The Express.
London, England, 1850-02-07 00:00:00

EQUALISATION OF THE LAND TAX.

DEPUTATION TO TILE GOVERNMENT.

Yesterday a deputation of delegates from several
metropolitan pariglw, nominated for the purpose of obtain-
ing an tquali,ation of the land tas, waited upon the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, by appointment, at his official
naalenee in Duetting street, with the Mew of urging upun
the conaiderati A of the so autumns more equable arr►nge-
ment of the land tax. _

The deputation, eth:th was seoompanied by General Eilr
Da L,ey Evans and Mr. ensiles Lushington, members for
Westminster, was itompaed of delegates from the following
districts :—The Liberty of the Rails; St. Paul, Covent-
garden ; St. Andrew, lI Aborn ; St. Clement Dana; St.
Map-le-Strand; St. Anus's, Soho; Bt. James, Clerken
w.II; Christchurch, Newgate street; 8:. Saviour'. South-
wark ; and St. St. phen's, Walbrook.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer was accompanied by
Mr. John Wood, the Chairman of the Board at Inland
Revenue.

The deputation having been introduced. Mr. DANIEL,
the hon. secretary to the commit!ee of delegates, explained
to the Chancellor that in order to save time it had been
arranged that Mr. Miller, of the Chancery bar, who was
one of the most active members, and understood the question
in all its bearings, should act as the organ of the depute.-
, don in addressing the right hon. gentleman.
Mr. MILLER stated that the principal objects sought by
the deputation were, firs:, to direct the attention of the
government to the great advantage which must accrue to
he country from a general equalisation of th- lard tux; and
secondly, in the eventof no general measure being iwroduced,
to show the neee,sity of an immeliate interposition on the
part of the government to prtvent the continuance and in-
crease of the very great injustice which was now daily arising
from the operation of existing acts under which the assess-
ment and collection of the lend tax was made. The
amount of the land tax as originaly imposed by Pitt
was two millions per annum, but of this amount about
one.third bad been redeemed, leaving say in round
numbers 1,2000001. per annum to be collects at the
present time. tine anomalous mode in which this tax was
assessed had become proverbial, and was no doubt well
known to the Chancellor, but fir the purpose of illustrating
the remarks he was about to make, he would take liberty to
refer to a few i detentes of these almost absurd inequalities. The
City of London for instance was weed for land tax at
the annual sum of 123,3991., while the important borough
of Liverpool paid only the nominal sum of 1991. The City
of Westminster paid 63,0931., while the town of Brigh•on
escaped with only 1681. In the City of Bath, the property
in which chargeable to land tax was of the annual value of
467,450/., nes assemed at 4431., while Wiocbilaaa, where the
anneal value of property of a similar character was oul
6,3801., paid 3101. The town of Halifax, the property in which
was of the annual value of 91,3351., paid :22/. 161., while
Sheffield, the property in which was of the annual value of
213,2661., paid 2121. And, lastly, the parishes of St.
Andrew, Holborn, and Si. George, Bloomsbury, the annual
value of property in which was 183,1901., were assessed
to the land tax at 9,0181. ; while the parish of St. Mary's-
bone, the annual value of which was 1,132,3241., paid only
5641. The consequence of this unequal assessment was, that
in some places the rate charged for land tax was 2s. and even
3s. in the poand, while in others it was lose than •
loathing. Now, it was proposed by those who advo-
cated • Resent equalisation of this tag, that in-
stead of the present unjust, and, as it was conceived,
unequal mode of assessment, an equal ground.
rate on the naredeemed portion of the tax should
1-• ••••••••1 mending t. the Ville a the property uses
.
which it was assesseg ; and that the country might not lose
the benefit of the annual increase to the tax which would
arise from the increase of property ; that the tax should be
assessed annually in the same manner as the house tax, or be
subject to periodical revision. A more opportune period
than the present for an equitable adjustment of
this tax could scarcely be selected, for until lately
the land-tax had always been comidered by a large part of
the landed interest as one relating exclusively to land, and
that any alteration of it would only tend to increase their
burdens; but, now that their attention had been properly
directed te the subject, they had become satisfied that great
public benefit would be produced by an equalisation of the
tax, besides affording • certain amount of relief in various
astricultural districts.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER in reply
said, that as to the general equalisation of the land tax,
that was too large • question for hiss to enema an opinion
upon, particularly after the manner in which the tax had
been dealt with at the time the Redemption Acts were
passed, Mr. Pitt having treated the quotas then fixed as
perpetsud, because the government wanted money for war
purposes. With regard to the partial relief sought, it did
not appear to him that the pony who appeared in the
Holborn division had exhausted all the remedies given to
hiss by the set, and he considered there wan no valid
reason for coming to parliament for fresh powers until
that had been dose. In Lord Ayleferd's ease referred to
in Mr. Wood's evidence before the agricultural committee
in 1830, ft was laid down that if the commissions did net
meet together and make an equal rate, a power was given
to apply to the Court et Exchequer is order to compel
them to do so.

