The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-01 00:00:00

EMBANKMEcNT :OF-THE I'll-ME&

possession. or their present accommodations on the
river shore; and, idly, To provide increased facilities
of communication between the east and west end of
the town by a pablic road constructed in the iver.
The details of a plan professing to be founled upon
these principles must, it is obvious, be far more ex-
tensive and complicated in their character t' an those
of any plan based upon au alternatiotrof olict em-
bankments and recesses only. A river wall inter-
posed between the navigable channel and the shore
must have openings to aftbrd facilities of intercourse
between the two. The position of•-these openings
would form one subject for inquiry ; their width an-
other ; the facilities of .access at different states of the
tide another. These openings, could, of course, be
passable only by bridges ; and those bridges, in ac-
cordance with one of the leading principles of Mr
Page's plan,. should be of sufficient width and height
to admit of the accustomed traffic of any locality at
any state of the tide. On the other hand, Mr. Page's
terrace was to pass under the respective,bridges which
connect the Middlesex and Surrey,, shores of the
river ; and hence it would appear impossible to satisfy
one of those conditions without conflicting, in some
.measure, with the other.
Another point, the importance of which was not to
be overlooked, was the convertibility of these side chan-
nels into docks or floating basins. The treatment
of this question involved the discussion of locks,
their position, their capabilities, qeir size, and
their probable cost ; the relative advantages of
tidal docks and floating basins, in reference to the
trade and the navigable interest of the river ; the su-
pervision necessary to the regulation of either : their
respective tendencies to silt, and the facilities for
cleansing and keeping them free from mud, furnished
further subject for inquiry, and the Commissioners
are compelled to add for much conflicting opinion.
After adverting to these points they come to the
most important—the difficulty of entrance to the side
channels from the river. Toe number, position. and
dimensions of these, they say, might be modified at
almost any period previously to the commencement
of the works, and we confined ourselves, therefore, to
points less susceptible of modification. Mr. Hay, a
lighterman, observes, " I think Mr. Page's plan is the
best I have seen, and if a project of that kind is to be-
executed, I have never seen any equal to it ; hut, if
the river is narrowed, the tide will go up with greater
velocity. We have great difficulty now in brinaing
up our craft. Now we can bring up to the wharfs,
and bring up in a recess, and get out of the way; but
I doubt whether we can ever bring up at all when
the tide is running so hard as it would. Still Mr.
Page's plan is a very excellent one ; I have seen no-
thing equal to it, if these difficulties of getting in at
the openings can be done away with.' On being
further questioned whether his objections would
equally, apply to open entrances, he replied, "If
there is a plan intended to be carried into
effect on the river, there cannot be a better; but I
fear when we come to the openings the tide will carry
us by." Mr. Lucey, also a lighterman, apprehended no
difficulty whatever ; referring to the entrances of the
London and St. Katherine's Docks, he depended upon
the eddy to assist him, and gave his reasons for that
dependence. Mr. Taylor thought there would be
be no difficulty, "unless the. speed of the tide were
very much increased. In the flow of the tide
it would then require some very experienced
bargeman to bring up, and ring-bolts or piles must be
resorted to for the purpose." Assuming an increase of
IS per cent. upon a velocity of three miles an hour, he
anticipated no difficulty whatever. Mr. Harvey had
conversed with an intelligent lighterman, and inferred
from the same causes, that admission would be more
difficult. Mr. Pocock adverted to the increase of
existing difficulties, since the removal of Old Lon-
don-bridge, and was also of that opinion, attaching
little importance to the drift or eddy anticipated by
Mr. Lucey; and Mr. Peache, referring to the fact
that a great portion of the craft were worked by
only one man, considered that there would be diffi-
culty, in such cases, in getting in without further as-
sistance.

