The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-19 00:00:00

ACCIDENT TO THE STEAM-SHIP

VICEROY.
The passengers on board this steam-ship have
published the following account of the accident. The
latest accounts from the steamer mention that she
would be got off the next tide. She was bilged
under the engines, a flat rock having been driven
through her :
" We, the undersigned, passengers by the unfortunate
steamer Viceroy, run ashore on the rocks , off Outer
Island (one of the Mutton Islands, near Shag Harbour,
Nova Scotia), whilst on her way from New York to
Galway, having after considerable trouble and delay
met together in this city, are anxious that our friends
and the public should be made acquainted with the
true state of the case, as it appears to ourselves up to
this date.
" We left New York on Saturday, June 22, at 1
P. X., a strong breeze at the time blowing from the
eastward. Soon after losing sight of land we met with
a dense fog, which continued through Sunday and Mon-
day, preventinc, the captain taking any observation dur-
ing those two days, and not clearing up till about half
an hour after our accident, which took place at half-
past 7 P.M., on the 24th ult. About 9 o'clock the same
morning the captain spoke a fisherman, and, from the
information given by him, the steamer's course was
altered about one-and- a-helf point to the northward.
" After the accident. the captain and all hands, by
lightening the vessel forward, &c., did everything in
their power to get her off, which, at the time, we had
good hopes of doing, until the tide began to leave us,
when we found that she was settling down on the
rocks, and making water fast in the engine-room,
which putting out the fires, the engine was compelled
to stop. We then noticed the stewards and waiters
began packing up the valuables of the steamer.
This caused some alarm among the passengers. Several
thought there was risk in landing, as there appeared
quite a surf running on the beach, and we did not know
what kind of a place we were upon. However, soon after
a boat came in sight and hailed us, asking if we wanted any
assistance; the captain being called, aft ar some delay and
hesitation answered that we did not; but the passengers
saying yes,the captain agreed to their suggestion. The boat
that came to our assistance belonged to her Majesty's
steamer Columbia (Captain Shortland), lying at anchor
some nine miles off. Owing to the low state of the tide,
nothing; was done till next morning, when Captain Short-
land returned with the steamer, he not having been aware,
when on board the Viceroy the previous evening, that she
was making water fast.
" On his arrival, early in the morning, the water was
within five feet of the upper deck. Immediately after
several small schooners came alongside to take off
the anchors, chains, and moveable articles. Tee pas-
sengers anxiously asked the captain what was to be done
with them, but were referred to the agent of the com-
pany (Mr. Taylor), from whom, at about eight o'clock,
we finally obtained two of the ship's boats to carry
us to Barrington, a distance of tea miles, Mr. Taylor
infouceing us he had no means of forwarding us towards
our ports of destination. We gladly accepted the boate,
and started without any pilot, Tor Barrington, where we
arrived in the afternoon of the 251 b, having been well
scorched by the sun, and gene many miles out of our
way.
" At Barrington we met with kind and hospitable
people, particularly the family of the Robertsons, who
treated us kindly, and, having considerable influence
with the inhabitants, afforded us every facility and in-
formation for the prosecution of our journey to Halifax,
by land or watet,..as we best could, some not liking to
trust themselves in the fiihing-hosts. Ea hof us could
relate many acts of kindness and liberality experienced
from the inhabitants of Barrington, which place we find
to be 170 miles from Halifax.
" We have no complaint to make against the officers
of the steamer Viceroy, and would remark that the cap-
tain showed every disposition to oblige, but seemed to
suffer much from anxiety through the fog, and the delay
in the steamer not starting from New York tiil an hour
alter the appointed time, and we heartily sympathise
with him under his misf ,r:unes."

EXHIBITION OF INDUSTRY OF
ALL NATIONS.
TO THE EDITOR. OF THE MINING JOURNAL.•
Respected Friend,—As the subject of the site for
the building intended for the Great Exhibition of
Arts, &c., next year, has excited much attention,
permit me to offer a few observations I feel
in-
clined to make thereon. I hold that it would
b e very important to have the intended build-
ing as near to the river as possible, both for
the convenience of erection and removal, but
more particularly for the eastern and southern inhabi-
tants of the metropolis. Now, there is in the neigh-
bourhood of Vauxhall-bridge a spot of ground, and
other premises, which appears to me exceedingly
well situated to obtain these desirable objects ;
mean St. Vincent's-square, and premises between
it and Vauxhall-road. The square contains
within its railing about 500,000 superficial feet,
being about 700 feet each way ; and the pre-
mises between it and the road 126,000 feet, being
about 700 feet by 180 feet. Now, what I would
humbly suggest would be to purchase the latter
premises, which is by no means valuable, or, at least,
expensive property, which probably 15,0001. or
20,0001. would purchase, on which to construct a
permanent building, 700 feet long and 180
feet wide, divided into four compartments, 700
feet long and 45 feet wide— making a
gallery, or show-room, on the ground floor 2,800 ft.
