The Express.
London, England, 1847-11-03 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN SEWAGE MANURE
COMPANY.

The half-yearly ordinary meeting of the Metropo-
litan Sewage 'Manure Company was held yesterday, at their
offices, No. 7, Waterloo-place, fall-mall, for the despatch of
business. The chair was filled by Mr. Henry Peter Fuller,
the chairman of the board of directors. The register of
shareholders having been authenticated by affixing to it the
seal of the company, and other routine business having been
disposed of,
The Sacnirranv (Mr. Cireig) read the report of the
directors to the shareholders. It commenced by stating,
" That the directors on this occasion of meeting the pro-
prietors for the purpose of rendering an account of their pro-
ceedings in execution of the trust reposed in them, desired
to present such a statement as they deemed best calculated
to lead to a correct estimate of the actual position and pros-
pects of the undertaking. The amendment act, for which
the proprietors at the general meeting, held in February
last, authorised an application to parliament, had received
the royal assent on the 21st June last, and the directors had
since given their meet anxious and most diligent cc:odd/ra-
tion to the best manner in which the objects of the company
could be carried out for the benefit of the shareholders.
After a most rigid and careful revision of the original
colours. (which they had been enabled considerably
to reduce) it was deemed desirable to make the needful pre-
luminary arrangements for proceeding to active operations.
The engineers were now taking the necessary steps for com-
mencing the works—the twenty-eight days' notice required
by the act had been given to the commissioners of sewers,
and the directors were in other respects exerting themselves
to carry out the works of the company with as much vigour
and activity as a due regard to the interests of the share-
holders would allow, and with the very confident expecta-
tion that in the course of next summer the works would be
in such a state of forwarder's as to enable the company to
commence the distribution of the sewage. With this view
it had been determined, in the first instance, to complete
that portion of the works immediately in the vicinity of the
station at Stanley-bridge, so as to be enabled to afford an
early supply of sewage to the adjacent gardening and meadow
districts of Fulham and its neighbourhood, and thus insure
with the least outlay the earliest return ; and the directors,
in the report, further stated, that they would be enabled to
complete this portion of the works without calling for more
than one half of the present subscribed capital." The re-
port went on to state " that tke prospects of the company

taibiliti of the scheme afterwards tcji,7'o7: 17,7 f gl`C.,"p;;;;Zt 7:4:7,i1;:re."` ,or m ore oeing recanted from diarrtura, under the drain of which the Spector stated that sufficient time had not been given to ie. e
51.0601
of
rumoring
the
unruly
port
went
on
to
state
"that
tite ca
prospects pital." The re- exhausted frames of the little sufferers rapidly sank. In the the merits of the new traps. At the same time, if the
I the company close, ill-ventilated, and denaely-crowded AVMs where the slaughtermen and butchers continued to force down into

the "ewers the refuse which ought to be carted away, no im-
prevenient that could be made In the traps would keep the
"ewers front becoming the reservoir' of decayed animal mat-
te The further consideration was, upon the above state-
ea-J:ro. t directed to stand over, and the inspector was directed
in lay before the court all notices of offences aga‘Ost the act
that came under his notice for the purpose of being pro-
secuted,
FOO LAST EVESING.—At six o'clock last evening
a thick fog enveloped the metropolis, which hocameso dense
it era late pedestrians bad to be provided with gun.
kathatimas, and the omnibuses and cabs, although they had lights,
could only creep along, as otherwise there was every danger
of their coming iu collision with each other. The polio"
were kept particularly busy by the light fingered, who
led themselves of the golden opportunity that the dark-
&n'geas afforded them to follow their avocations.
DISCHARGE OF RAILWAY LABOCRERS.—The con-
tractors for the London and North-Western Railway hays
already discharged 2,500 men, and are about to discharge a
still lacer number. On Saturday last one contractor on the
Great Western line gave notice to 1,400 men. In Lanca-
shire the works in hand are almost wholly stopped, and
about 10,000 men are already dismissed. On the whole, up
to Saturday list. at least 30,000 **neater' had been ills. I
churl ; and it as estimated that before the end of the pre-
sent month that number will be doubled.-31orning Paper.
