The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-25 00:00:00

TOY_ g.n, L 0.:.) 14 00 N, PIifUIISDAY EVENING JULY 25 itgil.

HAIR-BREADTn ESCAPE.—A party of the officers o
the 44th Regiment visited the Milehouse races in a car
riage and four, having hired a stage coach for the pur
pose from Weakley's Hotel, Captain Pulliston acting
as coachman, and one of the other officers filling the
subaltern post of guard. On leaving the ground in the
evening, the inside of the coach was devoted to the
sergeants ; the back part to as many of the soldiers as
could posssibly find a resting place, or a bar to hang on
at ; while the officers occupied the front part of the
carriage. Captain Pulliston taking the reins. From
the way in which the vehicle was loaded, there
not being many less than forty persons inside
and out, it was with some difficulty the car-
riage was started from the field, but once
moved, off they went over the hill to Swilly at a
dashing pace—the Captain keeping the road very
cleverly. All prudence, however, was evidently ex-
pected to be in the possession of whatever other party
was on the road. As might have been anticipated such
a freak as this could hardly be expected to end without
some accident—the party passed through the village of
Stoke and the more difficult part of their homeward
course in safety, but in turning rather too sharply the
corner of the road to come into town by the drawbridge,
at the north-eastern barrier, the coach lurched, and the
weight of the load being thrown on one side, down it
went. The horses ran off with the pole, and the driver and
his friends were strewed about the road in a most fearful
plight, and a long list of killed and wounded was anti-
cipated by the witnesses of the accident, but miracu-
lously all escaped with some severe bruises, except
an unfortunate fellow named Smith, a horsekeeper
in the employ of the owner of the horses, who fell
under the vehicle and received some severe contusions.
The poor fellow was taken to the infirmary of the
workhouse, and still lies in a dangerous state. The
horses Proceeded towards the town, but in passing
over the drawbridge one of them fell, and his legs
became entangled with the chains so firmly that it re-
quired a great number of persons and powerful levers to
extricate them. This accident brought the other horses
to a halt, or further and serious damage might have
resulted in their passing through the streets. The horse
that fell ran the pole into his breast, and is not expected
to live, while the damage to the carriage is estimated at
not less than 501,--Devonport Telegraph.
PIKE FISEING.—On Saturday last an immense
pike was caught in Bassenthwaite-lake by a young man
named John Stanley, who certainly secured his unwieldy
prize in a manner somewhat novel in the art of angling.
Whilst fishing for perch by the side and near the head of
the lake, and baiting with the minnow, the bait was pre-
sently swallowed by an enormous pike, and the moment the
fish found himself hooked he rapidly took off, and made his
way further into the lake. When the " tyrant of the stream"
had nearly stripped the young man's line off his wheel,
it suddenly stopped, otherwise it would have snapped his
frail tackling in an instant, and thus have regained its
liberty. The angler, however, commenced working
the fish, with a view of exhausting him, by first draw-
ing him towards the shore and then letting him off
again into the lake. In this way he wrought on for
upwards of two hours, the pike frequently running his
whole line off within a yard or two. At length, the
young man observed a piece of wood or railing lying
on the ground, about three yards long, with a nail in
the end of it, which he contrived to get hold of. The
pike by this time was getting weaker, but was still much
too strong for his frail tackle; he determined, however,
on trying his chance of capture with his new weapon,
and drawing the immense fish as near him as he could
with one hand, whilst with the other he struck at it, and
succeeded in driving the nail into the pike's head, up to
the very wood. Stanley then quickly landed his prize
on terra firma, when it proved to be a full-grown pike,
44 inches in length, 22 inches in girtb, and weighing no
less than 281 b.

AMENDED RAILWAYS BILL.
A BILL TO ATTACH CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE
CONSTRUCTION OF FUTURE IlillysfiAys,
OR TO BE Atrritogis fly ANY ACT OF THE PRESENT
dit St ddtEDING SESSIONS OF PARLIAMENT, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES IN RELATION TO RAILWAYS.
Note.—The clauses marked (A) and (B) were added by

the Committee.
