The Sun.
London, England, 1828-05-06 00:00:00

ST. KATHARINE DOCKS.

On Saturday last, being the anniversary dav of laving.'
the first stone, the Directors of the St. Katharine Dock
Company, accompanied by a few private friends, assembled
in the Long' Room in the Dock-house, which room is in-
tended as a general office for the accommodation of the
officers, clerks, &c. &c., and proceeded thence to inspect
the warehouses, vaults, quays, and works. Twelve mouths
only have elapsed since the first stone was laid of this really
stupendous and useful undertaking, so important to the
commercial and shipping interests of the port of London ;
since which, the site of the western dock, basin, and lock,
originally covered with nearly 950 houses, has been cleared.
The walls of that portion of the works are 36 feet high ;
one of the locks is completed, three-fourths of the ware-
houses, buildings, and vaults to surrourd them erected,
whilst, from the unexampled progress which has been
made, no doubt exists but that the portion of the works
named, with the entrance-lock, dock-house, and offices,
with warehouse and vault-room, equal to about 100,000
tons of merchandize, will be ready for the reception of
ships and goods in the month of October next, and that
the remainder of the buildings and works will be completed
in the course of the ensuing year.
The manner in which the buildings and works have
been executed reflect the highest credit upon the engineer,
architect, and contractors. Mot e than ordinary attention
appears to have been paid to the solidity of construction,
durability, and convenience of accommodation. The novel
mode of arrangement in the formation of the warehouses,
by which a quay frontage will be provided, equal to 4,600
feet, of from 50 to 120 feet in depth, and under a colon-
nade 18 feet high, with the care which has apparently
been taken to furnish every possible accommodation in the
landing, housing, and delivery of goods, deservedly excited
admiration. After the goods have been landed on the
_quays, they will not be exposed to the weather, as provi-
°'on has been made to raise them to the respective floors,
...rough shafts which have been constructed in the interior
of the warehouses. The fosse side stack of warehouses,
which is a specimen of the building, is a fine elevation, and,
with the vaults, affords proof of the advancement in archi-
tecture. The entrance lock will be 195 feet in length, and
45 feet wide, and at spring tides will contain 28 feet depth
of water. By the application of hydraulics, the lock will
afford the means of docking ships and craft every half
hour, during nearly every period of the tide, without wast-
ing any water from the docks or basin ; and a ship, draw-
ing as much as 18 feet water, may, by these means, he
taken into dock from the river with perfect safety, three
hours after high water. We understand that arrtnge-
ments have also been made by the Dock Company for
locking ships and craft in the night time, as well as
by day, which will be a great accommodation to ship -
ping. When the dock buildings and works have been com-
pleted, they will afford accommodation, within the walls,
to from 120 to 140 ships, besides craft, at one time, amt.
of upwards of 200,000 tons of warehouse and vault room.
Complaints having, during mans years, been made of the
obstructions which exist to the navigation of the Pool,
&c. from colliers and other vessels, we understand that
the Trinity Corporation, and Corporation of London, with
a view to remove those grievous impediments, have deter-
mined upon buoying off a clear channel in the middle of
the river, of not less than 300 feet wide; so that ships of
from 600 to 700 tons will he able to reach. the St. Ka-
tharine Docks with perfect security. The Lord Mayor.
Deputy Master of the Trinity Corporation, and Harbour
Masters, accompanied by the Port of London Commitoso
&c. have, within these few days, marked out the channel,
and bye-laws are preparing to enforce. an arrangement, of
such vital importance to the best interests of the port.
The total quantity of foreign goods imported :mouldy
into the port of London, amounts to upwards of one mil-
lion and a half of tons. The West India Docks, and rpn
dchu Docks, (being the only wet dock accommodation, with
bonded warehouses on the north side of the river, the for-
mer indeed situated at a distance of nearly four miles front
the Royal Exchange,) afford accommodation only for about
360,000 tons of merchandize.

Additional wet dock accommedation, nearer the suit of
business, is, therefore, required on the north aide of tlo,
Thames, and will, but to a limited degree, as compared
with the wants of commerce in that part of the metropolis.
be provided by'the St. Katharine Docks, The Measure
has already been productive of great public advantage, as
the rates of other dock establishments, and of the East
India Company, have in some instances been reduced 50
per cent, since the undertaking received the sanction of
Parliament. The East India Dock Company hive also
lowered their rates from 12s. 6d. to about 2s. per ton re-
gister : and as a proof of the increasing commerce of the
port, it may be observed, that the London Docks and
Warehouses have never been so full as they are at present,
and that notwithstanding the great reduction which has
taken place in their rates, their income has ittteressed.—
Besides, the Directors of that establishment, convinced of
the necessity of still further accommodation, have recently
constructed another Dock with Shed Warehouses, altd
have now a Bill before Parliament to empower them to
raise 400,000/. more towards the construction of additional
works, &c.

