The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-07 00:00:00

DWELLING HOUSES FOR THE WORKING

eke ervireofs.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
~dreads Wooled for ..11w Earprow," Landow Evening papa,
wart best the Oman 10, Bouveriaatrest, by Two o'clock on Wm
day of pablicatioa.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
True DA:—Morning, 4h. 15m Afternoon. 4h. 101 n.
To4losanw—llloroing, 4h. 44m Afternoon. Mt. la.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7.

LATEST
NEWS FROM ABROAD

WARSAW, Ma.acit 5.

Prince Mentehikoff has been recalled from the
Crimea. This order had already been given by the
late Emperor. _ .

General Osten Beckon has been entrusted with the
ommand-in-chief of the Crimean Russian army.
General Rudiger has been called to St. Petersburg.
-Daily News.

The weather is rainy.
Large masses of Russians show themselves on the
heights of Balaklava.
On the departure of the courier a heavy cannonade
was going on. _ _ _

The batteries and trenches are completed. The
order to attack is expected.—Daily News.

Weather fine.

SEBASTOPOL, Dm. 21.

Generals Bosquet and Campbell have reconnoitred
the heights of Balaklava, and exchanged shots with
the advanced posts of the Russians, who retired to
Tchernaya precipitately.
General Canrobert has congratulated Omer Pacha
lon the affair of Eupatoria.—Daily NM!.

Later advice@ than the foregoing, received via
Vienna, state that sanguinary combats have taken
' place on the Tehernaya.—.Daily News.

ST. PETERSBURG, TVEIDAY.

A despatch from Prince Mentohikoff pretends that,
on the night of the 24th the Allied troops attacked the
left redoubt of the fortifications in considerable force,
and were repulsed by two regiments, after having sus-
tained a lom of 600 men. He adds that the mining
operations of the Allies are suspended.
Nothing new at Eupatoria up to the 26th.—Daify
News.

CRT SUBMARINS AND BRITISH
VIOL OOR OWN COllll3 SP,

PARIS, WIDNIBDAT MORNING.

. - -
A despatch from Admiral Braat, dated Kamiesch,
Feb. 24, states that the Russians appeared to have
abandoned their positions in front of Eupatoria.
In the night of the 22nd the garrison of
Sebastopol had established important works of
counter-approach, but on the night of the 23rd and
morning of the 24th were compelled to raise them.
The affair reflects the greatest honour upon the
French army. The loss of the latter is said to amount
to 100 wounded.—Daily News.

PARIS, WIDNESDAY MORNING

The Moniteur contains to-day the following:
" In the night of the 24th of February, General
Canrobert gave orders to the Second Division to carry
the important works erected by the enemy on the
*teen which slopes towards the Bay of Carnage.
"This was done in a brilliant manner, and will, if
pale, augment the ascendancy which our armies
have never ceased to show on all occasions over the
enemy.

rs Lb:

" PERA, FIB. 26.

" 1,300 men have arrived from Algeria.
" The weather has again become fine."

TUESDAY.

The Pharamond has arrived from Constant
Feb. 22.

The navigation of the Danube has been re-esta-
blished. Eighty Austrian vessels are loading corn.
Operations in the Crimea are retarded by the snow
and the bad state of the roads. The Constantinople
Journal mentions that the roads are impassable.
It is believed that with the return of the fine wea-
ther Omer Pacha will march against the Russian
army.
The Turkish troops are full of enthusiasm.—Daily
New.

PARIS, TussDAY.

The concert at the Tuileries appointed for the Bth
is put off on account of the death of the Czar. The
Moniteur gives insertion to an extracted article show-
ing that the Germanic confederates must mobilise
their armies, and elect a commander-in-chief, if they

wish to exercise an influence favourable to peace.
Admiral Brut receives the military medal u a testi-
mony of the Emperor's esteem.—Daily Nam

CORFU, FIB. 24.

The 48th is ordered to get ready to embark for the
Crimea. 950 soldiers arrived on the 21st to reinforce
the garrison of the lonian Isles.—Daily News.

VIENNA, TezeDAy.

