merely a reflex of public opinion. But, indeed, it was not then known that your correspondent, with ‘Name-in-full’ was prepared to certify to the professional and scientific merits of the plan proposed, and his ‘fostering care’ would not be withheld! This fostering care, it seems, consists of possessing himself of £100 worth of shares, for which he confidently expects ‘a good return!’ ‘Thank ye for nothing’ I suppose is the appropriate form of thanksgiving in such a case; and as for the value of his opinion on a professional and scientific question, it is the same value as mine – absolutely nil; and if anyone is simple enough to invest even a fourpenny piece upon it, it will only prove the truth of the old proverb ‘A fool and his money are soon parted.’ Your correspondent does not seem to perceive that the possessing himself of a hundred shares put him out of court as a witness to character. No one cries ‘stinking fish’ and, henceforth, like Mr. Hudson, he is bound to make things pleasant. But where are the dividends of this highly remunerative undertaking to come from? I am told that the fishermen think ‘small beer’ of it, and would hardly be induced to make use of the accommodation even if it could be had gratis... I had purposed examining the value of certain other arguments which have been advanced in favour of the harbour, but I must not occupy any more of your space at present.”
A Change of Views. Finding that the apathy of some and the arguments of others of the townspeople were likely to entirely thwart the action of the Harbour Committee, Mr. Hatchard executed a change of front, as will be seen from the following extracts of his next letter to The News:- “Sir, - You will remember that in the first letter I addressed to you from Edinburgh, I said that unless the prospectus announcing the undertaking could show that it would prove profitable to shareholders it would fall to the ground for want of support. Saturday was the first day that my other engagements permitted of my making enquiries about the precise state of affairs on this important question. I admit that I had taken it for granted that those investigations had already been made, without which it is clearly impossible for a scheme of the sort now mooted to stand in favour with the public. I have now another proof before me that it is unwise to take anything for granted in matters of a strictly business character. I find that no announcement of the proposed harbour has been made in official form to either of the railway companies whose lines connect Hastings and St. Leonards with the me-
