Mr. Plimsoll, in a letter to the Times of Wednesday,
says that a single telegram from the British Government to the Consuls and Vice-Consuls, authorising them to spend 12 2s. on the proper inspection of each grain-loaded vessel, is all that is needed "to make the Act of 1875 virtually operative, and so to save many many lives ; the neglect of this will consign them to a watery grave,"—and Mr. Plimsoll shows conclusively that this will pro- bably be so. The Times cordially supports his proposal, and assures Lord Derby that Parliament would at once grant him an indemnity for the responsibility involved in taking such a step ; and the Times only expresses the opinion of the whole nation on this head. Without proper inspection, the mode of fulfilling the provisions of the Act varies so much with different ships, that in many cases the Act is inoperative.
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