The Express.
London, England, 1848-09-01 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 1, 1848.

ebe Court.

OeBORRE, TIIURSDAT.—The Quecn Downey, so-
rennpanied by the Princesses of Hohenloheforst,
paid a wish yesterday to her Majesty, e 0 borne—The
royal dinner party yesterday included the Minitel, of IL-tat,
Lady A M. llaweon, the Prieee L-weenstt in, and Chevalier
Bunseo —The Countess of adoshorougn arrivei at 01.
borne, yesterday, as Lady in Wsiting to the Queen.—The
Duchess of Norfolk Jett lot Londou.—The Chevalier Bunsen
and Prince Lowenstein sl'n tnened to town this day.

Lord and Lady J. Russell It ft town yesterday
moralist for Bangor, en route to MAUR.
Mr. 'fidd Pratt and Mr. J. Higham bad an inter-
view with the Chancella of the Exchequer yesterday, in
Downion•str, et.
Mr. J. Butler and a deputation, on behalf of certain
of the itlabiumts of Reath's* k, uppaing eatersion of the
powers of the linith Coast Railway Company so far as relate
to th- eniargentent of the terminus at Lmlon-hridge, hal
an fnterobew with the commissioners of railways yesterday,
at the Lela, of the Board of Trade. Mr. Patina had also
an int.rview yesterday with the commissioners of railways.
The Chairman of the Excise had interviews yester-
day with Earl Granville, at the office of the Board of Trade,
and also with the Chanc.llor of the En hequer.
Despatees front the Governors of the North Ame-
rican co oohs were tee( level yes•erday at the Colonial oifl-e.
Mr. John Thornton, Deputy Chairman of the
Stamps and Taxes, had au Udell tew yesterday with the
(Attract nor uf the 'exchequer.

THE PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT 1$ DETINI-
TITZLT FIXED for Tuesday Lest. the Lord High Chamber
Lin having iaeurd his ord re for the usual preparation/ to
be made fur thu reception of her Majraty on that day.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNION OF SEWERS. I
Yesterday a court of semen wee held at the House
of Consumes, at which were prevent—Lard Morpeth (in the
attic), E. UMW*lrk, '&q., Dr. 8 enthwood Smith, the Dean I
of Westminster, the Bev. Mr. Stone, and other commis-
amen.
Lord Moarwra stated that, before the regular betimes, '
he would wash to oaks one or two observations on their put
proceedings, as a bill foe consolidating and extending the '
powers of the metropolitan co:minion of sewers which
would enable them to proceed with the works of sanitary im-
prorcment with economy, convenience, and efficiency, had
now eassed both MAWS of Parliament; and he wandered
' that the tact of that bill having weed without the shadow
of opposition was a teat tribute to the seal and ability with
which the present COliiililei `sera had during their seven
months of office discharged the duties Intrusted to them. He
had desired that a statement snould be made out of their
proceedings, of which the foltewine are the principal points
The commiesioners at once and throughout the whole of
Use districts stopped the current expenditure on works which
had been proved to be false in principle and worse than
wastetul of money. They speedily put an tad to the Imre
per system of mixing up private prof, asional practice with
the public service, and resolved, that every paid officer should
give his whole doe to his public duties, and by consolidating
the executive machinery of paid officers for ell the districts
they increased the aviu.able force at a diminished rate of ex.
pease. They are, however, tensible of the additional labours
they have tureen upon some of these officers, and of the seal
and ability with which they have been performed, and it
will be their wish that these circumstances should not be per-
manently left out of consideration. On the very first day
that they assembled--namely, on the 6th of December, they
took steps to obtain an authentic and accurate surv, y of the
whole of the metropolis on one uniform plan, to put a stop to
the waste which had been incurred by works earned
on ie separate districts without regard to any common system
of levels. Tha commissioners regr t that they have had to
expend much time in overcoming difficulties in the way of
this work, which was not effectively commenced until the
beginning of June. Upwards of 26J men are now
in it, and it is going forward with satisfactory speed. he
new act, now about to Cane into force, will give authority
for completion it fully, and for engraving it on such scales as
to be applicable to other important purposes, private as well
as public. It will then be a valuable aid in ell new build-
ings; it will serve for the identification and valuation of
property and for the equal assessment of rates, for the con-
strut:Glow of roads, for the distribution of water and gas, and
for other public objects. In the suburban districts it will
facilitate land drainage and agricultural improvements.
Until this work is completed the commis-ioners will not be
able to decide on the practical measures for the introduction
of amended drainage works. Th, y are fully sensible of the
deplorable condition in which the population of eater sive
dietrica are kept during this delay; and to expedite the
work they have reduced it, in the flat instance, to the
minimum required for immediate and pressing purposes,
and have postponed the coneideration of all others.
The survey of the denser districts is promised
in the e nine of a few months. Concurrently with this
survey of the surface of the streets and open spaces in the
metropolis they have directed a subterranean or exploration
of the various sewers and old sub drainage works,
to ascertain their extent and condition, and how far they
may be available for future works. The commissioners gave
their first attention to immediate measures of relief to the
worst conditioned places. They introduced a new mode of
emptying cesapools, by which the offensiveness of the opera-
tion is diminished, the time reduced to one-sixth, and the
expense one-third. 1 he adoption of this process was volun-
tary, and it was employed in more than a thousand places,
with the same favourable results. Toe commissioners have
considered and prepared instructions for processes of cleani-
ng, which may be carried into effect by voluntary 11111100 it.
dons and private individuals. Thee' are now in oeuree of
circulation, and they are preparing oth-rs of the same eha-
recter. As one means of relief, they directed the extensive
cleansing of the sewers by flushing. This has been carried
out on 163 miles of the worst c •nditioned sewers, and up-
wards of 139,000 cube rugs, or about 200,600 tone of refuse
have been removed, at a savant of expense of 38,0001.
above f reser charge?. Thie, however, could only affect the
sewers whibi comprise one-fourth only of the comma evapo-
retiree surface of a district, ore-fours h beep constituted by
the cesspool., and two-four:he or one-half being the surface
of ill.coostructed hots e drains. But in general, even the
diminution that has been made in this meth, has been
sensibly and beneficially felt. The conuaiseioners have net
been able fully to effect the operation as they would hare
wished. Toe weather has been irregular, and the mans-
nous from deposit throughout tne sewers, are reported to
have been unusually copious, offensive, and injurious: yield-
ing to the applications of parties, lines of ditches have been
covered in, and sewers have been trapped. But these
measures have on:y 'kited the evil upon other places
Applications and plans have been sent in for the ventilation
of sewers by ascending shafts. But from the evidence with
relation to the effect of chimney shafts, in the diffusion of
vapours from chemical works, such a mode of relief appears
to be ea for doubtail as not to justify a retroximendstion for
incurrieg the expense. The more effectual cocain will be
the prevention of deposit by proper arrangements of the
drains, and the system of sewers acted upon by appropriate
supplies of water. The first and met urgent work
is the execution of such arrang, meets as to effect the
speedy and complete removal of all decomposing refuse from
beneath tee houses, thst is to say, the omelette system of
house drainage. Tr obtain preparatory information as to
the nature and extent of the exist.ne home drainage and
the expense of cleans.ne and repair, the commissioners have
caused queries to be left from house to house to obtain
answers teem the occupi, r', and they propose to extend the
like inquiries threngrout ther districts; the informatics at
present obt,,ined leads thorn. to believe 3 at at half the
annual espeules incurred in the one district examined for re-
. *rep a had system of old drains, tit-7 will be enabled to
have laid down an entire system of new ones. They have
had trials ma o with a view to a mon accurwe determina-
tion of tbe sizes requisite for house drains and other am-
rains. They have ~erected the consulting engineer and the
survevon to prepare a report expneitory of the most ap-
proved plans of hone drains and cle 'nitre apparatus, with
a new to extend the improved principles by voluntary adop-
tion. This report It is hop, el e ill shortly be complete fee
public cheultelen. They have not acglatel the application

