The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-23 00:00:00

. LONDON, FRIDAY- EVENING, FEBRUARY 23, 1855.

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL, 1855.—The atten-
tion of Ratepayers, Landowner', and Companies throughout
the kingdom is called to the following REASONS tur,ainst the
BILL:—

The contents of this extraordinary bill, though perhaps partially
known to some of the members of provincial local boards, to which,
in connect on with the General Board of Health, enormous powers
are proposed to be granted, is, it is believed, as yet practically un-
divulged to the ratepayers, who are to be enormously taxed under it,
and to the owners oflands and streams, which (however important
to the cujoyment or use of any man's property) may be compul-
sorily taken under the provisions o, this bill.
The ratepayers (as d,stinguishQd from local boards) throughout the
country are at present to a very great degree ignorant that in those
places where local beards of health now exist, this bill will saddle
them with heavy increased taxat on, to pay off large debts in-
curred by the wastefulness and inattention of local boards, and that
in those places where a local board does not exist, a new and op-
pressive taxation will arise, which will be felt, at the present time
especially, to be intolerable
:iection 103 removes from Parliament the future considerati n of
several 01 the myst important objects of what has been terin,d " pri-
vate legi,lation," and proposes to give to local boards, with the
sanction of the Court of Quarter Sessions, the power of acquiring by
compulsion land streams and " hereditameats of any tenure," for
the following purposes', namely-
1. For Waterworks, including therein land, streams, springs, re-
servoirs, aqueducts, cuts, engines machinery, buildings, &c., &c.
2. For Gasworks, including therein any land or easement in re-
spect of land, with power to use the same for all such works as may
be necessary or proper for the purpose.
3. For Drainage, imluding therein any land or easement In respect
of land, with power to use the same for sewers,, outfalLs, reservoirs
for sewage, tuildings, engines, &c., &C.
4. For Slaughter-houses.
5. For Markets and Fairs.

And in addition to the powers to purchase land by compulsion for
the foregoing purposes, they may purchase land by agreement for
Pleasure•grounds.
It is a most singular fact, that after Parliament has, with un-
doubted wisdom, from time to time, amended its proceedings so as to
exclude any apprehension of unconscious local bias from its select
committees en priVate legislation, this bill proceeds at once to ignore
that important principle, and sends the landowner and others to the
quarter sessions, where, moreover, the menses will be two or three
times as muck as the present expenses before a Parliamentary com-
mittee.

For the purposek beforementioned and others, the local board of
health nay mortgage the property of the district (and the act is ap-
plicable to every "place" in the kingdom, whether rural or urban)
to the extent of two years' assessable value ; in other words, to about
one-tenth the average value of the land and building property of the
country ; and this power of mortgage extends °Vet-hot onTy fhb de;
scription of property which from its natureadmits of being benefited
by what are termed " sanitary operations," essentially connected
with urban dwellings, but also over agricultural land, gardens,
wharves, manufactories, railways, canals, docks, waterworks, gas-
works, and other undertakings and tenures which from their very
nature cannot be so benefited.

By clauses 100 and 103, it is proposed, in effect, to destroy pri-
vate enterprise in gasworks and waterworks, and to sabstitute
in its place a system of public action founded on the creation of a
debt, similar to the National Debt, in every locality requiring the
advantage of such undertakings. In short, to give to boards of
health the power of creating, by rap,d degrees, an aggregate mort-
gage debt of about one hundred millions of pounds under the present
bill alone.