The. first.RepOrt of the- Comuussionera -appointed.
to inquire into the most effectual means' of improving-
the Metropolis, has just been laid before Parliament.
it is a very lengthy dOcuinenta, The principal part of
the Report refers to the TKunes embankment, of
which the following is an outline. Thetommissioners
say " We have been 'induced to resent a detailed.re-
view of the very voluminous evidence ..and the great,
mass of professional, opinion which we have collected
with reference to an embankment of the Thames, by,
the conviction that we could not, by, any more sum-
mary exposition of it, have done justice to the im-
portance 'of the subject itself—to the various and k-
tensive interests connected With it—to the- high clia-
racter and station of the eminent professional gontle-
tlemen from whom we have derived so much valuable.
information (most .readily and unreservedly afforded),
and also to the authors of the several plans which we
have considered in comparison
,with each other.
We have observed with great satisfaction the al-
most unanimous .concurrence in opinion, upon all the
main topics to which our inquiries were directed,
among. the. seientific and practical gentlemen thus
consulted ; and• it was with' a corresponding confi-
dence that we finally came to the following resolu-

tions
I. That it appears to the Pominission that the pre-
sent state of the river Thames 'nbovt? London-bridge
is such as to render highly expedient the adoption of
some proceedings for xcinedying the exi3ting defects,
and for preventing the lurther deterioration of the
navigation.
f 2 . That, for securing these important objects, an
embankment of the river would be the most effective
measure.

3. That, though a general embankment between
Vauxhall" end LondOn-bridgerappears to be highly
expedient, yet that it is most urgently required on
that portion of the Middlesex, or left bank of the
river, which lies between Westminster and Black-
friars-bridges.
4. That such an embankment might be advanta-
geously. combined with the formation of a cars4age
and foot line of communication between Scotland-
}•ard and Blackfriars-bridge, whereby the great nb-
jects of public recreation and health :would be pro-
moted,-and considerable relief be given to the existing
insufficient Aborouvhfares between the eastern and
western districts of the metropolis.
5. That the adoption of the general principles
of embankment presented in the plan of Mr. Page; or
plan B (with certain modifications which have been
suggested, and others which may be suggested here-
after), there is reason to expect that the great public
benefit of the improvement of the river, and the ob-
taining a new line of communication, may be ac-
quired without detriment to the trade now 'conducted,
on the.Mkldlesex shore.

6. That the Commission, being disposed on these
grounds to recommend the adoption of this great me-
tropolitan improvement, will proceed forthwith to
ascertain as nearly as it can be done the probable ex-
pense of carrying it into execution ; and also to in-
quire in what manner the funds required for the pur-
pose may best be provided, so as to press with the
least possible weight and inconvenience on the in-
habitants of the metropolis and its environs.
In pursuance of these resolutions, it became nece.s-
sary for us to place ourselves in immediate comninni-
cation with Mr. Page, and to direct his attention to
with modifications of his plan as had occurred to us
in the
_course -of this inquiry. These modifications,
however, necessarily involved many deviations from
the estimate already before us, and we directed, there-
fOre, that further and detailed estimates might be pre-
pared and submitted for our consideration. The
nature of these modifications will be beat explained
by reference to the appendix. They involve, as will
be seen; in Principle,' no departure from Mr. Page's
original plan. .
The estimate based upon the plan originally pro-
posed comprised an embankment and roadway between
Blackfriars and Westminster-bridges, on the northern
shore-of the river, 40 feet in width, and varyinn. from
3 feet 6 inches to 10 feet above Trinity high-water
mark, with carriage-road, footpath, balustrades, &c.,
from MiddluScotland-yard to Blackfriars-bridge.
The whole outlay upon this portion of Mr. £
Page's plan would have amounted to 192,728
Add for ga4-fittings, lamp-posts, irons, &c. 2,450

