The Express.
London, England, 1850-11-13 00:00:00

Elle erpreoo.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Osr anal notion of Outgoing Malls WM. to Ware, be foanl under
the heed of ',hipping Intelligence.
geheethensentehatenkled few "The Exprem" Leedom Evening paper,
Jaen to at the (Moe, 10, Boarereeninet, by Too oichck on the
dry of yablkedoe.

men WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tens Der—Sseakee. EL 24st. Afternoon, Int. ka.
TO-IIKOM011•••aleake. lb 4/xe. .Aftersoon, 10Ie. Inn.

LONDON. WEDNEBDAY, NOVEMBER li.

IT is evident by oar accounts from Berlin and
Vienna that Austria has lowered its tons with regard
to Hesse, and that SCIIWARZ EN BIRO recalls his inso-
lent orders to the Prussians to evacuee the electo-
rate. In consequ..cco of this the Prussians seem
either to have ahaedoned, or to be ready to abandon
Fulda, and to confine ttemmelves to the Etapen Straw.
The question of Hesse, the most untenable part of
the Austrian demands, being thus detrred to the
free Conference, renders it probable that one great
cause of immediate war will be removed.
There remains, however, the Schleswig-Holstein
insurrection, which Austria and her allies will con-
tinue even mare urgent upon, and for this reason,
that Russia has stipulated immediate military action
against Prussia for the reduction of Holstein ; whilst
with regard to Hesse—a purely German question—
the support of Russia was to be given in a more indi-
rect and remote way.
Now, the object of Austria and Bavaria being, not
to engage in a singkel ended cootest with Prussia on
behalf of flew, but to excite a war in wh.ch they
would have Russia for their ally, the march cf V e
troops of the pretended federation to Holstein will be
that insisted on. If Prussia resists their march, as we
yesterday explained, the Russian troops are to ad-
vance from Poland in full numbers, and with that per-
fection of equipment which the five millions of the
London loan have furnished.
We stated very fully yesterday the dangers, and
the very formidable combination of forces which
menace Prussia, and exhorted our government to
interfere, not, indeed, between the two rival German
powers, but against the pretensions of Russia to
march through Berlin to the conquest of Holstein,
under leave of the Lord in protocol. Tne resistance of
Schleswig Holstein, and the integrity of Dasmark,
form but the stalking-horse, behind which the aim-
lutism of Russia and Austria advances to the exter-
mination of the liberal party and liberal ideas in
Prussia. And England ought to settle that qneicion,
without allowing the continent to be convol.ed or
overwhelmed by it.
But whilst thus admitting that Prussia may be
assailed by an amoutit of force more than double that
of her own, and strongly advising England and
Prance by all the means in their power to avert such
an invasion, we see but one course for Prussia, if in-
vaded, and that is, manly and determined resi,tance.
If Prussia should either quietly suffer such invasive,
et stoop to any base or dishonourable aubmieeion to
escape it, Prussia perishes as a monarchy and as •
separate ration. And it is not only more honourable,
bu: more prudent, as affording chances and claims of
future resuscitation, for a nation to perish with arms
in its hands, than be kicked and croseed out of exist-
ence by the boot of a military despot.
The Timer, which regards the Forsible contest with
the Information and the confidence of the Austro-
Rumen League, declares that Prussia caeca resist,
that any appeal to the liberal party or teelirg in
Germany cannot cave it; and that the campaign and
the struggle will he decided purely by strategy and
numbers. Fortune, said NAPOLEON, is always on the
side of large battalions.
Rim own ex nerienee, however, sufßciently disproved
the dictum of NAPOLEON. A campaign in a country
roused by hatred towards the invaders, and
by spirit to resist them, is very different from a
campaign amidst a neutral or indifferent population.
With her numerous fortresses, her ample materials
of war, her universally armed and disciplined popu-
lation, Prussia may carry on *defensive war. If the
surface of the country be fiat, it is still intersected
by waters, and studded with strongly fortified towns.
The Prussian commander, whoever he may be, most
know that he has for antagonists two powers one,
of which, indeed both, are utterly bankrupt in
finances, and, therefore incapable of a lengthened
campaign, much less of a long and hard-fought war.
He must know too, that the very facts of such an
invasion and its cause would arouse the German, the
Polish, the Italian mind, as sell perhaps as French
ambition. Every week during which each t war
would be prolonged would bring strength to the
liberal and weakness to the absolutist camp.
In order, however, to ..make such a war, it would
not do to make a mere war of strategy. In
a mere manceuvring of armies a skilful general
may make the smaller number victorious, but
the chances are in favour, as NAPOLEON said, of the
roe b•itenti,ma. In • war of principle, a national war,
it is quite otherwise. Bat to render the war this,
Prussia should frankly hoist the liberal or consti-
tutional standard. It should eppeal to feelings
which it has sorely hurt, and to parties which it has
mercilessly crushed. We do not, of course, allude to
the extreme democrats, whom it would be hopeless
and idle to conciliate. But there are moderate men in
Germany who would demand a frank declaration a
the cause for which they were called upon to enter
into a deadly aai determined war.
We are perfectly convinced that the King of
PRUSSIA and his brother have it in their power to
issue a proclamation which would cause every Ger-
man arrayed against them to fling down his arms.
Look at the miserable and mock kings that are raising
this crusade, opposed by their chambers and by public
opinion, every one of them obliged to tread oat the
last vestige of a constitution, and unable to levy
a stiver but by the aid of bayonets. Thus War-
temhurg, Saxony, Hanover, and the Franconian
portion of Bavaria are just as disaffected as Hesse.
If Prussia raised boldly the constitutional and Ger-
man banner, half the armies of her German oppo-
nents would pass to her side. But we repeat, a war
of mere strategy will not do this. If Prussia is to
fight and to be victorious, Prussia must fight not as an
army, but as a nation—and a nation conscious that it
fights not merely for a dynasty, however duly
honoured, bat for the rights, the ideas, and the ob-
jects, which have grown with German mind and
German might, and which can neither in triumph nor
in degradation be separated from them.

