The Press.
London, England, 1856-11-22 00:00:00

glttroDolitan.

AT ♦ GENERAL MEETING of the Law Amendment
Society, held on Monday evening, Lord Brou gbam
presided. The noble and learned lord looked re-
markably well. He said he wished to bring a sub-
ject of considerable importance before the society :
Ho had been informed by Lord Lyndhurst that it was
not the intention of the Government to proceed during
the next session of Parliament with Sir Fitzroy Kelly's
measure in reference to the Ecclesiastical Courts. This
was a subject of much regret to his lordship, inasmuch as
it was to be feared that tiny new measure to be propounded
by the Government would be 11-.±sa effective than that which
it would supersede. He had been in correspondence with
Sir Fitzroy Kelly on the subject, and the council of the
society had passed a resolution that it should be referred to
a committee to consider and report thereon.
His lordship moved that that resolution be confirmed
by the meeting. This was agreed to, and the com-
mittee formed accordingly. Other subjects were
discussed, and the meeting adjourned.

SATtTRDAY,

A LECTURE ON METROPOLITAN SANITARY REFORM
was delivered on Tuesday evening at the Polytechnic
Institution, by Mr. John Leslie, representative of the
parish of St. George, at the " Metropolitan Board of
Works." After a brief introductory sketch of the
comparative mortality of the metropolis and the
want of a system of complete drainage, the lecturer
proceeded to show that in carrying out such a
system the point to be attained was so to convey
away the sewage as to prevent its flowing into the
river near London. He then described the system
proposed by the Board of Works, and combated the
interpretation by which the rain water would be
included under the head of sewage, and would be
carried away by the same conduits. This would in-
volve an immense amount of unnecessary expense,
and would be a departure from the course of nature,
which was, that the water courses should flow into
and replenish the river. He would have the surface
water conveyed into the river as in the natural
course, and the sewage, consisting of excreta and
other matter, should be conveyed by a proposed canal
from Putney to Sea Reach, a distance of thirty•five
miles. He mentioned as one of the obstacles in
their way the difficulty that arose from the question
of sewage manure. He expressed a strong objection
to pumping-houses, which he said would become a
nuisance and an abomination ; whereas the board
were strictly bound not to create any nuisance what-
ever. A second obstacle in the way of the board was
the proposal of embanking the river. He warned
them that the embankment of the river would have
the effect of checking the upward tide, and would be
highly injurious to the navigation. It had been done
with the river Clyde, and it had ultimately been
found necessary to undo it by putting the embank-
ments back to the original width of the channel.
Mr. Leslie will repeat the lecture on Tuesday even-
ing next.
A STATUE to the memory of Captain Coram,
founder of the Foundling Hospital, was placed, on
Monday last, on the stone structure in the centre of
the entrance gates. The work is by Mr. William
Calder Marshall, R.A., and the expense of it has
been defrayed by private subscription. The figure,
which admirably represents the philanthropist, as
banded down to us by Hogarth, is eight feet high ;
and, besides being a just, though tardy, compliment
to so good a man, will relieve the monotony of a line
of low buildings hitherto offensive to the architectural
eye. The uncovering of the statue was followed by
Handel's anthem of "He delivered the poor that
cried," and the National Anth Im, accompanied by
the juvenile hand of the hospital. The children
were the vocalists.

THE NEW ENTRANCE TO ST. JAMES'S-PARK, from
Pall-mall by Marlborough-house, was permanently
opened on Monday, and the following notice issued
by order of the Duke of Cambridge :
Ordered, that private carriages and hackney cabs only be
permitted to pass through these gates, and proceed through
the park to the gates at Buckingham Palace.
Nov., 1856. (Signed) GEORGE, Ranger.
The thoroughfare to and from Belgravia and Pira-
tic° through the park will now be free day and night.
DR. TAIT was duly confirmed as Bishop of London
at Bow Church, on Thursday, with the usual cere-
monies. Two religious ceremonies yet remain to
be performed in order to constitute Dr. Tait a bishop
of the diocese of London. He has first to be con-
secrated—a ceremony which usually takes place in
the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, and is performed by
the Archbishop, assisted by two other bishops. After
this the bishop elect has to be enthroned in the
cathedral church of St. Paul. He will then be in-
troduced to the Queen. and subsequently take his
seat in the House of Lords. The Rev. G. E. L.
Cotton, Master of Marlborough College, has been
appointed to nreach the sermon at the consecration
of the Lord Bishop of London elect, in Whitehall
Chapel, on Sunday next, November 23.
A SERIOUS FIRE occurred on Benet's Doctors%
commons, on Thursday evening, soon after nine
The extensive warehouse of Messrs. Hodgkinson
and Rolls, stationers, was burnt to the ground. The
private residences of Dr. Spinks and Mr. Oakley
were more or less injured by fire and water.
MR. RYAN, the master of Marylebone Workhouse,
who has lately obtained a certain notoriety in con-
nection with flogging the women, has tendered his
resignation, which the directors of the union, after
a long contest with the Poor-Law Board upon the
point, have at length accepted.

THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS and Sir
Benjamin Hall on Thursday discussed the drainage
scheme. Sir Benjamin Hall disclaimed any desire
to interfere unnecessarily with the board, but im•
pressed upon the members the necessity of very
speedily deciding upon some definite plan in ao•
cordance with the act. The outfall was the main
noint to consider. It must not, as in plan B, come
4• at or near the metropolis." if it should be deemed
advisable and finally determined to carry the sewage
further from the metropolis than the point abso-
lutely necessary for the object of the act and for the
purposes of the metropolis itself, he did not think

NOVEMBER 22, 1856.

the inhabitants of the metropolis should be required
to enter into that extra expenditure. When the
plan was suomitted to him he should submit it to
the opinion of one or two of the most eminent
engineers. Sir B. Hall then read a letter from
Captain Burstall, who, after experiment with the
tides, suggested that the outfall should not be made
nearer London than at or opposite to Rainham
Creek. Sir Benjamin Hall expressed himself satis-
fied with th►s outfall, and begged the board speedily to
decide on the capacity of this reservoirs.
THE SOCIETY OF ARTS hold its first evening
meeting on Wednesday. Colonel Sykes delivered an
eloquent add►ess on the occasion. The meeting was
very fully attended.

TWO WOMEN AND A CHILD WERE DROWNED in
Duckett's Canal, Hackney, on Monday evening during
the fog.
A DEPUTATION OF HOUSEHOLDERS FROM PAD-
DINGTON waited on Sir George Grey at the Home-
office on Tuesday to request, on account of the exten-
sion of burglaries, an increase of the police force in
Pa dington. Sir George Grey promised to give
immediate attentien to the subject.

THE CHRISTMAS CATTLE SHow of the Smithfield
Club for 1851$ is appointad to take place at the
Baker-street Bazaar on the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th
of December. The Birmingham Show will this year
take place before the metropolitan.
AN AMUSING SCENE occurred at St. Paul's,
Knightsbridge, last Sunday. Soon after service com-
menced the fog became so thick that lights were
necessary. Mr. Westerton, the notoriously zealous
churchwarden, ordered the beadle to light the gas-
burners in the chancel. This was done. The Rev.
Mr. Liddell then ordered the bea Ila to light the
candles on the altar. This was done ; whereupon
Mr. Westerton, we are told, " felt himself called upon
to act," and, watching his opportunity, while Mr.
Liddell was on his knees chanting the Litany, he
( Mr. Westerton), who appears to have been paying
more attention to his principles than his prayers,
slipped out of his pew, and, with keen eye and
stealthy step, ascended the chancel, entered the
vestry, took down the extinguisher, and, coming out,
crept up to the altar, slily put out the candles, and
then returned to his pew with a strong sense of self-
satisfaction at having vindicated the principles of
Protestantism. But his self glorification was shortly
to be as easily put out as the candles. No
sooner was the Litany concluded than Mr. Liddell,
followed by one of his curates, darted into the vestry,
an I quickly reappearing with a lighted candle, took
ih ! large candles down off the altar and deliberately
re-lighted them. Mr. Westerton looked on and —then
meekly joined in the hymn.
THE ANNUAL GERMAN FAIR has this year been
opened at the Portland Gallery, opposite the Poly•
technic, instead of at the Portland Bazaar. The
display of Christmas trees, bon-bons, and toys is
unusually brilliant.

A MAGNIFICENT NEW ORGAN has been erected at
Lincoln's-inn Chapel, through the liberality of the
benchers. About eight months have been occu-
pied in its construction. It was used for the
first time on Sunday, when the organist showed its
full powers by pla3ing, long and intricate pieces
before and after morning and afternoon services.
Indeed, he found it difficult to " play out" the con-
gregation in the afternoon, more than fifty persons
persisting in remaining in the chapel to listen to his
management of this powerful instrument. Vice-
Chancellor Stuart and Lord Justice Knight-Bruce
were present at the services on Sunday.
THE FIRST COURT OF ALDERMEN in the present
mayorality was held on Tuesday. The Lord Mayor,
upon taking his seat, in a few words expressed his
most ardent desire so to comport himself as at ail
times to give satisfaction not only to the court but
to the citizens of London at large :

I trust (said his lordship) that the business of the court
will invariably be conducted with regularity and decorum,
and I fully rely upon your cordial support and cooperation
to aid me in the discharge of the duties of my office.
Sir Peter Laurie then proposed a vote of thanks to
the late Lord Mayor•. The motion was seconded
by Alderman Farebrother, and after an eloquent
address delivered by Alderman Wire, the motion
was put and unanimously carried.
TEE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S RETURNS for the week
show an increased mortality. The deaths have risen
from 1,006 in the preceding week to 1,090. This
rate is, however, still below the average. 1,555 births
were registered.