1. Whereas it is expedient that the concession of
powers for the establishment of new lines of railway
should be subjected to such conditions as are hereinafter
contained for the benefit of the public; be it enacted by
the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the
advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal,
and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled,
and by the authority of the same, that if at any time
after the end of twenty-one years from and after the
Ist. day of January next after the passing of any
Act of the present or of any future session of Parlia-
ment, for the construction of any new line of passenger
railway, whether such line be a trunk, branch, or junc-
tion line, and whether such new line be constructed by
a new company incorporated for the purpose, or by. any
existing company, the clear annual profits divisible
upon the subscribed and paid-up capital stock of the said
railway, upon the average of the three then last pre-
ceding years, shall equal or exceed the rate of 10/. for
every 100/. f such paid-up capital stock, it shall be law-
ful for the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Trea-
sury, upon giving to the said company three calendar
months' notice in writing of their intention so to do, to
revise the scale of tolls, fares, and charges, limited by
the Act or Acts relating to the said railway, and to
fix such new scale of tolls, fares, and charges,
applicable to such different classes and kinds of
passengers, goods, and other traffic on such railway, as
in the judgment of the said Lords Commissioners, as-
suming the same quantities and kinds of traffic to con-
tinue, shall be likely to reduce the said divisible profits
to the said rate of 101. in the 100/., and so from time
to time at the expiration of each succeeding period of
twenty-one years ; provided always, that no such re-
vised scale shall take effect, unless accompanied by a
guarantee, to subsist as long as any. such revised scale
of tolls, fares, and charges shall be in force, that the
said divisible profits, in case of any deficiency therein,
shall be made good to the said rate of 101. for every 100/.
of such capital stock ; provided also, that such revised
scale shall not be again revised or such guarantee with-
drawn;otherwise than with the consent of the company,
for the further period of twenty-one years.
2. That whatever may be the rate of divisible profits
in any such railway, it shall be lawful for the said Lords
Commissioners, if they shall think fit, at any time after
the expiration of the said term of twenty-one years, to
purchase any such railway, with all its hereditaments,
stock, and appurtenances, in the name and on behalf of
her Majesty, upon giving to the said company three
calendar months' notice in writing of their intention,
and upon payment of a sum equal to twenty-five
years' purchase of the said annual divisible profits,
estimated on the average of the three then
next preceding years ; provided always, that if
the average rate of profit for the said three
years shall exceed the rate of 101. in the 100/., it shall
be taken at only 101. in the 100/. for the purpose of cal-
culating thereon the amount of such purchase-money;
provided also, that if the average rate of profits for the
said three years shall be less than the rate of 10!. in the
1001., it shall be lawful for the company, if they shall be
of opinion that the said rate of 25 years' purchase of the
said average profits is an adequate rate of purchase of
such railway, reference being had to the prospects
thereof, to require that the rate of purchase, instead of
being calculated upon such average rate of profit, shall
be taken at a valuation, to be determined, in case of dif-
ference, by arbitration.
3. (A.) That nothing herein contained shall be con-
strued to subject to the said option of revision or pur-
chase any railway made or authorised to be made by
any Act previous to the present session ; and that no
branch or extension of less than five miles in length of
any existing line of railway shall be taken to be a new
railway within the provisions of this Act ; and that the
said option of purchase shall not be exercised as to any
branch or extension of any existing railway, without in-
eluding in the purchase the existing railway ; also in
case the company or proprietors of the same shal require
that the same be so included.
4. (B.) And whereas it is expedient that the policy of
calling into exercise the powers of revision or purchase
hereby reserved, or either of them, should in no manner
be prejudged by the provisions of this Act, and should
remain for the future consideration of the Legislature,
upon grounds of general and national policy ; and
whereas it is not the intention of this Act, that under
the said powers of revision or purchase, if called into
use, the public resources should be employed to sustain
an undue competition against any independent company
or companies ; be it enacted, that no such notice as
hereinbefore mentioned, whether of revision or pur-
chase, shall be given, until provision shall have been
made by Parliament, by an Act or Acts to be passed in
that behalf, for authorising the guarantee or the levy of
the purchase. money hereinbefure mentioned, as the case
may be, and for determining, subject to the conditions
hereinbefore mentioned, the manner in which the said
options or either of them shall be exercised ; provided
always, that before any application is made to Parliament
for the powers to exercise the said options or either of
them, three months' notice shall be given by the said
Lords Commissioners to the company or companies to be
affected thereby, of the intention so to apply.
