The Sun.
London, England, 1828-06-12 00:00:00

THAMES TUNNEL.

Yesterday a Meetilq; - :Filmes Tunnel Com-
pany was held at the City (,r Tavern, for
the purpose of receiving the report of the Directors,
and that of Mr. Brunel, the Engineer, upon the state
of the works, and of considering the plan to be adop-
ted for raising money under the Company's New
Act. WILLIAM SMITH,. Esq., M.P. in the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN having explained the object of the
Meeting, the following Report Was read by the Se-
cretary, Mr. Buitler :
" Your Directors have the satisfaction to report,
that the late irruption of the River Thames into the
Tunnel has been overcome, and that the works may

proceed as soon as the shield is put into working
condition. Your Directors, however, intend to de-
lay the prosecution of the works, until a sufficient
part of the further capital authorised to be raised
by the Act of Parliament recently .paSsed s}i:ill
have been obtained.
" To enable you (the proprietors) as well as the
public, to form a judgment as to the completion of
the Tunnel, your Directors called upon Mr. Brunel,
the Engineer of the Company, to report upon the
past operations, present state of, and future plan of
proceeding with the Tunnel;- and Mr. Brunel has
accordingly reported—' That the unanswerable fact
of the Tunnel having been made perfect and com-
plete to
.the extent of six hundred feet, and of having
withstood the destructive impetuosity consequent on
two irruptions of the River, cannot but satisfy you,
as well as the public, of the sufficiency of the con-
struction, and of the reliance which may be placed
upon the works when completed; that the late
irruption has been effectually overcome, and that
the arches and works-completed before that irrup-
tion have' been found in a sound and perfect state";
so that when the shield- has been restored to a
working condition he will be ready to proceed as
usual. That the Tunnel has approached to within
350 feet of low water mark on the north shore of the
River,' having been already completed to the extent
of six hundred feet from the shaft on the south
side of the River. That he feels perfect confidence
in being able to overcome every obstacle that
may oppose itself to the progress of the work ; and,
finally, to complete the remaining part of the Tunnel
in the same substantial manner in which the six
hundred feet have already been completed; that
when the increased resources contemplated by the
recent Act of Parliament shall have been raised, and
the Conipany will have at their disposal the means
of enabling him to have recourse to additional pre-
cautionary measures, he shall propose to have a div-
ing-bell, with a proper vessel at all times ready to
enable him to examine and probe the bed of the
river above the shield; also to make an artificial bed
if, and when found wanted, over that part of the
ground under which the shield will traverse; and
that this bed, consisting simply of clay-bags, he
shall be enabled, by the experience of the past,
to effect upon a scale-of expense within the scope
of the finances of the Company. Mr. Brunel con-
cludes his Report by expressing his decided and firm
conviction, that he will meet with no obstacle which
can prevent the completion of the Tunnel.

" Assuming that you will rely upon► the report
and decided conviction of Mr. Brunel, as to the com-
pletion of the Tunnel, your Directors have agreed to
recommend for your consideration a plan which they
deem best calculated to raise the funds necessary to
complete the undertaking; but before they state this
plan, they request your particular attention to the
probable adequacy of the annual amount of toll, list
only to pay the interest on the money to be raised,
but also to yield an ultimate remuneration to the pro-
prietors.