,
The Duke of CUMBERLAND and the Princess
SOPHIA visited his MAJEsTv yestenlay, at his palace in St.
James's.

The health of her Royal Highness the Prin-
cess AUG USTA is gradually improving. The Princess was
about to take an airing yesterday in her carriage, but was
prevented by the weather becoming unfavourable. Her
Royal Highness received visits yesterday from the Duke of
CLARENCE, the Duchess of KENT, and the Princess V7.*,'.‘
TORIA, and the Duke and Duchess of GLOUCESTER. ; also
from the Duchess of NEWCASTLE, and a few of her Royal
Highness's private friends. The inquirers among those or
the Nobility and Gentry who take an interest in the wel-
fare of this amiable Princess continue very numerous.

The Duke and Prince GEORGE of Cumßßß-
attendepl by the Duke of GonnoN, Colonel PoIEN,
Colonel THORNTON, and the Rev. Mr. JELF, left their
apartments in the King's Palace, St. James's, about nine
o'clock yesterday morning, and proceeded to the residence
of Sir CHARLES FLOWER, in Finsbury-square, where the
party partook of breakfast with Sir CHARLES, who after:•
wards accompanied his guests to the Trinity-house 0„
Tower-hill. The party went on board a Custoin-7iiouse
boat, which was in readiness at the Tower al-airs, and
visited respectively the West India, East baba, and Lon-
don Docks. The party afterwards went on board an East
Indiaman, named Lord William Bentinek, which arriv-
ed in the Thames a short time ago from. Bristol, where it
was built. The Duke of CUMBERLAND and the Duke of
GoanoN left the vessel shortly before one o'clock, and re-
turned to his apartments. Prince GEORGE and his suite
remained to dinner on board the vessel, and arrived at the
King's Palace, St. James's, about five.

Prince LEOPOLD gave his first grand evening
party for the season yesterday, at Alarlborough-hou,,e,,
Pall-mall.

The Duke and Duchess of CLA4ENcE spent
Sunday evening with the Duchess of K.S.'NT, 4at'iler apart-
ments in the King's-palace at Kensington,

the Duke or SUSSEX is i%idisposed at his
apartments in the King's-palace 4t Kensington, with 3.
cold. His Royal Highness passed but an indiferentnight
on Sunday. His Royal Highness was visited yesterday
by the Duke of CLAR2;NCE and other Members of the
Royal Family.

ihavEo7,
,LiTamdayeßCL.o.:SiAN'alnl:Par,s Set: i
asilyi,naatod,
irIT:Rk,rDaE-hil:ugiaeecnt
B.
the
I:e.Diesrdaso
r2dt,o,igkikfnßun,
ieNniLoes,
irlanogaplT,lllajtd,
dih:
uteii \
~h1),,,,8e0..}:aL
Pißrpcserral:l,Ainitiesy,
iiNssrorisnad,i:n.ai
ee)ot;shi\af,setitio(Glip,i4fei
isuotts.4k::Tr
etc;
6,7;,)citf,tie)rikErii
e)sisiEiliDoTo,o,lo:l,lioceßneit.
C. CAMPBELL, &e.
Duke and Duchess of LEINSTEL, Marquis of
BRISTOL, Earl and Countess LisTowELL, Earl S. civil_
Among tht: company
Earl BATHURST entert
I gave a grand dinner on Sunday at their resid',nce in Cleve-
land-square, to the Duke f n
party of oubditY and gentry.
EM DAINIi' 'll ltablelLELaoaddpiyesolE,Daarsow, Sir
P:med the Duke uf
wftLiNcrox and a large part-, dinner yesterday, at Lis
Lordship's residence in 11 '''' at
--- - ,":4sueld-street.
werous party 04 Sunday agt 411 I' ea
ralh'(g)rreatligithi-house,-nlliallli-.
Were the Loan CHANCELLOR, the
inrquis of linisTot,, the Earl of Dunhay., Earl }lams-N-
-OW, Viscount BEItESFORD, Viscount PALMERSTON, Lord
HILL, Lord 14EYTESRE RY, Lord FARNBOROUGH, Lord
FITZROY SOMERSET, the Right Hon. W. Hose ISSON,
Right KM. C. GRANT, Sir JOHN CONROY, and Sir
FRANCIS FREELINC.

.
Mr. Secretary PEEL entertained a numerous
patty to dinner on Sunday, at his residence in Privy-
gardens. Among the company were the Marquis and
Marchioness of WINCHESTER, the Marquis and Marchio-
ness of SALISBURY, Earl of LONSDALE, Earl of SIIATTFJ;-
BURY, Earl and Countess VERULAAI, Earl and Countess
CLARENDON, Earl DErAwAmt, Earl of MAr.mrsnotiv,
Viscount HAMPDEN, Lord and Lady MANNFRS, Sir
WALTER SCOTT, Sir Wal. CLINTON, Sir GEORGE AILTR-
R•Y, HOU. CECIL JENKINSON, Mr. BANI•ES,