of reuse as amen; r hatilisava, dial have gins the
.abject the most oaken eoarideratits. 'Batik a new system
of drainage le determined apes they have sot brand
themselves in a audition to seriatim other than trial works.
Trial work* of toe klad they have already easationed, these
of ameba they have wider o.usideration. Is the mean-
time the; have goads arrangements for sr pk!yiag
twigs with sewage and ensnare for print* trials cc the most
liberal terms. Mr. Hassidim, their eminent surveyor, who
hue eoarp of the winks connacted wit, land drainage, sad
who has been authorised to dispose of the refuse, has made
engagements with several enterprising farmers who have
nictertaken to make trials of the enrage water. For its dis-
tribution from the river banks and tke canals on the lands,
he has availed bittern of ...he pumping machinery. invented
and applied by Mr. Philip Holland, which has ban round
to work ainistactoriey ae a means of rapid and chi op distriou.
con fr,m the Bridgwater Canal, near Menchaca. The pro-
' wen of these works will it is capered influence the tumulus
of email ir works throughout the emprc."
Mr. Cat :mica mated that examinations had been made
with a view to ascertain what had been the effects of the
darling upon the river. The asurlyees of the water showed
no worse a condition than was believed to hay: been shown

bOO2ll years ago. A larger proportion of the banks WAS now
more cker of mud than formerly. This was attributab'e to
the action of the steam-boats, for during the night the de-
posit increased, and it was els trod away during the day-time.
The removal of the dam of the old London-bridge increased
the flaw and the sweet) of the water. The proportion of the
matter flushed into the river was inconsiderable in propor-
tion to the bu'it of water, and probably of the natural
detritus, brought down the riv. r, and so to as inquiries had
yet proceeds.: there was maims to believe that it lasted only
a day or two. No doubt the addition of any such matter
was injurious for the time ; but it was equally undoubted
that it was 1.. r more injurous to have the matter permo.
neatly under the houses of the populagon. The flushing
operations he hoped would be only a temporary measure.