Mr. I. WOOD also observed that the parties had the
power of relieving themselves by following out the case
refereed to by the Chancellor.

Mr. MILLER referred to Mr. Pitt's observations at the
time the Redemption Act wee introduced, for the purpose
of showing that the minister did not consider that act pre
vented the question of an equal repartitiou from being
brought forward, and to the evident* of Mr. Wood, before
the Agricultural Committee, in 1836, who expressed an
opinion that there was not any substantial reason why the
land-tax should not bo subject to the same alteration, as
cording to the fluctuation in the valuation of property, as
was the house-tax. With regard to the remedy suggested
by the Chancellor against the commissioners, the point had
been considered by the most eminent counsel, all of whom
had advised that the decision of the commie/denies was final,
and that the parties ar.pealing were without remedy.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER made no
farther obwrwatione on the 'abject, and the deputation, after
a fsw monists' hesitation, retired from the minister's
preeenee.

INDIAN RIVER STEAM NAVIGATION.

A number of gentlemen favourable to the establish-
ment of steam communication on the rivers of India dined
together yesterday evening, at the London Coffee-house,
Ludgate-WM The chair was taken by Mr. WGlrtgor, M.P.
Amongst the company were Mr. 'alma, M.P., Mr.
Duncsn, M.P., Col. Dickenson, the Hon. J. Bird, Sir J.
Campbell, Capt. Mangles, R.N., Mr. Bainbridge, Mr.
Walker, and other gentlemen, either conneeted with India
commercially, or anions for the development of its re•

Tla usual loyal toasts having been proposed and duly
re
to CtiliAlallAN proposed "The Indian Empire." He
ebesned that, ninety-Are years age ,_the Anglo-Saxon ran,
or the ran eprabiag the English language in
India, win iniEnlibent, as compared with the
=lndian perdition of the present day. H.
they wen yet oaly oa the eve of deve-
loping the renames of the British empire in the east.
Ad to the eyesial object for whin the eompasy bad
he mkt be did not despair darning the riven of
India by steamboats, and mates of traasit sets•
by unmet railways from ens river to another. As
✓egarial ens menalwitures, the object was a ant Important
one ; be what was chiefly required for their development
was a Nadal seas eal of the raw material, end that ob-
ject wend barrenly prometed by the establishment detain
semsnieseles la the riven of India. He would connect
I with the IS the some of a patloaaa who had had groat

of IsdLt, namely, the Hon.