5. That from and after the commencement of the pe-
riod of three years preceding the period at which the
option of ransom or purchase becomes available, full and
true accounts shall be kept of all sums of money re-
ceived and paid on account of any railway within the
provisions hereinbefore contained (distinguishing, if the
said railway shall be a branch railway, or one worked in
common with other railways, the receipts, and giving an
estimate of the expenses, on account of the said railway,
from those on account of the trunk line, or other rail-
ways) by the directors of the company to whom such
railway belongs or by whom the same may be worked,
and of the purposes and things for which such
sums of money shall have been received and paid ; and
every such railway company shall, once in every half-
year, cause a half-yearly account in abstract to be pre-
pared, showing the total receipt and expenditure on
account of the said railway, for the half year endihg the
30th day of June and the 31st day of December, respec-
tively, or such other convenient days as shall in each
case be directed by the Lords of the said Committee, under
distict heads of receipt and expenditure, according to
such form as may be required by the Lords of the said
Committee, with a statement of the balance of such ac-
count, duly audited and certified under the hands of two
or more directors of the said railway company ; and shall
send a copy of the said account to the Lords of the said
Committee on or before the last days of August and Feb-
ruary respectively, or such other days as shall in each
case be directed by the Lords of the said Committee in
each year ; and it shall be lawful for the Lords of the
said Committee, if and when they shall think fit, to ap-
point any proper person or persons to inspect the ac-
counts and books of the said Company ; and it shall be
lawful for any person so authorised, at all reasonable
times upon producing his authority, to examine the
books, accounts, vouchers, and other documents of the
company at the principal office or place of business of
the company, and to take copies or extracts therefrom.
6. Companies to provide one cheap train, each way,
daily. (This clause remains virtually unchanged, see
clause 25 of former Bill.) And with respect to all rail-
way companies subject to these obligations which shall
be open on or before the Ist day of November next,
these obligations shall come into force on the said Ist
day of November; and with respect to all other rail-
ways subject to this obligation, it shall come into force
on the day of opening of the railway, or the day after the
last day of the session in which the Act shall be passed,
by reason of which the company will become subject
thereunto, which shall first happen.
7. That if any railway company shall refuse or wilfully
neglect to comply with the provisions of this act as to
the said cheap trains, within a reasonable time, or shall
attempt to evade the operation of such order, such com-
pany shall forfeit to her Majesty a sum not exceeding
20/. for every day during which such refusal, neglect, or
evasion, shall continue.
8. Board of Trade to have a discretionary power of
allowing alternative arrangements. [This clause is the
same as the former clause 27.]
9. That no tax shall be levied upon the receipts of any
railway company from the conveyance of passengers at
fares not exceeding Id. for each mile, by any such cheap
train as'aforesaid.
10. Certain companies to convey military and police
forces at certain charges, 5 and 6 Vict., c. 55. [This is
the same as the former clause 29.)
11. Railway companies to afford additional facilities
for the transmission of the mails, 1 and 2 Viet., c. 98.
[This is the same as former clause 30.]
12. And whereas electrical telegraphs have been
established on certain aailways, and may be more ex-
tensively established hereafter, and it is expedient to
provide for their due regulation; be it enacted, that
every railway company, on being required so to do
by the Lords of the said Committee, shall be bound
to allow any person or persons authorised by
the Lords of the said Committee, with servants
and workmen, at all reasonable times to enter into or
upon their lands, and to establish and lay down upon
such lands adjoining the line of such railway, a line of
electrical telegraph for her Majesty's service, and to give
to him and them every reasonable facility for laying
down the same, and for using the same, for the purpose
of receiving and sending messages on her Majesty's ser-
vice, subject to such reasonable remuneration to the
company as may be agreed upon between the company
and the Lords of the said Committee, or in case of disa-
greement, as may be settled by arbitration ; provided
always, that. subject to a prior right of use thereof for
the purposes of her Majesty, such telegraph may be
used by the Company, for the purposes of the railway,
upon such terms as may be agreed upon between the par-
ties, or, in the event of diference, may be settled by
arbitration.
