The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-06 00:00:00

bbl n-

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1844.

The usual fortune of Sir ROBERT PEEL to reap
where others have sown, the " sic vos non vohis" fata-
lity which hands over to him the realised results of a
policy that, while in progress, he has denounced, op-
posed, contended against, and done his utmost to
.obstruct,—are exemplified in the revenue returns for
tile year and quarter ended yesterday. They exhibit
100 n the enormous aggregate revenue of 50,396,977/.1
the proportionably enormous increase, over the aggre-
gate of the year ended sth April, 1843, of 4,318,167/.
The comparison of this quarter with the correspond-
ing quarter of the year 1843, gives, not indeed a
similar ratio of improvement, but a total increase of
325,0341., being the difference between 10,469,477/.
and 10,794,5111. Now, if we analyse the returns, so
,as to assign the particular items on which this excess
0: productiveness has been developed, we shall find
tha; (setting aside the " property-tax," which is an
integer in the account sui generic, and not influenced
by caus.es that inevitably affect the other sources of
revenue,) we shall find that the two heads of largest
increase are precisely those which received the most
incessant care and attention of Sir ROBERT'S prede-
cessors in office. They applied to them, to the utmost
of their ability, those free trade principles which Sir
ROBERT strenuously combated whilst in opposition,
~en masse ; but furtively adopts, piecemeal, (that he
tt.ay not too abruptly shock the prejudices of his col-
imtgues,) now that he is in office. It appears that the
increase on the present over the last financial year
(respectively ended sth April) has been—on the re-
ceipt of Customs 658,33.51.; ditto Excise, 474,6071.
Now, what the admirable labours of Mr. LABOUCIIERE
and Mr. BARING, in the consolidation and reduction of
Customs' duties, were not permitted t o accomplish,
'the luck of the Premier has, from time to time, sue-
utAsfully pushed forward into practical working.
Opposed, if we may credit his speeches in opposition,
to the principles of free trade, he consistently enough
declaimed against the preliminary of extensive modi-
fications of existing duties. In office he has, almost
in silence, but by little and little, given to those prin-
ciples efficiency and practical application. But for
treading in the steps, therefore, which Lord MEL-
BOURNE'S Government were displaced for venturing
to tread, Sir ROBERT would have had as indifferent
an account to show of receipts from Customs as those
who went before him, so long as these were
not allowed to carry out the suggestions on
whitb the Premier and his Government have since
succeosfully acted, albeit in the teeth of their own
avowed convictions or prepossessions of past years.

The improvement in the product of the Excise is
attributable to another cause ; but here, too, the result

is one that comes, as in the other instance, in aid of
the Premier's financial receipts, whilst it supplies the
most striking argument against the law he so per-
versely upholds. During the last administration of
the Whigs it was their misfortune to have high corn-
prices ; say, for an average, about 70s. the quarter for
wheat. The impolicy of the statutable prohibitions
virtually operating to exclude cheap corn from the
market, they never ceased to deprecate; but they
never could succeed in carrying a majority of Parlia-
ment with them to repeal such impolitic laws. In-
deed, to say the truth, they were at time seriously di-
vided upon the question among themselves. Some of
their more distinguished leaders were avowedly inimi-
cal to all propositions for disturbing the insufferable
monopoly which the class legislation of the landed
proprietors gives to the landlords of the supply of
bread for the community. The consequence was that,
with lowered wages, this artificially sustained high
price of bread became not only a cruel but a destruc-
tine burthen on the labouring poor and bread-con-
suming artisan. They went on, month after month,
year after year from bad to worse. Pauperism in-
creased, with frightful rapidity, on all hands. Simul-
taneous with that increase was a fearful diminution
in the demand for labour. The very sufferers, by
overtaxed bread comprise the great mass of the con-
sumers of Excise-charged articles of consumption,
as tea, coffee, &c. The natural. and necessary con-
sequence followed. The revenue of Excise deterio-
rated in a corresponding ratio, quarter after quarter.
But what has been the price of corn, since PEEL and
his colleagues displaced Lord JOHN RUSSELL and
Lord MELBOURNE ? Corn has on an average been at
about 50s. per quarter. The demand for labour,
though still very disproportioned to the supply, has
very considerably increased, indeed, during the same
period. The influence of these two facts is mani-
fested in the growing increase of the Excise. The
labouring artisan is again able, thanks to the lowered
price of bread, to spare a fractional portion of his
wages, as formerly, in the purchase of those ex-
ciseable commodities which, if not absolute necessaries
of life, are indispensable to his own comfort and
that of his family. The numbers of such consumers
in the aggregate more than countervail the small-
ness of each individual's expenditure; and thus the
difference between years of high-priced corn and
years of low, or at least cheaper priced corn, ma-
nifests itself in the income of the Excise revenue.
If Sir ROBERT PEEL and the Conservative land-
lords, supporters of. his Government, were men of
political (we had almost said—moral) consistency,
we might expect that considerations of this kind
would suffice at once to determine their policy with
regard to a corn-law. They would have before them
such irresistible evidence to the national prejudice, as i
well as the political weakness and immorality of such
a tax, that we might look for its immediate and indig-
nant repeal. But, unhappily, we have no such ex-
pectations—we indulge in no such hopes ! With
Sir ROBERT especially, the principle of ex-
pediency—the contrivances, alliances, adjustments
of private interests and conflicting official claims
—the hold upon patronage, and all other considera-
tions connected with his own maintenance of place
and power—these outweigh, we verily believe, all the
cry of famished hundreds of thousands of our labour-
ing poor for cheap bread, as well as all the mur-
murs of scores of thousands, in other classes, of
moderate incomes, against the cruel and intolerable
addition to the burden already imposed upon them
by assessed and other taxes, poor-rates, and of a
property-tax which has, this last financial year,
yielded no less than 5,356,887/. ; being an increase
on the product of this impost last year, of 2,900,5991.
Altogether, the Premier's " financial fortune" is really
remarkable ; but that the public should tolerate this
last gigantic robbery of capital and income—this
clumsy device for making good the defective working
of his scheme of domestic and financial administra-
tion, is infinitely more surprising.