;tim la the adesans..-__
Mast WN meet andlatly received.
MID, in responding, said it afforded him great
M see eo many gentlemen who were exerting them-
proutote the fasprovement of the internal communi.
ark= of India. He was not a shareholder in the under-
taking, badf opinion that, on account of the paths'
"Ida be formerly held in ladle, it would not be
bisindes In him to be engaged in • pecuniary speculation
Glue; but he would yield tone man In • desire to promote
tie prosperity of the Indian empire, and in order to do so be
would do all in hie power to advance the object. (Hear,
bear.) Of tonne be could not i retend to be a judge ai to
the practicability of the scheme ; but when be saw
men of the highest *Waster and attainments, men
wbo were acquainted with the local peculiarities of
India, and therefore well acquainted &WI the obetaeles
to be contended with ardently endeavouring to promote it,
be could not entertain a doubt of its ultimate success, and
even if a doubt existed in his mind, he should not, in the
face of such testimony, feel justified in opposing the experi-
ment. (Hear, hear.) land been objected, that as railroads
were about to be constructed in India, there could be no
necessity for establishing any other internal communication.
It should be remembered, however, that SOZIIO years had
already been spent in endeavouring to form railways In
India, and whatever exertions might be used, it would be
extravagant to suppose that in their own lifetime railway
communisation would be established to the extent required.
Even It such communication were established, as

far es might be prUtic;ble, that would not ren.
der river navigation Inexpedient.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The manufacturers
of the British empire," annexing to the toast the name of
Mr. Dances, M.P.
The tout haviug been duly acknowledged,
Mr. DUNCAN replied. The hon. gentleman said he
cordially concurred with Mr. Bird, as to the expediency of
endeav,mring to conciliate the government. The promotion
of the scheme should endeavour to smooth down the executive,
sad to show them the necessity for action. lie had never
seen the mot, whether tory, Whig, or radical, who could lasi
stand out against common sense. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN then propcsed, " The development of
the resources of India, and prosperity to the trade of
Central Asia." He observed that far some time pest an
apprehension had existed that there would be a deficiency
in the supply of the raw material for the cotton manufactures
of this country. 114hty.nine years ego the population of
the United States did not exceed 2,000,000. It wu now
26,000,000; and, taking into account the facilities in thou
states afforded for the feeding of its inhabitants, he thought
it was not unreasonable to anticipate that in 1860 the popu-
lation would be 4.5,000,000. At the increased population
would by its own consumption lessen the supply of union for
this country, it was important to look t• India as a source of
further supply. It ;wu worthy of remark that our first im-
ports of cotton cam from India.
The toast was well received.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed the special tout of the
evening, " The Indian River Steam Navignuon." He begged
to connect with the tout the nuns of lir. Burns and Mr.
Penn. _ _

The toast was very cordially responded to.
Mr. BOURNE said he thought the best course he could
pursue was to state a few plain facts bearing directly on the
project ander consideratiou. The depth of the most
important rivers of India had been ascertained
by mesas of scientific surveys. From those surveys
it appeared that the minimum depth of the
Ganges between Calcutta and Delhi was about two
test. Therefore, by employing vessels drawing less than two
feet of water, they might establish uninterrupted communi-
cation b. teeen those two cities, situated 1,400 miles apart,
during all mums of the year.
Mr. PENN also briefly acknowledged the tote•,
The CHAIRMAN next proposed, "The Peninsular and
Oriental Steam Navigation Company," nutting with it the
names of Mr. Allen (the secretary of that company) and
Capt. Mangles.
The toast having been drunk, the gentlemen named re-
spectively roturneo Hanka.
The health of Mr. MILLER having been proposed and
acknowledged, that gentleman narrated the circum-
stances under which the Rhone had been first navi-
gated by himself with a steamboat, to the great
amazetneut of the people of Lyons and Ar!es, and stated
that there were then between thirty and forty steam-boats
constantly plying on that river.
The next toast was " The Eastern Archipelago and Mr.
Wyse."
Mr. WYSE returned thanks.
Some other toasts followed, and the company broke up,
soparenUy much pleased with the harmony of the proceed-
ings Ella the promising character of the enterprise.

METROPOLITAN SANITAItY ASSOCIATION.

A numerously attended meeting of the lletroplitan
Sanitary Association and others interested in the aanitary
improvement of the metropolis, was held yesterday, at two
o'clock, at the Freemasons' Tavern, the Bishop of LONDON
in the chair.