13. That where a line of electrical telegraph shall
have been established upon any railway by the company
to whom such railway belongs, or by any company,
partnership, person or persons, otherwise than exclu-
sively for her Majesty's service, or exclusively for the
purposes of the railway, the use of such electrical tele-
graph, for the purpose of receiving and sending mes-
sages, shall, subject to the prior right of use thereof for
the service of her Majesty and for the purposes of the
company, and subject also to such equal charges, and to
such reasonable regulations, as may be from time to
time made by the said railway company, be open for the
sending and receiving of messages by all persons alike,
without favour or preference.
14. And whereas by an Act passed in the 4th year of
the reign of her Majesty, intituled, "An Act to regulate
Railways." power is given to the Lords of the said Com-
mittee to appoint any proper person or persons to in-
spect any railway, and the stations, works, and buildings,
and the engines and carriages belonging thereto ; and
in order to carry the provisions of this Act into execu-
tion it is expedient that the said power be extended ;

be it enacted, that the said power given to the Lords
of- tine SMd Ccgirnttee,4. of Appointing proper tiffsopd
to inspect railways snail exteicid id authdtisti fliti
appointment by the Lords of the said Committee
of any proper person or persons, for such purposes of in-
spectiop, as are by the said Act authorised, and also for
the purpose of enabling the Lords of the said Committee
to carry the provisions of this and of the said Act, and
of any general Act relating to railways, into execution ;
and that so much of the last-recited Acts as provides
that no person shall be eligible to the appointment as in-
spectc.r, who shall within one year of his appointment, have
been a director, or have held any office of trust or profit
under any railway company, shall be repealed; provided
always, that no such person shall exercise any powers
of interference in the affairs of the company.
15. Repealing provision of 3 and 4 Vic., c. 97. (Same
as farmer clause 35.)

16. Board of Trade may direct prosecutions to pre-
vent railway companies from contravening or exceeding
the provisions of their Acts. [Same as former clause 36.]
17. Notice to be given to the company. Prosecutions
to be under the sanction of the Board of Trade, and
within one year after the offence. [Same as former
clause 37.]
18. And whereas many railway companies have bor-
rowed money in a manner unauthorised by their Acts of
incorporation or other Acts of Parliament relating to
the said companies, upon the security of loan notes
or other instruments purporting to give a se-
curity for the repayment of the' principal sums bor-
rowed at certain dates, and fOr the payment of
interest thereon in the meantime : and whereas such loan
notes or other securities issued otherwise than under the
provision of some Act or Acts of Parliament have no
legal validity, and it is expedient that the issue of such
illegal securities should be stopped ; but such loan notes
or other securities having been issued and received in
good faith as between the borrower and lender, and for
the most part for the lawful purposes of the undertaking
and in ignorance of their legal invalidity, it is expedient
to confirm such as have been already issued ; be
it enacted, that from and after the passing of this
Act, any railway company issuing any loan note or
other negotiable or assignable instrument, purporting
to bind the company as a legal security for money ad-
vanced to the said railway company otherwise than
under the provisions of some Act or Acts of Parliament
authorising the said railway company to raise such
money and to issue such security, shall for every such
offence forfeit to her Majesty a sum equal to the sum for
which such loan note or other instrument purports to be
such security: provided always, that any company may
renew any such loan note or other instrument issued by
them prior to the passing of this Act, for any period or
periods not exceeding five years from the passing of this
Act.
19. That where any railway company;before the 12th
day of July, 1844, shall have issued or contracted to issue
any such loan notes, or other unauthorised instruments,
the company may and shall pay off such loan notes or
other instruments, as the same may fall due, subject
as herein before provided ; and, until the same shall be
so paid off, the said loan notes or other instruments
shall entitle the holders thereof to the payment, by the
company, of the principal sum and interest thereby
agreed to be paid.
