The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-27 00:00:00

" Distance of the Harbour of Refuge and AggresMsion at

Seaford.

es.
To Boulogne 52
To the mouths of the Somme 6O
To Dieppe 6O
To Fecamp
To the cape in Front of Havre 72
" This harbour will, no doubt, experience some incon-
venience from not being sufficiently sheltered by Cape
Barrow on the N.W., which wind prevails especially in
the bad season ; but this objection is not of predomi-
nating influence with the Commissioners. They take
into consideration the proximity to the inland port of
Newhaven, and do not hesitate to recommend for so
important a situation an outlay of 1,200,000/. Let us
add, that as the crow flies, the distance from Seaford to
London is only about seventy-four miles, and that by
means of the railroad from London to Brighton, from
which a branch may easily be constructed, there will be
no difficulty in getting from the capital to Seaford in
less than two hours.
" Newhaven, of which I have just spoken, is a good
port, into which the tide flows. It may, however, be
improved; it may hereafter be sheltered by a break-
water running from Cape Barrow to the point where
there are 15 to 16 feet water at the equinox neap tides.
The jetties which form the mouth of the inland port
may be at the same time extended; this mouth may be
widened and deepened. But as this entrance cannot be
rendered accessible to shipping at all times of the tide,
Newhaven is. therefore, not comprised in the naval sta-
tions respecting which the Commission can make any
recommendation.
" The British navy will have nothing to wish for from
Seaford to Portsmouth ; it is necessary to proceed 60 miles
to the westward to arrive at the magnificent situation of
Portland. Portland island shelters on the west and south
the extensive roads of that name, which are open to the
east. These roads are contiguous to those of Weymouth,
which look to the south. The Commission proposes the
erection of a jetty which would cover the south-east
Portland-roads. This jetty is proposed to be of 2,315
metres, with a passage pretty near land, at a spot where
the depth is not less than 42 feet. The cost is esti•
mated at half a million. It may surprise us that with such
a depth of water a jetty of this length may be con-
structed for so small a sum, but at Portland all tends to
make the construction of a jetty both cheap and easy.
It is to be observed, that Portland contains inexhaustible
stone quarries, of which a considerable number belong to
the State, and will, therefore, be at hand to supply the
stone and lime for the jetty. The island abounds in
fresh water springs, which will suffice for supplying the
vessels in the roads. Finally, this situation affords the
advantages of an inland port, which is formed by the
mouth of the Wey, as the name of this town indicates.
Such are the combined works which the Commission
recommends to be executed at this spot. A naval sta-
tion at Portland will protect, in conjunction with that at
Dartmouth, all the intermediary points. These two
stations, along with Plymouth, will complete the chain
of communication, co-operation, and protection from
Dover to Falmouth, a distance of 300 nautical miles.
" Exclusive of this vast line, and in order to extend
it northward, and beyond the straits in the Channel,
new improvements are recommended for Harwich-roads.
Two rivers, the Stour and the Orwell, fall into each
other immediately above the town of Harwich; the con-
tinuation of their course forms a crescent:round the town
before emptying themselves into the sea. For the pur-
pose of narrowing this mouth, and to convert it into an
inclosed roadstead, it is proposed to carry out from the
land on the side of Harwich a jetty of half a mile in
length. Thus one of the finest roadsteads on the coast of
Great Britain would be protected—a roadstead having
an excellent bed and sufficient depth of water for all
class of ships, and capable of containing a vast number
of merchant vessels. A fleet intended for the protection
of the North Sea, or the Thames, would be most admi-
rably placed at the Harwich station. Let us add, that
these are the only safe roads on the eastern coast of
England. They are in the direct line of the trade of the
Thames with the northern ports of Great Britain and
the north of Europe. Harwich already has building
yards which belong to the State ; the Ordnance Depart-
ment also has land, and has establishments at this place.
I pass over the particulars of the damage done to the
anchorage at Harwich in the last 25 years by injudicious
excavations at the cape which sheltered the entrance from
the west—a damage which the proposed works would
remedy. The channel leading to the anchorage would
be excavated to a depth of 18 feet below the lowest water
mark.

" I now give a summary of recommendations, of which
I have faithfully stated the grounds. First of all, it is
recommended to construct at Dover a harbour of refuge
entirely enclosed by jetties, with two entrances, one to
the east 150 ft., the other to the south 700 ft. wide. This
harbour to measure 520 acres, of which 370 are to have
a depth of 12 feet at the least.
" Deeply convinced,' says the Commissioners, that
it is indispensable to obtain without delay a sheltered
anchorage in the bay of Dover, we venture earnestly to
call the attention of the Lords of the Treasury to an
immediate commencement of the works, by first con
structing the jetty running out from the west of the en-
trance to the port of Dover. This first jetty, which
shelters the bay on the west, will insure smooth water
in the bay when the wind blows from that quarter; it
will stop the alluv'ons which progress from the east;
it will facilitate the execution of the other works, what-
ever may be the final plan. Whilst this jetty is in
course of construction to the west, the experiment!
recommended as to the bodies in suspension in the
waters of the bay, and the shifting of the alluvions. will
be completed. These experiments will allow of adopt-
ing definitively the best plan for the exterior harbour,
and the most suitable dimensions of the entrances.