His LORDSHIP, in opening the meeting, said he bud
consented without any reluctance to the proposal made to
him to take the chair at that meeting, under the firm con-
viction that the object whirls it was intended to promote
was, in the strictest sense of the term, one of charity ; end
that in acceding to the proposal to preside at that meeting
he should not be out of his place or duty. (Hear,
hear.) Of the different ingredients that went to
make up that cup of misery, which was drained to
the dregs by so many of their poorer brethren, it would be
difficult indeed to say which was the most deleterious; but
of this he was convinced, that, if they devoted exclusively
1 all the resources of the healing vktue of charity to the evils
which afflicted the poorer classes, even under such circum-
stances they would have a difficult, though he should say
not a hopeless task to accomplish. (Hear, hear.) It was
admitted on all hands that it they wished to elevate the
poerer classes of this country In the scale of social order,
utilization, and moral dignity; if they desired to elevate
them in some measure becoming the position of rational
beings, and servants of God, they should commence by
removing the evils that dipped them in the very
depths of poverty and degradation. (Hear, hear.)
Amid the many evils, dark and discouraging, in
which their lives were cast, and which had their
origin principally in the present unnatural state of
society, arising from the rapid progress of civilisation, and
the vast number of persons thrown tomther in this great
" " btight and Leering prom::.,
light which shot across the 4:4 sky, end which might he
traced in the fact that the attention of the public mind was
at length energetically directed to the duty of improving the
condition of the poorer classes, and lifting them abuse the
degradation and misery in which they had been sunk for
many yews. (War, hear.) The result of all that would
be, it carried out fully, and to the extent which they hoped
it would, a lessening of the fearful chasm, in a worellY point
of view, which divided the extremely wealthy from the
extremely poor of the country, and separated class from
class. (Hear, hear.) lie did not think he could give
greater weight to his observations than by taking for his
tut the inspiriting and comforting words uttered by her
Majesty in her late speech from the throne :—" In the
summer and autumn of the put year the United Kingdom
was again visited by the ravages of cholera, but Almighty
God, in his mercy, was pleased to arrest the progress of
mortality, and to stay this fearful pestilence. Her Majesty
is persuaded that we shall best evince our gratitude by vigi•
last precautions against the more obvious causes of sickness,
and an enlightened conWeration for those who are more
exposed to its attacks." (Hear hear.) He admitted that
that paragraph contained the true principle of charity. They
had, by the opening portion of the paragraph of her Majesty's
speuh, been reminded of the awful lesson which, by
the divine dhpensation, they had been taught, and
which, he trusted, would not be lost on them. (Hear,hear.)
It was a fearful contemplation that in that metropolis more
than sixteen thousand human beings bad fallen victims to
the fearful malady ; and if they might judge from the re-
ports of the medical men, who were engaged in inspecting
the different districts, and who furnished mfficient data for
the weenies, it was certain that at least half that number
might have been saved had timely sanitary precautions been
resorted to. (Hear, hear.) The fact of eight thousand souls
being hurried into eternity, without time being given them
for the least preparation, was a fearful reflection ; when, if
that important branch of charity—he alluded to sanitary
improvement—had been attended to, those eight thousand
persons would have been spared to their families
and country. He begged to read for them an extract from a
report mime by Mr. (Sotto on the sanitary condition et the
district of St. Giles, which was as follows ;
"I regret that a personal examination of every house
enables me to corroborate this testimony, but while the most
fearful degradation of the human character is here exhibited,
there apparently exists an universal eons, of their sanitary
danger and a sincere desire for relief. Interest and grati-
tude are expressed on every hand at even the preepeot of
being plead under circumstances affording the opportunity
of cultivating desalinise, comfort, and privacy, of which
they are now wholly deprived."