Looking to this question as one having rather a
practical than scientific bearing, the opinions of the
engineers consulted were, perhaps, not unexpectedly
discordant: Mr. Hartley and Mr. Cubitt,, disapprov-
ing of the particular entrances shown in plan B, were
nevertheless of opinion' that there would be no diffi-
culty in designing entrances such as should afford
entire protection against strong currents and high
winds.; the first, however, saw no necessity for locks,
'thee second, adinitted locks in deep recesses. Mr.
Gordon also was of opinion that there would be no
difficult", thought the gates in the plan " judiciously
laced; and recommdnded the addition of others.
Mr. Rennie observing that " all the entrances to the
various docks at present on the river are occasionally
affected by currents and high winds," assumed that
" a careful observation of the prevailing winds would
determine their _position." Mr. Giles, that " they
would.be affected by the same causes, but that these
would not impose g'reater difficulties than exist at the
entrances of various docks on the river, and which
might, by 'the means resorted to in these cases, be
overcome.' On the other hand, Mr. Macneil was of
opinion, that "these entrances would impose difficulties
and obstructions such as do not now exist at the en-
trances to the various docks or wharfs on the river ;"
and Mr. Rennie, " that they would be difficult, if not
dangerous, except for an hour•and-a-half, at most,
before and after high and low water,"
The experience of Captain Maughan may, here, be
again of service in elucidating a practical question.
To questions whether theentrances should be at right
angles with the stream, he replies, " As regards
facility of entrance, I think that is of very little im-
portance. The craft will have to stop outside first of
all, and if there is no tide, which I apprehend there
will not be, close to the embankment wall, they will
go in as they like • I do not think the stream will run
rapidly close to the terrace, so as to prevent the easy
ingress of barges." He apprehended no difficulty in
getting in, no pressure of the tide upon the vessels at
the entrances. In his letter he observes, " The diffi-
culties which have been raised about entrances at
right angles I confess I cannot understand ; they ap-
pear to me very much exaggerated. With a floating
platform or dumb-lighter, and piles driven down at
proper distances to check the barges, any lighterman
could pass in his craft, even should• the stream run up
rapidly outside, but which I very much doubt its
doing, as stated in any evidence.

