The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-11-30 00:00:00

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eh* the American forests ? No wonder that the Americans
blade their own axes ; they were compelled to do so, or to
leave the wilderness unreclaimed."

This statement, it is true, has nothing to do imme-
diately either with " over-population," or " over-
trading"; but it has much to do with what we must
call swindling—much to do with that awkward and un-
pleasant remembrancer of which we have been speak-
ing—" Physician, heal thyself." When we speak of
over-population, it is not to be understood that we
speak of the population of the entire kingdom, but of
the excess in those districts which has been caused by
the stimulus of manufactures, not to say over-trading—
and the existence of which cannot be denied, whatever
be the process which men may recommend for dealing
With it. The new process now hit upon, as we have
Observed, is to deluge the country with paper, and
Since the people seem to want money, make it for
them, like the Sheffield scissors of " virgin steel"
the very cheapest materials

" It is certain," says the Birmingham Association, " that
demand may be rendered permanently equal to the supply of
commodities, by increasing the means of purchase among the
People, and that the general prosperity may thus be restored
and rendered permanent—an object of too vast and over-
whelming imp
ioortance to admit of its being abandoued from
tile consideratn of the difficulties which may attend it."

To effect this object little more will be necessary
than to repeal Sir Robert Peel's act of 1819—and then
We shall have paper enough to purchase up all the ma-
nufacturers' stocks, good, bad and indifferent, and to
keep all their mills going, with all their steam on.
Shade of William Cobbett hear this ! or, rather do not
hear it, for if it were possible for shades to blush, sure
We are that your's would grow crimson at a proposi-
tion, now, after all we have experienced, so peculiarly
Preposterous.

We abstain for the present from entering gravely
Into the discussion of this curious remedy—and we
shall not he in any great haste to do so at another
tuze—and chiefly for this reason, that we are perfectly
satisfied it will never meet with the least encourage-
Meta so long as Sir Robert Peel is premier. It cost
the country too much to get back to a sound system
of currency, to render any proposal approximating to
a return to the purely paper medium endurable.

We have abstained hitherto from the expression of

any opinion upon the important question which is now
agitating the minds of our commercial fellow-towns-
rnen, with respect to the plans of construction of the
Proposed new docks, from a feeling that the decision
of such questions, involving practical experience of a
nautical nature, as well as engineering knowledge, is
scarcely within the province of a journalist. And if
We now venture to offer a few remarks upon the sub-

Jett, it is not, we must premise, that we are in any
materially improved position with regard to the means
of forming a judgment, although we have attentively
considered the evidence and the opinions which have
been offered on both sides.

It cannot for a moment be denied that it is an object
of paramount importance, in the construction of the
Proposed or any future new docks, to exercise the ut-
most economy of the present available space in the
Ventre Of the town ; and we admit fully the importance,
In the design of such docks, of securing the greatest
amount of lineal quay space which is consistent with
the internal convenience of the docks themselves. It
is undeniable, too, that in many of our existing docks
the construction is faulty, the facilities of loading and
unloading afforded being very limited in proportion to
the water space which they occupy. At the same time
We can easily perceive the possibility of carrying the
principle contended for by Mr. Gage and others—that
quay space is all important—too far; and we are se-
riously afraid lest the lessons of practical experience
should be overlooked, in the eagerness to jump to that
perfection so easy to lay down upon a plan or to de-
scribe in a pamphlet or in the columns of a newspaper,
but so difficult to reduce to working.

It is quite possible that in the opinion of Mr. Gage,
(which it must be borne in mind is to be regarded as
that only of a professional competitor,) the plan of Mr.
Hartley, which has received the sanction of the Dock
Committee, may be deficient in the convenience of its
form and arrangements. We can scarcely however
think it possible that its defects can be so glaring, and
the superiority of that of Mr. Gage himself so striking,
as the public might be led to believe by the representa-
tions which have been put forth in their behalf.. The
constitution of the Dock Committee—the mass of mer-
cantile experience which it concentrates, and which
must have been applied to the earnest oonsideration of
the merits of the plan laid before it by Mr. Hartley
and others—the character of that gentleman himself,
as a sound, practical man, and his known extensive
experience, all vouch for the fact that at least as a
working and practical plan, that which has received
the sanction of the committee cannot possibly be so
grossly deficient and objectionable as we have been
told. And when we compare, with the experience
arrayed upon the side of Mr. Hartley, the absolute
dearth of the same valuable aid to the formation of a
judgment upon such a question which exists upon the
Part of Mr. Gage, and witness moreover the somewhat
inflated tone in which that gentleman's pretensions are
Pressed by himself and others upon the Dock Com-

Inittee, we cannot, we must confess, resist impressions
of an unfavourable nature with respect to their solid
and sterling worth.

Upon an early occasion we shall endeavour to lay
before our 'readers a few explanatory statements, from
which perhaps they may be enabled to arrive at a cor-
rect idea of the question in dispute. At the same time,
we are perfectly satisfied that the Dock Committee are
in reality the proper and sole authority by whom, as
being in possession of all its intricate details, the ques-
tion can be best decided ; and that by its members, as
will be seen from our report of the proceedings yester-
day, it will be fairly and impartially considered pre-
viously to any irrevocable step being taken.

'The important case of HEARNE v. STOWELL is at
length terminated, and the admirable remarks of Lord
Denman in delivering judgment will be found in their
Proper place. His lordship administers a suitable but
Cutting rebuke to Baron Rolfe, the judge who presided
at the trial, for allowing any evidence to be tendered
irrelevant to the subject which was made the matter of
controversy on the record.
We believe the effect of this decision will he that,
Whilst no new trial will take place, each party will have
to bear his own costs incurred up to this period, which,
on the part of Mr. Hearne, have been very considera-
ble.

A correspondent in a Manchester paper calls atten-
tion to the fact that the poor in that town are made to
contribute weekly instalments towards Mr. Hearne's
expenses, four of whom, according to the writer, have
each doled out the sum of twenty-seven shillings, and
yet, he adds, these very persons will be the first appli-
cants for relief from the fund now raising in Manches-
ter for the destitute poor. Such are popish priests :
they extract the last farthing from their ignorant and
deluded followers, in order to carry out their iniquitous
and selfish projects, and they then throw their dupes
Upon the bounty of the Protestant public.

Lord Clifford, of Chudleigh, Devonshire, presided
ast week at the dinner of a Catholic benevolent society
in this town, and did not, on this occasion, give the
health of Gregory XVI., Pope of Rome, before that of
his and our most gracious Sovereign. This was an
improvement, and is a fact worthy of observation. His
lordship took the opportunity to account for his lapse
on the former occasion ; but the explanation was so
full of nice distinctions and jesuitical subtlety, that we
Protest we have not been able fully to understand it.
The object of the former meeting was, it would seem,
t'ery religious ; so religious that it might be deemed al-
together spiritual. At such a solemn season, there-
fore, he thought the Pope should be first in his mind,
and her Majesty, who is only his civil ruler, might be
content to hold the second place in his attention. Ac-
cordingly, the toasts followed in that order. But at
this meeting things did not take quite so religious a
Atirn ; the affair was more secular, and the Queen was
restoria to her proper place in the order of bumpers,
'44 the bon pre was postponed. This is his lordship's
'excluv; hut it by no means satisfies us. We attri-
litite the improvement in his manner decidedly to two
`causes-notch more intelligible to our mind, and pro-
bahly more influential with him—and these are, first,
that, as 'the ,acknowledges. he got well lashed for his
reo-popery manifestation on the former occasion, and
-eondly, that the Tories were not in power then as
4/ley are now: Oh there is nothing like a free press
A,ttl d a good strong Tory government for making people
Verbunt sat.