The Bishop of LoNnox has lately addressed a
Pastoral Letter to the clergy of his diocese on the
subject of the erection of new churches, which he
states to be the one great want of the metropolis and
its suburbs. After mentioning that a sum of up-
wards of a hundred and fifty-eight thousand pounds
has already been subscribed for this purpose, he de-
clares it as his fixed opinion that the subscription
is not half extensive enough, and that another must
be got up without loss of time, inasmuch as his
metropolitan flock—poor, destitute, benighted crea-
tures !—are absolutely famishing for lack of spiritual
aliment. " More Church !" is consequently the
burden of the episcopal song. The temporal welfare
of the numerous flock entrusted to his charge appears
to be wholly beneath the sublime consideration of
their ghostly shepherd; he has regard only to their
precious souls, whbse lamentable condition he says,
with infinite pathos, wrings his pious bosom with
anguish. "I desire," he tells his clergy, "to renew
my appeal to the members of the Church, in my own
diocese, as well on the ground of the fearful extent of
destitution yet unsupplied, as of the success with
which the) Divine:blessing has crowned a former
effort. It was not to be expected that the planting of
churches and clergymen in the midst of a poor, igno-
rant, long-neglected population, would at once produce
all the beneficial effects which, we doubt not, will
ultimately result from that provision. To break down
the mass of ignorance and vicious habits which has
been accumulating for a long series of years, must
needs be a work of time. It may perhaps be doubted
whether any very striking change will be-wrought
till a new generation shall have grown up under the
nurture and discipline of the Church." It is mani-
fest, from this passage, that to' " more Church," and
"more Church" only, the good Bishop trusts for the
improvement of his flock. This is his great
panacea for all their sufferings—the sole reme-
dial measure in which he appears to have the slightest
faith. It is with considerable diffidence that we ven-
ture to differ from so august an authority, but we
cannot help thinking that the temporal interests of his
flock stand far more in need of the Bishop's vigilant
attention that their spiritual interests. Hundreds,
possibly thousands of them—more especially those
who reside in the crowded neighbourhoods of Bethnal-
green and Spitalfields—are at this moment in the
most wretched state of destitution, and what will
" more Church" do for them ? Will it furnish them
with clothes to appear in at Divine service—will it
put bread into their mouths—give them the means of
supporting their families—or pour the sunshine of
content and happiness into their homes, when the
ghastly fiend, Poverty, sits grinning, an " unbidden
guest," by their hearth? Certes, "snore Church" is
an excellent thing in its way—particularly to the
good Bishop, whose power and patronage will be
thereby wondrously increased—but "more bread"
is, or should be, the first consideration—
more means of innocent enjoyment—more comfort
and peace of mind. Let the Right Rev. Prelate first
direct his attention to these important matters, and
then his flock will be in a fitter condition to reap the
spiritual benefits of " more Church." But a hungry
belly is in no mood to derive advantage from attend•
ance at Divine service ; and rags—which are prover-
bially sensitive—are but too apt to feel that they are
somewhat out of place among the Respectables in
the House of GOD. But why this demand for "more
Church," on the part of " CHARLES JAMES LONDON,"
when the metropolitan churches, with which we are
already blest, remain only half filled, and not a few"
of them are in the worst state of dilapidation ? In
St. Stephen's, Walbrook, for instance—as was pub-
licly mentioned at the last parish meeting—the rain
actually comes through the roof, the matting is torn,
the pews are, many of them, broken, and the very
pulpit itself is in such a state of decay,
that it would not surprise us, were Doctor
CROLY, one fine Sunday, in the midst of his sermon, to
fall through on the astonished head of the clerk be-
neath ! Now, would it not be as well to repair our
present churches, and see that they are well filled, be-
fore we proceed to build new ones ? The Bishop, it is
to be feared, will think otherwise; and we are at no
loss to understand his motives, which, though disin-
terested perhaps in the main, are not wholly unin-
fluenced by the pleasing consideration of increased
power and patronage.

