The Express.
London, England, 1860-06-14 00:00:00

ZMEANEMENT OP viz THAMES.

A public meeting of the inhabitants of the Strand
and the surrounding neighbourhood, convened by the St.
Martin's-in-the-Fields Ratepayers' Protection Society, was
held last evening at Exeter-hall, for the purpose of protest-
ing against the low-level north sewer being carried up the
Strand. Mr. MORT BOARS presided.
The CHAIRDIAN, in opening the procerVen , said that there
appeared to be but one opinion with to this low-level
sewer being carried up the Strand and leet-street. and that
was that it would be an unmitigated nuiennee. When they
got below London-bridge he confessed that it would be shoo-
lutely necessary togo under ground for some distance,but that
was no reason whyrthey should have it in • place where there
was no necessity for it, as in the easepf from Westminster
to London-bridge. lie thought that such a work as that
should be made a matter of profit, so as to make the outlay
have, fair returns end give interest to the capitalist who
has embarked his money in it, as well as be greatly be-
neficial to the agriculture of the country.
Mr. Douvron moved a resolution to the effect that in
the opinion of the meeting the embankment of the Thames
between Westminster and 'London bridges would be highly
beneficial to the public at large, by improving the naviga-
tion, covering the mud banks, affording relief to the
overcrowded thoroughfares of the metropolis, and Cep:l:-
Tiding a healthy and agreeable promenade to the inhabitants
of London. _

Mr . Churchwarden MARBHALL, in which the resolu-
tion, enlarged upon the peat benefits the publie
would derive from the plan of the embankment of the
Thames asfipropeeed by the resolution, and the greet inconve-
nience which would arise if the low.level sewer was carried
under the Strand.

The motion wall carried unanimously.
Mr. TEMPANT moved a resolution to the effect that the
construction of the work should be commenced without
delay in order that the low level north sewer might be con-
structed within such embankment, instead of being carried
through the Strand and Fleet-street, a course that would not
only be of serious inconvenience to the public traffic during
the execution of the work,but probably of permanent injury
to the property of the locality and detrimental to the occu-
piers of houses io those lines of thoroughfares."
The motion wan seconded by Mr. Cum, and carried
nein. eon. Other naolutions in furtherance of the object
for which the meeting was convened having been carried
the meeting separated.

HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN, GREAT

ORdIOND-STRZET.

Lest night the eighth annual festival of this
admirable charity was held at Willis's Rooms ; Sir JOHN
PAILINOTON' M.P., in the chair. There was a large at-
tendance. In proposing the toast of the evening, Sir John
Pakington said the post which he filled had on previous
years been occupied by gentlemen of great eminence
and ability • 'out he suspected that with all their eloquence
they could 'tell the meeting very little that the meeting
could not have told them. It was sad to think that this great
country, which had boasted so much and so justly of its
charitable institutions, was till very lately behind the
nations of the Continent in that which was the most
interesting and most touching field for philanthropic
exertion—hospitals for sick children. It was a fact
that until eight years ago there was neither in this
metropolis nor in the whole country a single institution de-
voted to the medical care of the young. It had been stated
in an affecting article in Hogamhold Words that of the
coffins made in Louden one in every three was for • child
under 10 years. That, however, was an understatement ;
for it appeared that of the 50.000 deaths which annually
occurred in the metropolis, 20,000 were those of children.
This greet mortality was attributable to two *chief reasons.
First, the commas diseases of childhood measles,
hooping-cough, and the like—of which they made
so light, were really much more fatal than were
generally supposed. The other reason was the
small opportunity which medical men bad of studying in-
fantine disease as compared with the maladies of adult..
He thought, therefore, that there was ample pound for the
establishment of a hospital especially devoted to children.
During the eight years which it had been in existence it
bad received 2,272 in-patients, and it had assisted MOW
out-patients. He was glad to say that the &slim of_ re-
luctance to part with their children which parents had at
first appeared to entertain had entirely disappeared. He
was delighted to be able to anomaly* a donation of 5001.
from Mr. Goshen. (Cheers.) The toast was drunk with
loud applause. The Queen 'e Advocate (Sir J. Harding),
after a facetious allusion to the right hoe. baronet's care
of the sick gunboats, proposed the health of the chairman,
which was received with loud cheers. Donations to the
amount of 1,7001., and annual subscriptions to the amount
of SOL, ware announced. The musical entertainmests of
the erasing were provided by Messrs. Lackey, Francis,
Benson, and Winn ; and Mr. If played the part of toast-
master with his accustomed emciaacy.

The annual meeting of the society, established for
the supply of books minted in Moon s raised type, with
home teachers or ntiosiOtiatias employed for the instruction
of the blind, to enable them to read the Scriptures, was
held on Monday at Willis's Rooms, the Right Hon. the Earl
of kshafteibury presiding. Besides a numerous assemblage
of benevolent ladies and gentlemen, many of the blind
pupils were present.