TfIE AMERICAN BOUNDARY.—A communication has
been received by the revenue authorities from the secretary
to the Lards Commissioners of the Treasury, signifying that
Colonel Escourt having represented to Viscount Palmerston
that certain packages containing the instruments belonging
to the commission appointed for tracing the boundary line
between the British possessions in North America and the
taited States have arrived in London, and are deposited in
a warelhoute at one of the docks, he has been commanded
by their lordship to authorise the commissioners of customs
to give directions that the packages in question may be sent
to the F.,reign.oitice under seals of office, tor the purpose of
undergoing the necessary examination there in the presence
of the proper officers, which has been done accordingly.
SALE OF IICGHES'S MAMMOTH ESTAI3LISLIMENT.
The sale of this large collection, which has excited such
strong expectation among the numerous class whose business
lies in that way, was commenced yesterday at Vauxhall.
gardens, which presented a singular appearance, from the
motley and miscellaneous nature of the articles exhibited
All reutid the large area in the centre were placed the car-
riages, &c., and in the rotunda were some of the " Mara-
moth " tribe—the elephants and camels. The walls of the
building and the stage were covered with the wardrobe and
properties, of every variety of age and country, and suffi-
cient in nurabcr to set up several dozens of dramatic authors
in materials for melodrama. About two hundred lots of
the latter deecription were sold yesterday, but excited none
of the attention and competition which had been expected—
a result which would appear to betoken either the cominz
decline of the cut-and-thrust school of drama, or the com-
pletion of the managerial arrangements of the approaching
season. Everything in the shape of wardrobes and proper-
ties went at extremely low prices, which averaged between
one and three shillings each lot. The highest price given
for a lot was one guinea, and this in only a single instance.
The only cnerapolitan managers present were Mr. Batty
and Mr. Greenwood, and the bulk of the property sold yes-
terday fell into the hands of the Hebrew fraternity, who
form the main purchasers on these occasions. The sale of
the miscellaneous articles will be completed to-day, and to.
morrow that of the stud will take place, when it is expected
that a greater spirit of competition will be manifested. The
carriages will be brought to the hammer on the following
days. The mos; remarkable specimen in this department is
one modelled after " the nth, or imperial etre carnage of the
Emperor of Burmah," which was captured by the British
army during the operations against the Burmese empire. his
something very wonderful in effect, being of course of a
mammoth" size, and combining no end of gilding and
fantastic devices. The catalogue says that it " would be an
acquisition to any person desiring publicity and display," so
it will, doubtless, be purchased by some enterprising adver-
tiser. The sum of one shilling ts charged fur admission to
the sale—a circumstance which may account for the thin
attendance.
ELLERMAN'S PATENT DISINFECTING PROCESS.—
This patent bears the date of the ith ult., and was taken by
Mr. Ellerman " for certain processes or methods of render-
ing feculent, excremental, and other matters inodoraus and
disinfected, and also for r,tarding the putrefaction of animal
and vegetable substances, and certain chemical reagents
employed in the said processes or methods ;" and the advan-
tages which he maintains to be derivable from it he thus
enumerates :
I. The immediate and permanent disinfection of animal and vege-
table matter, by decomposing the eulphuretted hydrogen and coagu-
lating !he al.umcn, thus preventing the escape of the 11051011011 i
exhalations arising from privies, drains, sewers, slaughter-hows,t,
knackers'-vanes, farm-yank, stables, dongheaps. Ike. 2. The purifi-
cation and salubritication of towns; thus ;effecting the ventilation
system, and meeting the views of government by improving the
health of towns to England, as is the bill prepared and presented by
'Viscount Morpeth, land J. Russell, and Sir G. Grey. 3. The manu-
facture of azotised manure from the disinfected animal and vegetable
matter for agricultural mu poses, and the krtillaition of waste lands
through the application of this cheap and self-supplying source of an.
failing production. 4. The manufacture of urea, extracted from
twine, which manure peeesses the Met fructifying qualifications.
6. The preservation of dead bodies from putrefaction, and thus aiding
the purposes of dissection.
