The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-31 00:00:00

110LBORV
• •

TRS Evitnima, FOR LOVE. Messrs. H. J. Montague, Price,
Gorden. Westland, and 'K. Widdloonsts: Mesdames Stephens,
Bestrode. C Saunders, ft.—And MARY TUUNKR; OR, TIM
WILLIN. Miss Josephs.—With 41.8.8. Mr. Ray.

DRITAIrIiLL
Ten EVINING. WILD cHAELIE; OR, THE LINE•BOY OF
OW LOND4N. Mr. P. Chariton.—Magraton Le Grand ; Stump-
Orator Wed and Mies T. Wed.—BREAK, NOT BEND. Ora
Lud —And THE HARVEST STORM.

MON WAY= AT LONDON SIMON
Ms DAY —lllengai. 4b. 201..--Aftarnoce, O. LAS.
11►Yolaow—YordeR. 4h. Um.- —...11216mma5, 411. 62m.

LONDON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31.

THE experts appointed by the authorities of
the Metropolitan Railway to report on the state of
the atmosphere in its tunnels have abundantly
justified the confidence placed in them. From the
moment their appointment was announced we felt
sure we should be informed in good time that the
quality of the air was beyond impeachment ; and
such is the case. Dr. BACH/WITHER and his col-
leagues have taken eight-and-twenty samples of
the air at different places and at different alti-
tudes, and subjected them to the most delicate
process of analysis, and the result is that " in no
" instance was the air vitiated to any material ex-
" tent." There was no deficiency of oxygen, that
vital element of air, and the nicest tests failed
to detect the presence of sulphurous acid.
Coal gas and carbonic oxide were found, but in
amounts so small as to be hardly discernible.
Carbonic acid, indeed, was found somewhat in
excess ; instead of bearing the normal propor-
tion of 4 in 10,000, it stood in that of 6,9,
and sometimes 12. It is true that by
taking samples between the hours of one and four
in the morning, when no trains were running,
the chemists are able to show even • lower
average ; but the figures we have quoted represent
the state of the air when the public are actually
wing the line. It appears, however, that in some
of our London theatres at ten o'clock at night, as
well as in some of our law courts, the air is even less
pure than this. The chemists, however, make
the graceful acknowledgment that impurities
which escape their testa may nevertheless be
exceedingly offensive. They tell us that they
could not find sulphurous acid gas, although
they sought for it by the most delicate chemical
teats with which they are acquainted, but they
admit that its presence in the tunnels is appre-
ciable both to taste and smell, more particularly
on those days when the atmosphere is unusually
dense ; they add, however, that the proportion
which produces disagreeable sensations is too small
to be deleterious to health. All this is very re-
assuring. There is or used to be a theory, a
part of the old doctrine of final causes, accord-
ing to which the unpleasant feelings which ac-
company the breathing of bad air were re-
garded as a wise and merciful !provision
to warn us of present danger. These learned
gentlemen, however, show plainly that this is an
error, and that you may be half choked with very
good air. As we lay down their report we feel
that we can take a more cheerful view of the con-
ditions of bodily life, and especially of the re-
pellent and recuperative powers which preserve
and renew the human frame.

Congratulating the directors of the Metropolitan
Railway upon this admirable report, we feel that
they are still more to be congratulated on the
practical measures by which they have shown
how little they relied on it. The managers of the
Company are much too wise to have ever sup-
posed that the public would be put off with a
paper exculpation, or accept the word of the
moat renowned chemists in the world, that the
headache, nausea, and sense of suffocation which
were the sure result of a descent into their
line last summer, had not their causes in a
state of the atmosphere which was palpable to
the senses. The line was at its worst about last
June and July, and the report of the chemists is
founded on observations made in September. At
the meeting of proprietors held in August the
Chairman of the Company admitted that improve-
ments in the ventilation of the tunnel, especially the
section between King's-cross and Baker-sireekwere
urgently called for, and mentioned several which were
in contemplation. Since then openings have been
made which have admitted a large body of air, and
for weeks past a considerable improvement in the
state of the tunnels has been perceptible. This is
the real answer of the Company to the public out-
cry. The report of the chemists is a very proper
document to be produced before a court when a
jury is to be satisfied that death has not been
accelerated by vitiating the air of the railway. But
it was not fear of death which led the public to
ask for better ventilation. Some unwise sensa-
tional articles have indeed been published repre-
senting that the railway was a mine which might
explode any day with " choke-damp ;" but these
extravagances might have been safely disregarded.
What the public wanted was simply a decent
regard for its health and comfort, and the Com-
pany has shown itself not unmindful of the wishes
of its customers. The verdict of the jury upon
ELIZABETH STAINSBY, exonerating the railway Co-
mpany from all responsibility for her death, appears
to be a very proper one.

REPRESENTATION Or SOUTH LISICESTERSHIRE. -
Mr. A. Pell, the chairman of the Central Chamber of
Agriculture, will he the conservative and agricultural
candidate to supply the vacancy caused by the death of
Kr.Packe.__. -

yORK Wi..RKING MEWS CONNERVATIYg Ass.
CILTU)N —The inaugural banquet of the York Working
Ken's Conservative Association took plain last evening,
is the Festival Concert-room. Covers were laid for two,
aad every seat was occupied. Sir John Pakington, in m .
turning thanks for the ministers, expressed his firm belief
that the working classes would not abuse the polineal
privileges be.towed upon them by the Reform Bill. The
company was also addressed by Lord Teignmouth, Admiral
Duacorube, Colonel Edwards, and Lord Neville.