A general amnesty for political offences is decreed
on the occasion of the acoonohement of the Empress.
—Daily Nom

THE hon. member for Greenock has obtained leave
to bring in a bill to facilitate the erection of dwelling-
houses for the working duns in Scotland. The

accommodation for this class of tenants has been of
late mach diminished by the same cause that has sent
so many thousands of the London poor to seek for
new homes in filthy cellars and garrets—the increase
of public buildings and the carrying out great im-
lprovemenl

its. When, for instance, New Oxford-street
built, the wretched inhabitants migrated by hun-
dreds to those portions of the town where alone
they could expect to find lodgings adapted to

their means. Portland-town may be mentioned
u a notable instance of this progress. This suburb
was already overcrowded by a pauper population,
but the owners of the houses were only too glad to
take advantage of the eagerness of the new-comers
to obtain shelter. The consequence was, that the
houses were more densely filled, the population more
closely packed, and pestilence adopted the spot as a

constant residence. The state of the inhabitants of

this portion of the metropolis is fearful.
To remedy a similar condition of things in Scot-
land, Mr. DUNLOP proposes to remove certain
obstacles which at present stand in the way of the
investment of capital in houses of that descrip-
SEBASTOPOL, FEB. 20. tion which would be adapted to the wants
I and means of the lower classes. The Erg

obstacle is the unlimited liability of parties
engaged in associations for building dwelling-
houses. His proposition is to give limited liability
to such parties under the authority of the sheriffs of
the different counties, who are to approve of the
sanitary regulations adopted, and to see that the
required capital is subscribed. He next proposes to
cheapen the present expensive mode of conveyance
of land where d A elling-houses are to be erected. Of
the other alterations contemplated it is not necessary
to dilate. It may be remarked, however, that all
who spoke on the subject concurred in favour of the
measure, and Mr. CARDWELL promised that the
Government would lend all the aid they could to

make the bill perfect.
Every one must be delighted that there is a
prospect of something being done to diminish the

number of dens of vice and misery in Scotland, and
it is to be hoped, if the measure works well, that its
provisions will be extended to England. That it
will work well if the capitalists can get a good
return for their money is certain. But this
is the sine qua non. Nothing will work well in the
way of commercial speculation unless upon this con-
dition. The removal of legislative restrictions will
do something: • diminution in the cost of erection
will do more. Above all, economy of space will help
the capitalist in his endeavour to keep down ex-
penses. Ground rents form a heavy item in the rent
of a house. The object must be to do as much as
pomible with a plot of land. A mode of effecting
this has been proposed which will necessitate a total
change in many of the arrangements of houses for
the poor in England, and will not be without effect
in Scotland. It has been remarked that the great
difference between the mode of dwelling in England
and in the great continental cities is, that in England
you are separated from your neighbour by vertical
divisions ; on the continent by horizontal divisions.
This remark is applicable in some measure to Scot-
land, more particularly in the dwellings of the poor.
Abroad, they sleep in tiers ; here, we sleep in sepa-
' rate houses. The great disadvantage of our
system is, that there is a separate ground-
rent for every family, except in lodging-houses. But
lodging-houses were built originally for single fami-
lies, and have none of those conveniences which are
required by a number of families residing under one
roof. There is no privacy. The partitions and doors
are thin. One kitchen is common to all, or the bed-
room M turned into a kitchen. Numerous other in-
conveniences subversive of decency and comfort
will occur to the reader. One peculiarity, however,
must be noticed, which relates to the danger from
the. The man who lives in a separate house is
tolerably secure when his next door neighbour's
house is on fire. He has a chance of escape. The
lodger who lives in a room over another which
is. burning has but a slender chance of his
life. This consideration suggested itself to
Messrs. MIIPITCII and WHICIICORD, two engi-
neers, who have devoted much attention to social
questions. In an Essay on the erection of fire-
proof houses in " fiats," they show that such houses
might be constructed at a cost which would tempt
capitalists to invest money in them. These Rate
would be provided each with all the comforts of a
small house. Taking one of their plans, we see a
block of houses which at present prices could be con-
structed for 2,0001., and would produce a rent of 2301.
per annum. There are four stories to a house, each
forming a residence, consisting of a living room, of
considerable dimensions, three bedrooms, a scullery,
and water closet. This would be adapted to the
family of a working man of a superior class, and
the rent would average about 15s. per week, in-
cluding all charges for rates, taxes, gas, water, 8:c.
Another plan shows us a block of houses, each story
of which would be let for 6s. 6d. per week, including
all charges. Other plans aro shown, by which accom-
modation of inferior nature might be afforded to the
poorer classes at 2s. 6d. per week. The great point
to be observed is, that in all the different plans the
capitalist would receive good interest for his money.
If it be objected that the elevation of the upper
stories would be so great as to occasion annoyance,
it may be answered that the continual going up and
down stairs necessitated in a common lodging, where
water and other things are to be fetched, would be
avoided in the flat system. Once in the flat, and you
have all your conveniences on the same floor. That
constant meeting on the stairs between members of
different families, which is such a prolific source of
inconvenience and even immorality, would not take
place in the proposed houses. Even the necessity of
"answering the door" would be done away with, as,
by the means of a "lift," articles could be conveyed
from below to the occupants of the respective floors.
This plan is worthy of consideration, if any large
scheme for the amelioration of the dwellings of the
poor is adopted. If such a scheme is to work well, it
must recommend itself to the notice both of landlord
and tenant. That some such scheme is necessary is
shown by the appalling accounts we are continually
reading of the filth and immorality with which our
common lodging-houses are polluted. Practical men