20. That a register of all such loan notes or other in-
struments shall be kept by the secretary, and such re-
gister shall be open, without fee or reward, at all rea•
sonable times, to the inspection of any shareholder or
auditor of the undertaking, and of every person inter-
ested in any such loan note or other instrument desirous
of inspecting the same.
21. Remedy for recovery of tithe-rent charged on rail-
way land. [Same as former clause 43.]
22. Communications to and from Board of Trade, ser-
vice of notices, &c. [Same as former clause 44.]
23. Peralties. [Same as former clause 45.]
24. That where the word " railway" is used in this
Act, it shall be construed to extend to all railways con-
structed under the powers of any Act of Parliament ;
and when the words " passenger railway" are used in
this Act, they shall be construed to extend to all rail-
ways constructed under the powers of any Act of
Parliament upon which one-third or more of the gross
annual revenue is derived from the conveyance of
passengers by steam or other mechanical power; and
whenever the word "company" is used in this Act, it
shall be construed to extend to include the proprietors
for the time being of any such railway ; and that where
a different sense is not expressly declared, or does not
appear by the context, every word importing the sin-
gular number or the masculine gender shall be taken to
include females as well as males, and several persons and
things as well as one person or thing.
25. That this Act may be amended or repealed by
any Act to be passed in this session of Parliament.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Yesterday a Special Court was held, for the purpose
of receiving a report from the Parliamentary Com-
mittee upon the Criminal Justice (Middlesex) Bill, the
Corporation Officers Bill, and the Charitable Bill now in
Parliament.
THE LOSS OF LIVES AT BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE,
Two or three members having risen at the same time,
to call the attention of the Court to the late dreadful
accident at Blackfriars-bridge,
Mr. ANDERTON handed in a notice of motion, "to take
into consideration the state of the piers for embarking
and landing passengers on and from steam-boats ; and
also the present laws for regulating steam-boats on the
river Thames, and the necessity of applying to Parlia-
ment for further power, for the better regulation
thereof, and that the subject be referred to the Naviga-
tion Committee to examine and report thereon."
Mr. T. IL Hata. said there existed in the Court a
very great and natural anxiety to give expression to the
feeling occasioned by the awful calamity which had oc-
curred at Blackfriars-bridge on Thursday evening; and
he thought it necessary to mention that the Chairman of
the Navigation Committee was not aware of the inten-
tion of the Lord Mayer to hold a Court, and had gone
up the river on business connected with the Corporation,
or he certainly would have attended in his place in order
to make any explanation which might be required as to
the responsibility of that Committee. The Lord Mayor
was perfectly aware of the difficulties which the Navi-
gation Committee had to encounter as to the navigation
of steam-vessels on the river Thames; and that doubts
had been expressed, even by the members of her Ma-
jesty's Government, with regard to the powers of the
Committee. His Lordship was also aware that there
were individuals connected with the river who completely
set at defiance the authority of the Committee, and that
a difference of opinion existed in the body itself, calcu-
lated to prevent that which unanimity would have effec-
tually accomplished.—(Hear, hear.) That there should
be a perfect supervision of all encroachments and inno-
vations, and that a controlling power should exist some-
where, there could be no doubt. Many were of opinion
that the authority should belong to the Navigation Com-
mittee. At all events, that point ought to be settled, as
nothing but the repetition of such calamities as they
had to deplore, was likely to arise from the continuance
of the existing irregularities, and the operation of an
inefficient and divided control.—(Bear, hear.)