Yesterday morning, on the invitation of the patentee, several
members of the board of guardians, physicians, and other
gentlemen of Hackney, assembled in a field off Grove-lane in
that neighbourhood, fur the purpose of witnessing a series of
experiments by which he proposed to give at least nasal de-
monstration of the power of the chemical reagent he employs
to effect the foregoing highly important objects. So far—and
farther it is not within the scope ofour ability to judge—those
experiments were satisfactory and successful. He caused to
be poured upon a collection of night soil, yielding an almost
unendurable fecal smell, a comparatively small quantity of
the reagent or fluid, which had the immediate effece on
being thoroughly circulated, of banishing the fool smell, and
imparting that which is peculiar to the reagent itself, and
which can scarcely be ealleddisagreeable,—certainly not more
so than the odour derived from a solution of nitrous acid,
to which at the time we thought it somewhat similar.
All the gentlemen present bore testimony to the perfect suc-
cess of the experiment in rendering the substance inodorous
(excepting the smell of the reagent itself, which is said to be
non-permanent) ; but some objected to the term "disinfect-
ing.' having yet to learn that the removal of the odour ren-
dered :the substance itself innocuous. That is a question
which can only.be solved by scientific men. The presump-
tion, however, ss, if the gas which causes the foul smell, and
which is known to have a most deleterious effect upon vege-
table as well as animal life, be decomposed, that the infect-
ing agent is set at rest. Nay, more, as the science of che-
mistry teacher that the elements of that pestilential va-
pour, by forming other combinations, may yield healthy
and useful products, it is not unreasonable to sup-
pose, until experiment proves to the reverse, that substances
chemically acted upon, as in this case, may not only be Tem-
pered disinfectant by neutralising what is noxious in them,
but most fertilising for the purlieus of agriculture, contain-
ing, as they are known to do, every alimentary
Mr. Ellerman alleges that disinfection is produced by the
application of his chemical reactive in quantities varying
from one to three per cent. ; that is to say, that it pause"
the property of neutralising infectious gases by turning ham
into salts, which salts remain in suspension, and thus add
their quota to the fertilising qualities of the manure. Some
of the gentlemen, as already observed, were of opinion that
the removal of the foul smell was no proof of the removal of
the infection. The question, then, is—what is the infection /
contained Is it in the solid matter, oren the evaporation of
each a gas as sulpharetted hydrogen, so destructive of human
life that man is said to become asphyxiated in an atmosphere
affected by it to the extent only of 1-300th part? If in the gas,
it may be fairly assumed that the destruction or nentatalisa-
tion of that gas at once checks the infection. But are the
noxious gases destroyed or neutralised by Mr. Ellerman's re-
agent ? There was present on the occasion a professional
chemis',
_Mr. Redwood, who attended on behalf of the Phar-
enareutieal Journal, and who" was not to be satisfied solely
by a nasal demonstration, however strong, of the disinfect-
ing properties of the fluid. Its deodorising effect having been
fully proved, and the patentee having stated that it neutra-
lised carburetted and phosphuretted, as well as sulphuret-
Led hydrogen, and converted them into salts, that
gentleman poured upon the deodorised matter a phial
of bisulphuret of carbon, and restored to it its ori-
ginal laical odour, in order again to test the che-
mical properties of the reagent. The reagent was again
applied, and with the same satisfactory result, neutralised
the bisulphuret of carbon (which in the gaseous form is
evolved by the decomposition of animal matter), and deo-
dorised the nightioil. This experiment was repeated in a
pail of clean water, to which the foul odour was imparted
by the bisulphuret of carbon, and removed by the applica-
tion of the reagent. Mr. Redwood next threw into the
deodorised night soil some phosphuret of calcium, upon
which combustion instantly took place, showing the imme-
diate action of the reagent upon the test, to the apparent
satisfaction of that gentleman. In analysing the report of
the select committee on metropolitan sewage manure, a year
since, we recollect it to have stated that the promoters of the I
bill, out of deference to public feeling and opinion, aban-
doned that part of it which provided for the establishing of
reservoirs. The question of disinfection must, however, be
decided by competent authorities.