Some few months have elapsed since we called at-
tention to the very valuable Report of Mr. JAMES
WALKER, the eminent civil engineer, and Sir JonN
BARROW, Bait, for the information of the Lords of
the Admiralty, on the relative capacity and preferable
pretensions of Holyhead, and Port Dynllaen Har-
bour, to be selected for the establishment of a packet-
station and port of communication with Dublin ; and
as presenting " the greatest facilities for railway

communication with London, regard being had to the
comparative cost of effecting such communication,
and the other considerations bearing on the point."
Mr. WALKER was at the same time instructed to
" make plans with an estimate of the cost of con-
structing or improving, at each place, a harbour, and
works necessary for a packet-station, for vessels of the
class now running betweeen Liverpool and Kingston ;
namely, of 900 tons, and drawing 10 feet 10 inches
water; and likewise for a refuge harbour for the
Channel trade. We have now before us a reprint of
this Report, dated Oct. 6, 1842 ; together with that of
Captain BACK and Captain FAIR, R.N., addressed
to the Hon. S. HERBERT, Secretary to the Admiralty,
under date of 9th June, 1843, on the same points,
with the exception of the lines of railway communica-
tion, &c. The present Parliamentary paper (No. 43,
ordered to be printed 17th February last) is illus-
trated by the following coloured lithographic plans,
designs, &c. which we have carefully collated with the
text of the report in question, and found to supply
very clear and distinct illustrations of the various
lines and works submitted by the Lords of the Admi-
ralty. They are, 1. Plan of the harbour of Holy-
head, as it now is; soundings taken in feet at low
water springs, by*Mr. EVANS, the harbour-master.
2. Design for the extension of the Packet Pier; also
for a breakwater and harbour of refuge (referred to
in Mr. WALKER'S report) at Holyhead Harbour.
This is taken from a survey of Captain BEECHEY,
R.N. 3. Design for a packet pier and breakwater at
Port Dynllaen Harbour; enlarged from a survey by
Lieutenant SHERINGHAM, R.N. 4. Sketch of part of
the coast of Caernarvonshire and Anglesea, showing the
relative proportions of Holyhead and Port Dynllaen,
harbours, and of the lighthouses adjacent thereto (from
a survey by Lieut. SHERINGHAM, R.N.) 5. Sketch
showing the lines of railway at Bangor and across the
Menai Straits. 6. Ditto, showing the lines of railway
at Chester. 7. Ditto, showing the proposed junction
of the London and Birmingham and Grand Junction
Railways, near Birmingham.
At any time it might be impossible to overrate the
social and political importance of shortening and im-
proving our lines of communication between London
and Dublin. Many recent circumstances in an espe-
cial manner, and, more generally speaking, the neces-
sities and experience of every day, tend to enhance
the value of such an undertaking. Nothing can be
more complete, so far as the theory of the design for
it, embraced in the reports of Captains BEECHEY and
FAIR, R.N., and of Mr. WALKER, is concerned, than
the explanatory grounds these gentlemen have as-
signed for their several recommendations. Captains
BACK and FAIR completely dispose, in our opinion,
of the question of preference, in all considerations of
eligibility as to a packet station, in favour of Holy-
head. "We have," say these eminent officers, " pro-
ceeded to, and examined, these two places of land and
sea without bias of aay kind from local interests or
otherwise, but having regard solely to the quickest
transit consistent with safety, from one side of the
Channel to the other." Of Port Dynllaen, they
say—" First, forming, as it does, a small inner bay
or cove within Carnarvon Bay, it is entirely exposed
to the winds blowing from all points between N.W.
by N. and N.E., and though sheltered from the S.W.
wind, yet the gusts from the land rush down with
such violence between the mountains, as to endanger
the safety of vessels endeavouring to get in with the
land ; second, Port Dynllaen has no good leading
mark to guide to the anchorage ; for though the
Rivals' are conspicuous enough in fine, weather,
those principal hills are either so obscured during
fogs and misty weather, which much prevails there,
or become so much like the other adjacent heights,
that the most experienced frequenters of the coast are
frequently brought into danger in consequence. The
port of Dynllaen is, also, in thick weather and during
storms, liable to be obscured, whilst Holyhead is com-
paratively free and clear." " These and other reasons"
induce the two officers to report that " Port Dynllaen
is not, in itself, eligible as a port of communication
with Dublin. But the bay of Holyhead seems
formed by nature for a place of shelter, and if there
be anything still wanting to make it complete the
defect may be easily supplied." . . . "It is our unqua-
lified opinion," they add, " that, both as to capability
and position, Holyhead is, unquestionably, the most
eligible harbour on the coast as a port of communi,
cation with Dublin."

