THE PROJECTED BREAKWATER IN MOUNT'S BAY.

THERE is no put of the British shores where a place of shelter for shipping is so much required as on the stormy and iron-bound coast of Cornwall; while it fortunately happens that this very coast affords the

greatest facility for obtaining it. For this purpose Nature herself points out Mount's Bay, a spacious and beautiful inlet near the town of Penzance. The idea of converting the bottom of this bay into a safe harbour and port of refuge, is not an invention of to-day or yes- terday. It was strongly recommended to the Government, first by Admiral CORNWALLIS, and afterwards by Lord St. VINCENT; both of whom, in their public despatches, have pointed out the immense ad- vantages to be derived from this project, and the means of carrying it into effect. The plat) of those great naval commanders was, by form- ing a Breakwater running into the bay, to create a magnificent basin, extensive enough to contain our largest fleets, sheltered from every wind, and capable of being entered ant left at all times ; thus esta- blishing a great naval station at the Western extremity of the kingdom, close to Ireland, and directly opposite to Brest.

A work of such public importance, and so strongly recommended by individuals so highly distinguished and so thoroughly conversant with the subject, would undoubtedly have been long since undertaken by the Government, had it not been for the consideration of expense. In the palmy days of Toryism, it was not on objects of the greatest public good that the public money was most freely bestowed. The Plymouth Breakwater was begun almost a quarter of a century since ; but, so tardy and niggardly have been the supplies from the public purse, that, to this day, the work, important and beneficial as it is, remains unfinished. We have now got a Reformed Parliament, to be sure; and the Mere Whigs say this is all the reform there is any occa•

sion for. Their " final measure," however, has as yet done but little practical good ; mid, so long as there is a party in Parliament strong

enough to insist that the People shall take the means instead of the end, we see small prospeit of any more. So long as we shall have a House of Commons willing to provide ample means for jobbing at the Horse Guards, and in other high places, the most scrupulous economy will be observed in regard to mere purposes of public utility.

We have no hope, therefore, of seeing a speedy accomplishineat of the msgnificent plan of CORNWAI.LIS and St. VINCENT; but it is satisfactory to observe that a material step is about to be made towards it,—a step, too, independent of pecuniary assistance from the Govern- ment. A company has been formed for the purpose of constructing a Breakwater from Peelea Point, in the immediate vicinity of Penzance,

extending about three-quarters of a mile into the sea in the direction St. Michael's Mount, and capable of affording shelter and safe an-

chorage, in all winds and seasons, to about sixteen sail of the line and a numerous fleet of merchant-veseels. This Breakwater will not only be of immense public benefit in the mean time, but its prolongation at any future period would accomplish the grand design contemplated by the above and other distinguished naval authorities. The local facili- ties for executing the work are remarkable. The whole of the Ply- mouth Breakwater is at some distance from the shore ; and it was

necessary, not only to bring the materials a considerable way by laud- carriage, but to convey them in barges to the spot where they were to be used. The Mount's Bay Breakwater is to run from the shore ; and the materials being found in abundance at the very spot, can be

quarried, and carried along the surface of the Breakwater as it proceeds outward, at an expense comparatively trifling. Careful surveys and estimates have been made by engineers of eminence ; from which it

has been ascertained, that the expense of the work cannot exceed 2.50.0001e—a small sum certainly, considering the magnitude of the work and the amount of benefit to be derived from it: and the requi- site preliminary measures have been taken for obtaining an Act during the present session of Parliament.

With the advantages of this undertaking as an object of speculation to the parties engaged in it, the public have no concern further than the incitemest, produced by these advantages, to the completion of a

work of public benefit. Unless it afford a reasonable profit on the capital embarked in it, this capital, it is to be presumed, will not be raised ; for the late eager spirit of speculation seems to be succeeded by a caution approaching perhaps to timidity. The published list of Directors embraces the names of men of known experience in busi. ness, as well as of naval officers of rank, distinction, and thorough

knowledge of their profession ; and it may therefore be presumed that it possesses commercial capabilities as well as public advantages. On the first point we have no occasion to say any thing : they who have embarked, or may embark, their money in the project, will doubtless inquire sharply enough as to its return. These inquiries it would ap- pear, have already been satisfactory to many ; and we may be allowed to hope that their result will produce the means necessary for comple- ting a national work of such importance. Its public benefits are unquestionable ; and of these, the saving of

life and property is the greatest and most obvious. Persons teams. tomed to nautical affairs cannot eves imagine the amount of calamity every teat caused by shipwrecks on out shores; among which, those

which occur in the dangerous navigation of the Channel, and the rugged and stormy coast of Cornwall, are the most frequent and disastrous. Hundreds of vessels have been sated from destruction by finding shelter within the Breakwater at Plymouth ; and hundreds more might avoid a similar fate were shelter to be found in the now open and exposed Mount's Bay. The late dreadful wreck of the Cla. rendon West Indiaman, for example, might thus have been avoided. She endeavoured, without success, to put into Fahnouth as well as Plymouth : had the proposed Breakwater then existed, she could wits ease have reached a place of safety. This single consideration is quite sufficient, we apprehend, to create a general desire for time success of the undertaking. But when con. netted with the proposed extension of the railway system, it presents other advantages of no inconsiderable moment. Railways have been projected, by different parties, which would open a communication be- tween the Metropolis and Falmouth. With the comparative merits of

these different projects we have nothing to do ; but it can hardly be doubted that the Legislature will sanction some railway, or series of

railways, connecting these points ; and the Breakwater Company have themselves undertaken to render this mode of communication available for their project, by extending the line of railway to Penzance. Were a communication thus opened between London and Penzance, the Breakwater would produce other benefits, besides saving life and property from the perils of the sea. The fisheries on the Cornish coast, already considerable, would be greatly increased. The Mount's Bay fishery alone, under all its present disadvantages, gives employ. ment to upwards of three thousand men. They have no shelter for their boats ; and want of market compels them to sell their fish at a very low rate to time crews of French boats which come over every sea- son in great numbers for the purpose of buying fish, which are disposed of at a profit in the French markets. The Breakwater, in conjunc- tion with the railway communication, would remove both these evils. The fisheries, too, would receive un additional impulse from the in.

creased population of Penzance and the neighbourhood of the Break. water ; for this work would in all probability render Mount's Bay the seat of one of the greatest naval artieIG4s in the island. Great bens.

fits world accrue to the trade with the South of France, Spain, Por. tugal, the Mediterranean, and the West Indies ; not only from the comparative safety to the immense quantity of shipping employed in that trade, but from the speedy land-carriage of their perishable car- goes to the metropolis. The American trade would also be benefited by the increased facility of steam navigation. A great obstacle at pre. sent consists in the difficulty of taking in at once u sufficient quantity of cowls to last time whole voyage, and the great expense of coals in London ; but were steamers enabled to furnish themselves, in Mount's Bay, with the excellent and cheap coals, of which there is an inex- haustible supply in the immediate vicinity, they would have more room for their cargoes, and the expense of the voyage would be materially diminished.

This Breakwater is thus evidently an object of great public import. ante. If, like many other national undertakings, it can be accomplished by private enerdand capital, so much the better; but, at all events, it calls for the serious attention of the Government.