"Your Directors would in the first instance re-
mark, that the tolls of the Tunnel are likely to
amount to a much greater annual sum in consequence
of there being no bridge to the eastward of the
Tunnel, nor any bridge to the westward nearer than
London Bridge (which is two miles distant), than
they would amount to, if there were a free bridge,
or any other bridge on each side of the Tunnel and
near to it. Your Directors would further remark,
that the amount of tolls annually taken on one of
the bridges over the Thames (although there is a
free bridge very near to each side of it), is not ge-
nerally known, and is hardly to be credited.
" The Waterloo Bridge has Blackfriars Bridge
near to it on the east, and Westminster Bridge Hear
to it en the west, and notwithstanding the prox:lnity
of those two free bridges, and the apparently few
passengers, the tolls actually taken on Waterloo
Bridge during the last year, viz., from August,
1826, to August, 1827, amounted to the very large
sum of 13,6881. Now, when the situation of the
Tunne/, with all the advantages incident to it, is
compared with the situation of the Waterloo Bridge,.
your Directors are of opinion that the annual amount
of the tolls of the Tunnel will most probably ex-
ceed the annual amount of the tolls actually taken
on Waterloo Bridge, which latter are a fair criterion
by which a judgment may be formed of the amount
of tolls which may be expected will be taken at the
Tunnel. In order, however, that you may know the
grounds on which the opinion of your Directors is
formed, they proceed to state them.
" The great distance of the Tunnel from any
bridge, is an important advantage in its favour; and
it will be
_recollected that an immense number of
ships are constantly lying on each side of the river
above and below the Tunnel, that on the north side
are the London Docks the St. Katharine Docks
(now in progress), the West India Docks, the East
India Docks and Warehouses, the Regent's Canal,
and a dense population inhabiting Wapping,Thiteliff-
highway, Shadwell, the Commercial-road, Mile-end-
road, Whitechapel-road, Poplar, Limehouse, and
Stepney ; that on the south side are the Cornmercial
Docks, the East Country Docks, the Grand Surrey
Dock and Warehouses, and numerous wharfs, in-
cluding the wharfs to which nearly the whole of the
coasting and Irish trades are confined, numberless
granaries and warehouses for wheat, flour, hemp, &c.
and a dense population inhabiting Bermondsey, Ro-
therhithe, Tooley-street, the Borough of Southwark,
Deptford, Greenwich, and the Kent-road; and that on
the north as well as on the south sides there are in-

numerable manufactories, founderies, ship-builders'
and shipwrights' yards, rope-makers',Sail-makers,and
ship-chandlers. It will also he recollected that the
Tunnel will open a land communication, two miles
below London Bridge, between the counties .4!)fs Mid-
dlesex awl Essex and the counties of Surrey and
Kona and the Borough of Southwark ; that a con-
siderable part of the traffic over London Bridge
cannot fail of being diverted from thence to the
Tunnel, owing not only to the present circuitous
route over London Bridge to and from the various
docks and, wharfs on each side of the river, and to
the stoppages and interruptions which at present
take place in the crowded streets, hat also owing to
the distance that will be saved by going through the
Tunnel, and to the facility which it win afford to
waggons anti carts when loaded, in making two or
more jouruies in one day, to and from the docks,
through the Tunnel (the descents and ascents to and
from which will not be greater than Ludgate-hill),
whereas waggons and carts going over London
Bridge to and from the docks loaded, generally
make only one journey. These advantages are not
equalled by those connected with the situation of
Waterloo Bridge, and hence the, conclusion to
which your Directors have come—that the tolls of
remainat
the Tunnel will exceed the tolls of Waterloo Bridge.
`oButshould the tolls of the Tunnel be only
equal to the tolls of Waterloo Bridge, then, allowing
tih
afond r a nkeaenruapl etxhpr Tseunonfe
13:
an
annual balance of tolls of 10,688/., which would be
1.
more than sufficient to pay the interest of 200,000/.
0t
there t
would , od light
and v
at .5 per cent. The surplus of the probable tolls;
added to their gradual increase, and the revenue
from the estates of the Company, which will not be
required for the purposes of the Tunnel, will, it is
hoped, produce a fair income divisible among you a,
proprietors, in return for your money invested.
Your Directors having thus laid before you Ali,
confident opinion of your Engineer as to the comple-
tion of the Tunnel, and your Directors' opinion ac
to the adequacy of the tolls to pay the interest on

the monies to be borrowed, besides the prospect of
an income to the proprietors, your Directors now
request your attention to the Act of Parliament, ,
which, in conformity with the resolutions of the 20th
November last, they applied for and obtained.
" By this Act of Parliament the Comoany are
authorized to raise an additional capital of 200,0001.
over and besides the capital and money authorized
to be raised by the original Act of Parliament, and
the modes which Parliament have sanctioned for
raising money are-
-Ist.
By the creation of new shares of -.50/. or less,
which shares the Company are authorized to issue
and sell—the Act also authorizing the proprietors to
give such privileges and advantages to such new
shares as they shall think fit.

