Star.
London, England, 1802-06-28 00:00:00

WAPPING-DOCKS.

Saturday being the day appointed for laying
the foundation (tones of this great national work,
a van concourfe of perfons affembled from ill
quarters to witnefs a ceremony which commences
an undertaking of fo much public utility.
About two o'clock, the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, Lords Hawkefbury and Hobart, Mr. N.
Vanfittart, Sir A. Hammond, and various other
Gentlemen, arrived at Wapping. They were con-
cluded round the works next the River, (hewn the
Ream-engines, plans, &c. after which they were
condueted to the foundation of the entrance baron,
where two (tones were prepared to be laid, each
about two tons and a half. The firfi fione was
laid by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord
Hawketbury, Sir Richard Neave, (Chairman),
and Edward Fortier, (Deputy Chairman): when
this lione was laid, two glafs bottles, containing
the gold, River, and copper coins of •the prefent
reign, with a medal of the King's Recovery, and
the Peace, were depofited in a hole made in the
none, and over them a tin plate, containing the
following infcription, was laid :

THIS STONE
was hid on Saturday, the 26th day of June,
Ann. Dom. zBoa.
In the Foundation of the Entrance Baton

of the
LONDON DOCKS,
undertaken by private Subfuription
for

The greater Accommodation and Security
of
Surrneo, Commuter, and Itrumus,
within the
PORT of LONDON,
and purfuant to an act palled on the
Roth day of June, Ann. Dom. tSoo,
In the 4oth year of the Reign of Geo.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer threw a purfe
of gold on the lone for the workmen ; afterwards
the fecond none was laid. Three times three cheers
were given, both to the fill and fecond lone.
When this operation was performed, the foun-
dation (tones in the tobacco warehoufe were laid,
having alto coins and a fimilar infcription—a purfe
of gold being laid on them.
There were fome whimfical circumtlances which
we cannot help mentioning :
Immediately after the ceremony of laying the
fire lone, the noble and dittinguiffied perfons who
attended were feated in the carts employed to clear
away the rubbills, and drawn by horfes decorated
with blue ribbbons to the platform erected at the
extremity of the works. The cans were covered
with green baize.
In the fiat cart we could diftingnins
Mr. ADDINGTON, 012;302110C of the lizehequer,
Lord HAWKISIORT, Secretary of State,
Lord HOSART, Ditto.
ROWLAND %anon, Efq. M. P.
NICROLAS VANSITTART, Efq. M. P. and three Or four Di-
redon of the Bank of England.
Mr. Alderman CURTIS we law and heard in the third can,
attended by feveral Ladies.
We underhand there were fome difficulties
flailed by Mr. Addington, previous to his taking
his feat, which were, however, loon removed by
the principal engineer.
The crowd of perfons who attended were in-
numerable, and although the witnetred the novel
fpeaacle of feeing three Miniders t;rawn in one
cart, yet there was no indecent exultation ; all was
order and decorum ; and we mull add, hat the
noble and exalted Perfonages conduced themfelves
with great propriety, and fubmitted to their fate
with becoming fortitude.
We did not hear of any accidents that hap-
pened; the fcatfoldings were all of the ben kind,
and were fully equal to the weight they had to fup.
pert. Lord Hobart afcended the cart find, then
Lord Hawkefbury, and Mr. Addington followed,
he was no otherwife didinguiffied from the run
than by the immenfity of his hat. Sir Richard
Neave was in the fame cart with him, and fat at
the head with great propriety—as a Bank Direaor,
he is a jewel to any Minifter.
In this manner the company proceeded along
the iron railways round the dock premifes, and
laid alfo the foundation lone of a warehoufe for
general purpofes. The company next went up
Virginia-fireet, to Ratcliff Highway, where their
carriages were waiting to take them to the London
Tavern, where about a hundred partook of an ex-
cellent dinner, after which appropriate wafts were
drank. Sir Richard Neave in the chair, Meffis.
Addington, Vanfittart, Sze. Lords Hobart, Wal-
fingham, arvey, Hawkeibury, &c. being pre-
fent.

Dignum, Sale, &c. fung Rule Britannia, with
additions fuited to the occafion, in great Ryle,
and many other naval tongs were given.
Speeches were made by Melfis. Addington,
Manning, Sir R. Neave, Sir J. Anderfon, and
Alderman Combe, when their healths were drank.

- -
Lords Hawkefbury, Hobart, and Walfingham,
and the company, parted about ten 2'clock, after