The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-05 00:00:00

TII AMES EMBANKMENT.

The \\Tafel-bailiff's Report to the Navigation Commit-
tee, concludes the information on which the Report of
the Committee, to be discussed this day, is founded.
In compliance with your direction, I accompanied Mr.
Walker and Captain Bullock urn a surrey of the Inver
Thames ; and the great benefits which must be secured to the
public from its general improvement, under an uniform system,
appears obvious.
The plans now submitted to your approbation, show the
existing and proposed lines of embankment between Putney
and Gravesend, as well as numerous shoals which obstruct the
navigation.

The proposed lines of embankment have been laid down after
due consideration ; and, although it is not probable that they
will be carried into full effect for many years, their value in
assisting the immediate and future opel ations of the Committee
and insuring the confidence of the public, will, I trust, more
than compensate the Ctrporation for the outlay which they
have occasioned.

For centuries past the river, within the limits named, has
received little improvement, whilst it has been the si,urco
of . wealth to the metropolis, and borne thereto the funds
with which many of its most splendid improvements have been
accomplished. Rejoicing, as I do, to witne-s tho,e improve-
ments, it does appear to me. to be surprising that no part of the
coal duties should be regularly devoted to the equally important
objec: of improting the liver.
Paving once sanctioned a systematic course of proceeding,
you will, I apprehend, without any extension of the powers
heretofore exercised, time out of mind by the Corporation,
be enabled to aff,rd thereby great facility and encouragement
to the 'awl, d l roprietors, in adopting such lines of embank-
ment as m'y be approved by you. It is not to be anti-
cipated that all would immediately avail themselves of your
uffers, but as the occupancy from time to time changes.
so we fairly may exp, et that eventually all would be accom-
plished, without any compulsory measures being resorted to,
which would mentally raise a host of owners and occupiers as
elairnan:s for compensation. The frequent. applications for
leave to embank, even at present made to your Committee, suf-
ficiently prove that a judicious system of encouragemnt to
such al pticants, with a certain and definite anode of proceeding
ill rapidly increase their numbers.

. .
The large embankments contemplated would, by reducing
the width of the river and consequently diminishing its capacity
fur the reception of the tidal waters, prove injurious to the na-
vi;:,ation unless accomianied by a e rresponding increase
in the depth of its channel; stringent resolutions will
therefore, be necessary to compel parties embanking to take
the gravel and ballast required for their embankments from
the bed of the river under proper regulations. It should also
be distinctly understood that no permanent projection of any
kind would h. reaf;er be permitted from the new lines, of em-
bankment ; and the proprietors should be hound to construct
and maintain the frontage of sufficient height and proper ma-
terials.

Individuals would be greatly encouraged to undertake the
outl►y which must be caused in constructing extensive em-
bankments, by the charge being only made for frontage in-
stead of the superficial extent of the land reclaimed ; and one
shilling per foot would not, I consider, form any impediment.
to their applications for your licence to embank. Such mode-
rate terms, and the appropriation of the present and future
navigation rental to the caming out the great work you have
undertaken, would demonstrate that the improvement of the
river is the sole aim which the Corporation have in view ; and
the se portions of the embankment which may be devoted to
public purposes might be sanctioned without any rent being
levied thereon. .