2d. By Mortgage of the undertaking, or of any
part of the property, estate, or effects • of the
Company.

3d: By Annuities for life or lives, or for terms of
years, upon such terms as the proprietors shall think,
fit to grant.
4th. By Debentures payable to bearer, bearing an
interest of five per cent., charged on the tolls, and
other revenue arising from the estates and property
of the Company.
" Taking into consideration the best plan to be
pursued in order to raise the necessary funds to com-
plete the, undertaking, your Directors recommend
that you should authorize the issue of Debentures
from 10/. to any amount upwards, bearing an inte-
rest at five per cent. which Debentures according to
the Act will -be—payable to bearer—and charged
upon the tolls, and other revenue arising from the
theproperty of the Company, and will have
a priority shareholders. The Act of Parlia-
mentv tor persons who may hold Debentures an
estatesg gives
andveo s
e
option of substituting a share in lieu of any De-
benture,
,within six months after tolls have begun to
he taken.

" This plan of raising the necessary funds is so
comprehensive and so convenient, that your Direc-
' tors trust the Proprietors mid the Public will be
glad of an opportunity of further manifesting that
national interest which has been excited in favour of
the completion of the Tunnel.
" As the Act of Parliament authorizes the raisirg
of 200,0001. your Directors propose to create De-
bentures to that amount, in order that the whole
sum which may from time to time be raised upon
such Debentures shall be upon an equality ; but your
Directors think it proper to state to 'you distinctly
that they do .not intend to proceed with the works;
or to appropriate any sum which shall be advanced
upon Debentures until 100,000/. shall have been
subscribed for, and when that sum shall have beets
. socured, your Directors are of opinion that every
financial obstacle will have been overcome in regard
to the completion of the Tunnel.
" Your Directors hare thus presented to yon, the
result of their deliberations, and they trust that the
spirit of the proprietors will be assisted by the Bri-
tish public in a work, which when completed will-be
an honour to the United Kingdom. •
(Signed) WILLIAM SMITH, Chairman..
It was then agreed that the foregoing Reports
should be received, entered on the minutes,- printed,
and circulated.

On a motion, that the meeting receive with satis-
faction and confidence the opinion of Mr. Brunel that
the Tunnel may be completed.
Mr. GOLDSUILI objected to the word " confidence."
Mr. GUILLONRAU said, the original estimate of the
work hying fallen, so far short of what it now ap-
peared would be necessary to complete it, he did
Pot see any security that a further supply than the
present might not be again required. The Meeting
could have no positive idea of the expence ; how
then could they be confident of the completion of
the work.
Mr. BENJAMIN HAWSE reminded the meeting that
the present estimate was made after the experience
which they. had had of the difficulties of the under-
taking. AlloWances were made for a recurrence of
the accidents which had already taken place, and a
further allowance of 20,0001. was made to meet any
new or unforeseen obstacles.
Mr. MARTELL suggested, as an amendment, ,that
instead of the words, " receive with confidence,"
they should substitute the words, " receive with
pleasure."

Mr. ADAMS- thought that, if the, meeting really
felt confidence in the assurances of Mr. Brunel, they
were bound to express that confidence.
After some further observations, the original mo-
tion was put cud carried with only five dissentient
voices.

