The Express.
London, England, 1855-06-14 00:00:00

Yesterday, an event of considerable importance to
the two Millions and a half of consumers of animal food
who dwell within the bills of mortality, was celebrated on
the site so well known to the amateurs in open a'r political
meetings as Copenhagen- fields, but which is henceforward
to be called the Metropolitan Cattle Market. The
struggle for the removal of the Smithfield nuisance has
been long and arduous. Parliamentary committees have
laboured, whole regiments of witnesses have been examined,
and brilliant pens have 'shunted their wit and satire against
it, until at last these combined forces have prevailed even
against the 'telt force of vested interest, and the patients in St.
Bartholomew's Hospital will more be disturbed by
the bellowing of cattle, nor the peaceful foot psseengen of
the Blacklriars-road threatened with those agreeable as-
saults which have so frequently diversified the proceedings
of that locality on market days. Even the cattle themselves
—if they can philosophically forget their ultimate destina-
tion--must appreciate the immense accession of comfort and
enjoyment which will accrue to them from the air, locality
end ample accommodation of the new market. The bat
locks will have room Co stand and lie down;
the sheep will be spared the perpetual worrying
of the drovers' dogs, formerly necessary to make them
eubenit to their other safferisge, and the pigs will indulp
comfortably in those vocal tendencies which were so sadly
cramped and depressed in the narrow, huddled-up pens et
the old market. The public are already aware that the set
for the removal of the market received the royal wont is
1851; since which time the market committee, under the
president of their intelligent chairman, H. L. Taylor, Esq.,
have been indefatigable in their esorti ins to produce that
result of which yesterday's proceedings torn ed the tri-
umphant climax. The first difficulty to be encountered
was, of course, the choice of a site; and after much delibe-
ration, and greet opposition from various parties, the piece
of ground known as Copenhagen delis was selected, as
possessing more of the requisites for a cattle
market than any other available piece of land
sufficiently near the centres of populi.tion. The ele-
tested situation of the ground ensured a healthy
atmosphere for the cattle combined with peculiar facilities
for drainage, while its vicinity to the great lines of railway
by which the supplies of live stock are principally brought
to town, secured those commercial desiderata which must
be ranked as second only to genital y considerations. The
increased distance fec the butchers will scarcely be appre•
ciable as regards the whole of that important community,
as,althotigh thou on the southern • ide of London will have to
drive their smart nags a little farther in the morning than the
more aristocratic brethren in the west, they will find the new
market more accessible than the old. The facilities will be
no doubt further increased be the construction of ii,tramural
railways of which the num'ser of schemes now before
parliament augur the construction at no very distant
day. For the purposes of the market the committee have
purchased in all 75 acres of land, at a cost of about 5001. an
acre, of which one half has been appropriated to the imme-
diate purposes of the market. The form of the new market
lan equiloteral triangle, with an eleven at the western
corner, and it includes within the rails a d space of
fifteen acres and a quarter, capable of course of gradual en-
largement as the demands of the trade may require. Of
this the porcine Imams get one acre, and the calves
another. In the remaining space accommodation is pro-
vided for 34_980 sheep in 1,749 pens,with a reserve for future
' intension. There has been Greeted 13,282 ft. of rail, at which
6,616 bullocks may be tied without those horrible sufferings
which have been so graphically described by Mr. Dickens in
RosieeAola Woras. The calf-market will accommodate
1,428 calves, and the pig market 'JI.IO pigs. The large quan-
tity of ground at the command of the corporation will per-
mit of the enlargement of all these departments as circus-
stances may require, and it has at present been rendered
available, in the providing extensive lairage In which 3,000
oxen and 8,100 sheep may rest thornily and comfortably.
Amongst the buildings are four large depots for hay, and la
nmelise ef abattoir*, which will most probably be liberating
tits the butchers have bad time to accustom themselves W
Ilbe sovelty of the Parisian innovation. Creature °Drams
hem, of course, not been forgotten, but are provided for
by the erection of five public-houses of handsome elevation,
peinsipally occupied by the vintners of old SenithBeld, and
ewe large hotels, of which the lower portions will be divided
off into shops. The centre of the market is occupied by a
clu.ter of buildings, to be appropriated by shops and hems-
ing-houe*, and the whole surmounted Ly a handsome clock
tower, 150 feet in height, from the top of which a market
bell will indicate the times at which each portion of the
traffic is to commence and terminate. The whole, which
has been constructed from the designs of Mr. Bunning, the
City architect, is surrounded by a handsome railing, with
roomy gates of elaborate design, and presents an ensemble
which will entitle our London cattle market to a foremost
place amongst the great food depots of the European capi-
tals. While the decorative features of the market have
thus been so satisfactorily provided for, no less care ha been
taken to render the more utilitarian departments es perfect
as possible. Ample mesas have been provided for the most
perfect drainage, and a peculiar arrangement of the pens
keeps the cattle always is • clean and wholesome state. An
ingenious plan has been devised for the collection
and preservation of the manure, without olfac-
tory offence, and the pigs will be affactod facilities
for standing in that peculiar position which their natural
guardians consider best adapted to set off their obese braces
to advantage. Toe electric telegraph has not been forgotten
amongst the various improvements, but will have so office
in the centre cluster of buildings, from which instantaneous
information can always be sent to the various grazing dis-
triete as to the fiactuations of the market. Token altogether,
whether we consider the site chosen, the general design, or
the completeness of the various details, it must be admitted
that the new metropolitan cattle market reflects high credit
on all the parties who have been concerned in its erection.
