour, and traversing it join the
Seaham and Londonderry Railway to Sunderland.
The whole of -the works are expected to be com-
pleted in about ten months.
Her ladyship, accompanied by a large number of
friends, including the Mayor of Sunderland, and
the -leading gentlemen connected with the district,
was present on the occasion, and took a prominent
part in- the ceremonial.
S. VANDELEUR STEWART, Esq., in the absence; of
Lord Vane, who was prevented by illness from being
present, opened the business of the day by some
appropriate remarks oh the enormous productive
capabilities nfthe district in ironstone and coal, and
which were capable of such admirable development.
Mr. WIGHT, in offering to her ladyship, in the
name of his father, an elegant silver trowel, also
remarked in terms of the highest eulogy on the
of, enterprise .evinced by Lady Londopderry
in:carrying out the project.
Her LADYSHIP, on receiving the trowel, spoke in
the following terms receive with pleasure and
gratitude your father's beautiful gift, and I beg you
will express to him my thanks, and, at the same
time my deep regret that he, who first so
largely embarked his capital in great iron works
at Seaham, should have been prevented- by illness
from witnessing what I well know would have
given him such unfeigned satisfaction. In com-
mencing this great work, which I have not done
without deep reflection, and most anxious consulta-
tion, my first object has been the advancement of
this place, and although I naturally hope it will
succeed as a 'speculation, I have had higher and
better motives than mere commercial gain. Memory
recalled a dark 'November day, 31 years ago, when
the first stone of that harbour was laid on a rude,
wild shore, by one whose indomitable courage and
energy succeeded in proportion to the' difficulties
that were to be met. I thought of that example,
-and I contemplate the reward of that gigantic un-
dertaking, when I see a large and prosperous town
daily increasing in wealth, trade, and importance. I
felt it was my duty to do all in my power to aid that
progress,and with that view I continued and finished
the railway that now; links this place to Sunder-
land. I anticipate most satisfactory results from the
union'of the two towns, but I also felt the necessity
for some great exertion being made further to de-
velope the resources and advance the trade of Sea-
ham and I conscientiously believe that the esta-
blishment of these blast furnaces will be of incal-
culable advantage to a place that is endeared to
ma by every tie, and was bequeathed to me as a
sacred charge to foster and watch over. With
thew feeling§...l commence the work, and I thank
you for the kind interest sliown on the occasion.
• -On concluding, her ladyship stepped off the raised
dais and proceeded to lay the stone, assisted by her
ladyship's agent, Mr. Ravenshaw, and Mr. Thor-
man, the contractor for the works.
The Rev. A. BETHUNE having offered up a
prayer,
Mr. HUGH TAYLOR Made some observations on

the importance of the work about -to be under-
taken, knowing us they did that the- main source
of England's prnsperity was her- r9,411,and iron
works; since, out cf thg.3 whole,Aratmit of iron
made in the world—about B,oo(WOUittiyoportr annum
—England made 4,000,000 tons. Jie-also went. into
some details as to the cost of producing iron and the
consumption of coal required, statinettat it would
probably require 3,000 or 4,000 men for the supply
of the iron and coal that would be wanted to keep
in operation the projected works.
The luncheon given in honour of the occasion
took place in the splendid ball-rooms at Seaham,
Where Lady Londonderry has lately expended up-
wards of £15,000 in additions and improvements.
The usual loyal toasts having been proposed and
responded to, the health of the noble hostess was
given by Mr. 'Hedworth Williamson, in terms
of the warmest praise, on account of the energy
she had displayed in devoting.. her wealth and
resources to securing the happiness and comfort
of those around her. Prolonged cheering followed
the toast.

Lady LONDONDERRY, in acknowledging the com-
pliment, rose and said—Gentlemen,—l feel myself
quite unable to thank you as I ought for the cordial
reception you have given my health. It is encou-
raging and pleasing to meet with so much kindness,
and I am very grateful for all the courtesy and
friendly attention that has been extended to me this
day. cannot attribute it to any merit of my own,
but I fancy that perhaps the unusual circumstance
of a lady being so largely embarked in trade has
inspired an interest, ana has procured for me
on this particular occasion the honour and
pleasure of being so numerously surrounded
by gentlemen representing great commercial in-
terests in this rich and mercantile country. I
particularly regret the absence of the Lord Bishop
of Durham, who I know fully intended to have been
here, but especially to-day, when I myself am hardly
recovered from a severe illness, and, when, unfor-
tunately, I am unexpectedly deprived of the hitherto
unfailing support of my dear and excellent sons,
my eldest having been prevented by sudden indis-
position from arriving in time, and my second being
abroad for his health before resuming his Parlia-
mentary duties. Their unavoidable absence-to-day
has been a great sorrow to me, and the kind feeling
shown me the greatest solace I can have. Our re-
pected chairman of the coal trade, Mr. Hugh Taylor,
has expressed himself in most flattering and gra-
tifying terms, for which I am deeply grateful,
and beg to offer him my congratulations on the
entire success of his great undertaking, of which I
hear such wonderful accounts. I have to thank
Mr. Morrison for his good wishes, which seem
to go far to prove that two of a trade may
agree. (Laughter and applause.) For myself,
as I explained this morning (and I will not
weary you with a repetition), my ,great object in
this work, commenced to-day, is the weal and ad-
vancement of Scaham, where I am gratified to find
so much right feeling exists; and it is but just to
the inhabitants to say that they have yielded to

none of the great towns in zealously and 'eagerly
coming forward for the defence of their country ;
and I have no doubt a very efficient volunteer ar-
tillery company will soon be formed. It is pleas-
ing to see that this military movement, so merito-
rious in itself, does not in any way interfere with
the great mining and commercial enterprises, which
never were more numerous and satisfactory than at
present. Her ladyship concluded by proposing—
" Prosperity to the coal trade, and success to the
mining and commercial interests of the county cf
Durham."
Air. Hugh Taylor responded to the toast, and
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Stewart replied to the toasts
which wete subsequently proposed. ' '

THREE MEN KILLED THROUGH THE FROST.-
Yesterday the coroner for Southwark received information
of the death of three men under the following circum-
stance s :—The first case is that of Charles Hayes, aged 35
years, who resided at Grove-place, Balham-hill, Surrey. It
appears that the deceased's horses were drawing a waggon
laden•with sacks of corn, when, owing to the slippery state
of the roads, ho fell, and the wheels went over his chest,
crushing him in a frightful manner. He died on the way
to the Hospital. In the second case Thomas Chown, aged
44 years, who resided at Tooting, was killed under similar
circumstances. In a third case, Samuel Barrett, aged 30
years, it appears, was pitohed out of a cart, through a fall
of his horse, and a large cask of whitelead fell on his head,
mutilating, it in sach a frightful manner that he died at
Guy's Hospital from the injuries.