The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-23 00:00:00

THE HARBOUR OF REFUGE A

DOVER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.

Sir,—Numerous statements, more or less erroneous,
having recently emanated from the press in reference
to the refuge harbour works at Dover, and more
particularly as to the extent of mischief effected thereon
by the violence of the late storm, the Morning Herald

in this instance, unfortunately, presenting no excep-
tion to the list of erring journals, I shall content myself
by stating, that previous to the 6th of the present
month the permanent masonry of the first section, or
new pier, as it is usually termed, had, with success
almost unexampled in similar constructions, been ex-
tended within three years to a distance of 650 feet
from the shore despite the usual elemental obstruc-
tions of certain seasons concomitant on its exposed
position, and without serious mishap to either men or
machinery employed in adjusting the many thousand
tons of materials. So far all was well. On Satur-
day (the sth) the week's labours were brought to a
close ; the diving-bells, of which there were three,
varying in weight from six to ten tons, were raised to
their usual position when not in action, far above
high-water mark, and there suspended by massive
chains to the stout timber-framing and travelling
cranes by which they were managed ; all appeared
snug and safe. Well, Sunday came, and on the after-
noon of that day the nautical oracles of the ancient
port foretold, with gloomy looks, a coming storm.
Everything verified the prophecy ; and as the tide
rose with the advancing night, the south-west gale
increased in intensity, until, at twelve o'clock, it blew
almost a hurricane. Those connected with the works
were naturally alarmed ; but near approach to them
was impossible, and certainly unavailing; the worst
anticipations for the existence of the, structure
were, of course, indulged in by the uninitiated
" Job's comforters," who are ever present
at such times, and much anxiety for day
light was manifested by all. At length it
gradually came, disclosing the results, and to some
extent realising the forebodings of the past night.
The whole of the diving-bells, air-pumps, cranes, and
other mechanical appliances, together with a consi-
derable portion of the piling and timber staging by
which they were upheld, had vanished from the scene,
and were in the " deep bosom of the ocean buried."
But the main portion—the compact and serried masses
of masonry and concrete, had yielded not an inch to
the fierce pressure from without. The pier itself, in
fact, though rudely stripped of its furniture and
gearing, stood in victorious substantiality above the
dismantled wreck at its base, and thus justified its
appellation of permanent stone-work. This revela-
tion was sufficiently consolatory to the contractors
and staff. They were prepared for thus much
damage; and earnest had been given of the des-
tined longevity of the finished scheme. No time
was lost then in fruitless regret. Strenuous efforts
were made at once for salvage; and lam happy to
say successfully. Human brain and muscle were
soon at work in devising and executing schemes for
restoring matters to their former condition ; even now
much has been accomplished towards that end, and
in a week or two hence no traces of the catastrophe
will be visible. Two thousand, and not ten or fifteen
thousand pounds, as some writers have estimated, being
the probable, nay, I may say, the certain extra ex-
penditure incurred thereby.
I said that 650 feet had been carried out in less

then three years; it must not be inferred therefrom
that the remaining 150 feet (the total length) will be
executed in a proportionably short space—for from
the increasing depth of water at every foot of exten-
sion, the labour of equalising the rugged chalk beds,
upon which the 70 feet broad foundation rests, be-
comes of course greater, and other difficulties arising
from the same cause will have to be contended
against, but which I cannot now notice ; it will not
be bold to predict, however (subject to meteorologi-
cal drawbacks), the entire perfection of the first in-
stalment of the great design within two years from
this date. I am, sir, your obedient servant,
J. NEWTON.
55, Nelson-square, London, Oct. 21.

HEALTH of LONDON DURING the WEEK.
(From the Registrar-General's Report.)
The return for the week ending last Saturday
shows that the deaths registered in the metropolitan
districts amounted to 860—a number which, though
it indicates a slight increase of mortality on the pre-
previous week, when it was 839, is still less than
the weekly average to the extent of 125 deaths; the
average being derived from the deaths of ten corre-
sponding weeks in 1840.9, and raised in the ratio of
increased population. By means of a comparative
statement of the 860 deaths, according to the different
ages at which they occurred, it may again be shown,
as in the preceding week, that an improved state of
health exists among the young, but that the middle-
aged part of the population begin to suffer more,
while the aged die exactly at the average rate of mor-
tality. It appears that there were—
Last week. Average of IS
corresponding
ccks (1840-9).
From birth to 15 years... 347 ... 445
15 to 60 years
60 and upwards

