CO885(3-4) — Page 118

"

36

which now protects the underland from inroads of the sea, and the wooden piles of which are rotting fast.

And yet, whether Sandy Island can be saved or not, that bulwark is of vital importance.

If the underland be washed away, Heligoland must speedily cease to be very convenient, either for bathers or for fishermen. Some small portion of the eastern beach would, probably, still remain, for a few years longer, where the bathers could barely embark and disembark, if Sandy Island were preserved, but where the fishermen would hardly find room for their boats. My impression is, that all this is very well known and felt, but that the subject of the bulwark ja passed over until the works of Sandy Island shall have been finally decided on.

I will add that I consider the entire preservation of the present underland to be of the greater impor- tance, as, in the event of the possible entire disap- pearance of Sandy Island, it is by the improvement of that underland alone that Heligoland can hope still to attract any bathing visitors.

The church tower has been reported unsafe for the last four years, but its tottering condition has not been represented, because a new tower, which is necessary for the guidance of mariners, would, according to local estimates, cost 5001. or 8001.

I have felt it right to trouble you with my doubts and appreliensions upon these topics because, how- ever erroneous my impression may be, or however imperfectly expressed, they involve financial consi- derations which are sure to press themselves on the attention of Government.

The state of the local treasury, amidst the ineffi- cient and folorn condition of all the establishments of Government, has led all moderate men to admit that the time has come for submitting to taxation. It is true, that the British Admiral to whom the island capitulated, promised that the inhabitants should have no more taxes to pay; but this seems to have been forgotten, or, if it is still remembered, the promise must be felt to have meant the dis- continuance only of taxes to be remitted to the Sovereign. But the demand for taxation, although

• I am not aware whether this promise was made in writing. It is alluded to in the Admiral's despatches as having been made.

To fuer page 36

Sandy

5

The Greatest depth in

this Chanuel ̧ is 31⁄2 Fathom s.

Scale of SenMilas.

C.O.

885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO