Internal Improvements. 305 | 



Blackwall were aftonifhing. A little after twelve o'clock, 

 ropes were thrown to the people cm fhore, in order to tow 

 the Henry Addington, a YVeft-Indiaman lately launched, 

 into the dock. The people laid hold of the cords; but the 

 veffel being large and heavy, it was fome time before fhe 

 could be moved, notwithftanding the Echo, a veffel from the 

 Weft Indies deeply laden, had entered the great bafon foon 

 after eleven o'clock. By the (trenuous exertions of the 

 people on (bore, aided by a windlafs on each fide of the great 

 floodgate, the vefTel was at lad brought near the entrance of 

 the dock. She was greeted by the populace on each fide 

 with loud and reiterated huzzas, and by the band of mufic 

 belonging to the firft regiment of guards, who played " See, 

 the conquering hero comes L' 



The veffel being by this time very near the great flood- 



§ate, a confiderable delay took place before ibe was intro- 

 uced to the clock. This, however, having been overcome, 

 tbe people once more " gave way/' and the (hip- came in 

 amid ft the (houts of tbe fpec-tators, the band playing " God 

 fave the King," " Rule Britannia/' Sec. &c. ' We never 

 witneffed any thing more linking, a.nd at the fame time fo 

 very piclurefque, as the paffagc of this veflel into the dock. 

 She was decorated in the moft fplendid manner by the flags 

 of all nations difplayed in various parts of her rigging. 

 Having come to her moorings at the fir ft ring-bolt-buoy, 

 ihe fired a royal falute, which was anfwered by the fhouts 

 and huzzas of the fpeclators. 



The Echo, a veflel, as we have mentioned above, deeply 

 laden from the Weft Indies, was next towed in. She is a 

 very handfome fhip, and was received with the loudeft ex- 

 preflions of joy. Upon this vefiel reaching her ftation, an- 

 other falute was fired from the Henry Addington, which con- 

 cluded the bufinefs of the docks. In the afternoon the com- 

 pany on board the veffels, and the various proprietors and com- 

 miffioners of the docks, repaired.to the London tavern, where 

 a moft elegant dinner was provided for their entertainment. 



The whole of the fcene muft have been highly gratifying 

 to every well-wifher to the greatnefs of this country. In the 

 fhort fpace of two years, by the energy, the fpirit, the. 

 wealth, and the' perfeverance of individuals, this imperial 

 work, the proof of paft and the pledge of future profperitv, 

 has been begun and almoft finifhed. New facilities to com- 

 merce are thus created from its former acquifitions, and a 

 frefli activity is given to induftry and to enterprife. While 

 property is thus rendered active by liberty, and maintained 

 fecure l>y law (and what other fource has commerce had in 



this 



