The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-19 00:00:00

TILE NMOKY. :4014ANCE

Mr. Edmond Calvert, of the firm of C ilvert and Com-
pry, the brewers .wr again summoned for not having
abated the vaissiese complained of some months back,
arising from the smoke issuing from the chimney of the
brewery, is Upper Thames-street.
The CllalliNtAN (addressing Mr. Calvert), said, that
when he was summoned before the court upon a former oc-
cuMe, he had promised that he would get rid of the nui-
sance as far as possible, aad that complaint having recently
been made that the smoke from the chimney in question
was MI great an annoyance as ever, the court had deemed it
necessary to cause him. to attend, to hear whether he had
taken an steps with a view to this object.
Mr. Calvert replied that he had stated upon the former
'session that he had found it totally impossible to employ
the smoke consuming furnace according to one of the
patents then suggested, and which was asserted to be the
best treated to the purpose, on account of the peculiar con-
struction of the buildings. Upon this he had applied
to Messrs. Easton and Amos to furnish him
with a report as to the practicability of adapting
it, when those gentlemen advised that another
patented furnace should he fitted. This had been
in operation ever since last May, and had proved to be
utterly useless ; and it would not even do the work of the
old (emcee, with the beet screened coal. (Hear, hear.)
This alteration, which bad proved an entire failure, had
mot between 5001. and 1,0001 (Hear, hear.) Mr. Calvert
thou produced a drawing of his brewery, and explained in
detail and with great clearness the alterations he was about
to effect, stating that these would cost the firm 10,0001. ;
but that they could not guarantee to carry them nut in less
than two years. He had had an interview with the Ssereurry
of State for the Home Department a few days siace upon this
very subject, in the course of which he had made a similar
exploitation to that noble lord to that which he hod now
offered to the court, and the noble lord concluded by say-
ing " you cannot do impossibilities." (Hear, hear.) He
(Mr. Calvert) could say on behalf of the firm that they
were most ansiout to abate the alleged nuisance, and in
every way to accede to the wishes of the commission, not-
withstanding the expense they would necessarily be com-
pelled to incur ; but the alterations could not be effected in
• less time than that which he had specified. (Hear,
hear.) The foundation aline for one of the furnaces would
be • work of six months. (Hear, hear )
The CUAlltle•N—The court ate very much obliged to you
for your explanation.
Deputy OBBAISD felt very greatly indebted to Mr. Cal-
vert for attending, and explaining what he had done in the
shape of alterations, and what he intended to do. (Hear,
bear.) He (Deputy Obbard) had lived in ne City a great
many years, aM felt it his duty to say that although some
new notions had lately been afloat with regard to the nui-
sance of smoke, rare court must not, by acting with pre-
eiresacy and nahneee, destroy the trade or profession of
*me who sembehnii their business in the City, especially
whom, as in do peessat instance, parties were ready to
sake vast peengiliary sacrifices for the purpose of getting rid
el the evil lemelaised of. (Hear, bear.) He bad not the
hest doubt of the integrity and candour of Mr. Calvert,
oat diesslit Ida entitled to great credit for his exertions in
eat the wishes of the commission. (Cheers.)
Calvert—We have lived in the City for between
two and three hundred years, and are old brewers in it.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said that Mr. Calvert knew as well
as the court did that there were certain acts of parliament
in existence which had been pried for the express purpose
of getting rid of, amongst other asisancea, the o.e now
complained of ; and as one of the large breweries in the
metropolis had succeeded in consuming their smoke, the
question was whether the commission would perform its
slaty to the public if it did not interfere and compel Messrs.
Calvert, without farther delay, to do every thing possible
to mitigate if not thoroughly to suppress the nuisance.
The CUAIRMAX—Yon hear that it will take two or three
years.
Mr. H. L. Taxt.on—Messrs. Calvert were its a difficulty,
and he was sorry for them. He believed they were doing a
very great deal to lessen the nuisance, but at the same time
they were not doing that which the public and the public
acts of parliament called upon them to do. The commie-
lion must either orase to pressrun any body or at once
compel Messrs. Cavort to construct new furores. (Hear.)
Mr. lloroooD said he should be very sorry if the opinions
expressed by the last speaker went forth to the world as the
opinion of the communion. (Hear, hear.) Here was a
large and important firm moot anxious to spend 10,3001. to
remove an alleged nuisance, stating that it will take two
years to make the necessary alterations, and therefore
giving good teaser for not being able to consume their
smoke immediately. (Hear, hear.)
Deputy HOLT was desirous of paying every court and
reopect to the honoured house of Calvert, but should in-
sist that those gentlemen took the beat mesas in their power
to get rid of the nuisances.
Mr. KEDIV, felt very mach indebted to Mr. Calvert for
the pains be had taken in explaining what alterations bad
already been made. Every member of the court esgbt
fully to bear in mind the extreme difficulty of carrying out
extensive improvements such as those now contemplated.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said that with a view of testing the
feeling of the commission, be would move, " That well an-
thentieated evidence be obtained of the nuisance arising
from the smoke issuing from the furnaces of Messrs. Cul-
vert's pro:ibis' and that they be summoned before a raw
giante for the offence."
Deputy CoawaT seconded the motion.
Deputy UNBAR° moved as an amendment, " That
rs Mess. Calvert having attended this court and explained
the nature of their furnaces, and that they are curing the
evil as fast ae possible, and are willing to spend 10,0004
to abate any nuusnce whatever, that the matter etand
over for the present to enable thi m to melee the necessary
alteratione.', (Hey, hear.)
Mr. llueoooo seconded the amendment.
Deputy PlWrarba thought the ameiidment should coat-
tails a specified time within which the works should be
completed.
Alderman Cor ELAND said thin he had had the satisfaction

011;;;;;Ua110i;i111.11;1ii11011t of the House of Com-
move three several times. (Hear, hear.) Was the business
and trade of the City to be stopped by a proceeding such as
the one now adopted against Messrs. Calvert ? (Hear,
hear.) lie (Alderman Copeland) bad spent hundreds and
hundred. of pounds in trying to get rid of the smoke nui-
sance at his works at Stoke-upon-Trent, and all to no puss-
pore. (Hew, hear.) At the government works at Wool-
wieh than was always to be seen a broad pennant of smoke
issuing from one of the largest chimneys in the kingdom.
He, at the solicitation of Sir Edward Buxton, had been to
see an apparatus for the consumption of smoke. The appa-
-1 ratus fed the furnace by a piece of mechanism, but as to
consuming the smoke, that was quite out of the question.
A friend of his (Alderman Copeland) had tried to consume
the smoke at his manufactory, and bad brought down •
deleterious matter—sulphuric acid, which was ten times
more injurious than smoke. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. 11. L. Taylor having withdrawn his motion, the
amendment of Deputy Obbard was carried as an original
motion, the words being added, "And that sic months be
given to Messrs. Calvert for the completion of the works."
This addition was for the purpose of enabling the commis-
sion to ascertain bow far the works had progressed during