LOV.4L NEWS.

The consecration of the new church hi Warwh;lc•street
cakes place to-morrow (Wednesday.) The service is to
commence at half-past ten in the forenoon.

DIABOLIC AL OUTRAGE.—On Wednesday evening, about
nine o'clock, as Mr. Williams, of Victoria-place, Woodside,
was walking with his infant about the parlour, some villain
fired a bullet through the window. Very fortunately it missed
both of them. The ball struck a chair in the parlour, and
was found on the floor near it. We hope the ruffian will be
discovered and brought to justice.
NIGER EXPEDITION.—On Monday last, Mr. John Laird,
of Liverpool, had the honour of an interview, by appoint-
ment, with his royal highness Prince Albert, to present a
model of her Majesty's iron steam-vessel " Albert," one of
the vessels built by Mr. Laird for the Niger expedition. His
royal highness has always taken great interest in the expe-
dition, and inspected all. the vessels minutely before they left
this country.

INFAMOUS ASSAULT.-Mr. Edward 'Peers, township
constable of Bebbington, charged John Grice, before the
magistrates at Birkenhead, on Thursday, with assaulting him
on the 18th of February last. The offender absconded im-
mediately after the affair, and was only apprehended on
Tuesday last. Peers was called out of bed on the night in
question to quell a disturbance, and after he had charged the
peace, he was knocked down by a stone, his head dreadfully
cut, and he was carried home insensible. Miss Shakeshaft
deposed that she was led to the scene of disturbance in con-
sequence of the noise, and while looking on she saw Grice
quit the crowd, pick up a stone, and throw it at Peers's head,
who fell immediately on the ground. The magistrates after
expressing their opinions as to the brutal conduct of Grice,
convicted him in the penalty of £5, and in default of pay -
mentordered him to be imprisoned two months.

A MAN ROBBING HIMSELF.—On Friday, at the Police-
court, Mr. Dowling, the commissioner, stated that a circum-
stance had come to his knowledge of which he thought the
public should be made aware, as he believed such deceptions
were by no means uncommon. On Thursday, a young man,
named William Worrell, residing in Upper Beau-street, came
to him and stated that he had been knocked down in. the
street by some men, severely hurt on the head, and robbed
of his watch and £3 15s. Bills announcing the assault and
robbery were published; but, on inquiry, he had since found
that the young man himself bad sold the watch, and that
that the mark of injury on his head, which he had exhibited
in proof of his statement, had been produced by his volun-
tary knocking his head against a wall. The object of the
young man, in thus robbing and assaulting himself did not
appear.
WELSH

MEETING TO ADDRESS TIIE QUEEN.—It will he
seen, by an advertisement in another column, that the na-
tives of the Principality, resident in this town, are invited to
attend a public meeting tO address her Majesty ; and, from
the proverbial loyalty of the Welsh, they will doubtless most
willingly respond to the call. The other object of the meet-
ing, to petition for a new order of knighthood, is highly cre-
ditable to the patriotism of those with whom it originated ;
and were all classes of the inhabitants of Cambria cordially
and spiritedly to co-operate in petitioning for the same ob-
ject, we have every reason to believe that they would ulti-
mately succeed.

The practice pursued by the customs' authorities at Liver-
pool in the registration of ships de novo has lately been
opened by the chiefs of that department here and revised.
It appears that the case in which their judgment was thought
unsatisfactory, and was in consequence submitted to the
London department, was where parties were interested in the
sale of a vessel built and registered at a British colony, A, of
London, being part owner of it, and the others residing in
the colony and at Liverpool. The vessel being at Liverpool,
A sold his interest in her to B, of that port, and required B
to take his bill of sale, with the original register, to the
customs there, and in virtue of the 3d and 4th of William
IV., cap. 55, sec. 11 and 39, to demand to have the ship
registered de novo. The officers refused compliance with
this on the plea that register de novo could only be made at
the port of building and original registration. Now, this
being manifestly contrary to the practice adopted at the port
of London, the bearing of the case was properly represented
with the view to get it adjusted' on the same footing, or at
least to know what could cause such difference in the practice
prevailng at the two most important ports of the kingdom.
The result has been that a communication has been made to
the collector and controller of the customs at Liverpool for
their government, to the effect that upon the production of
a bill of sale, under the circumstances stated, and upon the
other requisites of law being complied with, they will hence-
forward grant registry de novo.—London Times
__

ON 'TfiE PRESERVATION OF ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE
FOOD.—Various means have from time to time been adopted
for effecting the preservation of animal substances. From
the very earliest periods, indeed, attempts more or less rude
have been made to keep alimentary substances from perish-
ing in the brief limit assigned by nature. The art of pickling
and salting was soon discovered, and very little progress was
made beyond this primitive invention during a long course
of ages. The union of science and art has, however, at length
come to our aid, and enabled us to discover the means of
preserving animal and vegetable food, to keep fresh, without
-the intervention of any extraneous matter, for any length of
time, and in any climate. We were invited a few days ago
to inspect specimens of meat, fish, poultry, and vegetables,
cured according to this novel preservative process. Tile en-
tertainment was given at the Commercial Hotel, Dale-street,
and the meeting was most numerously and respectably at-
tended. The advantages vi hich appear to be derived by the
process are thus enumerated in the circular :—" First—That
the preservative process is reduced to a certainty ; it is sim-
pler in execution, more efficacious in principle, and much
less expensive, than any other method in use. Secondly—
That the peculiar and unpleasant flavour which the old mode
of preserving imparted to the provisions, and which greatly
limited the practical and general application of the inven-
tion, is entirely obviated by the new method, without the
inseparable inconvenience which invariably attended all for-
-mer processes in use, of being too much cooked. Lastly—
That every description of provision can be preserved in cases
of very large dimensions, the size of the package offering no
impediment to the successful completion of the operation,
so that whole joints of meat, poultry, game, and fish, inclu-
ding even lobsters, crabs, and prawns, in the shell, may be
sent to table in as good and perfect a state as if they had
only just been dressed by the ordinary culinary proeess.'!—
The advantages which must naturally flow from a simple and
inexpensive process of keeping fresh, with all their nutriment
and flavour, articles of animal and vegetable food, must be
too obvious to need particularscomment. If this can he ef-
fected for one year only, that is from the season of produce
to the season of security, there is not an individual in the
kingdom, rich enough to lay in a stock of such articles, and
not too rich to despise the economy of his family, that will
not find himself materially benefitted by the invention, or by
the adoption of the pfocess. This, however, is but one of
the many advantages to be derived from the invention. It
offers us incalculable benefits in the equipment and victual-
ling of our fleets, and in providing for the health and com-
fort of the floating defence of our country, as well as of that
meritorious class of men to which the nation owes so much
of its prosperity. There can be no doubt that whatever pro-
mises an improvement ill the condition of every order of men
who subsist on the ocean, must be considered as an object of
national concern; and it becomes the imperative duty of go-
vernments, and also of every individual, to lend a helping
band to promote the success of an undertaking, which has
in view an object of such an important and praiseworthy na-
ture. The provisions cured by this process cannot fail to be
looked upon as an invaluable acquisition on board of packets
and steamers of every description carrying passengers, and
more partichlarly for those engaged on long voyages, where
economy of fuel, saving in stowage, and clear and clean
decks, are objects of great moment. The very circumstance
of being able, without the least bustle or annoyance to the
passengers, without even the appearance of cooking on board,
to send up a dinner, in any part of the wide ocean, compri-
sing in the bill of fare every luxury and delicacy which hu-
man ingenuity can devise or more genial climes than ours
produce, must be sufficient inducement for the general adop-
tion of such provisions on board of all passenger vessels ;
more especially as we are credibly informed that they can be
introduced at one-third less cost than the present indifferent
and inconvenient system of victualling.
SINGULAR RECOMMENDATION. " Catholic Church,
Copperas-hill.—To be let or sold, a seat in the front gallery.
It commands a full view of the grand stained glass window,
recently put up under the direction of Mr. Pugin."—The
writer of the above advertisement, which appeared in the co-
lumns of the Journal of Saturday last, beats George Robins
hollow. How consolatory must it be to the sinner or the
devotee, who may be fortunate enough to obtain this favored
seat, to be able to turn his eyes from the mummeries which
are enacting below, and to gaze in devout adoration upon the
GRAND STAINED WINDOW ERECTED BY MR. PUGIN ! Pity
that be cannot have, as well, a peep into the organ loft.