ACCIDENTS IN THE ROYAL ARSENAL.—About
noon yesterday two accidents took piece in the Royal Arsenal
to connexion with the proving of guns, which usually takes
place at this hour The authorities of the proof department
are, it appears, now carrying on experiments to test the re-
lative strength of the ordnance supplied by the various
foundries ; amongst which are the Low Moor and Carron
icon works, and a gun invented by a Mr. Phillipps, composed
of toughened iron, and said to be equal in strength to the
light pieces cast from gun metal. About 12 o'clock yester-
day, as the convicts and guards had assembled for dinner on
board the Justitia, convict hulk, one of these guns burst and
sent the fragments into the river over the convict
ship between the Justitia and the 'Unite hospital
ship. A convict who was waiting in a galley
between the two ships narrowly escaped, one of
two fragments that fell in the water alighting close to the
stern of the boat. The writer, who happened to be on board
the Justitia, and witnessed the occurrence, had scarcely
quitted the ship a moment when another gun burst, and a
heavy fragment fell on the deck of the Justitia, between the
spot where two men were standing. It struck the corner of
the hatchway through which the prisoners descend into the
cabins, buried itself in the planks of the deck, and split the
large beam that supports it. But for this break it must
...have gone through the deck, and probably would have °t-
ee:tipped immense loss oflife. Orders have been issued for
sue e than a month to remove the Justitia from her preterit
poeition, and probably when a few lives have been sacrificed
the antLaSrities will bestir themselves and carry the order '
into et.leet,
/I,Kirßr,S, YESTERDAY.—BUSFICIOCS DEATH AT
EAClLNlY.—before Mr.Beker, at the Cock Tavern, Marsh-
ave.*, Itiettney, ezi further prosecute the investigation into
the death of :lama Aelme, Buz., late resident at No, 2,

Grove-place.—Mr. Tonlmin, the surgeon who made *epos!
as ortem examination, said that the contents of the stomach
were banded to Dr. Letheby for analyst*. On Monday wit-
ness was called to Mrs. Neltne, who was taken with sudden
illness, and witness ascertained that she had had some arrow-
root and sugar. She vomited a good deal, and witness took
home some of the arrowroot and sugar and tried to dissolve
it, but, not sueceeding, be gave it to Dr. Letheby for analyels.
That gentleman had performed two testa on the sugar, and dis-
tinctly ascertained the presence of areenic.—Dr.Letheby stated
that he had analysed the contents of deceased's stomach, and
had discovered the presence of arsenic in its metallic state.
The portion of arsenic discovered was evidently the product
of something antecedently in the stomach. The portion
which killed the individual had gone out of the stomach
into his system. This portion is over and above what is
necessary to destroy human life ; but that which has pro-
duced death is at present diffused through the body of de-
emed.—Mr. Toulmin recalled : Had given nothing in the
shape of arsenic to dectased.—Tht Coroner observed that
there was great difficulty about the ease, because there
was sufficient cause of death independently of the arsenic.
The witness was then examined by several of the jury. He
said he had known persons to die of disease of the heart with
less appearances of it than were detected in this case.—Dr.
Letheby's evidence resumed : Had detected arsenic in the
liver of deceased. Yesterday witness received from Mr.
Toulmin (last witness) two paper parcels containing arrow-
root and white sugar. There was about four ounces anti a
half of sugar in quantity, and upon analysis be obtained
from it more than halt an ounce of white arsenic. Was
unable to detect any arsenic in the arrow-root.—Mary Pray
deposed that she had been charwoman in deceased's family
for several years past, and latterly had lived there about five
weeks. Mrs.M. Allnutt, slaughter of deceased by a fernier wife,
was staying on a visit. She had a Ball named William, and
two daughters. William was about twelve years old.—By
the Jury : The boy's grandfather had accused him of firing
a pistol at him, and the lad acknowledged that he did.—The
Coroner: Be careful what you say.—Witness : lie did not
say that he had fired the pistol. but admitted that the cap
hail suddenly gone off in his pocket. He also said that a
pistol was fired at the same time by a man in the garden.
Upon being closely questioned he said it was a gun.—To the
Coroner : There was arsenic in the bowie, and witness
thought it was brought there by deceased himself. It was
used for killing mice in the house.—lnquest again adjourned
for a few days—Tun SANITARY CONDITION or ST.