" The breakwater or jetty recommended for Seaford
is to shelter an anchorage of 300 acres. The breakwater
at Portland is to shelter an anchorage of 480 acres.
"As to the succession : it is not possible to undertake
at the same time the construction of three breakwaters ;
the Commission proposes—first, Dover ; second, Port-
land ; and last, Seaford.
" As to the expense, the Commission does not hesitate
to recommend the following outlay :
For Dover £2,500,000
Seaford 1,250,000
Portland

Total.

£4,250,000

"So far from being surprised at the amount of this
expenditure, it will probably be found to be below the
reality when the following simple fact is considered. If
it be supposed that the above-mentioned breakwaters or
jetties be placed continuously one after the other, the
total length will be equal to three times that of our long
jetty at Cherbourg I
" As to the means of constructing, the Commissioners,
availing themselves of the experience acquired by the
French for the jetties at Cherbourg and Algiers, state
that they will give the preference to stone masonry over
pitched in stone.
" As to the protection of the ports of refuge by land
defensive works, Dover and Seaford are already provided
with the requisite ones.
_ _

" Portland-roads are commanded, in the most advan
tageous manner, by the island of Portland, on which it
will be easy to erect such fortifications and batteries as
may be required for defence.
"After having made a report of their labours, and
given the reasons for the conclusions they had come to,
the Commissioners wind up definitively in the following
manner :

" The Commission cannot close its report without ex-
pressing, in the strongest terms, its unanimous opinion,
and its thorough conviction, that it is indispensable to
adopt such measures as may afford the south-east coast
of the kingdom a powerful naval protection. Without
any exception the ports into which the tide flows, situ-
ated on the coast between Portsmouth and the Thames,
are incapable of receiving large steam-ships. Conse-
quently, now that steam produces such great alterations
in the situation of naval matters, there is an imperative
necessity for supplying by artificial means the want of
suitable ports in the narrow parts of the British Channel.
An hydrographical chart will show the situations where,
according to our recommendations, ports, enclosed
anchorages, well sheltered, will afford a refuge to
our merchant shipping. By these means, added
to the use of steam at sea, with railroads and telegraphic
communications on land, the naval and military force of
Great Britain may in a few hours be rendered most
efficient on all points of the coast. The recommenda-
tions which we have deemed it our duty to submit to
your Lordships to be carried out, require a heavy out-
lay of public money ; but when the lives, the property
of citizens, and national security are at stake, we do
not believe that considerations of money are to be an
impediment in the way of realising results of such vast
imnortance.'
The general chart referred to by the Commissioners
in their recommendations, shows a series of distances
which must strike every attentive observer. I now give
them in their order, proceeding from west to east :

Miles.
" From Falmouth to Plymouth, first centre of pro-
tection and aggression
" Frem Plymouth to Guernsey, at the entrance of
the Gulf of St. halo . 7B
" From Plymouth to Dartmouth 3O
" From Dartmouth to Portland (second important
centre of protection and aggression) 45
" From Portland to the Anglo-Norman Island of
Guernsey . .
" From Portland to Alderney, second Anglo-Nor-
man island (Alderney is 20 miles from Cher-
bourg)
" From Portland to Portsmouth, passing off the
Isle of Wight 6O
" From Portsmouth, third centre of protection and
aggression, to Alderney B7
" From Portsmouth to Seaford, fourth centre of pro-
tection and aggression
" From Seaford, doubling Beachy Head, as far as
Dover, fifth centre of protection and aggression
" From Dover into the Thames; as far as the Nore,
opposite the naval arsenal at Sheerness, sixth
centre of protection and aggression 5O
" From Dover to Harwich beyond the Thames,
seventh centre of protection and aggression
" It will certainly be observed that the centres of pro-
tection and aggression increase, and I shall say are
' almost one on the other, as the coast of England becomes
gradually nearer to France. From Portsmouth to Har-
wich, within an extent of only 164 miles, it is recom-
mended to construct in the sea-works, which, by estima-
tion of first projects, are to cost 3,850,000/. sterling.
There are to be five grand centres of protection, capable
of receiving five fleets, and serving as starting points of
five expeditions, consisting of large war steamers—ex-
peditions, the furthest off of which may, in seven hours,
reach the coast of France, and the nearest in one hour
and a half. This combination of works will have its in-
fluence, not to say control, over 150 leagues of our coast,
from Dunkirk to the Bay of St. Maio.'