Mr. WALKER, after examining the present state
of Holyhead Harbour, and noting its deficiencies of
artificial means to constitute it -a harbour of refuge of
any pretensions, proceeds to show that by deepening,
dredging, removing some small rocks, and the other
works he projects in detail, it might be made a har-
bour of refuge of extraordinary capacity and perfect
shelter, singular facility of approach, and ample
depth of water. As a packet station, he pronounces
it to have capacities of many kinds, even now, to
boast of ; but, with the additional works in question,
it would probably form the most complete packet
station and harbour of refuge that could be desired
on this part of our coast. He first sets out his plan
for the new and enlarged packet pier :
" Its direction will be east-by-south nearly ; its
length 700 feet, and width 80 feet—both sides walled
and faced with ashlar, as the north side will form also
one side of the future harbour. The depth at low-
w•ater spring tides, at the inner end, 12 feet, and at the
outer end 18 feet. A return jetty of 100 feet is proposed
at the outer end.

78,000

" The estimate of this division is
" Second, The breakwater (lettered E. F. G
on the drawing, No. 1.) is designed to
be carried out from the rocks at the north
end of Salt Island, in an east by south
straight direction, 500 yards, and there
returned by a curve to a southerly direc-
tion. Its termination or head will bear
north-east by north of the Stag Rock,
from which it will be distant 250 yards.
This arm, as will be seen by the plan,
will shelter a large space (upwards of 70
acres) from all the heavy seas to which it
is open. The low-water depth, except-
ing for a very small space on the west
side, will exceed 18 feet, the average be-
ing 24 feet. It will also protect the north
side of the steam packet pier, so that ves-
sels may come alongside it. The esti-
mate of this work, including the removal
of the Inner Platters, is

" These two works, therefore, amount t0....£255,000
" By the third division it is proposed to ex-
tend the packet-pier 750 feet (from B. to
C. on the drawing, No. 1), and to project
a jetty 150 feet to the southward. Thus
the present pier, with the pier before de-
scribed, and this extension, will form the
south side of the harbour of refuge. A
return in a north-east by north direction
for a length of 900 feet (lettered C. D. on
the drawing, No. 1), will leave an en-
trance of 300 or 350 feet wide between
it and the termination of the breakwater,
making a complete harbour of refuge of
about 80 acres, in which the large class
ships will be afloat at the lowest water
The cost of this work will be

" The amount of the three works is thu5....£400,000

" When they are done, the accommodation will be of
the first order for steamers, the length of deep water
quay being not less than 3,900 feet, of which 2,200 feet
are within the inclosed harbour. There will also be an
excellent harbour of refuge, which ships of the largest
class may enter and leave with almost all winds, be
always afloat, and in perfect safety while in the harbour."
He minutely examines the pretensions and the
drawbacks of Port Dynllaen for these purposes ; and
wisely says, " I think the general conclusion, even
without that most powerful of all arguments expe-
rience, is in favour of Holyhead." He then enters on
the subject of railway communication; and, we are
glad to observe, strongly deprecates the proposal for
conducting any line of railway over the great Tel-
ford's magnificent suspension bridge at Menai :
" In place of the very circuitous lines which have been
proposed at Bangor, and the Menai Straits, and drawing
the trains by horses, or by a fixed engine, up the slope
wasth n
k built,
h e and
should line
turnpike-road,
whicii I
should be continued direct to the Straits, and the Straits
andalobnegkep the
t present
the
crossed by an arched bridge built for the railway. The
unfitness for a railway, of the present suspension-bridge,
which is approached by a slope of 1 in 25 ; theinterfe-
rence by engines and trains with the present use of it,
which interference will, I am sure, be more frequent and
annoying than appears to have been contemplated ; the
delay at all times, and particularly in stormy weather;
the having to cross Bangor with an embankment 70
feet in the deepest part ; the numerous curves to reach
the bridge, and the repetition of similar curves on the
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We are tempted to give a preference to Mr.
WALKER'S projected line, crossing the Birmingham
road between Chester through Carnarvonshire,
south of Mr. GILES'S line, and crossing the Straits by
an iron fixed bridge, at a point far removed from the