GEOID:M.B, SOUTIIWAILL—Before Mr. W. Payne, at the
Crown Tavern, St. George's Circus, Blackfriars-road, on the
body of It. Butler, aged 48, who died from breathing impure
air, and not allowing himself the common necessaries of life.
—Mr. Hooper, the parish surgeon, deposed that on the
morning of Sunday last, he saw the deceased at No. 4, Minah-
place, King-street, Borough-road. Ile was then alive, but
his extremities mete quite cold, and there was no pulse to be
felt. lie was lying perfectly naked upon an old mattress on
the floor. The stench was quite sufficient to kill any one.
At the back of the house was a dustman's yard, which of
itself was quite sufficient to engender fever.—(A juror ob-
served that the stench in the neighbourhood was so great that
he was frequently obliged to burn brown paper to destroy it.)
Witness scat out for some brandy and gave deceased a tea-
spoonful in tome warm water once or twice, and he seemed
to rally a little. After the lapse of half an hour he began to
sink, and he expired in the course of an hour afterwards.
Witness attributed death to the impure atmosphere he bad
been breathing, and his not allowing himself sufficient food.
—John Woolf, police constable Id, No. 213, said that he
occupied the house, No. 4, Minah-place. The deceased
rented one of the back rooms, and had done so since lost
April 12 months. He understood that by trade he was a
shoe-maker. lie had beets confined to his room during the
past few days. After the death of deceased, whilst searching
the room, witness found 251. 19s. 9,1. The deceased was a
man of very parsimonious habits, and would not allow him-
self the common necessaries of life. He would never allow
his wife to enter his room, or it would have been properly
cleansed.—Elizabeth Woolf, the wife of the last witness, said
that she had given the deceased soup and sago to strengthen
him, believing him to be unable to get either for himself. She
had done so when she and her family wanted such articles
themselves.—Verdict, " That the deceased died from breath.
ing impure air, and neglecting to take the common neces-
sariesof Svxxxr COUNTY LeNATIC
&WM:M.—Before W. Carter, Esq., at the County Lunatic
Asylum, near Wandeworth, relative to the death of George
Randall Woods, aged 27. The case excited such interest es
to induce the attendance of Mr. Kemble, the chairman of
the visiting magistrates. The deceased, a clerk, was ad.
mitted on the 18th of October last, and died on the 31st of
that menth.—Edward Itouse, an attendant, stated that on
Sunday morning be had occasion to leave the ward in which
deceased was, with upwards of forty other patients, to go to
another part of the building, and desired a patient named
Glover to watch the deceased, who was considered a suicidal
patient. Witness returned in a few minutes, and missing
deceased, inquired after him, and was induced to visit the
bath-room. lie there found the deceased lying on his side
with a razor grasped tightly in his right nand and his throat
cut. The razor was usually kept in the private drawer of
the senior attendant's room. Could not account for deceased's
possession of it. Durham, the other attendant, bad put the
razor in a cupboard in the day room used by the patients
on the Saturday previous. That cupboard is used to keep
the carving knife and fork and the attendants' knives and
forks, crockery, and other article' that could be resorted to
by the patients desirous of destroying themselves. That cup-
board, however, was invariably kept locked. Glover was of
a quiet and very benevolent disposition, and one that would
prevent suicide if be saw it attempted.—Mr. Joseph Holland,
the resident medical officer, deposed that deceased was ex-
tremely melancholy, had a great desire to secrete himself
from his fellows, and was disposed to commit suicide ; and in
consequence he had given strict injunctions to the attendants
to watch him. Witness considered Rouse had acted judi-
ciously in placing deceased under Glover's care. Looking at
the circumstances of the deceased's death, he had not the
least fault to find with either of the attendants. He
was very much surprised to find the deceased in posses-
sion of a razor.—Other evidence having been gone into,
the jury returned as their verdict, "That the deceased de-
stroyed himself by cutting his throat with a razor, being of
unsound mind; and we, the jury, regret that the razors, as
well as other instruments calculated to cause death, should
have been placed in the cupboard of the room appropriated
to the lunatic patients, and suggest to the committee the
consideration of this subject." The foreman also wished it
to be understood that the jury did not consider the attend-
ance sufficient.—Mr. Kemble assured the coroner and jury
that their suggestions should meet with the utmost attention
from the visiting justices.