The Express.
London, England, 1856-11-14 00:00:00

the water consumed in certain parts of the metropolis.]
In some districts it was a liquid poison that was
pumped through the water mains, developing with
awful rapidity the germs of cholera; and so certain and
fatal were its effects that the course of the disuse
might be predicated almost infallibly when the source
of the water-supply was known. Those hours
supplied by the Lambeth Company, for instance
might have been marked with a red cross as pier's-
smitten, with slight risk of error, even before any
premonitory symptoms declared themselves. It was
as fatal as the defective drainage. But it was not
even sate to rely on water drawn from the pumps.
In several instances the fluid, though bright and
sparkling to the eye, and grateful to the palate from
its refreshing coolness, was charged with a subtle
poison derived from infiltration from sewers, and
even from adjacent graveyards. The terrible effects
arising from the use of such water were clearly
shown by the awful mortality in the vicinity of
Golden-square.

It having been clearly demonstrated that the im-
pure and defective water supply had greatly aggra-
vated the rate of mortality and the spread of cholera,
the attention of the public and of the Legislature was
fairly sued, and the Metropolis Water Act of 1862
was passed. One company had previously drawn its
supply from the river at Lambeth, others at Batter-
sea; mid the water in all these cams was found to
contain from 2k to 3 grabs per gallon of organic
matter, furnishing by its decomposition soluble com-
pounds of a highly deleterious character, and
iocapable of reparation by mechanical means-
The new Act compelled all companies deriving their
supply from the Thames to take it from some point
higher up the stream than Teddington-lock, to filter
it, and to cover in the reservoirs where they were
situated within five miles from Bt. Paul's. This
latter precaution wee taken in order to avoid the
effects of the tendency which water has to absorb the
various gases and organic particles floating in the
atmosphere; and with a like view a constant supply
was insisted on after 1867, to prevent the ill effects
arising from the use of water stored in butts and
elates' in crowded or unwholesome neighbourhoods.
Vast works have consequently been undertaken by
the various Companies, and are far advanced towards
aempletion. So far as regards the organic matter in
suspension, the successful result ham been very
marked, the proportion contained in the Grand
Junction water being reduced from above three grains
per gallon to les than one and a half; that of some
other Companies in a still greater proportion.
Before the passing of the Act the various Compa-
nies bad laid down 1,078 miles of pipes, and their
total works had cost 4,819,9094; but in 1868 the
length of mains and branches had inroad to 2,088
miles, many miles of which consist of norms' taboo
hos two to three het in diameter. Engines of greats
power have been erected, some having cylinders
of six feet in diameter and capable of delivering
a stream of water at from 200 to 300 feet
above high-water mark. The number of houses
supplied has increased to 328,581 out of 340,000 in-
cluded within the Registrar-General's district, and the
quantity of water furnished daily to theme bosses
amounts to 81,925,842 gallons. Bat suck an array
of millioss of gallons in figures convert So dear idea
of its vast quantity, and it will perhaps be roan caw
prehesiblein soother hem. A cistern large enough
to hold use day's supply of water for London weld
be a square meal 236 feet in height, breadth, sad
depth; in other words, a cube of that dimension on
every side. In such a vessel the Monument of Lon-
don might be placed upright, sad the tersest point
of its brans head would be several het below the
serfs:sof the water. Yon might sink a lineof-hattle
ship in soh a cistern without leaving the main truck
visible.

Bat the met of all Wee additional works is some-
thing serious, and makes itself felt by every consumer
of water. Is addition to the 4,819,9991. impeded
tifOre the bill passed, an outlay vi 2,282,6244 has
II been 5188 ianTred: ;making tile tow wet of the
contrivances ft: supplyiag London with water
7,102,8234 Of this ram probably one-third might
have been saved by the adoption of a jadicioas
system daring the lest citatory at a greater oast than
was originally Warred, doubtless, but *ith vast
ultimate sosmay. How much has been expended
in ruinous rivalry and litigation ? How many
mains have been laid down at vest expense
where sufficient facilities, it properly employed,
already existed ? Bat although it is too late
to remedy the evil, it may at lerra serve as a warn.
iog in the great sewage question, inducing the public
to look a little farther than the present moment, and
to bear in mind that they mad their descendants are
Eddied with a perpetual interest to pay on some two
maim sterling, bemuse their immediate forefathers
had midst the wisdom nor public spirit to take a
Imp ihir at so imporaant a question as the water
emir. Nor have we yet beard the last wad es the
*lest. The water is oar cisterns is poet and
dosser then of old, bat there is no ground he
lmlieviag that until sense means are devised ef
'Wising the sewage, ands° obviating the neesesity et
faheniag the tributary streams by °mooning them
lab sowers, the Londoners will be free from fiat
oast insidious, of all dangers, thew of water,'
pre to the eye, bat oostaising nazis elements the
es,steeoe of which are only shown too late, sad
whose powers are only developed fully under aortal'
favourable circumstances.

(From a Weet-itsd Cornepoadeet.)—Coant Pev-
a:Use: wet yet had an interview with Lord
rive his retern. The Cheat, however,
expeenee himself soddently ttst the betreetioes
which he les beenght ewe ass d a Wen te Mere
the accord of the Owe Wieser. TM pada memo
of those ialtraetiewe I have wet ben ebb to learn i
but I an idled to believe that Yams Wien to
sopped the &OM view of the Beignid quotient
provided Newlead will sapiens la the premed
mica of the Priaapalitin.

The Macaw et tk•Paellequee eeksewledgee the
rimieipt et the mead ball of • 101. mete as ptymeat tee
izeosawtas weeelled kw teem " • Beettelee;" ales, of the
hat \elf of a iR aide due for reperty-taz Mean to pay
is say ether wey. The eieaceller et the Bashequer
askeowledgee the nee* of ChM Tern per Got
Steak Coupe. he IL 10e ea meow of espied laseuse•tas,
hem " Cereals L," tee lie tint halves et ease te the
menet et 401. ler leepoese-tae, trees " W. W."

Is a praline to this digit edition of hi.o Hinny
of Civillanna Is Pewee sad Nampo," just published, M.
Onset Noakes the fellowisg penesslon of his faith la the
prianples .f nankatleaal inseams' :—" I an one of
time who whoa felled from endless selltalle to a non agi
mud new, looked to lad is motion politico a harmony
between the ten prlooiples of libeity aid authority—• has-
nosy Is tho midst of thole Write—ea oyes, avowed strife, but
regulated sad nallsed withia a legal anon. Was It but
• dreamt Or wee It an of those read read legitimate at.
Ignition of hannaity which nut be dearly bought, white
ears than ease dales the grasp whoa It wens einalaly
within nu nook bet which Is nalind at last wiles fin,
the Judp ems, shall think that they have mined thew
selves worthy of oho pens ? ribs tante will tell an Mesa.
width I pullet la Waling not the goad sene—the eases
of Christi's sad laroposa entlinnea—lies that way. Pot
no, duty sad nem Used no to main faithful to that
cause."

M. Foremad de Lwoopo, who:ohm taken as active 1
Met la sadosvounai to mulish assail emu tie Wines
of Saw Ws !Ms IS Wodasoasy J. Alealiodik.

Tel rtespds• of M. Possird at the Prue Ass-
lany lass boa lasilts, Thassasy, Dee.