A first-rate amateur theatrical party is forming
at Oxberry's (the comedian's) house, the Anchor, in Oxford-
market, Oxford• street. -

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

VICE-CHANCELLORS' COURT, Nov. 26.

His Honour the VICE-CHANCELLOR of ENGLAND sat in his
Court in Lincoln's Inn to-day, at two o'clock, for the pur-
pose, as stated yesterday, of hearing the case of

DAVIS V. COMBERSIERE.
The question in the case is of no public importance.
His HONOUR made the order as prayed.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Nov. 26.

(Sittings after Term, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a
Common Jury.)
OYERSTON v. WILSON.

This was an action of trover brought to recover a quantity
of furniture, to which the defendant had pleaded that he was
not guilty.
Mr. Granger appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. V. Lee for
the defendant. . .

The plaintiff was an upholsterer carrying on business in
Oxford- street, and the defendant a gentleman of property-
residing in the country. Some few months ago the de-
fendant let oneof his houses, or a part of it, to a person named
Mrs. Martin, but she subsequently failed to pay the rent,
and her goods were seized under a distress. The
plaintiff then made his appearance, and put in a
claim for part of the goods seized, alleging that be
had let them to a Miss Standish Gill, the niece of Mrs.
Martin, but the defendant, having some doubt of this, refused
to restore them, and hence the present action.

Evidence having been adduced in support of the plaintiff's
case, in the course of which it was elicited that the goods in
question were not sold, and that the plaintiff had given notice
to Richardson, the auctioneer, and who acted as the agent of
the defendant in the distress, not to deliver up the litigated
goods to any one without his authority.
Mr. LEE addressed the jury for the defendant, remarking
that the case involved a question of law and a question of
fact. The former, of course, his Lordship would have to de•
tide, but the latter rested entirely with the
jury. Well, then, the question of fact for
them to decide was, whether these goods were the property
of the plaintiff or not. He should call a witness to prove that
the plaintiff had declared
.that they were not his property,
and he was sure the jury would decide on this
point in his favour. The_ next point was a question
of law. It had been proved by the plaintiff's
own witness that he had given Richardson
notice not to part with the goods, and it would be for his
Lordship to decide whether the plaintiff could main-
tain this action, having by his own act debarred the
defendant from having power to restore the goods. The
Learned Counsel concluded by calling Mrs. Storey, and in
reply to a question as to where she resided, she asked,
Who's to pay me?
Mr. V. LEE-Oh, you'll be paid your expenses ma'am.
Witness—l don't know that.
____

The LORD CHIEF BARON—What are you, witness ?
Witness—l am a milliner and dressmaker, and support my
family with my labour.
The LORD CHIEF BARON—Yon ought certainly to'be re-
munerated for your loss of time.
Mr. V. LEE—Will you take the word of the defendant's
attorney to see you paid ? Witness—Who is the defendant's
attorney ?—(Lauphter.)
Mr. V. LEE—He is a respectable practitioner.

'Witness—l don't know 'that; but, at all events, I won't
take his word.

The LORD CIIIEF BARON—WiII you take the officer of the
Court's word to see you paid? Witness—Certainly, my
Lord.

The Lonn CHIEF BARON suggested then that the defend-
ant's attorney had Letter deposit 21., and this having been
done, the witness allowed herself to be examined. She proved
that the 'plaintiff had declared to her that the goods in
question were the property of Mrs. Martin.
Mr. GRANGER having replied,
The LORD CHIEF BARON summed up with great minute-
ness, observing that the case involved no question of law. It
was simply a question of fact, and all the jury had to decide
was, whether the goods were the property of the plaintiff,
and had the defendant been guilty of a conversion of
them.

The jury, after a short consultation, returned a ♦erdict
that the goods were the plaintiff's, but they did not think
the defendant had any intention of converting them to his
own use.

The LORD CHIEF BARON—That, in fact. is a verdict for
the defendant.

Foreman of the jury—No, my Lord, we do not find a ver-
dict for the defendant or the plaintiff:
The LORD CIIIEF BARON—What do you find, then? Do
you find that the plaintiff let the goods to Mr. Martin ?
Foreman—No; we find that the goods were his, but that
he did not let them.

The LORD CHIEF BARON—I think, Gentlemen, you had
better retire, and reconsider your verdict.
Foreman—My Lord, we hare considered it, and we find
that the goods were the plaintiff's, but the defendant, we
think, did not intend to use them. We do not wish to say
who shall have the verdict—the plaintiff or the defendant.
The LORD CHIEF BARON suggested that the parties had
better consent to withdraw a juror.
This suggestion was ultimately adopted, and the jury
discharged.