The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-10-29 00:00:00

LAYING TUE FOUNDATION STONE.

Just above itte..:iteWile;;Eesijtt;vasto be deposited,
two platforms had been erected in steps rising to the
shore, with wide board entrances to the top; and these,
together with a square space round the stone, for the
principal guests, were railed in front, and fenced in with
boards at the back and sides. Parties were admitted to
the platforms by ticket, and they were soon filled by a
gaily•dressul company. Winin the enclosed square were
statilned the band of the Gth Dragoon Guards, that of the
Sixth Foot, and Mr. Stubbs's Harmonic Band, who
played fovourite airs in concert with a fine effect, also the
national anthem, Scc., when the ceremony had concluded.
The leading gent emen, having arrived on the ground,
preparations were immediately made for laying the
stone, by Mr. Rendell depositing a glass bottle, con-
taining a copy of the Liverpool newspaper of the day. a
plan of the works, and one of all the current coins, in
a cavity out of the solid rick. [This part of the pro-
ceedings was performed amidst much cheering.] Mr.
Rendell then read the inscription on the brass-plate, atter
which he deposited it in the groove prepared for its recep-
tion, and then presented the beautiful silver trowel (which
we have before describrd) to Sir Philip Egerton. The
s one being lowered to its place and adjusted, the hon.
baronet struck it with a rosewood walla.
Tile Rev. ANDREW Ks ox. incumbent of Birkenhead,
then offered up a beautiful, deeply impressive, and appro-
priate prayer.
Sir PHILIP DE .M ALPAS GREY EGERTON, Bart., of
Oulton-park, M.P., then ascended the stone, amidst nine times nine
cheers, which having subsided. he spoke nearly as follows :—Ladies
and gentlemen, it has been customary from time itmnemorial, in
this country, and I believe also in other parts of the world, to cele-
brate with such" pomp and circumstance as the occasion might
require, the commencement of works, either public or ptivate,
which, fur magnitude or importance, are deemed of more than
ordinary consequence (Hear) It is in compliance with ancient
usage, and in obedience to the liberal invitation of the commis-
sioners, that we are assembled here this day to witness that magni-
ficent spectacle, which has been prepared with no ordinary care—
to celebrate the inauguration of the foundation stone of the Birken-
head Docks. (Cheers.) It has been my lot, ladies and gentlemen,
frequently to be present upon ceremonials of this description, and I
have a vivid and distinct recollection of most of Mose events which
have occurred during the last few years; Par ceremonies such as
this are not like the ordinary and passing events of the day, which
make an impression for the moment and then pass into oblivion :
they form epochs in our national history ; they are milestones, as
it were, is the road of time; they constiiute a species of mernoria
enebling the mind, after the lapse of years, to steal not
only the events themeel Yes, but all the contemporaneous and con-
comitant events of history. (Hear.) It is, therefore, I say I have
a distinct recollection of most of those spectacles which have taken
place during the last few years ; and .1 can state, most distinctly,
and in all sincerity, that I. have failed to call to mind one which,
either for its intrinsic wetth or for the important results which are
likely to follow from it, can be compared for a moment with the
undertaking which has this day been commeneed. (Cheers )
am aware that 1 am making use of terms mast comprehensive; I
am aware that I may probably be subjected to the charge of allow.