Sir P. LAURIE,
upon looking over Mr. Andertoit's
notice of motion, hoped that the words " if necessary," in
reference to going to Parliament, would be added ;'for he
much feared that an application to Parliament would, to
a certain extent, put the rights and privileges of the citi-
zens of London in jeopardy.—(Hear, hear.) He believed
the Secretary of State to be disposed to take all power
to himself, and had embraced the advice of one Major
Jebb, who recommended that the City should be called
upon to erect a new
prison upon five acres of
ground. Now, where that enormous space was to be
obtained, unless, indeed, it was to be found in the
river, he could not tell.—(lTear, hear.) There
was no spot except Smithfield upon which such
an enormous speculation could be at all likely to
be reduced to practice. These attempts to build gaols of
frightful magnitude should be closely watched.—(Hear,
hear.) With respect to the control of the river Thames,
he had not the slighest doubt as to the efficient exercise
of the united power of the Lord Mayor and the Navi-
gation Committee without an appeal to Parliament at
all.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Dixort said it would be recollected that before
steamers were employed in the Thames the stairs and
landing-places within the jurisdiction of the Lord Mayor
were kept in repair, and the expenses were defrayed, by
the City of London. The complete authority rested
with the Corporation. The introduction of that new
species of navigation did not abate that authority. On
the contrary, it rendered the exercise of the power more
necessary by :he introduction of new dangers.—(Hear,
hear.) As to the regulation of the steam-vessels, the
Watermen's Company, from whom the licenses were ob-
tainedwere, under existing circumstances, not empowered
penalties for the violation of the rules ; but that
tdoefienctiticetould be supplied by the Lord Mayor and Alder-
men, who might, in his opinion, at once confer the power,
and thus achieve the remedy.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Noants said he was anxious to call the attention
of the Court to the important question of the state of the
pier at Blackfriars-bridge, where the melancholy acci-
dent occurred. He recollected when the Blackfriars-
bridge Committee arrived at the conclusion of their la-
boura, they requested that the question as to the state
of the pier there should be referred to a Committee; and
a discussion of some length took place as to whether the
subject should go to the Navigation Committee, or the
Bridge House Estates Committee. He advised upon
that occasion that the matter should be submitted to
the Navigation Committee as more appropriate to the
duties of that Committee than to those of the other.
Ultimately, however, it was referred to the Bridge
House Estates Committee by whose report further plans
and papers were called for and the consideration of
which report was deferred to another period. That
period had unfortunately not yet arrived.—(Hear, hear.)
The question of course was at the present moment
before the Committee, and would no doubt be soon
brought forward.
After some remarks from other members,
Mr. GRESHAM said it was quite impossible for any
one to suppose but that the Corporation might have
remedied the existing evils long ago, if they had acted
with ordinary vigilance and energy.—(Hear, hear.) He
lamented that, two years since, the condemnation alluded
to had not produced the effect so naturally expected from
a judgment of that description. What, he asked, would
the public say when it should go forth, as it, no doubt,
would next day, that the very spot on which the dreadful
occurrence had taken place, had been condemned two
years ago ?_(Cheers.) How monstrous was it that
the greatest corporation in the country should be told
that what was formally condemned by the Committee
appointed by them to superintend the affairs of the river
was allowed to remain as if formally sanctioned by.them,
and that they were only roused into a recollection of
the sentence by the terrors of the disaster ?—(Cheers.)
It was (Mr. Gresham contended) absolutely and indis-
putably necessary to go into the question at once, without
waiting for the slow operation of a notice of motion.—
(Hear, hear.) The Court ought to reflect that similar
accidents might happen, and had happened at other piers
on the river. They ought to reflect that the loss of

parents to their children, and the loss of children to
their reeeritsf was attributable to the culpable neglect of
the Corpuretien of ..London.—(Loud cries of " Hear,
hear," and "No; Ile.") He insisted that his charge was
just. If they argued in their defence that they had no
power, why did they not say who had the eiower, and
who had refused to exercise it? If they said the power
lay with the Lord Mayor, why did they not distinctly
say so, and call upon him to perform so serious a duty ?
—(Cheers.) The Court of Common Council had the
City funds at their command, and showed that they pos-
sessed that authority in a great variety of ways; and
surely, as they were invested with large corporate autho-
rity, they were bound to devise a remedy for the evil,
particularly as they had money to carry out the object.