195,178
Add for contingencies, 10 per cent 19,517

214,695

The futther estimate which Mr. Page was directed
to prepare and lay before us, was to comprise an em-
bankment and terrace 20 feet in width, from West-
minster-bridge to Whitehall-place, and 50 feet in
width for-the remainder of the distance, varying in
height-frotri.3 feet 6 inches to 10 feet above -Trinity
datum.; and to show the relative expense of construct-
ing these.—lst. With brick walls faced with granite;
and, 2d, With brick walls and granite dressings only.
The following was the result:—
For an embankment and terrace 50 feet in
width, and varyiac, from 3 feet G inches to
10 feet in height, having brick walls and a
facing of granite £366,409
For a like' embankment and terrace, having
brick-walla, with granite dressings only
As- the made of connecting the general line of the
proposed'-embankment with the frontage of the pre-
mises now occupied by the residents in Privy-gardens,
and alsowiththat of the Temple-gardens, may be
subject to modifications of various kinds, with a. view
to meet the convenience of the respective parties,' the
foregoing estimate maybe affected by the ultimate de-
termination respecting these portions of the work,
probably so as to diminish the cost of it the public.
We have adverted to the manner 'in which the
funds required for the improvement in the City 'of
London, connected, more or less; with the: approaches
to Lbadon-bridge, and also the.great-alterations more
recently sanctioned by Parliament, and now in pro-
gress, have been provided ; and although it may not
appear strictly a part of our duty to accompany our
recommendations of iamb further improvements as
may appear to us to be the most 'desirable by sugges-
tions of pecuniary resources for defraying the cost of
them, we trust that we shall not he considered as
transgreasing the limits of our commission if we sub-
mitto your Majesty our views of the meats which
appear to us the most readily available, and with the
smallest degree' of pressure and inconvenience to the
inhabitants of the metropolis and its vicinity, for the
iinmediato object of our present report, and also for INC ENDIAHISM.-01.1 ThHisday nightobout a rivar-
ter-past ten, a wheat rick, the property of Mr. John Harris,
some of those further improvements which it will be at Abbey Farm,•Little Marlow, was discovered. to be on fire.
our duty hereafter to submit for the approval of your An alarm was immediately given, and the engine from Mar-
IVaj'est v and of Parliament. . low was shortly in attendance, but notwithstanding the rick
was
A.Ve Law stated that the coal duties of Bd. per ton consumed: It contained about seven loads. llv the
fe:exeioan of the neighbours of Mr. Harris, further damage
in the port of London are now charged until year ;aopnpurelerniedkesaw3as,prevented. The constable of Little
18645•withtthe improvements already made or in pro- Marlow' eslolbrook the sow evening.
gross. 1.1.5 r wl.ole" rate of duty upon this article, as The prisoner underwent .ani. examination on Friday before the
noiv collected, 6 13d. per ton ; viz., 8d charged and • '
as .magistrates, , was committed for trial. _
before trientionek 4d. received by the Corporation in On Saturday the following noticescf r oloberi
Gazette
es
lieti.Ol. certain ancient rights and interests, sand id. were•cireulated and inserted in• the Polke azette :—At the
also-collected-by them for compensation to be paid to pit entrance of Drury-lane theatre, the Rev.. H. A. Holder
of iver-street, of 151. in Si. Bank-notes, endorsed with the
Gower-street,
individualls,"and other expenses' incidental to the coal " Evans." Mr. Edwin-Thomas,of . Globe-fields, M
tuile-
arl:e!,".o6 the cccaision of regulation
the new of the. name
end, of his watch,
the pit of the Pavilion Theatre.
coal trade under the Act of 1831. . Mr. Wilson, Portugal Hotel, Fleet-street, of a gold oval
his- estimated that the• charges upon the last-men- brooch, a pin and a gold -signet ring at the Victoria
tioned duty' of Id. per ton will be extinguished in Theatre. Mr. Brown, of Narrow-street, Limehouse, of his
watch (maker's name " Oliver, Falmouth,") at the Garrick
about 'three years from the present time. - Theatre. Information was also given that Mr. Thomas
Such being the existing state of these duties, it is Bayne,-of;13, T W ower-street, estminster-road, was
robbed
•
our opinion that-it may be advisable to augment the at a public-house in Holle.s-street, Soho, of a tin case, six
total rate of the tax collected from 13a. to ISd. per 50/. hank-notes (Nos. 93,768, and following numbers to
i
ton; making the duration of the whole cOntempora n
9,70 1d73), a 10/. bank-note, and a moleskin bag containing 27/.
. •
rrealld with that of the duty-of Bd. per -tint-s-rabow- * 3
g
REVIVAL OT THE CEN"LIIAL ' RAILIVAT.--We
Thellii o''' . ng, of sour-.e, ned—elicsour-.e, the duty of 4d. per
hu-
tch belonginlX to the city of London,. which is - dtecatanttillatillitata,
nsiunicehetlrieo
faiVia t ioiti. olf the rivali lines of railway
me ntli-n •auvee it:l:ilea itli
line
1(!!'"nanoPt• By these means there Would be at the contemplation to number
a"cOnnirmig;,ntto .
di sal of Parliament for metropolitan improvements. that may be selected by Parliament to Chatham through the
and more immediately for that which is the subject of central parts, of the county of Kent, as 11w as Dover. We