A voice has been beard from Owydyr House. The
oracle of the Board of Health has again spoken, after
a lapse of some months. In so far as any Immediate
prospect of en improved water supply for the metro-
polis is concerned, the oracle is as uneatidaetory es
ever; but the delay io publishing the evidence upon
which the Report of the Board profeesed to be based
has been in some measure explained. The Board has
fillen in love with a new crotchet with reference to
the water supply of the metropolis; and, as the evi-
dence prepared to bolster up the old one will not suit
its successor, it must be thrown aside, like a last year's
almanac.
The Board, it appears, entertaining some not unna-
tural misgivings that its researches on Bagehot-heath
might not prove altoer•thir convincing to the public
mind, has instituted further investigations. With •
sharacteristic shyness of men whose professional
statue, while it was likely to inspire the public with
goolkienoe, was just ea likely to inspire themselves
with a troublesome disposition to utter their own
opinions frankly, the board has availed itself el the

services, sot of any experienced engineers and
chemists, but of an amateur with • handle to his
name—the Honourable WILLIAM NAPIER.
The Honourable WILLIAM was despatched by the
board to Bagshot-heatb, in August lass, in search of
as ample supply ot left and pure water ; and be ap-
peal, ever sines to have kept "pacing the dreary
suers incessantly," much after the fashion of WORDS.
WORTII'S leech-gatherer. He has evinced also genuine
Wardswerthiaa predilections in the selection of tee
persons from whose mouths he has sought to learn
wisdom. " I received." he says in one place, "mask
valuable informatics from • herb doctor. Agate, MI
consults " an intelligent labourer" in the habit et
" bathing in Hinley-pend." But his great authority
seems to be " a soi-dieant gamekeeper (but from his
appearance, I fear, occasionally a poacher.)"
To uo the Honourable WILLIAM justice, he has
done the work of his employers in a manner that
must be extremely satisfactory to them. They were
reluctantly obliged to confess in their report that the
quantity of soft water they expected to obtain from
the surface drainage of the Bsgshot sands would
require to be eked out by additional supplies
of the harder water of the Wey. Even then
they did not venture to promise so abundant a
supply to the metropolis as it at present re-
ceives from the companies, and were obliged to anti-
cipate the objections to their plan that might be raised
on this ground, by undertaking to demonstrate that
London is actually labJuring under a plethora of
water--that more is brought into it than the in-
habitants can consume, and that the surplus occasions
a dampness highly prejudicial to health. But en-
lightened by the herb doctor, the intelligent bathing
labourer, and the gentleman suspected of addicts in to
poaching pursuits, the Honourable WILLIAM NAPIEB
boldly promises that he can double the present
nnount of water ninety, that the water he introduces
shell be " of primitive purity, perfect in aeration,
brilliant in colour, soft almost as distilled water, of •
grateful temperature, about 50 degreis, and almost
free from mineral, animal, and vegetable admix-
ture."
Respeeting the sources whence this quintessence of
ideal water, this elixir of health and dualities,'
is to be derived, the oracle is rather obscure.
Some peones of " Part No. I," would lead as
to believe that only surface water, the pure
droppings of the clouds before they are tainted
with earthy admixtures, are to be taken. But other
putouts would seem to imply that the water will be
drawn from streams which have flowed from far
within the bowels of the earth. At one time we are
told that " the nature of the gathering grounds
exactly adapts them for the means of collection pro-
posed by the Riard," and that " a more admirable
plan of gathering rain-fall could not have been can-
ceived ;" bat at others we are told that spring. are to
be need, of which " the greater mass are, as at Fara-