That induced him to touch in a few words on a subject of
great importance, namely, the feelings of the poorer vietains
of filth and sickness, with regard to the immures undertaken
for their amelioration, and which feelings, he would say,
were thou of hopefulness and gratitude. (Hear, hear.) The
experience of the last few years had abundantly confuted
the slanders uttered against the poor, to the effect that their
moral sense and notions of decency had been too mach
blunted by the *cones which surrounded them to seek to
elevate themselves. (Hoar, hear.) He mentioned it with
thankfulness and satisfaction that he had the privilege and
happiness of being amongst those who had succeeded in
establishing public friths and wuhbouses in the metropolis.
(" Hear, hear," and applause.) He had been told,
previous to that time, that the poor would not take
the trouble of washing themselves, and that the area
don of these baths would be only a waste of money.
Now, the result exceeded the most sanguine expectations of
the friends of the poor. (Hoar.) The extent to which
diseaes was prevented, even in crowded houses, by affording
ample opportunity for washing, was very great; and he hash
toted not to say it they were given the means of improving their
sanitary condition they would amply avail themeelves of them.
(Hear.) That led hies to the last topic he would touch upon.
For his own part he believed there was no charitable mea-
sure they could effect that would not be economical to the
public, and that a saving would be effected in • thousand
quarters little likely to be thought of
The BECUSTkiiIf next react letters of apology from
Viscount B•rineton Lord Dudley Stuart, Sir W. Moles-
worth, Sir W. Playfair. Sir J. Duke, and Col. Bikes, each of
whom declared his inability to attend owing to prior
meats and the pressure of Important public buainZl.Pfies;
aext reed letters from the following noblemen and gentle-
men, expressing their approval of the ablom' of the alsocia-

lion: the Duke of Welling:a, the Duke of Buccleach, the
Boil of Essex, the Earl of Salisbury, the Lord Bishop of
Salisbury, Sir J. Burgoyne, Sir B. all, Hia. Mr. BLUM,
Baron R.:thschild, and Mr. CardwellS
The Bishop of CHICHBSTRIt proposed the first
more resolo-
don :
125000 inhabitants, this metropolis, witli
" That, with the exception of the City of Loader, con-
taining only
than 2,000,000 of souls, forming a large proportion of the
town population of England, is destitute of any adequate
provision or effective organisation whereby the comfort.
health, and lives of the people can be watched over and pre.
served. That although the strenuous efforts made in the
metropolitan districts to mentos a sanitary enactment mainly
esedributed to the past of the Public Health Act, yet
them district, were the only parts excluded from the benefit"
of that enactment. This exclusion has led to much misery
sad a great sacrifice of life. In the opiniou of this meeting,
therefore, it is •xpedi.nt that a comprehensive bill be forth-
with introduced into parliament, to remedy the grievous
evils which afflict and oppress the inhabitants generally, bat
more particularly the working classes of this vast metro-
polis."
Lord ASHLEY seconded the resolution. It was a matter
of great satisfaction to him to perceive his lordship preeid.
Log ever that moat influential meeting, the object of which
was the improvement of the sanitary condition of the vast
multitude, and thus lending the sanction of ..is high cha-
meta and sacred office to the advancement of a matter
absting as deeply the moral es the temporal wants of thou-
sands. Those who had laboured so lung in the cause had
bad great difficulties to contend with in establishing
its truth, though he ought not to say " ester
because it was most clear to the hearts
emllundentanoitifts of all, though they had had to contend
with ignorance, it difference, and groat selfishness. (Haar,
hear.) He believed nothing but the late epidemic bad
taught the indifferent of former days to think differently
now, and adopt a safer course of action. (Hear, hear.) The
state in which they were placed in that metropolis was not
only perilous to those wh.l resided in it, but was a dirgraoe
to the age in which they lived. (Hear, hear.) It was a
disgrace to hear high-sounding peoLisions of civilisation and
morality, whilst they were surrounded by every noxious and
deadly pestilence ; and they ought to be thankful to Al-
mighty God who had saved them from, what he would colk
the just coneequenen of their own neglect and folly.
(Hear, hear.) Go where they might, the air they
breathed, and the surface they walked on, were tainted
and rife with the testis of death. (Hear, hear.) If they
doubted the existence of the noxious process that hurried
so many thousands to premature graves, he begged to call
attention to the deaths that had taken place in toe district
of Lambeth, and the complaints of the Bard of Health in
reference to the flesh-boiling and bone-crushing carried Oa
almost at their very Boon, and which were cakulatcd to
make them recoil in terror and disgust. (Hear, hear.) Let
them lo A at the wahines of Smithfield market, that grand
mart of pestilence and death. (Hear, he.r.) Let them
contemplate the various processes by which death is ac-
complished in such a place, chocking every sense and feel-
ing. (Hear, hear.) Yet, for:troth, they were told by the
apologists for such a nuisance that " they had no
ngtet to complain, inasmuch as it entirely pro-
ceeded from contracted space :" thus admitting the
strongest necessity for its abatement and removal.
He would state one fact to impress on :hem the dan-
ger that slimed from the practice of int,tsmural interments,
and the necessity for immediately remedying it. In a sur-
face of ground, not amounting to 250 rcres, there h.d been
interred in some thirty years in that meteor( lis more than a
million and a half of human beings. Now, who; can be the
state of the atrowhere, affected beyond a donut by the ex-
halations from these graves,in a metropoli so circumstanced?
(Hear, hear.) Again, let the condition of the people
be considered, crowded as they were in the wretches lanes,
alleys, and miserable domiciles of that net at city. (Hear,
hear.) Let any person who ever perambulated these places
say whether it wee lignin's to breathe untalt.ted tilt air of
heaven, or that it was possible to avoid drinking in that
which led to a crippled existeice and a rrrmature
grave It was no exaggeration to state that in many parts
of London the people, though they willed it, eltil4 not be
clean for want of water. (Hear, hear.) During the preys-
-I,nee of the late epidemic, he believed there was a great
amunt of suffering caused by reason of water being ties ood
the reach of the people. (Hear, hear.) In many places the
water, when aupplied, was of a most ',Abut kind. (Hear,
heir.) He wished he could describe with the fidelity and
ability of Mr. Charles Dickens, who had done mere for the
amelioration of the people, in a social point of view, than
any writer of the present day. (" Hear, hear," and
applause)—the sufferings and privations endured by
the lower classes. He believed it would require little
argument to prove that at least one-third of the poverty of
the country aro e from the sanitary, or rathi r the non-sanis
tary condition in which the p.ople were compelled to live.
(Hear, hear.) He doubted no*, if proper sanitary regula-
tions were carried out in all the great towns of England,
that before ten years they would have reduced the poor-rates
by two millions annually. (Hear, hear.) What was the
process of pauperisation ? A young man came up to town
to seek employment, and probably found it, at 30s.
or 255. per week. He could cot sei^ct his resi-
dence, and was obliged to be Lear his place of
employment. He generally settled down in same

