The Sun.
London, England, 1828-07-05 00:00:00

THAMES TUNNEL.-(THIS DAY.)

A public meeting was this day held, at the Free-
masons' Tavern, for the purpose of considering the
most effectual means of raising additional funds for
completing the Thames Tunnel.
At half-past 12 o'clock his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by the Duke of
Wellington, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Duke of
Somerset, Earl Powis, Sir E. Owen, C. N. Pallmer,
Esq., and several other distinguished personages,
entered the room. As soon as the applause which
their entrance excited had ceased,
The Duke of WELLINGTON proposed that C. N.
Pallmer, Esq. do take the chair.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE seconded the motion,
which was carried unanimously.
C. N. PALLMER, Esq. having then taken the
chair, said that he deeply felt his unWorthitiess to
fill the high situation to which they had been pleased
to call him, but having been raised to that honour, it
would be his humble duty to perform the part al-
lotted him to the best of his abilities. He
would not detain the meeting from hearing
the more important business for which they
had assembled. They all knew how valuable
was the time of the illustrious Dsike on his left
(Wellington,) and how necessary it was that that
time should not be spent in vain, in listening to him
(Mr. Pallmer.) He would say ono word as to the
object which called them together, and could not
refrain from adding that the assembly—the numerous
and respectable assembly—which he then saw be-
fore him, gave security to the country that this
undertaking would be upheld, an enterprise which
did honour to the present age, and would go down
to after ages as one of the proudest monuments
of English enterprise and science.—(Cheers.)—
For this undertaking he entertained the most auspi-
cious hopes, DOI so much from the interest which it
seemed to excite in this numerous assembly, as from
seeing the Illustrious Duke on his left, and that on
his right there sat a member of that Royal
• Family, under whose patronage the Arts and
Sciences had flourished IA this country. As to
the Illustrious Duke on his left, he was happy
at seeing him, not only because he held a
high place in his Majesty's Councils, but because
he was an individual with respect to whom the
English thought that every thing which he tinder-
took was likely to succeed.—(Loud applause.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON then rose, and spoke
nearly as follows :—I can assure you, Gentlemen,
that I am exceedingly flattered by the honor done
me by being called oil, by the members of this asso-
ciation, to propose the resolutions which I shall pre-
sently have the honor of reading to you. I sincerely
hope that the prediction of my Hon. Friend, that
this work will succeed in consequence of my being
the individual to move these resolutions, will not be
disappointed. At the same time I cannot
but feel that there are many here present
who are not more zealous in the interest which
they take in this enterprise, not more sensible of the
advantages which its completion will he to this
metropolis, to this country, and to the world, but
who are much more capable of displaying those ad-
vantages, and thereby exciting towards it your warm
support. (Cheers.) There are in this country
many works of extraordinary beauty, and utility,
and magnitude, but what is still more extraordinary,
these works are the undertakings of individual enter-
prise. Then, I say, if individuals, either from a
sense of its utility, or a feeling of admira-
tion for its beauty, suggested this undertaking,
and have not been deterred from proceeding with,
and completing, it at their own risk, I do think that
this country ought not, to allow this work to remain
unfinished, merely because an unforeseen accident
has arrested its progress. Independently of the
great interest which it has excited in this
country, I speak from. my own knowledge, though
there are many -others more capable of stating what
the opinions of people abroad are ; but I speak from
my own knowledge when I state that there was no
subject with reference to which. the interest of foreign
nations was more excited than the Tunnel under the
Thames. Every man feels that benefit will result
from its completion, not only to its immediate neigh-
bourhocd and the populous. district by which it is
surrounded, but also that it will afford a more easy,
short, and convenient communication between Sur-
rey, Kent, arid Essex. But there are other considera-
tions of a higher nature than those of mere local ad-
vantage. People look to it in a higher point of view,
and consider it important in a military and com-
mercial sense. Foreign .ruitions looked, to its pro-
gress with intense anxiety, from a feeling that if
it succeeds similar ones may be constructed, if
required, by themselves, Vudec thee circum-
stances I Cannot but congratulate this Meet-
ing upon their going' on with this enterprise, uft-
dertaken with so much spirit, notwithstanding
its novelty, and the casualties to which it has been
exposed. Indeed, these casualties are an. edditiortal
stimulus to exertion, as they showed what in-
genuity and perseverance could overcome, and
proved the durability of that portion of the
works which had already been completed. Experi-
ence therefore ought to urge them to complete that
work, of the completion of which there is now so
fair a prospect. Having said so much as to the nature
of this work, I shall call your attention to the more
immediate object of the meeting. The original es-
timate for completing the undertaking was 200,000/.
Of this sum, 193,000 - were subscribed, but thirteen
of the subscribers for 1,000/. each, failed to make
good their engagement, so that 13,0001. were thus
lost. The amount of subscriptions, therefore was
180,000/., of that sum 170,000/. has already been
opended. Now it is pot extraordinary that the
projectors of the undertaking should be mistaken
in the formation of their estimate, consider-
ing the novelty of the work, the difficulty
of examining accurately the nature of the soil, of
which the river bed was composed, and the acci-
dents to which all such enterprises, were liable.
These accidents 'had been overcome, and,as I before
said, afforded additional reasons for expecting
final success. Of the 170,0004, 120,0001
had been expended in the actual works, the
remainder was paid away in the purchase of
machinery, of premises, and of ground which it was
necessary to have op one bank of the river. And
say that in proportion as the approaches to this
Tunnel are enlarged, the same proportion
does the work itself promise to be pratable.
when completed. The conductors of the Tunnel
still demand 200,000/. : of this sum 98,000/. will he
required to complete the Tunnel itself; of the re-
mainder-18,0001. will be wanted to purchase premises
Fin rim left hank of the riyfr, and .50,000;. must
be expended in making ways up • the 'Tunnel on
both sides. So that altogether a hundred and ninety-
one thousand pounds will be necessary, leaving a sum
of twenty thousand pounds in hand, including ten
thousand pounds which already remains of the first
stibseriptien. iiovy the proposal which I submit is,
that the money respires] be lent on debentures of
front 101. to 20/. each, the holders of which deben;'
tures are to receive the interest on them in priority
t 9 all those who are sp,bscrilers ilp to the present
moment.—(Applause.) It is'not necessary for me
to tell you of the chance of this undertaking being
fini,hed ; but this I do say, that if the money is found
the Tunnel must be completed.—(Applause.) The
aseidents which had already, and which, I think,have occurred Only to demonitrate the` genius,, the
ability; the ingenuity, :old 'the perseverance of the
engineer have proved the absolute possibility of the
work being completed. They have also proved
that the worlcs, as far as they have gone, are
excellent, and -that if once completed, they will be
durable, in 'the•satne'- proportion as the honour of
having completed the enterprise will be durable to
elude by reading the resolutions, and- by earnestly
this country.—(Loud applause.)-4 shall now:ton.
entreating that you'Will all give your assistance to
carry them into effect. - The Noble Duke then read
the following resolutions :
Itssosysn---That this Meeting, being of opinion that
a Tnanel under the Thames in that part of the River
where the commercial intercourse is considerable, and
where regard fur the nayigatioa must preeltnie the