' Several other Resolutions were proposed, autho-
rising the Directors to raise such sums of money
(not exceeding 200,0001.) as might be necessary for
the completion of the work—and entitling all those
who had voluntarily contributed to the undertaking,
and-were now desirous of purchasing debentures,•ty
au allowance of their original contribution in part
pityment.of such debentures.

It was also moved that the probable amount of the
tolls of the Tunnel would be more than suf-
ficient to pay the interest of the money to be raised,
and that when a sum of 100,000/. Ishould have
been subscribed, every financial obstacle to the com-
pletion of the Tunnel having been overcome, the
Directors should proceed with the works.
After some objections, explanations, and amend-
ments, the entire of the Resolutions were agreed to.
Thanks were voted to the Chairman and the
Directors, and the Meeting adjourned.

EXTRAORDINARY PIKE.—On Friday Was
exhibited, at EDMONDSON'S Fishing Tackle Manufilctory,
Tithebarn-street, a pike, caught in Keswick Lake, on
Thursday last, by hook and bait, weighing twenty-six
pounds, and measuring in length three feet eight inches—
TreLoifverP°snulrAblobxiens. Curl-Mock
g i r
ie twentyu)
aniunfcahcetst.
and the neighbourhood is on the increase, and the makers
cannot fulfil fur a long time the orders they have on hand.
The success which has attended this manufacture has in-
duced some of the natives south of the Tweed to endeavour
to transfer, at least, a portion of the trade to England.
One gentleman (a Frenchnun) is at present in Ayrshire
endeavouring to procure persons acquainted with the de-
tails of the manufacture, for the establishment of a mann-
factory in Liverpool.—Caledonian Mercury.
On Saturday next wilt appear, THE Brturrsit
POLITICAL GAZETTE. The First Number of this Publi-
cation (the Editors of which pledge themselves to the
Nation to prosecute the commutation of Tythes to some
alegra•elpalynd to
sAimdri
ize
rjd'aauyrsaCnhiu:Alit;Yeasrtd.was held at
Advantages
s permanent,oteLords nkR isNgvenactment)iFLuunrd,s. contains
Essayntiaiiiiss on eotfhfieprsastupppe
supposed
eDidsf
similar to that Old Established Weekly Journal " The
ueLiltieerma,ryanGdazaetttet.;:e—wTvoerable his,otisto-faffialcleNs eizsttinieencaonuda
tßryo.o_k-
Price Tenpence, postage free.—Publisbed by Nirumur
Joy, Bookseller,
SL'IGI E.
buosiinieiss‘uoesdf
66, St.
the
the Union Tavern, Bagnigge Wells-road, on the body of
ANN HonoEs, aged 47. The deceased was a married
woman, but had been separated from her husband about
10 months, in consequence of his having formed an im-
proper connection with a servant girl. She had since car-
aay milk-seller, in Spring street,
water-butt in a crouching position and quite dead. About
morning she was found in the
nine months ago she threw herself off Blackfriar3 Bridge
into the Thames, but was saved by a waterman.—Verdict,
Insanity."
. the
possession CUCKoo.—There is at present ix the
possession of Mr. G. CARFRAE, at Currie, a cuckoo,
Cr irie rkoenn
which was brought up by him from the nest, and alter
surviving the winter, is in excellent health and condition,
This is the only instance known of a bird of that species
living in our climate during the period of migration, when
so many of our summer songsters are obliged to seek in
southern countries the food and warmth denied them in the
northern regions of the globe. It was procured in the end
of July last, and has been principally fed on raw meat,
cut into small pieces, although it evinces a manifest pre-
dilection for insects of all kinds. About two months ago
it was first heard to emit the well-known cry peculiar
the species, which it has frequently repeated since. At
present it has nearly assumed the blue colour of the adult
abgirod., the moulting process having commenced several weeks
During the winter it manifested no propensity to
become torpid. It 'vas exhibited at a late meeting of the
Wernerian Manna History Society, where it c4,l,ducrLd
itself sn as to give great delight to all the rurinbo-s
sent,— caledonian Afercuq.