The aggregate result of zymotic or epidemic dis-
eases is still favourable as compared with that of pre-
vious years, the deaths in this class having been 198
last week, while the corrected average is 256. The
decrease is observed principally in smallpox and
measles, 5 children having died from the former and
16 from the latter ; 38 died of scarlatina, the average
of which amounts to 57, but is swelled chiefly by the
unusual mortality of the same week in 1848, when the
deaths from scarlatina were 147. Diarrhesa continues
to decline, though the fatal cases are still rather more
numerous than usual at this period of the year.
Typhus maintains the increased mortality which was
observed in the last return ; the victims of fever
number 54. Last wee k four deaths were recorded
from cholera; the following are the cases in detail :
In Cripplegate, at 4, Flying Horse-yard, on the
12th of October, a porter, aged 71, died of " acute
rheumatism (3 weeks), English cholera."
In St. James, Bermondsey, at 18, Salisbury-lane,
on the 18th of October, the wifa of an engineer, aged
35, died of "Asiatic cholera (9 days), fever (6 days)."
Mr. Martin, the registrar, mentions that "filthy open
sewers run before and behind the house." _ _

In the Borough-road, sub-district, at 1, Montague-
street, on the 17th of October, the son of a journey-
man farrier, aged 1 year, died of " dentition,
diarrhcea (5 weeks), English cholera (1 week)." The
medical attendant appends the following note to his
certificate :—" The patient lived over a stable. Pre-
viously I attended two children in the same room
suffering from chicken-pox, and the mother is now
ailing."

In St. George, Camberwell, at 7, Albany-place,
Neate-street, on the 13th of October, the daughter of
an ivory turner, aged 7 years, died of " malignant
cholera (48 hours)." According to informant the
child was in perfect health immediately before the
attack, and no cause could be assigned for the fatal
illness. Mr. Stevens, the registrar, adds that "several
factories are situated in this locality, from some of
which the effluvium is at times very offensive."
The births of 748 boys and 754 girls, in all 1,502
children, were registered in the week.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer was above 30 inches on Sun-
day ; the mean of the week was 29.943. The mean
temperature of the week was 49 degrees, the same as
in the previous week, and nearly equal to the average
of the same week in seven years. But on Sunday
and Monday the mcan temperature was 7 degrees and
4 degrees respectively below the average of corre-
sponding days, whereas on Friday and Saturday it
was about 6 degrees above it. The wind generally
blew from the south-west.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY.—A most extraordinary in•
stance of mistaken identity recently occurred in Scotland.
A Cambridge student, travelling through Glen Tilt, accosted.
the Duke of That Ilk as a gentleman.—Punch.

AN ABLE JURTMAN.—At a recent quarter ses-
sions, held, not in one of the midland counties, a girl with
a child in her arms was indicted for stealing some sugar.
The case was clear and plain, and the foreman of the jury
returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation
to mercy ! The chairman, rather unadvisedly, begged to ask
" upon what grounds," as reasons are not always very satis-
factory with gentlemen of the petit jury, when from the
other end of the row up jumped a hero, and said, " Became.
Sir, we did'nt think she done it!" The poor chairman sat in
amazement, and the court in a roar of laughter. Nothing
like a " unanimous" jury.—Western Flying Post.

- - - -
FOREIGN CATTLE.—The steam-ship Diana, from
Harlingen, has brought 455 pigs as part of her cargo, which
is fully if not more than double the quantity of this descrip-
tion of live stock that has ever been brought from the Con-
tinent on one occasion. The same vessel brought the large
number of 164 beasts, 38 calves, 530 sheep, and other pro-
ductions of Holland ; and the Magnet, from Amsterdam, has
brought the largest uumber of sheep ever brought from the
Dutch capital as part of her cargo, comprising 1,183 of this
description of cattle, also the produce of Holland.

The Duke of Cambridge presided yesterday at a
committee meeting of the Leicester-square Soup Kitchen,
when a plan for preventing destitution and mendicancy in
the metropolis was considered and adopted. The Leicester-
square Soup Kitchen and Hospice are to be opened on the
Ist of November, and in consequence of the unusual amount
of physical suffering endured by the children of the unemp-
ployed poor, it is intended to make a great effort to give food
gratuitously to the ragged schools of the metropolis.
THE GREAT WESTERN STEAM-SHIP %Volm—The
first six days of the extensive sale at these works have been
brought to a close in a very satisfactory manner. A large
number of persons attended from Scotland and Ireland. The
steam-engines
cito 36
soldo
for
There7o wO/.
edroownpliveanrtdsy
of bidders ; the lathes
forfect ht
he d
frome
principal part of the machinery, and it was disposed of at its
full value. The Great Western Cotton Company are about
immediately to extend their operations very considerably by
the erection of much additional machinery—in the weaving
department—to meet increased demand.—Bristol Journal.
FOREIGN SUGAR.—A vessel named the Victorine,
belonging to France,3 Ifs:
is
nip
eaverokrrietvgeedede
bferyfe m.rirl
sugar,uaeh oao
f,f btt
ohr
riene
igigr
:upgepatriho4e.
d largeuce. Thisnumber
a cargo o 4w,
laws of navigation, which rendered it adtuisallm Cpg
110130 UllO _ • . . •