ing my partialities or my prejudices to bias my judgment; but I
trust I shall not have made use of terms of exaggeration, for I do
not estimate the value of a work of this deseriptio a by its superficial
acres, by the sum of money that may be expended upon it. but by
the amount of advantages which are likely to accrue from it to
mankind ut large. (Hear.) A bridge over the Thames at Lond
a bridge across the Menai straits, are works of great magnitude,
and which reflect the highest honour upon the distitesuislied engi-
neers who brought them to perfetvioo; but in their application they
must be considered ae purely local, as mere facilities fur intercourse
between the banks of the streams. There are many other works of
great magnitude and importance in this nation : take, fur example;
the Royal Exchange of London, which our gracious Sovereign is
about to grace with her presence on Monday next. That is a work
well worthy of the merchant princes who have erected it ; it will be
a lasting ornament to the greatest einnmercial community in -the
world. but its sphere of utility is limited as compared with the re-
sults I anticipate front the works which are this day here com-
menced. (Hear.) I consider that the ailvantages which will follow
from the erection of these docks will nut be purely local ; they will
not be only national, but they will be universal. Leers ) They
will be felt throueh the length and breadth of the laud; they will
circulate through the minutest fibres of the trade and commerce of
the country; they will be circumscribed only- by the limits of civi-
lization in the habitable globe. (Renewed cheers) The idea of
converting Wallasey Pool into a series of docks, is by nu means
novel or of recent date. Nature has been so lavish in her adapta-
tion of this part of Chechire, that every engineer who has visited
the banks el* the Mersey, for years past, has been struck with the
great capability of this port to feed the local trade; and I believe
the late Mr. Telford, one of the most distinguished men in the
annals of British science, went so far as to say that, in his (Onion-,
Liverpool was built upon the wrong side of the river. (Hear, and
s me laughter.) The late Mr. Laird, many years ago, had a caret
plete survey male of the Pool, and I yen:Reuter having received—
and many others reit, iced also, I dare say—tt very able plea for
converting the Pool into a series of dock.. It would be needless
for me now to revert to historical facts connected with this piece,
wl.i -Is are probably welt known to must of those I have the honour
to ad-tress It will be needless for me to locution the obstac:es and
impediments which have appeared in the way c-f the realization of
those schemes. suffice it to say, that those impediments and those
obstacles have been fortunately removed. The Pool- has tees sur-
veyed by the talented engineer who has lately addressed you. lie
has drawn out plans for converting the cool into a series of docks.
These pit ns were embodied in an Act of Parliament, which way
passed last session. That bill experienced most rigid, strict, and
searching investigation in passing through both hoeses in the com-
mittees of both the Commons and the I.orib.; but so manifest were
the advantages it held out, so ably was every clause in that bill
supported by the evidence of the most sciebtilic into in this coun-
try, and, above all, so disinterested appeared to be the motives of
these who promoted the measure, that it ;tassel triumphantly
thsuegh those ordeals, and came upseittlied and unmutilmed
through parliament, mid is now the law of tae land. The works
to be executed under that act are of a nrignitutis wholly ulna al.
leled, I believe, in works of a similar nature. (Cheers.) They will
comprise, iu the first instanee, a vast tidal harbour of nearly f r;y
acres, with sufficiettt water is it to admit of ves :els at all times of
lb aide', tan cross to debt nt bar. (blear.) tidint.on
to that harbeur of refuge, cons enience will be supplied of about
acres in extent,-with a beaching ground of four or 11 -c acres
additional, which will be devoted to the use c f the trailing craft of
the river. (Hear ) There is also a duck teLich will he te.pli el to
the present uses and purposes of the town of Birkenhead. If these
were the only objects sought by this bill, they are sufficisnt to lay
cleim to your most favourable consideration; but beyond this there
will he an opening to the tidal harbour; by gates, of vast extent;
there will also Le a floating pool of about one hundred and thirty
acres in extent, throughout the whole of which the water will be
maintained at such a level that the banks of the pool, continued for
nearly eight thousand lineal cards, will be. applicable for the pur-
poses of quays and jetties, of landiegplaces and graiingclocks, mid
warehouses, anti alt the other necessary acconnuodations required
ill a great mercantile harbour. (Cheers.) Ladies and gentlemen,
when I contemplate the extent of these works,—when I consider
the important ulterior consequences which may result from this
first initiatory measure,—above all, when I look at the extent of
the buildings which now clothe the banks of this pool around me,
and compare them with the state in which Birkenhead formerly
was, I can scarcely believe myself to be irk the laud of reality.
