C H H N I C L E. 



3^9 



tlned to the honour of being the 

 lirst to enter this noble work, be- 

 gan to dress herself in her most 

 splendid style. At half past ten 

 this business vas completed, and 

 she displayed 57 different flags, be- 

 ing the trading colours of every port 

 and nation expected to use this 

 dock, and store their merchandize 

 hi the depositories prepared for 

 their reception. In this number 

 ■were observed the following : the 

 flags of the East-India company 

 upon the bowsprit ; of the West- 

 India company upon the yard-arm; 

 American colours ; Russia, Prussia, 

 Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Na- 

 ples, &c. upon the starboard ; 

 Malta, Sardinia, &c. larboard. At 

 11, three boats from the shore, 

 with the band belonging to the 1st 

 regiment of royal London volun- 

 teers, came on board. Being seated 

 in the boat, they continued playing 

 loyal airs. About the same time, 

 captain Walton and captain Owen, 

 principal dockers, went on board, 

 and gave captain Stoude, the master 

 of the vessel, the necessary instruc- 

 tions for the ceremony, and accom- 

 modation of the company invited. 

 The vessel was the London Packet 

 fa beautiful two masted vessel, laden 

 with wine, from Oporto ; and the 

 company being on board, she pro- 

 ceeded, under the care of Mr. 

 Marshall, the river pilot, to the en- 

 trance of the outer lock, where he 

 quitted her, and captains Walton, 

 Owen, and Iluddart took charge 

 of her. The swivel-bridge was 

 thrown open, with the assistance of 

 eight men only, at 12 o'clock, and 

 atone she entered the lock leading 

 from the rivt^r to the entrance ba- 

 sin. On board were Mr. Rennie, 

 the engineer, under whom these a- 

 mazing works have been construct- 



ed, and a large party of noblemen. 



ladies. 



and gentlemen. 



Several 



guns were, at the same time, fired 

 by the ships to welcome the event. 

 The London Packet proceeded ma- 

 jestically across the entrance basin ; 

 and, at 25 minutes past one, entered 

 the great dock ; the immense con- 

 course of spectators, who lined the 

 banks of the locks and docks, sa- 

 luting her with nine huzzas.. Im- 

 mediately on her entering the dock, 

 the band on board struck up " Rule 

 Britannia." She was towed along 

 the north bank of the dock, to the 

 upper or north-east corner, where 

 she was, about two o'clock, moored 

 for the purpose of unloading her 

 cargo. About three o'clock it was 

 high water, and the tide flowed 22 

 feet above the cil of the outer lock. 

 Among the company upon the quays 

 were, the duke of St. Albans, earl 

 Temple, the Portuguese and Hano- 

 verian ambassadors, sir Andrew 

 Hammond, sir J. B. Warren, al- 

 dermen Le Mesurier and Rowcroft, 

 the directors, &c. The dock was 

 nearly covered with a thin ice, the 

 cold being intense, and a consider- 

 able fall of snow or sleet at the same 

 time, together with the miserably 

 dirty state of the banks of the 

 docks, for want of pavement ; all 

 these circumstances contributed to 

 lessen the effect and the pleasure of 

 this truly gratifying scene. Ropes 

 were previously laid across the 

 dock, for towing the ship to the 

 opposite bank, where she was 

 greeted by the huzzas of an immens^ 

 concourse of sj)ectators of the most 

 respectable class. The band of the 

 East- India volunteers was stationed 

 there, and played several excellent 

 and ap])ropriate pieces of music. 



A young man, the same day, fell 

 down off the kirb, ia Thamcs.street>, 



A a 4 nearly 



