The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-22 00:00:00

WALBROOK.

Alderman and Sheriff Wire presided. The pro-
needings were of a very Rimini and formal character. Mr.
Deputy Watkins having =pressed hie intention of retiring
from representing the ward, the precinct had nominated
Mr. Fry in his stead. The members this year are there-
fore Mr. Ford Hale, Mr. Rowlay, Mr Conder (deputy),
Mr. Murrell, Mr. Dawson, and Mr. T. Fry. (new member).
Mr. Travers then moved a special vote cot thanks to Mr.
Watkins, the late deputy, on his retirement from the ward,
after 30 year.' service, and also moved that a subscription
should be opened is the ward for presenting him with a
suitable testimonial for those services. He (Mr. Travers)
himself would undertake to collect subscriptions, and he
knew that Mr. Smith and Baron Rothschild would wil-
lingly act as part of the committee to carry out the resolu-
tion. Mr. Depot, Conder seconded the resolution, which
was carried with acclamation. Mr. Deputy Watkins then
returned thanks, and some other business having been
despatched, a vote of thanks was passed to the Alderman.
The emanate then separated.

DRAINAGE OF THE THAMES MARSHES.

Yesterday a meeting was held at the Bridge House
Hotel, London-bridge, to receive the report of the COM-
nines appointed at a previous meeting held on the Ist of
November, and to consider what steps should be taken,
with a view to the thorough drainage et the marshes on
both aides of the Thames from London to (at least) the
Nore. The chair was takea by Sir Culling E. Eardley, and
the room was filled.
The CHAIILICL24 said that the committee had ascertained
some very import►nt facts, and had received communications
. .

from various medical gentlemen in London and its vicinity.
They had had an interview with Lord Palmerton, who
entered very largely into the measures required for the
drainage of the manhea, and be (Sir C. Etudley) felt
bound to bear testimony to the truly business-like
in which the noble lord bad entertained the subject. (Hear
hear.) He had then, he said, a bill in preparation for the
drainage of the metropolis, end he felt very much disposed
to make that bi.l applicable to the suburban districts also.
(Hear, hear.) The marshes of the river Thames were ex-
ceedingly valuable land; they produced a great amount of
strew ; and he (the chairman) had no doubt that if cleared
of the water they would be as capable of being used for
garden ground as any in Battersea. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. H. CLIFTON (Secretary of the Board of Drainage
in Essex) then read the report of the committee. It stated
that of the district between Woolwich and Erith about one-
eighteenth part of the marsh consisted of open ditches which
in many cases had not been cleaned out for a length of
time ; that the general character of Wuolwich and its
neighbourhood was iedieative of malarious influence, the
cameo( relapse of ague in one year (1817) being estimated
at no fewer than 8,000 ; that such diseases were especially
prevalent in the Arsenal district and in Plumsteml ; and
that ia the opinion of Profane Airey and other gentlemen
the marsh landa were in a great measure the cause of the
London fogs.
Mr. W. Corron (late governor of the Bank of England)
moved that the report he printed and circulated. It
seemed that nothing could be done without the consent of
three-fourths of the proprietors; but why should not the
marshes of London be drained as well as those of Lincoln-
shire? (lieu, hear.) If they did not bring on disease
itself they produced those illnesses which ultimately ceded
in icholera. All that was required was to have better
sluices at the lower end, and the marshes.would.drain them-
selves.
The Rev. W. ACWORTit (vicar of Plumstead) thought
that when the subject came to be more fully known to the
public, they would imperiously demand something to be
done. (Hear, hear.) (The rev. gentleman then read a
number of letters from primes residing in the neighbour-
hood of the marshes, all of whom gave instances of the
dreadful effects upon the health of the population arising
from their present condi ion.) When he best went to Plum-
stead he was told that if he wished to keep off the fever be
must drink two or three glasses of port wine • day, and as
the labouring dames could not get wine they drank
gin. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. J. HINSHAW (of Erithj proposed, and Mr. SWAN-
LAND, of Crayford, seconded, that a subscription be entered
into, which was agreed to.
J. M'Otienoit, Erq., M.P., chairman of the South-
Eastern Railway, had only to echo what bad already been
said by their chairman. The marshes were a disgrace to
those who had charge of them, and he was certain that in
any measure they proposed they would have the support
of Lord Palmerston, whether in or out of office. (Hear,
bear.) Every medical man, without exception, had Oven
his testimony to the bad state of the marshes. The hon.
gentleman concluded by moving that the thanks of the
' meeting be presented to Lord Palmerston. (Hear, hear.)
Dr. J. Hotline, of Worlwicb, had himself been suffering
' from an attack of fever, arising from those marshes, which
fever returned regularly every sprir.g. He thought the
government bad a direct interest in the question, because
of their soldiers. (Hear, hear.) Ile heartily seconded the
resolution.
Mr. SOCTII, Late President of the College of Surgeons,
supported the resolution, which was carried unanimously.
Mr. M. W. HALL HAUE, of Wennington, Essex, moved
that the present committee be continued, with power to add
• to their number.
Th.. Rev. H. Bnows, Rector of Woolwich, seconded the
etiolation, which ass carried, as was also a vote of thanks
to the chairman.
f The meeting they broke up.

REPRESENTATION OF SOUTH STAFFORDiIIIRE.—
Lord I`.get has issued hie address to the electors. Ile
says :—" If elected, I shall give my medial support to a
liberal policy of government. I entirely approved of these
gnat and bent ficial changes recently introduced into the
commercial affairs of this kingdom. I shall feel it to be my
duty to advocate the extension of the principles of free
trade, and to forward every other measure caleutited to
' secure the comfort and well-being of the industrious classes,
whether engaged in agriculture or trade. lam firmly am-
"faced of the necessity of a well-oonsiderel measure of
reform, and with respect to the measure of parliamentary
reform promised by her Majesty's ministers, I hope that it
will extend the buts of the elective franchise, diminish as
far as possible the system of private nomination of men-
' hers, put an end to corrupt practices at elections, and
thereby enlarge and strengthen the ancient foundations of
the constitution, in accordance with the interests and opi-
nions of the people."
Tile lies( DIGGINGS.—One day last week, as
Mr. Detevan, f irenerly in the coast guard service, was Walk-
Wig near Crose gate, near Mr. Bigg's (Arm, Minster, Sheppy,
he saw something glittering on the ground; he picked it
up, and found it to be a nugget of gold.attached to a stone,
which he old tot U.—Soulit East, rid, unities.