MR. BRINDLEY'S LECTURES.—On Thursday and Friday
evenings this eloquent opponent of error brought before the
public the blasphemies and frauds of the Mormonites or
Latter-day Saints • and although opposed on the former
evening by the Yankee apostle of Mormonism, Adams,
successfully established, in the presence of numerous audi-
tories, the swindling and infamous character of the system.
The lecture of Saturday was devoted to an examination of
the merits and practicability of Chartism ; and the lecturer,
although we were sorry to observe him labouring under
severe exhaustion, the effect of his indefatigable exertions
throughout the week, entered fully into a discussion of the
probable working of the " five points," upon which this
panacea for " all the ills that flesh is heir to" is based, in
the course of which we were glad to notice the enthusiasm
with which his arguments were received by the right-minded
working classes of Liverpool. During the proceedings, au
attempt was made, according to the usual tactics of Chart-
ism, to create interruption, which was, however, promptly
put down by the voice of the meeting. At the close, a
strange-looking mortal, calling himself Jones, who was stated
to be the accepted champion of Chartism in this town,
introduced himself upon the platform, and handed in to the
chairman, with a prodigious flourish, a challenge to Mr.
Brindley, to discuss with him the Chartist question on some
future occasion. The audience. however, were of opinion
that the best time for discussion was now; and the orator
was, therefore, requested at once to proceed with his subject.
After about half-an-hour's desultory speechifying, however,
during which a prodigious quantity of declamatory " sound
and fury, signifying nothing," was poured out by the erudite
Mr. Jones, the audience became impatient; and on the
question being put, the advocates of Chartism present were
outnumbered by a forest of hands being held up in favour of
the cause of good order and the constitution.
LECTURES ON SHAESPEAIi.E'S PLAYS.—Mr. Stuart, the
leading tragedian of the Theatre-Royal, has now ready a
course of six lectures on Shakspeare, including the plays of
Lear, Hamlet, Othello. Richard, and Macbeth, and a con-
cluding miscellaneous lecture, embracing the characters of
Wolsey, Timon, Jacques, Touchstone, and a variety of our
great poet's characters. These lectures are remarkable for
their language and effect, and, we doubt not, they would be
highly attractive if delivered at any of our public rooms.

WATERLOO COURSING MEETING.—It will be seen by the
advertisement that this celebrated meeting comes off on
Thursday next. Mr. Towers provides the substantials, and
no doubt every comfort and luxury will be prepared. It will
be seen that an extra prize is offered this year.
LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, AND COMMERCIAL INSTITU-
TION.--On Friday evening Mr. Thomas Venables gave his
third and last lecture on music, The subject of this lecture
was the music of the Druids, and also of Wales; like the
preceding one it was very interesting, showing great re-
search and abounding with anecdote, and copiously illus-
trated with both vocal and instrumental melodies. Among
the former were " Ar hyd y vos," " The rising of the lark,"
the words by Mrs. Hemans, and ".Nos Galan," or " New-
year's night," all delightfully sung by Miss Sarah Venables.
The latter were so numerous that we cannot particularise,
but only return our thanks to Mr. Venables for the splendid
manlier in which he performs them. At the conclusion of
the lecture Mr. Venables returned thanks to his numerous
audience for the kind manner hi which he and his daughter
had been received.

AMPIIITHEATRE.—A new drama called " Susan Hopley,"
was produced on Thursday, and has been performed during
the remainder of the week. From the commendations be-
stowed on this drama by the London press, we expected
something more than common, and were not prepared for the
trash it turned out to be. The only redeeming feature in the
whole piece was the scene of Susan at her mother's grave,
which was beautiful. The principal characters by Mesdames
Emery, 13oroughcliff, and Carman, and Miss Beverley, and
Howard, were better performed than such rubbish merited.
A ballet in which Madame Rosier and Miss Gilbert exerted
themselves to the great satisfaction of the audience followed,
and was succeeded by the usual excellent ring performances ;
the entertainments wound up with the talented Mrs. Car-
man's clever drama of the " Death Grasp." This week
more novelties are announced. The manager deserves to be
encouraged, if only from his evident desire to cater well for
the public, and the variety of his dishes.

! BRANDT Agl) SALT.—An elegantly bound copy of the
Rev. Mr. Fenton's work on Salted Brandy; was lately for.
warded to London by the author for presentation to her
Majesty, who was graciously pleased to direct her librarian
to make the following acknowledgment of its receipt and the
letter which accompanied it :
" Her Majesty's librarian is instructed to acknowledge the
aeceipt of the Rev. Mr. Fenton's letter of the 29th ult., and
to acquaint him that the small Pamphlet which accompanied
it has been deposited in the Royal Library.
" St. James's Palace, Nov. 2, 18-11."
We believe that only a few copies remain of this work,
though an addition of several thousands was printed.
SUDDEN DEATH.—Yesterday an inquest was held before
Mr. Curry, on view of the body of Wm. Clare, aged 21,
captain of a flat, whose death it was suspected had been
caused by the contents of a bottle administered to him
by an practitioner of Harrington-street. It appeared,
however, from exan;ination of tine hotly that he died from in-
flammation of the outer coats of the stomach, the result of
natural causes, and a verdict was returned accordingly.