our present' consideration, the prod cof duty of doubt not- that this scheme will meet with the cordial support
3d. per ton until. the duty of 11- nt e a 't d of Sittingbourne, Faversham, Canterbury, the Isle of Thank,
to the coal market, is set free, anrofooddapproitariafe and other placeltriltiielhatve atlipreseilit no direct communi,
pitted in
the remainder of the term. It is estimated reoilther c<ation..hr.irait:‘
e•lsel;emea of rail asst ol.riAveis noeetnnn
that the elaas i „, _ _
r,
annual?amoutit'vtauld be, in the former ease, 5.1,875/. neral support would be given such a railway, as it would
and in the latter, 65,851 L • - :- be by far the shortest and most direct line to the Continent.
. .
-We 'are :timorous, that your Majesty should be —Cunteiburg j"rnal.
On Saturday a Commission.of Lunacy was opened
assured that we.. shaiald ' not lightly recommendeven
before 31r. Commissioner Barlow, at Ilie.King's Head, Eiiani,
this comparatively inconsiderable augmentation
of to try the state of mind of Mr. A. MI Woolliouse,• formerly
loCal tii7x:vtinn nor without a careful consideration
tile interests of that great community on whichm'of holding, a commission in her Malliesr tsfic3_th Regiment, but
this fur some tithe past an inmate of ta'. John. Chapin 'an s lunatic
additierialleMPemry. burden would be imposed. We asylinn, near Egliant The' commission was supported by.
-
should not, ireheed , venture to offer this suggestion Mr. Collins, of the Chancery bar. ,No opposition was offered,
except under the -strongest conviction that benefits and. it was clearly established that Mr. Woollionse was,
much more than equivalent to the sacrifices thus pro- lt‘uhrt;lelzr. incapable a T ble of managing his own affairs. Thejury.re-,
1•1.81 v. the insanity had commenced from
posed Would result from the_ adoption of the plans the let of verdict
igusZ
now submitted for your Majesty's approval. The he. AFFLICTINO AND FAI AL k ENT —One of the
bourn of successive Committees of•the House of Com- most afflicting accidents which' we CC . IhD . I ad.the sad
mons- Who'have pursued elaborate inquiries, and have 1 opportunity of recording occurred oinivSVnevdenresida in tile
expressed-,decided opinions on the subject, have spared neighbourhood -of this tow n, and ' has east ay, oom,
lig. the necessity of setting forth in detail-the grounds nofot
tioliiisly over the extensive circle in which thegvietim
upon which we consider that an addition to
eta coal
lustre of ageamllionft
amiable. of
moved, and spread the
virtues,h but among every
dutieSlS:(witlain certain limits) the most equitable 1 class society, rich and 100
and the.. least burdensome mode of providing for im- 1 ttine-to be acquainted
.whimP tnhO' 'aw_iiVa. had the good for
d irable traits of her '
provernents •of this description ; and we therefore i highly exalted character. edeceased 'The
was x ', '
cannot hesitate to recommend it as the best resource `John Tuthill, Esq., of lapis, the mother vi.c
of
.., of a numerous
for_the accomplishment of a measure having for its and-interestine, family, and sister of Mr. Justice Jackson.
object to :secure to the , metropolis the advantages .of She breakfasted as usual- on Wednesday morning with
an - improved and better regulated navigation .c4*.a .1 the family party, Mr. Tuthill and her five sons—and
proceeded up stairs soon afterwards, to a room in the
f.,,rtait portion Of the noble river which flowa:through I
utmost slit,
-in which she was about ordering some
it, and calculated at - the -'same time to contribute ; eyairs.. °thing more is known -of her until her
Itreely to the convenience, the recreation, and the r
.tirelessi corpse was discovered, in about half an ,
110244 pi, iti inhabitants. ' - • I n the area bruised—her hair dishevelled,
the
. The principles of Mr. Page's plan are distinct in back part of .her head broki-n in by the and
shock
character 'from those of Mr. Walker, and in some re- sustained in contact with the ground.lt would
it
stiecti;Oppaseoo them. -It proposes- an embaufkment appear that she fell from the window of the room
With tiorg (iJ4aO.IO.A,AIe embankment of itself forming to which she had gone, into the area, a height of about
koontianotis public terrace. Assuming ev'erabstraC- '6O feet—and that death was instantaneous. .No one
tion Of.-tidal: water from a navigable • river to be inju- • witnessed the accident. No one can conjecture hoW
rious to the navigation -below the locality of the em- .
t it occurred, except that the lamented lady over-reached,
-
bankinent; by depriving a portion of the river of its and losing her balance; was precipitated below. Mr.
Tuthill was the first to discover the lifeless body in the
sefiur,-Mr Page prOposes—lst, To avoid encroaching'
area; and it is needless to remark that the poignant
upon the Capacity of the river for the reception of its sensation which he endured can be more easily ima-
tidal waters, and to make the prevention of encroach- •
gined than described. An inquest was held on the re-
'od - as far aspracticable,
ratt!titkcat any future pori ,
fading .. feature ; 2dly., To leave to the wharfingers. and a verdict according to the circumstance. was returned.
aid -ottfell ingested in
.then trade of the 19oniity the ' —Tipperary Vindicator. • - •- -- '" - •
a .., ... _ .
...,._ .- .