The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-25 00:00:00

Sbe Court.

OSBORNE, THURSDAY.—The Earl Spencer arrived
at Osborne yesterday aft-moon, and remains on a visit to
her Majesty. The Royal dinner party yesterday included
the Duchess of Kent, Lady Anna Maria Dawson, Baroness
de Speth, and Earl Spencer.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon
at the Foreign•otilce. The ministers present were Lord J.
Russell. the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Mintn, Sir
G. Grey, Viso. Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Earl of Auck-
land, Sir J. Robhouse, Lord Campbell, the Marouis of
Camricarde, and Vise. Murpeth. The council sit one
hour.

---- -
Mr. J. Jones had an interview with Earl Grey yea-
terday, at the Colonial office.
A meeting of the School of Design was held yester-
day, at the office of the Bard of Trade.
The Bishop of Manchester had an interview with
Sir G. (hey yesterday, at the Hume-office.
Mr. J. Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an inter-
view with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, in
Downing-street.
Despatches were sent off yesterday evening from
the Colonial-office for the Lord High Coumisaioner of the
lonian Islands, and also for the Governors of Hong-Kong
and Ceylon.

TILE QUEEN'S VISIT TO SCOTLAND.—A corre-
spondent says :—" The good folks of Aberdeen are now
expecting the arrival of her Majesty on or about the 7th of
next month. It is pretty certain that her Majesty will die-
emcark at that port and proceed foriliwith to liaddo.house,
the seat of the Earl of Aberdeen, about 24 miles distant,
where she will sojourn for a few days, and then proceed on
a visit to Bolworal, 28 miles further north. Capt. Cargill,
of the City of Aberdeen (London) steamer, it appears is to
have the honour of piloting the royal yacht to those shores.
lie recently was desired to attend the Admiralty, when in
the metropolis, and then received the appointment. Already
preparations are in progress to welcome her Majesty."
The Queen Dowager has taken a Louse at West
Cowes, and is expected there in a few days.

SANITARY CONDITION OF BLACKFRTARS.—A vestry
meeting of the inhantatita of this pariah was held yesterday
morning in the vestiproom of Christ Church, Blackfrian-
road, " to take into consideration the present state of the
sewers of this parish, and toe effluvia arising therefrom,
and to adopt such measures in regard thereto, as shall then
be deemed expedient." The Rev. J. Lewis, the rector, in
the chair —The vestry clerk said he lived in the Black-
friars-road, but so unwholsome was it from offensive smells
arising from the sewers, that he was compelled to remove
his family.—Mr. Parr, the senior churchwarden, said that
since the notice of this meeting had been given, a gentle-
man had called upon him and presented him with two
reports of the surveyors of the metropolittc commissioners
of sewers on the existing drainage of this district, which
were very important, but it did not appear what they
were prepared to do. The parish of St. George the Martyr
had already moved in the matter, and although Mr. Stevens
had written to the commissioners requesting that some per-
son might be appointed to take the sanitary matters of
that parish into consideration, it did not appear that any
notice had really been taken of his application.—
Mr. Lovick (surveyor to the Metropolitan Commissioners of
Sewers) said it was the earnest wish of the commissioners to
afford every relief, but until the completion of the Ordnance
survey they were unable to undertake any very comprehen-
sive works, as they were without accurate plans. At the
same time, for temporary purposes, they were quite ready to
adopt any measures of relief that were not of too expensive a
character. A great number of men were now employed in
removing the deposit from the sewers. The sewer in the
Blackfriars-road contained from eighteen inches to two feet
of deposit, which had not been disturbed, nor were any open-
ings made by the commissioners. Ile must say, however,
that the gully drains, formed on the cesspool principle, and
which were private property, emitted greater smells than
the sewers, and over these the commis-ioners had no
power. In his neighbourhood also, viz., in Friar-street,
there was a sewer made only last year by. the old com-
missioners, that he had in his report denomi sated a " vast
elongated cesspool," which c•ntained upwards of two feet of
water and deposit, with the foulest vapours and sulphuretted
hydrogen gas. So foul was it that in examining it, himself
and others nearly lost their lives, and within five minutes
every piece of metal they had in their possession, silver,
money, and watches, was changed to the colour of iron.
That sewer had not been touched by the present commis-
sioners. Another part of their district, Hatfield-place and
Brunswick-row, contained an open ditch, from which (400
square feet) evaporation was cast into the air with the
most pernicious effects. Since the cleansing of these
places the smell had considera sly decreased, but a renewal
of it was to be attributed to the inhabitants throwing
into it the refuse of fish and other offensive matter. There