CHILD FOUND:—On Saturday last a male infant, of
full growth, was found dead in St. Martin's church-yard,
wrapped in a cloth, but without any marks of violence. It
appeared from a pOst mortem examination that the child had
been alive. An inquest was held yesterday, and a verdict re-

turned to the effect that the deceased was found dead ; but
by what means it came to its death there was no evidence to
The deceased, it appeared, had been attended in the

usual way, so that the only delinquency was the exposure

ST. BRIDE'S NATIONAL SCHOOLS.—On Sunday last, tw•o
excellent sermons were preached in St. Bride's Church, Percy -
street, by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, in aid of the above
schools. The morningservice was attended by the worshipful
the Mayor, and several members of the Town Council. There
was also a third service in the afternoon, during which, the
children of the schools were publicly examined by questions
upon the Church Catechism, which they answered with great
correctness, and gave entire satisfaction to the
.friends of the
schools. The_ collections throughout the day, realized up-

upwards of £BO.
NEW MAGISTRATES.—We stated last week that Sir Jas.
Graham had offered the honour of the Borough Magistracy
to several gentlemen. It was, we hear, offered, in the first
instance, to the gentlemen who had sat on the bench before
the passing of the Municipal Corporation Act. Of that body
Mr. Horsfall is, we believe, the only gentleman who has
positively accepted the honour; but Mr. Aspinall and Mr.
Case will, it is expected, also accept it. In addition to these
gentlemen, the following have accepted the honour : namely,
George Grant, Esq., Charles S. Parker, Esq., Duncan Gibb,
Esq., Charles Challoner, Esq., William Potter, Esq., and
Richard Moon, Esq. All these gentlemen profess tory

EARLY CLOSING OF SGOPS.—We have long been of
Opinion that the prolonged hours of business, particularly in
drapers' shops, is destructive of the health of their numerous
assistants, as well as inimical to their morals, by leaving them
little or no time for rational relaxation or the improvement
of their minds, while at the same time (provided one uniform
system of early closing were strictly adhered to by the whole),
shorter hours would rather benefit than injure their employes,
in the reduction of expenses in gas and otherwise; and.little
or no inconvenience would be experienced by customers, who
would soon learn to make their purchases in good time.
therefore, learn with regret, that the arrangements for closing
the shops at seven in the evening has already been infringed.
It was observed by the greater part of the trade in Church-
street and Bold-street until Monday evening, when one indi-
vidual broke through it, and others (probably in self-defence)
followed the example. In many of the principle thorough-
fares the regulation has also been abandoned. It is stated
that the principal cause is, that St. John's Market is kept
open till eight o'clock, and that no general concurrence in
earlier hours on be expected, particularly from the smaller
dealers, until an alteration is made in that establishment.
The market people, it is said, are themselves favourable to
closing at six o'clock, and, it is added, that a memorial on
the subject to the Common Council is in preparation. We
are not prepared to offer an opinion on the propriety of such
a change, but we still entertain a hope that the shopkeepers
will reconsider the question, and come to some definite ar-
rangement that may benefit those in their employ, while, as
we trust, it would not in the end militate against their own
interests.—Chronicle. [We have made some enquiry into
this matter, and find that in one of the largest establishments
in this town, a positive saving has been effected by closing
the shop at seven o'clock, and that so far, the young men
employed, have shown the best results. They have worked
more cheerfully and better. If a saving can be effected in a
large establishment in the same ratio, a small one will benefit
by early closing. We noticed one evening last week, that in
only one shop out of 47 was there a single customer at half-
past seven o'clock—that shop was a chemists—" necessity
hath no law." The houses that have shown a disposition to
meet the wishes of the young men in their employ, deserve,
surely, to be patronized by the public. It is really monstrous
that numbers of young men should be compelled to sacrifice
their health and enjoyment to please two or three old women
that stand idling all day, and can only find time to go shop
ing at night. We have noticed that men very rarely make
purchases by gas-light--they know better.—E. L. S.] .
ST. HELENS COURT OF REQUESTS.—The first sitting of
this court took place on Saturday last, in the Town Hall, St.
Helens, before H. L. Trafford, Esq., the judge. The number
of cases heard amounted to upwards thirty, and the mode of
transacting business under the improved regime of a court of
requests has given unqualified satisfaction to the inhabitants
of St. Helens, because it affords not only a certain and
efficient mode of recovering, at comparatively trifling cost,
debts so large as £l5 when vexatious refusals have been made
to their payments, but establishes a means whereby many of
the pernicious practices followed out amongst the lower classes
for the purpose of obtaining credit will be remedied and re-
formed, if not entirely nullefied. There is no doubt it will
become the ordinary channel of recovering debts not exceed-
ing £l5, therefore, the. populous district over which the act
extends. The next court, it appears, is appointed for Friday,
31st December,

INQUESTS.—On Thursday and yesterday, an inquest was
held before P. F. Curry, Esq., on view of the body of Henry
Robinson. Elizabeth Robinson said she lived in Prince
William-street, and the deceased was her husband. He was
25 years old. Last Saturday four weeks, the deceased left
home after dinner, and was then quite well. He did not re-
turn till about one o'clock next morning, when he said he
had been ill-used by a man, and that he was maimed and
would never get over it. He had a large cut on his fore-
head, from which blood was flowing. He said he did not
know the name of the man who had injured him. Mr. Han-
nah, surgeon, and assistant to Mr. Gillon, said four weeks
ago the deceased came to Mr. Gillon!s surgery. His wound
was dressed, and he appeared to be doing well. On Thursday
night last he was attacked by a convulsion fit, at the time
the time the wound was being dressed ; he became much
worse, and died on Saturday morning. Sidney Campbell,
wife of Edward Campbell, who keeps a beer-house in White
Mill-street, said the deceased was in the habit of frequenting
the house. Four weeks last Saturday, (the day in question)
the deceased was at a supper there. About half-past eleven
o'clock she let the deceased out. He was a little in drink,
but able to take care of himself. Directly afterwards she
heard a great noise, as of persons quarrelling, and could dis-
tinctly hear the voice of the deceased, but did not go to see
what was the matter. Some further evidence was tendered,
but it was immaterial. The jury returned a verdict to the
effect that the deceased died from inflammation of the brain,
arising from the wound, but how the wound was caused there
was no evidence to show. A man was apprehended on sus-
picion, but was discharged on the evidence being heard.
THE QUEEN.—We are happy to learn that the Queen has
so entirely recovered that her Majesty has resumed her petits
diners en fainille, which are confined to the Queen, Prince
Albert, and the Duchess of Kent.—Evening Paper.
The new Bishop of England and Ireland in Jerusalem was,
17 or 18 years ago, the officiating rabbi of a synagogue at
Plymouth, in which town he was baptised by the late Arch-
bishop of Tuam. The new bishop is of pure Hebrew descent,
of the tribe of Judah ; his wife, Mrs. Alexander, is also of
the purest Hebrew blood, and of the tribe of Levi, thus
uniting in one the royal and the priestly tribes.
FATAL OCCURRENCE.—A dreadful accident happened at
Newport, on Monday, to a poor woman named Sophia
Thomas. The deceased was killed by a pistol discharged ac-
cidentally by a buy who was playing with it, and who does
not know how it went off.