The inaegaration took place yesterday, under the most
auspicious circumstances. His Royal Highness Prieto
Albert, who is known to take the deepest interest in agri-
cultural matters, and who is himself one of our most sucrose-
fel cattle-breeders, having recently won the first prize at
the Paris exhibition, presided, supported by the Lord Mayor
and the whole of the Corporation, a large circle of distin-
guished personages, and numbers of provincial mayors in
their official robes. A spacious marquee had been erected
by Mr. Benjamin Edgington on one side of the market,
capable of accommodating 1,700 persons, and the decorative
skill of Mr. Fenton had been called in to supply
it with appropriate decorations. Amongst them we recog-
nised the medallions which ornamented the Guildhall on the
occasion of the Emperor's visit, and in addition fanciful de
signs of ploughs, sickles, scythes, and other agricultural
implements. The armorial bearings of the great grazing
cenettes were prominently displayed, as also those of the
fudge' countries from +hob of late years we have, thanks
to hoe trade, drawn such abundant supplies of cattle ; and
• re tent, the various supporting poles were
delMelitall with trophies, in which the Union Jack and the
beim* Uri-colour were tastefully intermingled. Music was
iltelfffided by the bends of the Caledonian sod Chelsea day.
, WWI and Foundling Hospital, and tbe performance of
Ofejlawnile artists was highly creditable both to themselves
smite their teachers. Messrs. Staples, of the Albion, fur-
nished the long tables with a repast at once substantial and
elegant, which was partaken of by considerably upwards of
I.OXI vnitors. Tb• CAnnzon Council arrived early in an
iniendog tor ege of 47 carriages, supplied by Ur. Wragge, of
Finsbury, and immediately took charge of the arrange.
masts, carrying them out with the greatest efficiency, and
exhibiting a mast praiseworthy sell-denial while attending
to the comforts of their visitors. Amongst these gentlemen
Mr. De Jersey was conspicuous for the obliging manner MI
which he afforded every possible facility to the representa-
tive' of the public press.
At one o'clock the Lord Mayor and Corporation proceeded
to the prthapal entrance of the market, to receive WILLI.
Prince Albert, who was attended by several persons of dis-
tinction sad a numerous suite, when a cortege was formed,
which iroceeded slowly round the market, amid the cheers
of the vast concourse of well.dreseed persona that filled the
area. Having inspected the arrangements, as minutely as
time would permit, the whole of the distinguished party re-
paired to the pavilion, in the upper end of which a
spacious tetrad • had been reserved, upon which
was placed the magnificent chair of state re-
cently used at the Guildhall. On arriving here his Royal
Highness stood in front of the chair, and a semicircle of the
civic functionaries having bees teemed, the Recorder pro-
ended to read the following eddress
" To his Boyd_ 111/fLbless Priem Albert.
" May it please yes,ReOMMllters,—Welism Majesty's
dutiful sad loyal slaloms, IR, Lied Mayer, ffil&ruses, and
Orenmets of the City of lambs. In Noma Council as.
ambled, desire, by the weenies
limasme a seer gretilsie,
M meetly to your Royal iiisteises seawall* we set*
boo Is per presises proem ea Ilb esolea. TM yes.
ametiellt of tide ere of deep kiwis* sod topselmese se
the pest of the useisepsile, sad to the emery
These costly sad entemdve marks have been On-
ly the Corporation of the City of London In ask-
woe lathe tics* of tha national legislature, mil shier
• seem sense of the res=ibility accompanying therms,
SIMI foss madded to their fellow titian.. If the
toesehr ef the ebb(
beatify shell be marketet to this new end
spans it will not only have se.
mewed ea preset of impish* boss the charMitir
he easiest site, bat will she have meads' braille
sees the semiotics of this wee espital„ es well as es Ns
isspereest heesehes of war Wised Wintry
who ese
essermsl is sappiples with Imd tbe 'osmosis=
its inbsbillents es/ the ereestless ssiebees
Is the Minim IBS prosperity of eh doses d ber
&abysses per &yet Mishima bee lamp =IV
warmest sod most sedge latereet, ma we lesser Mlles
mere likely le sews seam to this re* sehrisbles thee
the sanction and eallieriglimest &tusk* la Is
by the illastriou esmert. el the geese. 47=
humbly rejoice lad appartanity thee gime to as of well-
easels, year Royighsees es this spot, mad
eel beeetfsit petite& for year Royal Iligbeiresesi=
seer shi of sesilsetieg rawest seessisamsaimpodd