—(Hear, hear.) There were several of the inhabitants
of the ward in which the calamity had occurred, at the
bar, ready to present a petition, praying the Court to
give their immediate attention to the subject. He added
his entreaty to theirs. He had spoken strongly, and in
the opinion of many, perhaps, harshly, on the subject;
but it was one calculated to operate powerfully upon the
feelings of any man of common humanity.—(Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR rose. He said it might be satis-
factory to the Court to know that a code of laws for the
regulation and management of the river Thames would
be submitted to the Committee of Aldermen on Saturday
next, and that the conservancy was of itself a sufficient
power upon which to act on all occasions, however im-
portant, and rendered quite unnecessary any application
to Parliament for assistance or sanction. When these
rules should be agreed to, there would be no delay in
nor check to their operation.—(Cheers.) With respect
to the deplorable accident which had occurred, it was
necessary, after what had been stated as to that disaster,
that he should say a few words. It appeared from the
statements which had been made, that the pier at Black-
friars-bridge had been condemned for the last two years.
He regretted that his predecessor in office was not pre-
sent, to state why he had not acted upon that sentence
of condemnation—why he had not proceeded as soon as
possible to apply a remedy.—(Hear, hear.) At the same
time, he could not help saying that the Navigation Corn-
mittee ought to have reported to him (the Lord Mayor)
that such a dangerous pier existed. If the Com-
mittee had given him that information, he would at once
have removed the Blackfriars-bridge pier as completely
and effectually as he had removed the pier at London-
bridge.—(Loud cheers.) In his opinion the Navigation
Committee ought to have renewed their application from
time to time with ceaseless perseverance, until they
accomplished that the accomplishment of which they
knew and acknowledged to be paramount. It was their
duty to follow up an object which melancholy experience
now pointed out to them should have been long since
attained.—(Cheers.) In his opinion, the pier ought not
to have been at the place where it is at all. Any one who
would look at the Blackfriars-bridge Act must say that
the erection was made directly in opposition to it ; so
that there was neither authority nor excuse for what
had been done.—(Hear, hear.) His Lordship concluded
by stating that on Thursday next (this day), he should
go up the river, examine all the piers, and issue orders
with respect to them, which, he would take care should
be obeyed.
Upon the motion of Mr. OBBARD, the standing order
was suspended, in order that the Farringdon-ward With-
out petitione in praying for the immediate erection of a
substantial pier, might be presented.
In answer to questions from Mr. KING, the petitioners
said they knew the Blackfriars-bridge pier had been
under condemnation for the last two or three years, and
that they did not care by whom the pier might be made,
as their only object was to hare as efficient and

secure one.
Mr. KING, upon the part of the Bridgehouse Estates
Committee, said that the members thought the question
of the erection of a pier so important, that it ought to be
submitted to competition, and that the vast plan of em-
bankment proposed by the Government necessarily caused
delay.—(Hear, hear.) Under all the circumstances, the
Court ought to be very cautious how they sanctioned
any plan.
Mr. R. WILLIAMS believed that the public mind
would be, in a great degree, relieved by what had been
stated that day in the Court, provided immediate steps
were taken to carry out the object of those who had con-
demned the course of apathy which had been so long
pursued.—(Hear, hear.) The petitioners did not appear
at the bar to advocate any particular plan of building.
Their only object was to have a secure and effectual pier,
and the public would hold the Court responsible for what
might henceforward take place, for they believed that
the Corporation were chargeable with having allowed
individuals to erect piers, no matter where, and to pocket
the money of the people, without caring anything about
the danger incurred by those who paid, or the disgrace
reflected upon those who granted the favour.—(Cheers.)
He hoped that petitioners would never again appear at
that bar, praying for a remedy for grievances, the exist-
ence of which was a dishonour and a reproach to those
to whom they were represented.—(Cheers.)
Mr. T. H. HALL submitted, that the Court ought to
recollect that the Navigation Committee could not re-
commend the erection of a pier upon any particular spot,
until something decisive should be done in the great
scheme of embankment.—(Hear, hear.) Lord Lincoln
had given notice, that on the 30th instant, he should
introduce a Bill in Parliament, fur the purpose of exten-
sively embanking the river, from the City to Westmin-
ster. How could the Corporation then, at once, erect a
pier upon any spot within that large space ? They
were bound to look at the question in all its bearings.
(Hear, hear.) In the meantime; that, he admitted, had
nothing to do with the ricketty pier which had been con-
demned two years ago, and ought to have been removed
the moment after condemnation.—(Hear, hear.)
The petition was then unanimously referred to the
Committee.