CORK AND DUBLIN RAILWAY.—A numerous and highly
respectable meeting of the inhabitants of Cork was held in
that city on Thursday last, when it was determined to
memorialise the Lord Lieutenant in favour of the railway
from Cork to Dublin.
EXECUTION FOR THE MURDER OF MR. POWELL.—
On Saturday last, the 20th instant, the extreme penalty of
the law took place on Patrick Woods, whose case had stood
over from last Assizes, on an objection by his counsel, which
the twelve judges overruled. The wretched man said to the
people that he was innocent of the murder of Mr. Powell,
that he was seven miles off when the murder took place; he
forgave his prosecutors, his judge, and his jury, and died
protesting his innocence. After having delivered these few
words he seemed to be suffering intense mental agony, mid
was moving from side to side, not knowing what he did. He
sunk down before the fall of the drop, in the centre-of which
he was placed by the exeentioner. In a few moments the
bolt was drawn, and the wretched man ceased to breathe.—
Dublin paper.

NEW TELEGRAPH FROM LONDON TO DOVER,—The Lon-
don terminus, at the end of Tooley-street, London Bridge,
of the telegraphic communication between London and Dover
has just been finished, and the whole line will be opened in a
few days. The intermediate stations are situated on elevated
spots, at Forest-hill, Peckham-rye, Knockholt Beeches,
Wrotham ; Blue Bell-hill, Chatham ; Isle of Sheppy, Whit-
stable, Herne-bay, Minster, Broadstairs, and Deal. The
establishment of such a line of communication will be of the
greatest advantage to the mercantile world, as a ship's arrival
off the coast can be telegraphed to the owners in five minutes.
An experiment was made a few days ago, on the line between
Hull and Liverpool, when 18 seconds only elapsed while a
message was conveyed a distance of upwards of 70 miles.—
Globe.

CHARGE OP SHOPLIFTING.—At the Cheltenham police-
office on Monday, Miss Jane Allen, a lady of great respecta-
bility, was charged by Mr. Thomas Joslin, chemist, with
stealing a packet of pot porri perfume. The case excited an
extraordinary degree of interest. The office was crowded to
suffocation, and a great concourse were assembled outside
unable to gain admittance. Before the matter came on Dr.
Thorpe begged permission to be allowed to make a few ob-
servations to skew that this was a case which ought to go be-
fore another tribunal. He spoke as a professional man, and
from his knowledge of the family he could take upon himself
to say that this was at case for another jurisdiction—it was
not a case of commorilheft—it was one of moral irresponsi-
bility. Evidence was then given to prove the theft, and se-
veral witnesses deposed that the prisoner was not in a very
sound state of mind.—The magistrates-said they would admit
her to bail, and she was bound over, herself in £2OO, and two
sureties in £lOO each, to answer at the sessions. Dr. Thorpe
and Captain Frobisher immediately became bail for the un-
fortunate lady.

The Queen has been pleased to appoint his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, K. G., the Right Hon. Lord Lyndhurst, his
Grace the Duke of Sutherland, K.G., the most Hon. the
Marquis of Landsdown, K.G., the Right Hon. the Earl of
Lincoln, the Right Hon. the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Right
Hon. the Earl of Aberdeen, K.T., the Right Hon. Lord
John Russell, the Right Hon. Lord Francis Egerton, the
Right Hon. Viscount Palmerston, G.C.8., The Right Hon.
Viscount Melbourne, the Right Hon. Lord Ashburton, the
Right Hon. Lord Colborne, the Right Hon. Charles Shaw
Lefevre, the Right Hou. Sir Robert Peel, Bart.' the Right
Hon. Sir James Robert George Graham, Bart., Sir Robert
Harry Inglis, Bart., Henry Gaily Knight, Esq., Benjamin
Hawes, jun., Esq., Hanry Hallam, Esq., Samuel Rogers,
Esq., George Vivian, Esq., and Thomas Wyse, Esq., her
Majesty's Commissioners for inquiring into the best mode of
promoting the fine arts in the United Kingdom.
CoßoNgit's INqugsT.—On the 16th instant an inques
was held at Whitstable, on the body of a French mariner'
named Eli Mingour, mate of a lugger, laden with coals,
bound from Sunderland to Mantes. It appeared in evidence
that the deceased, with the captain and four others, (all
Frenchmen,) bad taken in a cargo of coals, and were out in
the gale on Sunday night, when the vessel was wrecked, and
they were all compelled to take to the boat, in which they
were exposed for fifteen hours, the deceased taking part of
the labour of rowing during the night; that on the followi
morning they were picked up off Margate by Captain W
lace Beel and the crew of the smack Prosperous, and

putting the deceased on board, they discovered him to
dead. A most careful examination was taken of the bo

and not any marks of violence appearing thereon, the jti
without the least hesitation, returned a verdict, " Tha:c

deceased died from being exposed to the inclemency of
weather."—London paper.

MR. GAGE'S DOCK PLANS.-CONFERENCE OP
THE DOCK COMMITTEE WITH DEPUTATIONS
FROM THE COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATIONS.

ne conference of the Dock Committee with deputations
veral associated commercial bodies, on the sub-
Gage's plans, in opposition to those of the Dock
urveyor, for the intended new dock and warehouses, took
place yesterday, at one o'clock in the afternoon. The mem-
bers of the committee present were—Messrs. Sands, (chair-
man,) Horsfall, (deputy-chairman,) Barclay, Holt, Holmes,
Middleton, Chilton, Nicol, Aiken, Bailey, Evans, Tobin,
Chapman, Ripley, and Moon. Mr. Hartley, the Dock Sur-
veyor, and Mr. Gage were also present, each prepared with
plans and drawings for the purpose of elucidating the sub-

from the s
ject of Mr,

East Ind
and Mr. CI

West India Assaf
and Mr. C. S. Parke

Shipowner',
dall.

Brazilian
worth.

/iina Associati

ed the deptiiatioes
—Mr. Robert Diror

ciation.—Mr. George 1-

all Lawrence

s Associalion.—Mr. Henderson, and Mr. Ken-

Association.—Mr. Sanders, and Mr. Cole

Mexican and South American Association.—Mr. Dunlop,
and Mr. Tyrer.
British and North American Association.—Mr. Rankin,
and Mr. Duncan Gibb.
American Chamber of Commerce.—Mr. Roskell, and Mr.

Mediterranean and Levant Association.—
Mr. Pilcher.

Mr. Powell, and

Shipbuilder's Associalion.---Mr. Royden, and Mr. Thos
Wilson.

Shipmaster's Association.—Mr: James Spence, and Mr
illiam llowett.

The CHAIRMAN said the object of the conference was well
known both in and out of doors ; and on the part of the
committee he had to state that they would be very happy to
hear any suggestions the deputations might have to make.
The dock committee bad only one object in view, and that
was to give the greatest possible amount of dock accommo-
dation to the shipping interests. The plans lying upon the
table, and for which an act of parliament had been obtained,
had pot been adopted by the committee upon slight grounds.
Most earnest consideration had been given to them ; but if
it should appear from anything that the deputations should
say that those plans- were not the best, and ought not to be
proceeded with, but that others ought to be substituted, the
committee would be willing to reconsider, and to adopt such
plans as appeared most desirable. They would, of course,
think it right to take the very best and most scientific evi-
dence upon the subject that it was possible to procure.
The SECRETARY here read the names of the deputation,
and it was arranged that they should-.be heard in the order
given above.