long ; and a similar floor above, so that the floors
would contain an area of about 250,000 superficial
feet. Over the centre of the said building I propose
to construct a conservatory (say) 400 ft. long, 180 ft.
wide, equal to about 72,000 ft.—making altogether
upwards of 320,000 ft.
This building, after the exhibition is over, may be
converted into a national gallery, the ground 'floor
appropriated to sculpture and models; whilst the room
over may be devoted to paintings,constituting a picture
gallery more than double the area of the celebrated gal-
lery of the Louvre at Paris. As the erection over the
square would be of a termporary nature, I should pro-
pose it be constructed by means of rows of timber piles,
driven 100 ft. apart, and about 12 ft. from each other,
so as to support a wrought-iron roof (in spans of 100
ft.), at 25 ft. from the ground. Round these seven
rows of piles I would construct a gallery 20 ft. wide,
12 ft. 6 in. from the ground, which, by winding
round each row in one continuous connection, would
extend to upwards of two miles in length, and con-
tain an area of upwards of 200,000 ft. Thus the
square, by this arrangement, and the proposed
premises, would furnish an area of upwards
of 1,000,000 ft. This considerably exceeds,
as I understand, the requirements originally in-
tended in the park, consequently obviating the appre-
hension of' there not being sufficient space. Besides
this, there is considerable yard room on the river side
of the square, which might be obtained, probably to
the extent of 200,000 ft
the inventions which more,
.if required, oa. which
building, which I think would havet. relation to steam. might be
deposited, so as to be distinct
building being principally ctldfrom the main exhibition
b. e
.very desirable. The
balk timber and wrought-iron, the sacrifice temporary
trifling
all composed
occasioned
reprinci
bbyricriecmanodvacliwsto-uirlodninsdtreaeadtubeacompared with a
neitherl of the former
more than
the latter
would be, I imagine, diminished in value more 20 to 25 per cent. ; whilst I tah'uele
would be from 50 to 75 per cent., which
im-
portant consideration on a structure cositin
palace to
100,0001 to 200,0001. The circumstance of the fromn
street, now in progress from. Buckingham
Westminster Abbey, running close by the square is, I
deem, greatly in favour of the proposed site, besides
tending greatly to improve all the property between
that and the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham
Pa lace, &c. The elevation towards the Vauxhall-
road I should propose to be similar to the design I
submitted for a gallery over the Waterloo- brute,
winch I imagine would be equal for appeale.ince to
any building in the metropolis!, not excepting the
THOMAS MOTI.E.Y.
fft ates of Parliament.
Citangate, Leinhatb, 7 mo. Sth.
of I er-
P.S. If the following ohjects are deemed desira)ble,
viz , great economy, proximity to the Douses
liamt lit, Buckingham Palace, and the City, with the
convenience of water conveyance, and good roads of
comm unication, and tendency to promote improve-
ments, then I think the site proposed is pre-eminently de-
servinl ; the serious consideration of the Commissioners
and the public, especially as, with due arrangements,
ample space may be obtained ; and thus, instead of
injurio g and incommoding the park, tend most mate-
rially t o improve a portion of the metropolis which
has hit herto been much neglected; I, therefore, think
the :iite superior to any obtainable spot either in or
row la the metropolis.

EXTRACT FROM UNPUBLISHED STA-
TISTICS OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY.
(From the Manx Liberal of July 6.)
CHANCERY RILLS OF COSTS.
