The Sun.
London, England, 1818-12-25 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL JOURNALS.

As what relates to the trading interests of a
'town of so much commercial importance as Hull;
'must be interesting to the Country at large, we
-have extracted the following article fcom The Hull
Packet, of the-21st inst.

MEETING AT THE GUILDHALL,
TO CoNSIDER ON THI3 NECES,,ITY OF MAKING A

JUNCTION DOCK.

We stated in one last, that a Meeting of the
lerchants. Ship-Owners, and others interested
in the trade of this Town, %YRS appointed to be
held on Friday, for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the state of the port, and generally to
resolve on the best means fur obviating the great
in,conycnienecs at present daily experienced by the
Sl,ipuing, occasioned by the crowded state of the
1.11h,,,,r, and the consequent ditlicnity of access to
warellunSel, and the Old Dock in
par icular ; trout which state (if pressure and con-
;.us.:oll, considerable damage has already been
*ustained, and much more might be expected to

de.Cl toe,

Oeven o'ultirk the taken by the
Worihipttil the ti' ayor ; who having desired the
rti,p,lsi; ion to be read to the :11eet Mg by the Town
ex pi essed the great Pleasure he telt on that
titonntem being presented to him in his official
capacity,- the teadiness ‘I h wl.ich he had ac-
totietwed in its object, and the swisfaclion it gave
Trier to see so winteions and respectable an assent-
blat;e of his townsmen around him, whose senti-
ments on he bu,incss of the day he Should be
happy to hear.

Avisota Tcotav then rose, and addressed
the :—" That there was a great want of
arrommodation to the trade of the Town," he
said, was a molt which there was no necessity
for him to take up the time of the Meeting in
proving. Nor was it , perhaps, prudent to enter
into a .detail of the mischiefs that were likely to
tesolt from such a state, because it would he diffi-
cult to do so without miming the risk of exciting
an it ritatioo that might defeat the object they had
in s'iew. Whatever were the causes of this state
of thing, ..:hich he did not pletend to have dis-
covered, it was fair -to ask, whether, if Provi-
dence should please to grant us a long interval tat
peace, it was not probable that the inconveniences
which were now experienced would greatly in-
crease ? It was his opinion that they would ; es-
pecially, as enterpizing individuals were opening
»ew channels of commercial intercourse.
for one, was fully convinced that the advantages
of the situation of the port of (lull had not yet
Lein enjoyed to their full and legitimate extent ;
and that if a proper spirit were dkplayed, greater
facilities would be dkcovered, both in the import
of goods to the port, and the suppy of the stir-
minding country, which was now effected by
vessels going up the river from other ports with
,goods, of which it would be as easy to make hull
the place of import and transit as any other.---
lie trusted the Gentleo:2ll who surrounded him
had met with a sincere intention to promote the
conveniences and trade of the port, anti to pre-
veto its being driven to other places, as most be
tine case if more accommodation were not effected.
01, former occasions of-this kind there bad been a
difference in sentiment as to the choice of situa-
tion : here there was toom for none, For as all
were agreed in the necessity of further accommo-
dation, so all were of opinion that a New Dock
was the object mooed, and that the most eligible
situation was the space between the old dock and
the new one. There was one difficulty to con-
tend with. He alluded to the means of carrying
into effect what all allowed to be a needful Mea-
sure. Of these he would not say any thing at
present, but !hat, if the business were prosecuted
in the spirit of conciliation, he had no doubt of
its beiug accomplished. Fie concluded with
stating, that the Gentlemen whohad taken an 'active
part in the requisition, had been anxious, in the
Resolutions he had to propose to the Meeting, to
steer clear of every thing that could lead tta hosti-
lity be:ween any of the parties interested." He
then reach the Resolutions, and afterwards moved
them one by o:le.
Ott fte fire loing proposed, George Schons-
war, Esq. lose and said, that on entering the Man.
sion-ilouse that morning, he had no intention of
taking any share in the discussion ; but, having
read the Resolotiona, and approved of them, he,
with great pleasure, seconded that which had
been moved. lie highly approved of the temper
in which the Resolutions were drawn op.- They
ahewed that it was the wish to avoid all cause of
irritation, and, if possible,. to accomplish the so
much tweded convenience. One of the Resolu-
tions proposed a Committee of nine Gentlemen,
not connected with any of the public bodies, fur
the wirpose of conferring with the Deputations
froM these Bodies. This was a wise Resolution,
and he did not d-oubt but that men of talents and
integrity would be nominated, who would Con-
duct the business to a soccesoful termination.
The other Resolutions were next moved and
seconded without further observation. Mr. Al-
derman W. Bolton then named the Committee,
and on his observing that if any Gentleman pre-
--sent had a suggestion to make, he would be glad
to hear hint :
Thomas Thompson, Esq. (who attended the
Meeting its a merchant and hanker in the town,
and not as Chairman of the Dock Company) rose,
and said, that he congratulated the Meeting on
the proceedings of the day, -which be considered
both wise, and perfectly adapted to the neccees,
sityrof the case. The want of a New Dock was
confessed by all. The Dock Company had been
convinced of it long ; and they not only thought
a D.wk was wanted, but were desirous that one
should have been commenced last year, as was
manifested by their having given a notice to that
effect. 'The town did not appear at that time to
feel the want of another Dock. A different sen-
timent, however, (and he was sorry for the causes
which had produced it,) was now wanifest ; and
though the Dock Company were not bound, ac-
cording to the provisions of the flumhet Dock
Act, to make a Dock till their 'irofits amouotel
to a certain average of three years, (and then
they were obliged to pay only half the expellee)

'yet he tho-nght he viola say for the .shiireholtlers
in Milt that they were disposed to meet the
town on liberal terms, and to Waive their pri-
vilege, if a sufficient guarantee were offered for
the other half. lie admitted the interests of the
Company were As much concerned as those of the
town in making a New Dock. If the trade were
not accommodated, a great deal of it would go
to other places ;, and be could assure the Meet-
ing, that there . were other Owns, which had
great influence with Government, anxious to
share it with us and that the present, Admini-
stration was always ready to grant facilities to
commerce wherever they were likely to improve
it. Ile had understood that a partial opposition
to the wishes for a New Dock was entertained
by certain.individoals in ibis town, Who thought
that their property would be decreased in value;
by this measure. Bitt, he would ask, if the trade
should leave the Port for want of accommodation,
what would be the use or valor of Wharfs and Ware-
houses ? or what monkd be the value of Dock Shares ?
tie trusted, however, that the recent measures
adopted by the Dock Company in the purchase
nt Ground from the Corporation had been re-
ceived by •the public as an earnest of their ‘vishes
to arcniomodate the Trade.—The CoMpany•made
au inquiry respecting that ground, 'the Corp,. t-
tion very promptly answered the same by -an ()lE.r
of it to them, and the purchase had beet% made.
lie felt assured that all pat-ties, Dock Share-
holders as %%ell as the Merchants at large, knew
the force of these considerations, and that all
parties would join heart, hand, and purse in con-
tributing to the prosperity of the town.—Thanks
were then voted to the Chairman.