Mr. TURNER, on the part of the East India and China
Association, then rose and said, that the merchants con-
nected with the East Indies felt, and had always felt, that as
far as respected their trade warehouses were wanted round
the docks. They hailed the bill which had just been passed,
as giving them in a great measure what they wanted. Per-
haps it did not give them the entire warehouse accommoda-
tion they wanted, but it was an approach they considered to
a better system. They considered that this port was inferior
to London in this respect, and they were anxious for the
committee not to lose sight of this question. So long as
they could secure efficient warehouses the association were
not in opposition to any plan ; but they felt that no altera-
tion in the plans involving danger to the warehouse space,
or impaired their efficiency in securing any other advantage
would compensate for the loss. These were the general sen-
timents of the merchants connected with the East Indies.
Mt. DIROM concurred in Mr. Turner's statement.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said, that although the West India
Association had been mentioned in connection with his own
name he had no instructions from that body. He thought,
however, that the West India Association placed every con-
fidence in the Dock Committee, and they left the matter in
their bands.

Mr. PARKER expressed his concurrence.
Mr. HENDERSON, as one of the deputies from the Ship-
owner's Association, begged to observe that the committee
of that body had taken Mr. Gage's plans several times into
consideration, and had made very minute investigations of
them, because their interests were largely involved in the
question. They were decidedly of opinion, comparing them
with Mr. Hartley's, that Mr. Gage's were a very great iro-
proveznent, that he secured greater dock space, and a much
more advantageous appropriation of quay room. Twice the
number of vessels, at least, would be accommodated with
working berths either for discharging or loading. His dock
area was larger, with this greater advantage of facility in
working, and, therefore, the Shipowner's Association were
decidedly of opinion that such a very great improvement
ought to be undertaken at any cost, either of time or money.
As to Mr. Turner's observation relative to interference with
the warehouses, it was rendered perfectly nugatory, inas-
much as Mr. Gage's plan furnished as great a superficial
area, and much greater lineal quay space for that purpose
than the plan agreed upon. The Shipowner's Association,
after great consideration, were decidedly of opinion that the
large plan of Mr. Gage's, which occupied the whole space
from Duke's Dock to George's Dock was the plan which
ought to be adopted. They also recommended this plan as
having Graving Docks. They thought it better, however,
not to go too much into detail, but to leave the future consi-
deration of the question entirely in the hands of the com-
mittee.

Mr. KENDALL concurred in this statement.
Mr. RIPLEY said it was proposed to be either warehouses
or sheds in Mr. Gage's plan, and hewished to know whether
the Shipowners' Association had agreed to either one or the
other ?

Mr. HENDERSON had intended to state that so long as Mr.
Gage's plans furnished an equal superficial area applicable for
quay or warehouses, he conceived the objection, as to ware-
houses,was done away with.

Mr. HORSFALL asked whether the Shipowners' Associa-
tion had calculated the cost of carrying out Mr. Gage's great
plan ?
Mr. HENDERSON/ replied in the negative, but intimated
that whatever it might be it ought to be incurred.
Mr, HORSFALL next asked whether they had estimated
the time the work could be done in ?

Mr. HENDERSON replied that he was not prepared to an-
swer that question.
Mr. HORSFALL remarked that the plan Mr. Henderson
spoke of did not contain graving docks. _

- Mr. HENDERSON, in answer, said that from a discussion
that had taken place this morning four graving docks would
be recommended as far as the Shipowners' Association were
concerned ; but the shipbuilders would be best able to give
an opinion upon this.

Mr. HORFA.LL asked which plan Mr. Henderson was
speaking of?

Mr. 14ENDERSON.—I speak of the large plan.
The CHAIRMAN asked Mr. Henderson whether he was
aware that if Mr. Gage's plan were adopted, the committee
would have to go to parliament again.
Mr. CHAPMAN said the object of the Shipowners' Asso-
ciation was not at this moment to reopen the question of the
act of parliament, but to recommend Mr. Gage's large plan
to the consideration of the committee. At present the par-
liamentary site being fixed upon, they recommended Mr.
Gage's dock instead of the intended one now before the
coin mittee.
Mr. HENDERSON..—Most decidedly.

Mr. AIKEN here suggestediliiTtliestatements of the va-
rious deputations should be heard before any discussion took
place. . _

The CHAIRMAN acquiesced, and called upon the deputa-
tion from the Brazilian Association.
Mr. COTESWORTH said, that along with several other gen-
tlemen the Brazilian Association had compared the plans of
Mr. Gage with those of the Dock Committee, and had found
a striking difference between them. He would confine him-
self to the space contemplated by the Dock Committee to
work upon. They found, by experience, that by the plan of
the Dock Committee there were eighty vessels out of a work-
ing position, whilst there would be only eight by Mr. Gage's
plan. This circumstance clearly demonstrated that the plan
of Mr. Gage gave greater quay space, placed vessels is greater
security, and also left, at the same time, sufficient room for
warehouses. He apprehended it was not the intention of
gentlemen present to enter on the point whether they would
build warehouses or not, and that question was not at all
affected by the opinion the association were now expressing.
The Brazilian Association would recommend that Mr. Gage's
plan, if practicable, should be carried out to the full extent ;
but ?fit were not, that it should be adopted as far as possible,
and with reference to being carried out ultimately.
Mr. HORSFALL said Mr. Cotesworth had not spoken with
certainty whether he would recommend a different plan upon
the present site, or whether they would go all the way from
George's Dock.
Mr. COTESWORTH said he would recommend that the
whole extent of ground be laid out upon Mr. Gage's plan, if
practicable ; but if not practicable, then be would recom-
mend that the land at present laid out according to the Dock
Committee's plan should be laid out upon Mr. Gage's plan,
and that with reference to being ultimately carrying out the
whole of it.

At the request of Mr. EVANS, the CHAIRMAN asked Mr.
Cotesworth whether his assessor had made any estimate of
the cost, and of the additional time this plan would require?
Mr. COTESWORTH replied that if Mr. Gage's plan were
proved the best, there would be abucdant, funds to carry it
out. It certainly could not be carried out immediately, but
the means of the committee would increase as they went on.
He should think it was very difficult to make a calculation ;
but he might express this, that the plan contemplated for the
site the committee were going. to work upon would not cost
more in one case than the other.
Mr. HoaSVALL.—Are you aware that all this could not be
effected without another act of parliament ?
Mr. CoTF.swoRTH said his feeling on this point was that
such facilities would be afforded for an amendment of the
present act as to ensure to the committee, if they began the
work at present that long before they would require the
amended act, it would be completed.
Mr. SANDS supported the statements of Mr. Cotesworth.
Mr. COTESWORTH begged to ask whether an amended act
would be required to make Mr. Gage's plans to the south ?
The CHAIRMAN.--Our Solicitor is of opinion it would
require an act of parliament, or at least an amended act.
Mr. COTESWORTH.—I should think there is no question
about that being obtained with little difficulty.
Mr. HORSFALL.—Then you do not contemplate disturb-
ing the warehouses ? _

Me. Cors.swoßTu said the quays could give sheds, or
would give what quantity of warehousing was wanted ; and
if it were important to make the whole number of ware-
houses, that would not interfere with the loading or discharg-
of the ships.
Mr. DUNLOP, on the part of the Mexican and South
American Association said, that Mr. Gage's plan afforded so
much more accommodation both for landing and discharging,
that they could not but strongly recommend its adoption to
the committee, If the large plan were found impractible
the association would strongly recommend the other. They
looked with dismay at a large square dock with very few fa-
cilities for landing and discharging. Several gentlemen con-
nected with the association had declared that they would
much rather pay one-half more dock dues, and have facilities
nearer the centre of the town, than have the same facilities
straggling away at the other docks far off, at the present
rates.