LENGTH OF BILLS OF COST3.—The number of
bills of costs taxed in two year., for which accounts
have been procured, was 11,357, giving an average
of 5,678 for each or these years. We have not,
at present, the means of ascertaining the aggregate
cash amount of these bills ; but there is ground
for estimating the number of words at up-
wards of 36,796,680. Each hill has, on an average,
to be written five, if not six times over : thus (at the
former estimate only) making a total of upwards of
183,983,400 words, the writing of which the suitors
had to pay for in so short a space of time. That the
reader may have something to compare with this no
better then fraudulent accumulation of writing,
it may be mentioned that the whole Bible (both
the Old and the New Testaments) contains but
773,692 words, or less than a 237th part of the other
number.* Thus, the words of the laws, the history,
the maxims, and the principles which record the
events, customs, and manners, or have reared and
snpported the systems which have directed the
actions and controlled the belief, worship, and fate
of nations fur thousands of years, aro but as a trifle
when compared with these histories (for such
are bills of costs), for so short a period, of the diffe-
rent steps taken in carrying on one of the vastest
impostures and grievances that ever any nation was
subject to ! Tne above calculations do not include
untaxed costs mentioned below. Proceeding from
generalities, it is thought right to instance a case.
In one administration suitt of the simplest kind (the
testator's debts having been but 9/. 2s. 10d., there
having been no difficult questions of any kind to
decide, and all the assets having been within
the knowledge and control of the executors), the
taxed part only of the costs were 752 folios of 90
words each in length, which having to be written
five times over, made 338,400 words, being altogether,
witb the addition of the untaxed part of the costs, up-
wards of twice as long as the New Testament. In the
case referred to the parties have not been benefited,
but their affairs are now further from due administra-
tion than when the suit began. Justice and Christianity
may be considered to be on one side, and Chancery
practice, the practice of iniquity, on the other. The
benefit of the suitor is the pretence, but the profit of
the Court and its officers is the result. A striking
similarity may be perceived between this and the
doings of the Indian Thugs. One system is con-
sidered to be not only a disgrace to a country, but to
a climate ; what ought the other, that of " the En-
glish fortune Mugger," to be deemed ?
ANNUAL AMOUNT or COSTS.—Although we have
not materials for estimating the costs for the years
above referred to, it is found that the amount of
the fees received in the offices of the taxing-
masters for the year ending 24th November, 1849
(only one year recollect), amounted to 31,730!. 41. 93.
The charge made by the taxing-master for taxation
is three per cent. on the amount of the bills.
After making certain deductions from the above
amount of fees for sums not included in the per-cent-
age, and estimating the vast amount of extra and other
untaxed costs, it is found that the total amount of
costs taken from the suitors must greatly exceed
1,000,000!. annually, an amount bearing a large pro-
portion to the whole anneal rental of the land of Eng-
land at the present prices, and even to the annual re-
venue of the empire. It is needless to say that a
very large amount of these coats has not even the
pretence of being incurred in any way for the suitors'
benefit —one part is for making out the solicitors'
bills of costs. In some cases that, with the costs of
taxation, exceeds twenty-five per cent. on the other
costs. It is known that in one suit+ upwards of 20,0001.
were taken from the parties (one family) for costs,
and it is believed on good grounds that their whole
loss on that account exceeds 40,000/., and the suit is
not yet ended.
COSTS NOT TAXED.—Vast amounts of costs are not
taxed. It will be recollected that a solicitor, a few
years ago, most lamentably desecrated our metropo-
litan cathedral by using it as a means of suicide,
and thus of escape from the meshes of the court
in which he had involved others, and ultimately
became entangled himself. That solicitor had been
accumulating costs in a suite for many years,
and he expressed his hope that the parties to it would
be induced to let him take the full amount as made
out by himself for several oppressive considerations,
one of which was that the per-centage on taxation
would alone have amounted to between two and
three hundred pounds. Such was his hope, but
even he was overwhelmed by the practice of the
Court, and unable to obtain his desire, his
darling costs, be rushed from the tribunal which the
nation dreads and groans under to an end he thought
befitted his career—a meet sacrifice to the Court he
had served, and to the Moloch he had worshipped,
although offered on a most unbefitting altar. It
is usual to cast all the blame upon solicitors, but
the above instance and many others show that
however often solicitors may err, yet that the great
source of wrong is in the Court. For the considera-
tion mentioned and other causes, many bills are never
taxed, and in most cases there are what are called
"extra costs," which generally escape taxation.
Tne public have been led to believe that the evils of
the Court will be much mitigated by recent changes.
Such is not the case.. Some of the recent orders
render the law worse than it was before.
• If a family Bible were printed in a continuous line,
it would be about five miles and 116 yards in length. It
these hills of costs were printed in the same way, the
length would be about 1,200 miles ! The length the pen
would have to go over would be much more.
t Gawen v. Gawen.
Hughes v. Wynne:
II Bade v. Blake.