The Express.
London, England, 1847-08-28 00:00:00

IRELAND

DUBLIN, Aro. 26.
Dublin, the second city in the British empire, is
about the tenth, or even lower in the scale, in respect
of cleanliness, the supply of water, and other ele-
ments of social and sanitary comfort. The Liffey is
made the conduit of all the filth of the city, which at
low water, being acted on by the sun, exhales the
most disgusting miasmata, the fruitful source of
fever, diarrhoea, and other diseases; whereas the
natural fall to the south-west points at once the di-
rection in which the city refuse should flow, thus
leaving the river pure, and providing for the general
health of the inhabitants. The water stands in the
same category with the sewerage. The supply is
bad, and the quality execrable. To illustrate. the
scantiness riliaeima rerum iu a city like Dublin, I
may take a very extensive district in the north-east,
which contains a population of ten thousand inhabit-
ants. Here there is neither basin nor pipe. Donkeys
carry about an abominable imitation of fresh water,
which is retailed to the housekeepers at a halikesny
for a pitcher full. In the moat plentiful mem the
Northumberland fountain, from which the emir k
drawn, was inadequate to the demand; but tine
long drought of the present slimmer the habitue' ilk-
convenience has assumed the character of a wattle
famine. This dearth contributes to ill-health in a
variety of shapes : it renders washing expensive, and
of course infrequent, and adds to bad food filthiness
of attire and person. A little exertion and expendi-
ture would relieve this populous district, and make it
healthy and habitable. The canal water above the
second lock is fresh, for it has not yet been impreg-
nated with the ten thousand filthy ingredients which
poison it lower down. The distance to one or two
central points is not a quarter of a mile ; and the
ground is a gentle declivity throughout. The expense
of sinking would be nothing—the chief cost being a
metal pipe, with branches to shoot out in various di-
rections. The rate for this comfort and convenience
would be only a penny a week for each house ;
whereas the present supply costs at least three times
that sum. You are not disinterested in our sanitary
progress, which will excuse a topic so eminently local.
The three " W's " line was commenced yesterday
with the usual ceremonials. The point selected was the
beautiful and picturesque elevation called Bray's
Head. A witness thus poetically describes the effect
on his sensitive imagination : "The some was alto-
gether exciting ; the crowds of peasantry, and the
women clad in the characteristic red shawl and dark
gown contrasted with the frequent groups of the fair
and fashionable of oar citizens—all on the mountain.
side, the ladies of Dublin and the peasant girls of
Wicklow, the nobility of the land and the poorest of
its peasants, the most independent of our traders, the
I most honoured of our merchants, and the humblest
of our artizans all were met," &c. itc. After Coi.
Acton had " raised the first sod" the parties
of "a sumptuous d6miner," over which the ta:lcaefl
Courtoun presided. The speeches were few, and all
of the most flattering character as to the future
prospects of the line. Mr. Fagan, M.P., declared the
line would bring a whole cordon of towns and
populous villages into connexion with the metropolis,
while Mr. George, Q.C., had a reserve of prosperity
in the communication with Fishguard. On their
return in the evening the directors caught a glimpse
of Mr. Hampton's balloon. Abut omen'