The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-01 00:00:00

LYME-REGIS HARBOUR.

" A Committee of the House-of 671ntnWs was engaged in In-
quiries respecting the repairs required, and entered into ex-
aminations as to considering the pier a national work. The re-
stilt was that this harbour was the best in the bay ; that in
spring tides, at high-water, it is open to vessels of 120 to 150
tons, and with draught of 14 feet ; that notwithstanding the
circumstances of its being a dry harbour, it is in some respects
preferable to the bar harbours on the coast, some of which no
vessel dare run for with the wind blowing violently on the
shore, accompanied with a high sea ; for, should a vessel strike
on the bar at the.entrance of a harbour, she might pass over
the bar and sink In deep water ; but when a vessel strikes the
ground at. Lyme, she must be tinder circumstances of shelter
and comparative scurity, being then protected by the outer-
most part of the cobb, unless her draught of water be very
great.
" Round the outermost part of the stones at the end of the cobb,
which break the sea, there is, at low water, spring tides twelve
feet. It has proved the means, in many instances, of saving
vessels with their crews, which would otherwise have been
inevitably lost.
" The regniarity of the cattle trade between the west of Eng-
land and the Islands of Guernsey and Jersey (a trade in time
of war of great importance), depends on the peculiar position
of this harbour, which makes it accessible with winds that
prevent entrance into other ports of the West Bay."—lleport
of Committee.
During the late war, the Government contractors far supplying
the army in the Channel Islands, selected this pert as the best for
the shipment of cattle. In the month of November, 1815, one vessel
from this harbour made four passages to those islands when vessels
from other ports could not go to sea. Many ships from India and
other places, wind-bound in the Channel, have been compelled to land
their passengers at Lyme, no other port being accessible during cer-
tain contrary winds. Msay lives and vessels have been saved, even
in the present state of the harbour, and, when enlarged, its value•
in a national point of view, as a harbour of rethge, will be incalculable.
The saving in distance by landing at Lyme, instead of going round
the Land's-End,
,to or from Bristol or Gloucester, will be several
hundred miles, and independently of this large saving in distance,
the certainty of the proposed communication, by avoiding the
chances of delay through contrary winds, is perhaps still more im-
portant in a mercantile light.
The capital intended to be raised. Is 800,0001., divided into 40,000
shares of 201. each.

A deposit of 21.t15. per share must be paid, upon allotment, and
no call will be made until the Act of Parliament shall be obtained,
authorising the construction of the works.
The liability of the shareholders will be limited, by the Act, to the
amount of their respective subscriptions to the capital stock ; and
power will be applied for, to allow interest at the rate of 41. per cent.
per annum, on the amount of the deposits, and upon the flurther calla
until the opening of the line. Power will also be applied for in the
Act, and in the meantime power is given to the Committee of Ma-
nagement to increase the capital, if necessary ; to alter er abandon
anyr of the line ; to make branches therefrom ; or enter into ar-
rfingiments with any other company. or companies. The Perlin
mentary contract and the subscribers' agreement will be required to
be duly executed when the bankers' n •elpts are exchanged for scrip
certificates, of which due notice will be given ; and the deposits paid,
by parties making default in the due execution of the'llathiuntuitary