(Hear.) I have leen told, upon very good authority, that not above
half a century ago, at the tune when my respected grandsire
bited the mansion now so ably occupied by your neighbour, Sir
Edward Cust,—in that period, I an, told, it was proved in a court
of law that Birkenhead was not entitled to be considered a town-
ship, village, or hamlet, in esmuch as it did not contain three inha-
bited houses. (Hear.) Whether this be true or not, this Ido know,
from the returns of the census presented decennially to parliament,
that in 1801 the number of houses iii the township only amounted
to sixteen ; at the next census. in 1911, the number was increased
by only one ; in 1821 the number was increased by only three; the
next ten years, front 1531, the increase a-as to 400; while in 1941
the last CUJIMS gave the number of its houses at nearly IWO; and
I am told that now, in -the few years that have elapsed since the
last census, it numberS'nearly 2:100 houses, occupying an extent of
street exceeding thirty unites. (Cheers ) This I look upon as a
case wholly unparalleled in the annals of this country; and it,
among those whom I now address, I should chance to find a citizen
of the United states of Americas—that country so famous fur the
rapid growth of towers, and title:4, and commenities,-1 would al-
mast cheelenge him to bring an analogous ins-sure to this Irene the
annals of his own country. (Cheers.) I say then—it is
face I say it —I can scarcely believe the evidence of my senses when
I contemplate the vast end rapid increase exhibited in One district:
(Hear.) It appears more as it' some mighty magician, with a Ll:at-
rash of his wand, had coujured up a matuse and tionrisning COM•
noway from the leswels of the earth, or the basem of the sea, in
the tint panoply of commercial prosperity, of wealth, an f lancin-
g/Tic t, as Minerva sprang Wily armed front the head of .lupiter.
If, then, the mind can scarcely coatemplate without wonder and
astonishment the progress mule in the last few years in thisloca-
lity, how shall we dare to gaze into the magic seectrum of futurity,
or attempt to divine what may be the onward progress of Ilirken-
head's pros; erity The astronomer is enabled to calculate the VC-
and to measure the orbits, of the heavenly bodies; the engi-
neer is eitebled to make his surveys, and, front his knowledge of
the laws which govern matter, is enabled to carry out his designs;
for there are certain fixed laws and philosot'thicel data which they
have given them; bus who shall attempt toclefil.e what may be the
rate of increase, or the rate of extension of human enterprise ?
(Cheers.) Upon filet alone must depenil the extent of prosperity of
a commercial community such as this. I can fancy to myself. I
can picture a forest cf masts of ye-sets of all nations, crowding
11,40 docks ; I can fancy to myself quays and docks, and ware-
le mimes, clothing the.te banks as far as the eye can reach ; I can
hear, I think, the busy hum of men engaged in all the operations of
nierchanaise; I can see the locomotive engire in attendance at the
back of the warehouses, prepared to convey the raw material by
railways in ease, and railways in posse—(cheers)—to the very parts
where it les wanted. ( Itetieweit cheers.) I CAil fancy I cm trace
stree:s and squares, houses and palaces, and churches and theatres,
and marl.calialls and town-halls, and lord mayors, and aldermen
and councilors, and beadles and maces, and all the paraphernalia
of municipal dignity (cheers) ;—I can al-nest Imre In the distance,
I can almost fancy that I can see in the distance the faint shadow
of a popular member addressing the borough constituency from the
city hustings. (Cheers and laughter.) But io return fr. tni the fer-
tile regions of fancy to those of stern reality, I state it here to be my
' firm conviction that I stand at this moment upon the liu icon of
Birkenhead's prosperity. (Cheers.) As the Roman general of olcl,
in his progress towards Rome, gained fresh laurels anti fresh
achievements, Birkenhead will go on in the path of prosperity until
she becomes in the that reek among the great commercial commu-
niti• sof the world. (Cheers I In the words of a Liverpool paper,
which are remarkab e enough for the truth of their ,applications,
vt she has the full tido of commercial prosperity to start with ; she
has a cheap market to borrow money in, and has cheap materials
to build with ; she has the sanction of all the Government depart.
merits; she has •he aperobation of the conservators of the Mersey;
and she his the septette of the whole trading and manufacturing
interests cf the country." With these great and important advan-
taeei to start with, I trust she will go on and prosper, and from the
bottom of my heart I wish her God speed I (Tremendous cheers.)
Mr. WILLIAM JACKSON then said, in effect, that he
was deput-d by the public of Birkenhead toast( the favour
of the hon. baronet to permit his likeness to be taken. to
grace the walls of the intended new Town-hall, in order
that it might never be forgotten who it was that had laid
the foundation stone of Birkenhead prosperity.
Sir PHILIP EGERTON said he was proud of this addi-
tion to their former favours, and should be most happy to
accede to their wishes. -
Cannon were then fired in salutes. and the immense as-
setnhlage (including great part of the processicn) dis-
persed from the shore, and poured through the various
streets, some to their inns, others to their homes for re-
freshmetits, and many (visiters) to the houses of their ae-
quaiutancea. The streets, however, remainet crowded
throughrut the whole day and evening, no fewer than
',bout 105,00 j persons having been landed at the ferries
from this town alone.