Mr. TIMER, from the same association, thought it of so
miich importance to have the docks near the centre of the
town, that any additional expense was not to be compared
with that.

Mr. PuNeAN Gm, on behalf of the British and North
American Association, after putting some questions to Mr.
Hartley upon the measurements, expressed at considerable
length the desire of that body that the active commerce of
the port should continue as near the centre of the town as
possible. They thought that Mr. Gage's plan would afford
greater, facilities for that purpose than Mr. Hartley's, on
account of the greater quantity of quay room, and the
facilities for loading and unloading shipping; and they had
come to a resolution recotnmending his plan, but in an
amended form—that embracing graving dock accommodation.
Mr. RANKIN agreed with Mr. Gibb in recommending Mr.
Gage's extended plan with graving dock accommodation ;
and at all events he recommended that the river wall should
be proceeded with upon that principle. He believerithere
would be uo objection upon parliamentary grounds to Mr.
Gage's plan being proceeded with.
Mr. ROSKELL and Mr. TODD, on the part of the American
Chamber of Commerce, said that althougla they had not had
an opportunity of examining Mr. Gage's plans, contended
from the amount of American tonnage coming to this port,
that every facility was due to them. The chamber had ex-
pressed an unqualified opinion in favour of the erection of
warehouses. _ _

Mr. PucuEß and Mr. POWELL said that the Mediter-
ranean and Levant Association. expressed the regret of that
bndy that any delay should take place in the construction of
the works.

The CUAIRMAN:—That is you are in favour of the present
plan?

Mr. POWELL.—Not exactly, sir.
Mr. WILSON and Mr. ROYDEN, on the part of the Ship-
builder's Association, strongly represented the necessity of
additional Graving Dock accommodation in the centre of the
docks.

Mr. SPENCE and Mr. ROWETT, from the Shipmasters'
Association, expressed a decided opinion in favour of Mr.
Gage's plans, and the former alleged several defects in those
of Mr. Hartley.

Mr. Gage was then requested to describe his plans, and he
proceeded at great length to lay down the principles of them,
which we have already described in this journal, and to illus-
trate them most minutely by references to plans. A very
long, irregular, conversational discussion followed concerning
them ; at the end of which,
The SLCILETARY read the following remarks from Mr.
Hartley upon the propositions of Mr. Gage:—

PROPOSED NEW DOCKS

" My attention having been called to a pamphlet written
by Mr. Gage, on the subject of the construction of docks in
the port of Liverpool, and with especial reference to the
ground to the westward of the Custom-house, and as he
alludes to me personally, and condemns the plan for the pro-
posed new dock and warehouses, for which an act was ob-
tained during the late session of parliament, it may probably
be expected that I should make some remarks on the subject.
" In September, 1840, three plans, designed by Mr. Gage
(numbered 2,3, and 5), for laying out the whole of the
ground between the George's and Duke's Docks with new
docks, were sent to me by the Dock Committee, with a
request that I would give them my opinion thereon ; this I
did in a report, dated 17th September, 1840. The opinion I
then gave I still adhere to, but as that opinion was
general terms I will now
Mr. Gage's plans unfit for adoption

state my reasons for coniide

" 1-113 plati No. 2, contains six canals of the various widths
of 210, 207, 213, and 138 feet, and varying in length from
816 feet to 1,077 feet.. These canals or docks have a total
area of 29 16-100 acres, and 4,701 lineal yards of quay space,
and are capable of holding as many vessels as the Prince's,
George's, Canning, and King's Docks all put together, cal-
culating on the old system of 10 square-rigged ships to an
acre. For the accommodation of these vessels he affords
but one single entrance, through which all the ships either
arriving or departing must pass.
•

" Plan No. 3, has two single entrances from the river as
well as a connection with George's Dock ; it has nine canals,
varying in length from 1,120 feet to 325 feet, and in width
207 feet to 102 feet.
" Plan No. 5, is in a great measure simil 1, -

ar to p.

xn NO. 3,

_
having nine canals of similar forms, but differing somewnat
in their various widths, being narrower at the south and
wider at the north ; it has two entrances from the river, one
a single entrance, and the other a Y-lock, capable of admit-
ting but one ship at a time, and serving for two docks ; it
has also a connection with George's Dock.

" The qUays between all these canals are shown 120 feet
wide, and Strand-street and the east side of the Salthouse
Dock are shown only 93 feet wide. The quay to the west-
' ' .2 V • • -

he river is shown t
Taking the principle upon which Mr. Gage's
plans are designed, first into consideration, as tar as the ge-
neral open trade of the port is concerned, 1 consider it right,

feet wide

the increase of dock accommodation in 1824, was exactly on
this principle. The Victoria, Trafalgar, and Waterloo Docks
are constructed on this principle, and several other plans
which I have from time to time laid before the Dock Com-
mittee, and which I now produce, are also upon this principle.
These plans, or most of them, Mr. Gage has seen, having
been shown to him by me some time back, but which he has
not acknowledged. Agreeing, therefore,.as I do, to the ge-
neral principle of the docks running east and west, I am very
far from agreeing with Mr. Gage in the contracted dimensions
he had chosen for his designs. I consider that 250 feet is the
narrowest dimension that any dock should be, and that 300
feet is more advisable; no dock should be constructed for
shipping that will not allow of those ships which enter being
swung round in them should occasion require. A ship has
come to this port very recently which measures 22G feet from
outside of tatirail to outside of billet-head, and in Nos. 2 and
3 of Mr. Gage's plans there are only two spots immediately
within the entrances in which the ship could turn; in the
south entrances of Nos. 3 ands she could not be admitted at

all. This is certainly an extreme length for a mere__
sel, but in the present docks there would not be any difficult,
of admitting her, and I conceive that in laying out a plan for
a new dock, accommodation ought to be provided for as large
vessels as have yet offered. I may also remark that t
P "

rrince's ➢uck, which has 1,187 lineal yards of quay space,
exclusive of the locks, and 11 acres area, has two locks for
the ingress and egress of vessels, opening into basins, and yet

out sufficiently quick. What, then, will be the case in Mr.
Gage's plan, where over two and a half times the number of
vessels are depending upon similar accommodation, but
without basins to make sail from ?