______„r,
who take an interest in the subject should be urgul
to consider the feasibility of plans like that we hte
just described.— Daily News.

THE ACCESSION OF SARDINIA TO THE
WESTERN ALLIANCE.

(COMMUNICATED TO TILE DAILY NEWS.)
The appearance of Sardinia upon the theatre of the
war has evidently struck alsrm into the Russian
cabinet. The elaborate state paper of M. Nesselrode,
rebuking the house of Savoy is the angry tone of
an offended master, and his appeal to the Alpine
campaigns of Suwarrow, and the cession of Genoa to
Sardinia, shows that a chord has been touched which
has aroused the fears of the court of St. Petersburg.
That court is the more alarmed that Sardinia hoe
made no sign, pledged herself to no territorial
renunciations, and enters, although a minor state,
into the struggle with a prospect of material Adm.
tage. The accession of Sardinia indicates the hatred
which all the smaller states that pretend to
even a show of liberty have to the plans of Russian
universal empire ' • and the note has already been
re-echoed in the discussions which hare arisen in
Holland. That country is evidently preparing to
resist any encroachment of the Northern courts, and
feels that its best interests are involved in the sue.
cm of the Western Powers. It cannot be accused
of entering on this crusade with any feeling of the
religions animosities, which scarcely slumber, be.
tween the Latin and Greek churches; but it is alive
to its situation : and the Dutch people, ever diatin-
guished for their patriotism, cannot be led away by
dynastic sympathies.
But the armaments of Sardinia transferred to the
shores of the Crimea have another significance. They
enter upon a territory once their own, and harbovre
which bear their names. In the tenth century the
Genoese began, through the favour of Michel Paleo.
logos to possess themselves of the commerce of the
Black Sea and the Crimea. At first, rebuilding Wee
and Balaklava as tributaries to the Mongols, they
finally rendered themselves independent. Then the
commerce of Central Asia and India was carried ca
by two routes—one, from the port of Tane or AA
weed through Astrakhan, the Caspian, and the
Oxus ; the other from Sebastopol carried the 'dna
trade by the way of Tauriz and Bagdad.
It is by the possession of the Crimea that Rua
threatens the ultimate annihilation of the trade of
Central Asia—having seized the old entrepots of
this commerce, turned aside the route, and imposed
hostile tariffs at the ports of the Black Sea in he
=ion. In the present struggle she has always
forward to the possible disunion of the Allis,,
and the impossibility of either of the two grist
Western Powers retaining it as a conquest. But the
has overlooked the fact that it might be given to her.
dinia as the representative of the ancient claims of
Genoa. Such a solution of one great difficulty
of the Oriental question is the most vital
blow that Russia has yet received. With the
mouth of the Danube open, and disgorging the
corn of Turkey and of the Danubian principalities--
with a free and active power replacing her sway in
the Crimea, and pouring the cottons of England and
the productions of France and Germany into Central
Asia—Russia feels that the monopoly of Odessa would
be abolished. It is no light object or ephemeral
interest in a general question which can induce a
power, whose existence depends upon the efficiency
of her forces at home, to transport them to a distant
and dangerous war. Neither can two powerfuletatm
leave the enterprise they have undertaken un-
achieved. The preponderance of Russia will be
gone if a second-rate power holds a very tenable
part of her territory, under the guarantee of two
great maritime states; and all the difficulties of
religions discord will bo appeased by placing a power
as Christian as herself—it may be added mots
Christian—on the emporiums of the Black Sea. If
such is not the reason of the expedition of the Sardi.
nian army to the Crimea, it deserves to be. Europe
demands a material territorial guarantee es an
indemnity for the past, and as a security for the
future.