It Plley, whero"'tever wu meldom ab ent ; and in the

course a i few months, having contracted fiver, he died,
and, his wife and family were thrown on the poor's
rate. (Hear, hear.) He held in his hard a paper
which contained the statistics of the 16,696 o none who had
tied in London of cholera, the proportion being 72 per cent.
of the peseta class, 16 of the middle clue, sod 3 of the
higher class of the community, and the expense of which
cases, hospital treatment, funerals, and ail that, amounted to
130,0001. How was it pwsible that in apartments where
there resided two and three fami!iss, the laws of decency
or morality could be carried out ? (Hear, hear.) Therefore
such a state of, things was a great drawback on the exertions
of the ministers of religion—(hear, bear)—and it was to no
purpose that they got up schools and endonred churches
whilst such a &viola lasted.

The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, which was
curried.

AoENTLEMAN in the body of the hall rose, and called
attention to the necessity of abolishing the window tax and
water monopoly.
Lord R. GROSVENOR moved the second revolution,
which was seconded by Mr. WYLDE, and carried:

Tnat the reports of the medical superintending inspec-
tors employed during the late visitation have brought to
light evils which fall most heavily on the labouring popu-
lation, who are least able to sustain and totally unable to
remove them—evils calling for the deepest sympathy. and
at the tame time uemaniung tile most prompt, energetic, and
carefully-devised means of relief."
The Rev. Dr. CUMMING proposed the third resolution
" That in the metropolis the lets epidemic destroyed
16,000 persons, of which number it is estimated not one-half
would have perished had the measures of prevention finally
adopted been timely resorted to ; and that more than 13,000
persons annually perish from disease, whose lives might,
under the Divine bie:ying, he saved by efficient sanitary pre-
cautions. That this great agrifice of human life is Accom-
panied by an amount of physical 4egradation and mental
depravity, which act as effective barritrs to the inculcation
either of social obligations or of Christian virtues."