" I cannot agree with Mr. Gage in the widths of his quays
being only 126 feet,'as I consider them much too narrow ;
the east quay of the Prince's Dock averages 100 feet, and it
must have been remarked by all, how inconveniently crowded
it generally is, yet this is for the side of one dock only. The
quay between the Waterloo and Victoria Dock is 114 feet at
the west or extreme end, and 150 feet wide at the east or up-
per end, where exit is, and is much too narrow. I consider
those quays where there is a dock on each side, should be at
least 180 feet in width, more particularly where they are such
a great length as are shown upon Mr. Gage's designs, and
where there is no exit from them at the west end. The width
allowed for Strand-street and the westside of Salthouse Dock
is only 93 feet, which will have to serve both for quay and
public thoroughfare ; and it must be borne in mind that
through this width the whole traffic created by dock accomo-
dation, equal to that of the Prince's, George's, Cannir
and King's Docks, besides t

iat of the general trade, must
pass as well as afford convenience for the carts waiting to be
employed. I consider it a great want of convenience in Mr.
Gage's plans, that his docks are dependent upon single gates
opening directly into the river, not only as regards the safety
of the vessels within the docks, but also with respect to the
dispatch of vessels, the economical working of the docks,
and even dry basins, though they may in some degree be
considered a waste of room, are still of wrest advantage for
this purpose. Taking, then, into consideration, the general
design of Mr. Gage's docks, their contracted dimensions, the
narrowness of the quays, and the intricacy of their working,
I consider, that should they be carried into effect, they would
be found in the greatest degree inconvenient for general busi-
ness, and in this respect I cannot agree with Mr. Gage that
quay space and harbour space are synonymous,. If, as Mr.
Gage justly supposes, docks so near the centre of the town
are likely to be in general demand, and at most times crowded
with shipping, when a vessel has finished discharging, is slit
to lay at the quay

ready for sea ?—if so, what is to become of the vessels laying
in the centre of the dock ? if no vessels are to lay at
the centre of the dock, but each is to occupy either a quay
or a stage berth, then there is a waste of room in these
desizns greater than in a dock where vessels can be moved
about, and have opportunities of lying to wait either for a
charter or for a wind, or for their turn in the graving dock—
for a general overhaul or refit—or for sale, without taking up
room which other vessels require. If a place is to be left
open in the center of each canal for the passage of ships up
and down, which will be necessary, then it is evident that the
aggregate room thus left unoccupied will be far greater than
in a dock double or three times the width when the same
only would be required. I connot advise the committee,
either now or prospectively, to adopt a plan which will an-
nihilate all convenience for the repairing of vessels from the
extreme north end of the Clarence Dock to the Queen's
Basin. Were Mr. Gage's plans to be adopted, such would
be the case, and a ship which required repairs would have
either to take steam and go into the river or be hauled through
the new docks, George's, Prince's, Waterloo, Victoria, Tra-
falgar docks, and the Clarence Basin to get into a graving-
dock, and this at times when these docks are full would be
impracticable. This may be a minor consideration in theory,
but the practice would be far different. Eight graving-docks
are few enough for the trade of the port as it is. What, then,
will six be with the increase which Mr. Gage leads us to ex-
pect to the amount of 30,000 tons ?
" Leaving the designs welch have been submitted on this
enlarged scale, it is necessary now that 1 should make some
remarks upon four designs which Mr. Gage has furnished for
laying out the ground occupied by the Salthouse Dock, and
that to the westward of it.

" These designs I saw for the first time last Saturday, the
13th instant. No. 1, or what Mr. Gage calls an improve-
ment upon all other plans designed by him, is a portion of
the great design before alluded to, No. 3, and is, therefore,
open to the same objections, viz.—that it is dependant upon
a single pair of gates opening immediately from the river;
that its canals are too contracted and its quays too narrow :
and if covered with warehouses, as shown by him, the dock
could not be worked at all except by small-class vessels, and
that there are vessels coming to the port which could not
get into the dock. As to the warehouses upon the quays
120 feet wide, along the middle of which carts would have
to go up and down with but little—and during spring tides
when the vessels are high—and scarcely any light, the con-
fusion would be such as to verify Mr. Gage's assertion,
' that much greater dispatch would be tinted without
warehouses.'

" Plan No. 2 is confined to the space west of the Salthouse.
Dock, and is a dock of a parallelogramic form, with two
tongues of 120 feet wide, thus dividing the dock into three
canals, two of which are 180 feet wide, and the middle one
325 at the west and 230 at the east end. This middle portion
of the dock alone is, I consider, useful, as the entrances into
the north and south canals are only 100 feet wide, and im-
practicable for large vessels when the quays on each aide are
occupied. The entrance to this dock is furnished with a
single pair of 70-feet gates, and opens immediately from the
river. The quays are covered with warehouses, except to the
westward, where there are none; to the north and south the
warehouses are GO feet deep, whilst those to the east and
upon the tongues are 120, and have the same objections as I
have described for those in plan No. 1.
" Plan No. 3 is for two docks upon the same site as the
preceding, which are entered from the river by a Y lock
serving for both docks—this plan is open to similar objections
to the last, but not to the same extent. Long vessels can en-
ter this dock, but when full, will be most difficult to work,
The double-lock, though it diminishes the risk of accident,
will be but of little use as a half-tide basin, and will in no
degree facilitate the getting of vessels more rapidly to sea.
Plan No. 4 is confined to the same site, but it is an inner
dock and an outer half-tide basin. This is the least objec-
tionable of the four designs ; but is still much too contracted
in its dimensions, the bottoms of the canals being only 188
feet. The quays between the dock and the basin are of a
horse-shoe form, presenting a very quick convex aide to the
dock, and a corresponding concavity to the basin. I con-
ceive the convex side would be found objectionable to moor
ships alongside, as they would touch only in the middle, and
be difficult to keep steady, particularly during tempestuous
weather. The warehouses upon these quays would be more
objectionable than those iu the other plans, as they are only
90 feet wide, and would have the same trafAc of carts, egz.
passing through them, The form of the outer basin, is such,
that if it once got filled with mud, as outer basins quickly
do, it would be difficult to clean, as the dredging machine
could not work with effect.

" To the general principle of these four plans, viz., that of
crowding as much loading and discharging room into a space
as possible, without paying due attention to other considera-
tions, I have decided objections. In a dock where increased
facilities are given, a corresponding desire to get vessels in
will arise; this dock will always be full of vessels loading,
discharging, or waiting their turns ; let us suppose then, that
a prevalence of westerly winds detains ships whilst others are
still arriving—are vessels that are ready for sea to occupy
quay berths and warehouse frontage to the detention of other
vessels, merely because there is no space in the middle of the
dock in which they can lay ? I imagine not, and as vessels
will be discharged with very increased dispatch, in the pro-
posed new docks, this evil will increase in the same propor-
tion, or will cancel all the good effects that are expected to
arise from these increased facilities.
" These are some of the objections which occur to me on
a hasty consideration of Mr. Gage's plans—having been too
much occupied to go into the detail. With respect to the
plan at present contemplated, and for which the act was ob-
tained, it was designed on the principle of giving vessels every
accommodation in connexion with the proposed advantages of
warehouse facilities ; and I am still of opinion, that unless
ample space is allowed for the quick moving of vessels to
and from the quays, as well as for those to lay in, which have
no furthcr immediate occasion for such berths, but little pro.
portionate advantage will be gained ; at the same time lE beg
that it may be distinctly understood, that whatever plans
this Committee may entertain, designed by whatever person,
so long as I hold the situation ; now have the honour of
filling, I shall deem it my duty to carry them faithfully into
execution, but I wig not at the same time be .held responsi-
ble for their effects.

" With regard to any future increase of dock accommoda-
tion, I think it necessary, merely to observe, that 7 conceive