would be no general re-construction of the seven at present,
but any remedial measures would be attended to. There
would eventually be an entire re-construction of the sewers
of London, but this district was one of the worst, for it was a
series of cesspools—Mr. Mayhew said that no person could
remain in the 13Iackfriars.road, who had any regard for the
health of his family, for they could not open their windows
without their rooms being filled with effluvia, and he hoped
they might be put buck to their original state.
In consequence of its offensive character, the pub-
lic would rather go half a mile round than pass
through Blackfriaruroad, which was a great injury to trade,
for now no carriage would stop at a tradesman's door. He
therefore proposed that a deputation should wait on Lord
Morpeth on the subject. Other gentlemen having expressed
sentiments to a similer effect, the following resolution was
proposed and carried unanimously• " That • deputation
consisting of Mr. Mayhew, Dr. Brady, Mr. Sidden, and the
vestry clerk, be requested to wait on the Right Hon. Lord
Morpeth, respecting the state of the sewers in the Black-
friars-road, and its vicinity, and to urge the adoption of en
immediate remedy."
• THE SANITARY CONDITION OP SHOREDITCII.
Yesterday • vestry muting was held at Shoreditch, " to
take into consideration the paramount necessity of petition-
ing parliament, before its prorogation, for additional powers
in effecting sanitary measures, with the hope of arresting as
much u possible the baneful epidemic which in all probabi-
lity will soon visit this country."—Mr. Charles T. Yarrow,
churchwarden, was called to the chair—Mr. Wallace, our-
geon, addrefeed the meeting, and moved the following reso-
lution " It is the opinion of this meeting in public vestry
assembled that there is at this time the meet urgent neces-
sity for additional sanitary smarm and regulations required
to be granted by the authority of parliament, to enable the
paroclail and other executive bodies of this metropolis and
adjoining parishes to construct proper sewers and to prevent
I and 'bias all nuisances otherwise detrimental to the public
health, and to take such steps as will establish • sanitary
supervision over each parish or district, believing that each
means will materially arrest the fatal effects of the approach-
ieg Asiatic cholera."—Mr. Duffield seconded Vie resolution.
—Dr. Gavin addressed the meeting in support of the resola-
I tion, and alluded to the dreadful condition of some parts of
Shoreditch, when starnant pools of water had been allowed
to remain. producing the most obnoxious effluvium, and
causing illness amongst the inhabitants.—Several other
gentlemen addressed the meeting for and against the reso-
, lotion, which was ultimately carried by • large majority. It
was then moved and seconded that • petition be drawn up
in conformity with the above resolution, and presented to
parliament.
HEAVY TAXATION IN ST. CLEMENT DANES.—
Last evening a crowded meeting was held in St. Clement
Danes vestry-room, " to take into consideration the great
increase of local taxation, and take such steps as may be most
expedient."—Mr. Thomas Gannon said this meeting wu
called in consequence of a tenpenny rate and • shilling rate
being made in this pariah daring the present year. Zesty

ratepayer was compelled to pay twice the poor.' rate he did
in,1844. He had compered the rates with the surround-ng
parishes, all of which were taxed at • lower rate than in that
parish. He then moved " that a committee be ap-
pointed to consider the 'abject, and report their pro-
gress at the next vestry."—lie. Jacquet, church-
warden, who was called to the chair, said the
heavy taxation in the pariah was auribut..ble to the many
improvements made in the neighbouring parishes. Those
changes had the effect of causing t. a poorer dewu to locate
in thile parish, where also there were many charities known
to be beneficial to poor residents, and hence the increase com-
plained of. His then read a statisticsl account, which Lad
been copied from the rate-books. It showed that for the
last seven years the number of persons relieved bad most
materially increased. In the first quarter of 1842, 986 per-
sons were relieved, sad in the oorrespondine quarter this
year, 1890 persons had been relieved. Several ratepayers
addressed the meeting, and the resolution was unanimously
carried.