In a R.sport, dated the 17th of November, 1834, I had the
honour to suggest to the Lord Mayor and Corporation the
importance of their providing piers for the accommodation of
the public using steam-vessels, under a conviction that this was
the best plan for 7reventing improper and dangerous encroach.
ments by individuals for that purpose, and that a large revenue
might be derived therefrom, applicable to the general im-
provement of the river, by the removal of shoals and otherwise.
The numerous piers since formed have fully borne out, and
indeed, su: passed my an r.r.cipations, both as to the extent of
traffic and the want of control over them; but, I fear the same
cause—their numbers—will now prevent the Corporation from
adopting, with pecuniary adv antage, a competition with those
individuals who have already established piers, although the
public would undoubtedly be . benefited by such interference of
the G.rporation.
The general use of steam-vessels as a means of transit for pas-
sengers has rendered convenient landing-places for their use in-
di,pensab:e ; but, it may be hoped that, when the new lines of
embankment are carried into effect, no piers above Blackwall
will be required, as sufficient depth of water may be provided
then, close alongside of the wharfs, for the accommodation of
the steamers. The frightfulsiverloading of th ese boats, occa-
sionally, demands the interference of the Legislature.
I proceed to notice some other points which arise incidentally
from the subject, but: which are closely connected with the pre-
servation and improvement of the navigation.
Regulations are required for the working of ballast-engines,
both above and below bridge, so that they may be confined to
these parts of the river where not only good ballast. may be
obtained, but where also its removal will be most advantageous
'to the navigation. The Trinity House will no doubt assist in
such useful regulations.
ingTmheudacatnide dirtPrbd intoc in
the recent st ntence of two months' imprisonment onions of the
offenders, will, I trust, further operate as a salutary vraraing.
Any shoals which are caused in the river by the soil and
ce
theg s lately taken against parties for throw-
, has checked the practice; and
rubbish brought down by the sewers ought in justice to be re-
moved by the Commissioners of Sewers.
The removal of wrecks, having been proved by the Ccrpora-
tion, in the case of the brig William, practicable, under very
difficult circumstances and at any depth of water in the river,
it s to be hoped that the large sum of money expended upon
that occasioa will preclude the necessity of any further similar
expenditure on their part, by depriving the owners of the only
p'ea which could justify the continuance of the nuisance,
namely, the impracticability of its removal.
Although their situations are denoted by piles, the moorings
in use at Blackwall, which extend across the river, are a great
nuisance to such ships as are compelled to let go their anchors
there; but even that safeguard is not adopted at Deptford,
where similar moorings are lying, which renders them still
more inconvenient.
Of casual nuisanc, s, but of daily occurrence, one of great
danger is the dropping of anchors within or near to low-water
marlc.
The use of vessels,which are permanently moored in the river,
as stores and workshops, is upon the increase ; and some means
should be adopted to prevent their owners hereafter claiming as
a right what is now only upon sufferance, and which, if per-
mitted to extend unchecked, must become a very serious cause
of complaint, not merely from obstructing the navigation, but
because there is no fair competition between parties paying
rates and taxes, and those who pay none.
The distance allowed to wharfs for the necessary accommo-
da'ion of their trade, as suggested by tho City Conservancy
Jury, should be denoted by piles.
1 he lines proposes for the new embankment, it must be ob-
served, are only the best as appearing the most practicable ;
but it, under more favourable circumstances, funds could be
provided either from the landing-places, the rental, the coal
dues, or other sources, they might be very advantageously ex-
pended in to moving some of the present encroachments upon
the river. I allude particularly to the embankments near
Globe-stairs and Old Swan-stairs where a grea.er width is.re-
quired to produce the proper scour, as well as for the general
improvement of the navigation. •
Your Committee is now in possession of plans of the river
from Yantlet Creek to Putney, and it is most desirable to con-
tinue them up to Staines: I would suggest that an uniform

scale should be adopted for the whole, and a complete set of
plans laid down thereto • and, further, that a periodical renewal
thereof should be provided for, so that all future alterations of
the river and its banks may be distinctly shown and easily traced.

PRESBYTERY OF EDINBURGH

DEPOSITION OF A MINISTER.

At the Meeting of Presbytery last Wednesday, the clerk, Dr.
Gilchrist, read a letter from Mr. Hay, of the Dean Chosh,
addressed to the Moderator, making the acknowledgment that
he had been guilty of the sin of fornication. He was aware of
the consequences of this admission ; but he felt still more
deeply than these the scandal he had been the means of bring-
ing upon the nan eof religion. lie trusted that God had given
him grace to repent of his sin, and he threw himself upon the
Presbytery. This gave rise to a very affecting scene. 1110
letter was read by the clerk in a solemn and almost inau-
dible voice, and was followed by
.a dead silence in the Pres-
bytery for some minutes. Mr. Balfonr then rose, and
though every sound but that of his own voice was hushed,
we could only hear indistinct sentences, intimating
that from all he had seen, and from what he had heard, be be-
lieved Mr. flay to be deeply penitent—nevertheless, the Pres-
bytery had no alternative but to proceed, in accordance with
the rules i f the Church, to depose him from the office of the
holy ministry. A silence of a still longer interval ensued,
broken only by the occasional whisper of one member to an-
other. Atter the lapse of several minutes, the Moderator (Mr.
Bennie) addressed the Presbytery—•• Fathers and brethren, is is
your pleasure to proceed with this bitterly painful case, or to
delay it ?" No one spoke ; and, after a pante, he-added, 4' If
we must proceed, it is usual in such cases to begin with deco
tional exercises; end I have to request our Rev. Father, Dr.
Brunton, to engage in prayer." Dr. Brunton offered up a fer-
vent and impressive pra3er, after which the Moderator pro-
nounced the solemn sentence of t:eposition.