t am-hill, due to rain tall elsewhere—probObly to
rain-fall on ranges of equal and higher Lytle, at •
considerable distance, where the nature of the strata
will not permit of the rain-fall making its appearance
again alter percolation." But in the opinion of the
Honourable WILLIAM NAPIER b ,th entrees of supply
arc equally excellent : the one, because it has never
entered the submit ; the other, because it has run a
long way through it.
So far as we can understand the new plan for col-
lecting water on B igehot-heath, prop 63d for the
adoption of the Board, it is to take it in all cases from
the fountain head. Every existing spring, even to
the most minute, is to be used for this purpose, and
the " pan," which in many places is frond at a depth
of about three feet under the sand, is to be brok.l3
through, to increase their number. The Luger
springs are to be encased with brick or tiles ; the
smaller are to be gathered in one stream, "great care
being taken to avoid the mixture of surrace-wathing."
The water thus collected is to be conveyed in pipes
to mains terminating on Wimbledon Common, where
" a covered reservoir for two days supply might be
provided to meet any extraordinary emergency,
By this arrangemement the Hon. WILLIAM emergency-
By
undertakes to supply the metropolis with 75 genus
per house of water daily, on an estimate of 623,126
hone a, and in addition "to allow the towns at
Guildford, Richmond, &c., and the different villages
on the line of water supply to London, to partake of
the advantages prepared for that city."
This is very magnificent, but its very magnifloenee,
coupled with the vague indications of the sources
relied upon, and of the means of conveyance, reminds
us irresistibly of the Arabian Nights' Entertain-
ment*. There is but one idea common to all the
ever-varying proposals of the Board of Health. To
the idea of deriving the water supply of London
exclusively from Bsgshot heath they remain con-
stant; but at one time they undertake to show that
larger supplies can be obtained there than from
all the sources at present in use ; at another
they argue that the seppliet, though lees in quantity,
will still be sufficient ; at oce time they talk of col-
lecting surface eater, at another ot employing springs
which give out the water flowing through subterra-
nean channels from distant heights. These incessant
self-contradictions, combined with the utter want of

accurate intelligible engineering details or estimates of
expense, show that the authors of these projects have
no distinct practical plan in view. Such dreams might
be tolerated in men who were only spending their own
funds, and wasting their own time, in elaborating
and promulgating them ; but the Board of Health is
paid out of the public revenue for wasting the time of
the public. While they are hatching mai publishing
one scheme after another, each more adventurous and
unsubstantial than another, every rational attempt
to improve the water supply of Loudon is kept at a
stand.

e learn, therefore, with pleasure that some of the
existing companies are busily enga.ed in experi-
ments, with a view to improve the quality, in-
crease the quantity, and perfsct the didribution
of their water supply, and see, from the notices of
applic►tions for bills to parliament, that new com-
panies are preparing to come into the field. We have
no implicit faith in companies to whom large powers
must be entrusted, but in them we bare at least to
deal with practical and experienced men. By such
agency the water supply of the metrJpolis has of late
years been mach improved ; and it will be more safe
to avail onnelves, with proper precautions, of such an
agency, than to trust to the theoretical, extravagant,
and practically helpless dreamers of the Board of
Health. We hope. therefore, to see an effort made
during next session to come to a proper understanding
and equitable arrangement with the c impartial, and
at the same time to relieve the country from the ex-
pensive folly of the Board of Health.