THE SALE AT STOWE.—The following were the
only lots which preserved any feature of interest yesterday:
—l,lll. The State Bedstead, carved and gilt, with yellow
silk taboret curtains and hangings; the linings of crimson
silk ; the canopy with a network of gold, and rich scrolls at
the angles; the columns formed as Roman lasses; a Mar
seines quilt, and a white aa.in quilted cover. This piece of
furniture, which was provided when the Queen visited
Stowe, was sold for 86 guineas. 1,14 G. A beautiful cabinet
of marqueterie of old German work, formed as a table sup-
porting a cabinet : on the fronts of the drawers subjects and
landscapes in marqueterie, of different-coloured woods and
pearl; in eh, centre door a relief, in silver gilt, of Ba.cbus
and Ariadne-235 guineas. 1,147. A table in the same
style, with a relief of flowers by B iulariger, and
subiecta after Berghern-175 guineas. 1,152. A pair of can-
delabra, composed of vases of Scares bleu du roi, branches
for seven lights, with boys and goats springing from each,
and supported en feet with 'phloxes of or molu-145 enlaces.
The day 's sole realised 2,6001.
A NOTE FROM THE NEW FOREST.—Sir,—I was
surprised to read in your paper of Aug. 23, remarks on the
New Forest by a local correspondent, which I should rot
have thought of answering, had they not been in your exten-
sively circulated paper, and in one which carries much weight
—on this account I shall feel oblige, to you for the inser-
tion of this. Many true, and many much exaggerated, state-
ments have been made on the condition of the New Forest.
Plans have been suggested more or less practicable, by which
it should be made to yield more to the crown. Some have
wished to sweep it away, others partly to make It produce
grain. Let one look calmly over the nature of the soil.
Geologically it is on the upper tertiary group, consisting of
gravel, sand, and clay, and clayey sand. Of the southern
half of the forest the surface is chiefly of large gravel and sand
—here and there clay comes to the surface. On the gravel
scarcely anything grows but stunted heath and furze. The
sand is very light and loose, where lower tertiary rises to the
surfaee, similar to the Alum Bay white sand, as in the
south-west part. Towards the north the clay predominates,
still gravel is frequently found. By what means are the
gravel and sand to be brought into cultivation, sad whence
is the source of the necessary outlay to be derived ? If from
government, where will be any saving for many years ?
and what private person will take any quantity to sink
all his capital fur a period the end of which he may
never see? Again, other parts are doubtless highly
cultivable which are now profitless, where decayed vegeta-
ble matter forms a supersoil of front one to three feet thick,
but these parts require much draining. Now, sir, lam far
from wishing the land to remain useless, but must disagree
with the sauceless abuse of the forest; and your correspond•
ant is much misinformed when be states the lower classes are
much interior to those of the other parts of the country. As
a medical man I have been much amongst the 111 and others
in various parts, and am of opinion that they are in general
as well informed, and in some case.: superior to those of
much more highly cultivated localities. Schools are rising
up and churches in the more populous districts. Take
Beaulieu Royals—within two miles may be found three
schools, one church, and two chapels. Sway again his its
church and chapel, and the heart of the forest has been
attended to, as acknowledged by your correspondent. Your
correspondent could have never been at Lyraington, or he
would not have quoted Gilpin, who wrote nearly sixty
years ago, since which time education in every part has
wonderfully increased. Beaulieu is the property of the Duke
of Buccicugh, in no way connected with the forest except by
situation. And whether the forest exist or not, it will not
affect the revenue ; and because the second Lord Montague
might have had faith in Mary Dore, it does not by reason
follow that the present owner has. Now, sir, I like to see
fair arguments used, and not wild. Much improvement must
take place ere long, either in planting or sowing, or both.
It has not been tried fairly whether timber will yield a fair
interest ; but before any change is made the soil should be
well examined, which parts are most adapted for the change,
and whether there is any probability of return over that of
timber when dealt fairly by.—A CONBTANT HEADER.

INQUEST, YESTERDAY. MYSTERIOUS DRATH.—
Before Mr. Wakley, M.P.,at the Marylebone workhouse,
upon the body of Thomas William Child, aged 74. It ap-
peared from the evidence, which was voluminous and com-
plex, that deceased, who had been a "gentleman's tra-
velling companion," latterly resided at 8, Marylebone-lane.
Some time ago a young man inquired whether deceased
lived in the home, and last Monday ha repeated the inquiry,
and had an interview with deceased. Shortly afterwards
deceased left home, and in the evening his lifeless body was
found floating under Macclesfieldbridge, Regent's-canal.
Two parties were suspected of foul play towards deceased,
and were under the surveillance of the police, but no testi
mony was given to affix a guilty charge to them. Mr.
Wakley having commented upon the evidence adduced, the
jury returned a verdict to the effect " that deceased was
found drowned, but there was no evidence to prove how he
got into the water."