Mr. CHARLES DICKENS, on rising to second the reso-
lution, was received with loud and continued applause. He
had been requested to second the resolution, and to say a few
words. It was a common figure of speech, when anything
important was omitted, to say, " it was the play of ' Hamlet
with thatcharacter left out." (Hear.) But the existence of
a Public Health Act, with London excluded, suggested more
to him, which was, the representation of " Hamlet," with
all but the gravediggers' scene left out. (" Hear, hear,"
laughter and cheers.) They had heard that •
state of things existed which could not be per-
mitted to continue. They found every year that 13.000
unfortunate persons died prematurely in London that
infancy was stunted, maturity made old age, and old age
weak and imbecile ; and, therefore, they claimed for the
metropolis of that christian country that such a state of thing
should be abolished, and that the legislature, by its patron-
age, should set an example to the whole empire. (Hear.)
Of the sanitary condition of London, he believed it would be
impossible to speak with full accuracy. He knew of many
places in the metropolis unsurpassed in the accumulated
horrors of their neglect by the worst old spots of the worst
old towns under the worst old governments in Europe.
(Laughter.) Contrast that rank and intelligence in this suite
of civilised society to which they had attained,
and which every man of sense knew there must be, and he
believed that no such contrast as their handsome streets and
railroads, and their electric telegraph in the year of the Lord
1850, presented to the mass of dwellings of the poor ever was
presented on the earth. (Hear.) No person that bad sap,-
nence of the poor could fail to see their virtues and sym-
pathies, as exhibited at the moment of death, when some
ragged Samaritan fiequently came to share his last penny
with the departing occupant of some garret or cellar. (Hear.
hear.) It was to develop these virtues, and raise them in
the social scale, and above the condition they would not
allow their beasts to sink to, that they were assembled there
that day. (Hear, hear.) He could not lay to his heart the
idea that they were there to plume themselves on their cha-
rity or humanity, but rather to help to set right that which
was wrong in the face of God and man. (Applause.)
The resolution was then put and carried.
Me. BLANEY proposed the next resolution, which being
seconded by Mr. POWNALL, was carried :—" That the
total want of efficient machinery wherewith to meet the re-
current ravages of cholera and the constant devastations of
typhus and other epidemic diseases induced by the state of
the dwellings of the poor and of the grave-yards, by the
defective water-supply and drainage, by the overcrowding of
houses, by the imperfect paving and cleansing of the streets
and the non-removal of refuse, and by the prevalence of
nuisances and of offensive and noxious trades and manufac-
tures imperitavely callsfor legislative interference." This
meeting therefore considering the redness of the evils
sought to be remedied, the importance of the remedial mea-
sures contemplated, and the influence which the Improve-
emmepnitreot, t:nobs
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mweomulodrieLebort
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tthheeoßerinettaish
Board of Health praying for its support and co-operation;
and adopts a petition ro parliament.
mot,. RtOhtriastEßSressionictleptne. Itar.roDuro.:ZOwlikTicHhlNZlaisoON

adopted:—
"That an amociation, termed 'The Metropolitan Sani-
tary Association,' having been formed for the purpose of
obtaining a sanitary act for the metropolis adequate to its
requirements, and for the adoption of such other measures
as 0517 be deemed advisable to improve the social condition
of the labouring classes, the following neblemen and gen-
tlemen be appointed to act as officers of this association."
A petition to the legislature,Joanded on the foregoing
resolutions, was then adopted. Thanks were next aooorded
to the Bishop of London for his dignified conduct in the
chair ; and the meeting adjoarsed at half•past fiTe
o'clock.