The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-01 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

At the ordinary meeting of the Society of Arts
last evening, JOHN ticorr Ruesem.,F.R.B., vice-president,
in the chair, the paper read was "On the chalk strata
coasidered as a source for the supply of water to the me-
tropolis," by Mr. 8. C. Homenhazo, M. Inst., C.B. The
author commenced by stating that in many districts of
, Great Britain, whoa the soil rests upon clay, millstone, or
other matter impermeable to water grit, it is usual to collect
the water flowing off the ground after heavy rains in very
large reservoirs, to supply canals and towns. Such a
it exists in the valley of the Brent, situated about
51 miles in a north-westerly direction fruin Cumberland-
gate, Hyde-park, and is used to store the superabundant
rain-water fl awing eft an extensive district of the London clay
geological formation, the surface of which is principally co.
vered with grass. On the other hand,where the soil rests upon
chalk as on the Chiltern ridge, and the North Downs, the
heaviest rain, instead of flowing off, sinks into the ground
directly it falls, giving back little to support vegetation, as
is evident when the luxuriant vegetation on the London
clay is compared with the scanty vegetation on the chalk
downs. The notoriously moist character of the air over a
clay district, and the dry character of the air over a chalk
district, were instanced as familiar proofs that but little of
the rain-fall was evaporated from the surface of a chalk
country, compared with a clay country. The author
showed that while on a clay district 2,000 yards in length of
stream and river courses existed per square mile, to say
nothing of great lengths of drains and ditches, an the
chalk there was only 780 yards of stream and
river MIMS and no drains or ditches. The bridges
crossing clay streams were shown from numerous examples
to have from five to tea times as much water way as bridges
crossing chalk streams, notwithstanding the Wily bridges
were frequently choked with water, while the chalk bridges
were nearly fall. The author stated that the amount
of water flowing down clay streams fed by a large area of
drainage ground was larger in dry weather than from a
chalk stream with a similar area of drainage. As much as
200 square miles of chalk country lying altogether was
pointed out to the north of London without a spring, stream,
or river upon it. From these well authenticated facts it fol.
lowed that the rain sank into the chalk and flowed out
through the interstices between the planes of stratification
that lead direct to the sea. The water was traced between
high and low tide flowing into the sea up through the beach
where the chalk was exposed, as at Dover, Deal, Brighton,
&c. The proposal of the author was that before the water
reached the sea it should be intercepted for the supply of
the metropolis, for which it is well adapted, from its even
and agreeable temperature, its clearness its aerator., and
freedom from organic matter. The only drawback to its
quality in this respect consisted in the water holding in
invisible solution about 171 grains of chalk per gallon, as'
bicarbonate of lime ; this chalk, however, could be easily
withdrawn from the water by a process invented by Dr.
Clark, cf Aberdeen, without injuring the other good quali-
ties of the water. The author had lately constructed
works that were now aupplyisg the important parishes of
Plumstead, Woolwich, and Charlton with water derived
from the ehslk strata, after having the chalk taken out of it
by Dr. Clark's process. The water is much liked by the
consumers for all purposes—washing, bathing, and drink-
ing. Practically au inexhaustible supply of pure soft water
is thus within the reach of the metropolis.
It was announced that there would be a special meeting
on the evening of Fri lay next to discus the proposed con-
gress at Paris next spring in reference to the improvement
of international commercial law; also that the society's
seventh annual exhibition of inventions would be opened
on Monday, the 2nd of April, (or which the assistance of the
members and their friends was asked in procuring speci-
mens, models, and drawings of the invention'', whether
patented, registered, or net, of the past twelve months.

CITY OP LONDON LYING-IN 1108PITAL.—Yester-
day the usual half-yearly meeting of the governors of this
institution (foundel a century ago for the benefit of the
wives of soldiers, sailors, end mechanics) was held at the
hospital, City-road; Sir J. Tyler in the chair. The simnel
return of patients showed that daring the past year, 468
poor women were attended in the hospital, being an in•
CMS@ of 112 over the previous year. The committee had
been obliged to borrow 1001. of the bankers, in order to
defray the current expellees. but 791. having been received
from a leper, bequeathed by the late Mrs. Laugher, the
loon bad been repaid. Up to the present period 41,615
patients bad been relieved; and, in order to alleviate spe-
cial eases of distress, a Samaritan Fund had been attached
to the hospital, but so limited were the resources of the in-
stitution, that the committee ware only able to distribute
51. a year ; and they therefore earnestly appealed for fur-
ther support. The receipts had amounted to 2,0051. 12e.,
and the expenditure to 1,899/. 3s. 7d., leaving at the
banker's a balance of 1081. 8.. 6d.
_

Tut WEATHER—The cold at Turin has increased
to en unprecedented degree. On the 26th the thermometer
of Reaumar masked 121 dames (3.8 Fahrenheit).
COBH AND BANDON RAll.WAY.—Betitat of traffic
for the week ending Jan. 27, 1666, 1961. 18e, U. TraSe
he wreoptelding week hut par, 1711.65. Pd.