The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-23 00:00:00

OPENING OF ERITII PIER.

Many of our readers have, on passing down the river,
doubtless felt a desire to visit the little town of Erith,
the ivy. clad church of which, situated at the foot of a
beautifully wooded rise, forms such a picturesque object.
That desire may now be gratified—a pier for the landing
of passengers has been erected at Erith, and was opened
yesterday, and henceforth we understand that the greater
number of the Gravesend steamers will land and embark
passengers there. As might have been expected, yes-
terday was a great day at Erith. From an early hour
in the morning persons poured into the town from the
neighbouring villages, anxious to witness the ceremony of
the opening o the pier. Booths were erected in the streets,
and in fact there was a complete fair held in the town.
At twelve o'clock the Sylph steamer arrived from Lon-
don, being the first vessel which landed passengers at
the pier. She had on board a party consisting of the
frends of Mr. G. Warriner, of the George and 'Vulture
Tavern, Cornhill, the lessee of the pier, and the proprie-
tor of the Pier Hotel (situated close to the pier), which
has been erected within the last fortnight, and which is
a wonderful instance of what energy and enterprise can
accomplish against time. - A fortnight no there was not
one brick standing on another on the site. of the Pier
Hotel, and yesterday the building was so far completed
that upwards of five hundred persons dined in the coffee- 1
room st different periods of the day. On the arrival of the 1
Sylph several of the passengers formed in procession 1
and preceded by a military band, opened the pier. A
discharge of maroons from the grounds in front of
the hotel, at twelve o'clock, announced the commence-
merit of the various sports by which the opening of the
pier was celebrated. There was a series of boat rasps
on the river, and on the village green a variety of rural
sports. the most amusing of which was, a John Bull
imitation of the Mat de Cocagne. On the Continent the
prize to be snatched by the victor from the top of the
greased mast is a garland. As an Englishman, how-
ever, prefers the useful to the ornamental, the solid pod-
ping (as in this instance meat) to the empty praise, in
stead of a garland there was suspended a leg of mutton,
a prize, doubtless, infinitely more to the taste of the for-
tunate individual who obtained it, than would have been
all the garlands that Covent-garden Market could hare
supplied. At half-past four o'clock, about 150 ladies
and gentlemen sat down to a most sumptuous dinner.
tastefully laid out in a marquee, pitched in the grounds at-
tached to the hotel. The dinner, which, with the ex-
ception
of the soups, was a cold one,. consisted of all the
delicacies of the season ; and the manner in which it was I
put on the table reflected the highest credit on Mr. G,
Warriner, the spirited proprietor of the hotel, who was
caterer on the occasion. The wines, also, were of the I
very first rate quality, and, a sine qua non in this, weather,
were all as deliciously cool as ice could make them.
The musical department was under the able superin-
tendence of Mr. Ransford, and amongst the vocalists
present we observed, in addition to 117. Ransford, Mr.
Li yd, Mr. Jones, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Beuler—the
Beuler—the first comic singer and song-writer of the day.
The cloth having been withdrawn, Non Nobs sung,
and the usual loyal and national toats having been drunk
with all due honours,

The CHAIRMAN proposed "Success to the Pier, and
the Pier Hotel, at Erith." Drunk with three times
three, and one cheer more.

Mr. WARRINER, in returning thanks, said that, six
weeks ago, he scarcely knew the town of Erith. A
short time since, however, he had visited it, had admired
the 'beauties of its situation, and felt that nothing was
wanting but energy to make it a popular watering-place.
He had that although the pier was built, thre was
no possibility of opening with \any chance of success,
unless something more were done. He had taken the
pier on lease, and had erected the Pier Hotel for the ac-
commodation of visitors. A fortnight ago there was no
such building as the Pier Hotel in existence, and to-day
500 persons had dined in it.—(Loud cheers.) That was
an example of what energy would do.—(Continued
cheers.) He was determined that no exertion, on his
part, should be wasting to give satisfaction to his visitors,
and he did not doubt of success.—(Loud cheers.)
Song by Mr. Turner—" The old Oak."
The health of the Chairman and several other toasts
were then drunk, and the company returned to London
by the steam- boat at nine o'clock. There was a ball in
the evening, in one of the marquees.
Mr. Warriner seems determined to conduct his specu-
lation with spirit. He has announced a grand fete for
the 29th, in honour of her Majesty passing by Erith, on
her route to Scotland.

We understand that her Majesty's visit to Scot-
land is intended to partake more of the character of a
private and pleasurable tour than a state visit, but with
that characteristic good feeling and regard for her sub-
jects which the Queen so invariably displays on all oc-
casions, we have reason to believe that her Majesty, in
compliment to them, will hold a dress bonnet drawing-
room at Holyrood Palace during her sojourn with their
Graces the Duke and Duchess of Buccleugh. This
arrangement is evidently prompted by a desire on the
part of the Queen not to occasion her subjects the un-
necessary expense of regular Court dress, at the same
time affording them the gratifying opportunity of paying
their personal respects to the Sovereign. Such noble-
men and gentlemen as are entitled to wear uniform will
appear in regimentals, and a strong muster may be
expected of the Queen's Body Guard and of the Deputy-
Lieutenants of Counties. Friday, the 2d of September,
is expected to be the day or. which her Majesty's draw-
ing-room will be hold.—Caledonian Mercury.
We have heard that instructions of the most de-
cided character were sent to India by the last mail to
push on the two divisions, under Nott from Candahar,
and under Pollock from Jellalabad, against Ghuznee
and Cabul. We have also heard that an indiscreet dis-
closure on the part of a staff officer, or of one in his de-
partment, was the source of much mischief, and cause of
the general impression among the troops at Jellalabad
that a retrograde movement had been ordered. A sad
mistake seems to have been made in the engagements
with the camel contractors of General Pollock's force,
who were only bound to advance to Jellalabad. It would
seem that the halt there was really caused by this most
untoward agreement. " Money, however, makes camels
as well as mares to go ;" and we expect to hear of the
army's advance.—Naval and Military Gazette.
IMPROVEMENT IN TRADE.—We rejoice exceedingly
to be able to state, that, according to accounts received
from all parts of the country, the impetus which trade
received a few weeks ago continues to operate, not only
with unabated but with steadily increasing power and
efficacy, and that in most branches of manufacture there
is now not only a healthy and a brisk demand, but, as the
natural concomitant of such a demand, prices have an
upward tendency, and promise speedily to reach once
more remunerating rates. The dark cloud which had
settled down upon men's minds with such seeming
imperviousness of hopelessness and gloom, is lifting gra-
dually away, and the cheering sunshine of returning
prosperity begins to break through. When this is the
case it grieves us all the more to find those who have
hitherto borne severe privations and pinching want so
patiently until the crisis was past, and their worst suffer-
ings might be expected to be near a close, should have
selected this very time for resorting to deeds of violence,
the worst effects of which must inevitably recoil upon
their own beads.—Dundee Warder,