By these clauses (which, however, are so involved and so ob-
scurely worded that the legal effect is very difficult to see) It is also
proposed in effect to repeal the existing rates, as authorised by Par-
liament, of all water companies, and to sabject their future charges
to the uncertainties of local arbitrations, to be raised whenever and
as often as the local boards shall think fit ; and likewise to enable
local boards so to operate upon water companies as to harass them
into the nominally voluntary sale of their undertakings, and even to
leave them liable to have their works and property taken by direct
compulsion. The local boards are also authorised, under the plea of
giving a so-called "gratuitous supply " of water, •r in event of a
company being unable or unwilling to comply with any purposely
monstrous demand of the local board, to construct works of their
own, and to enter into competitions with, and of course ruinous to,
the companies established in the district.
Similar extensive powers are. also proposed to be conferred on local
boards with respect to the supply of gas, and over gas companies.
By section 91, power is given to the local boards to negative the
construction of any house with the size and details of the arrange-
ments of which it shall disagree. No architect can thus in future fol-
low his profession except by the permission of a board of health.
By section 95, all " streets," and the word " streets " means all
private property along which there is even a private passage, are to
vest in, and be managed by, local boards.
By section 41, the General Board are to have power to practically
impose the operation of the act upon unwilling communities in all
cases in which the annual mortality exceeds twenty-three in a thou-
sand of the population. There are, however, so few towns, or even
populous villages, in which this very low rate of mortality does not
and will not continue to prevail, that in reality the enforced applica-
tion of the act may be almost everywhere effected.
It is true, the confirmation of Parliament is required to the "pro-
visional order" to be made for this purpose ; but. as is well known,
this limitation affords no secure protection against a fiat already
absolutely put forth by a Government authority.
By section 30, the enormous powers thus proposed to be committed
to local boards to deal thas summarily with landowners, and to
crush branches of private enterprise, in w hick many millions of
pounds have been freely embarked ix reliance on the faith of Parlia-
ment, are to be wielded by persons qualified by a fifteen pound a-year
assessable value, and elected by the numerical mass of the ratepayers,
without reference to the value of their property or holdings.
It is therefore submitted that the bill ought not to pass into law as
it now stands, and that especially it ought not to be e committed,
till a sufficient period has been allowed for the country to become
more fully acquainted with the large, and, as it is respectfully sub-
mitted, unconstitutional powers proposed to be granted.
It is also respectfully submitted, that in the event of the bill
:being committed to the consideration of a select committee, that
such committee should be instructed to receive such evidence and
statements as may be tendered by the counsel, agents, and witnesses
of the numerous private enterprise companies whose property may
be destroyed by the bill, and other persois and parties whose property
and interests are affected by the bill, as the greatest alarm prevails lest
(having reference to the bill as it now stands) any alterations which
'may be made therein in their absence may be found insufficient to
preserve the private property of parties, and thus ruin may be en-
tailed on innum rab,e families who have, in full reliance on the faith
of Parliament, embarked their earnings in private enterprises. It is
to this faith in Parliament that the country owes the engineering
science and skill which have produced works (as has been eloquently
observed) suck as the world never saw.

It is now daily asked with increasing anxiety, why these merito-
rious parties should, session after session, be racked with anxiety
lest they should be deprived of their private property by the General
Board of Health, to whom the Metropolis Water Supply Select Com-
mittee, 1852, for unanswerable reasons (st,ll in entire force), oe-
dined to give the supervision of the water companies.
It is stated by the most experienced persons that moither the Gene-
ral Board of Health nor any operation of the Public Health Act, 1848,
have been the means of lowering mortality. On the contrary, death
in increased amount seems to have attended their proceedinga,which
the Persons most capable of Judging characterise as alike wasteful
and inefficient. The machinery under the present bill is even worse
than that under the Act of 1848, which has produced such sad and
,expensive results.

COURT CIRCULAR.

A party of invalids, twenty-six in number, of the
Coldstream Regiment of Guards, wounded at Alma,
Inkerman, and during the siege operations before Sebas-
topol, were inspected by the Queen yesterday afternoon,
in BuckinghatnPalace.

The wounded Guards were mustered shortly before
three o'clock in the Grand Hall, under the command of
Colonel Gordon Drummond. Her Majesty and Prince
Albert were attended, while inspecting the men, by Dr.
Munro, Surgeon-Major of the regiment.
The Queen was accompanied by the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary, and also by the elder
Princes of-the Royal Family.
The Princesses, with the Ladies and Gentlemen in
Waiting, also witnessed the inspection.
Prince Albert skated in the garden of Buckingham
Palace, attended by the (xentlemen in Waiting. In the
afternoon his Royal Highness, attended by Captain the
Hon. Dudley de Roe, visited. the Duke of Cambridge at
his residence in St. James's Palace.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by the
Princess Royal and Prince Alfred, honoured the Hay-
market Theatre with their presence in the evening. The
royal suite consisted of the Countess of Desart, Lord de
Tablet', Lord Alfred Paget, and Captain the Hon J.
-
de Ros.

A deputatioi to urge the change of the market day in
the Now Cattle Market . from Monday to Tuesday had
an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday at the
Home-office. The depntatioa consisted of the Right
Rev, the Lord Bishop of London, Hon. A. F. Kinnaird,
M.P. ; Rev. John Hama)!etas, M.A., Minister of the
Chapel of Ease, Islington; Roy. James Sutherland,
M.A.? Curate of St. Mary, Islington ; Rev. W. W.
Chanipneys, M.A., Rector of Whitechapel ; Rev. C. B.
Dalton, M.A., Incumbent of St. Michael, Highgate;
Rev. C. F. Childe, M.A., Principal of the Church Mis-
sionary College, ; Rev. Dr. Conrtonay, M.A.,
St. James's, Pentonville ; Rev. T. Saulez, M.A.., In-
cumbent of All Saints, Islington ; Rev. W. Yincent, M.A.
Incumbent of Trinity, Islington ; Rev. Thos. Dale,
M.A., Rector of St. Pancras; Rev. B. S. Hollis, Mi-
nister of Islington Chapel ; Rev. J. Weir, Minister
of the Scotch Church, Islington ; Rev. W. Tyler,
Minister of Independent Chapel, Bethnal-green ; Sir
James Tyler, J.P., Holloway ; Mr. R. C. L. Bevan,
Trent-park, Barnet ; Mr. James Beaumont, Highgate ;
Mr. Thomas Lott, Holloway ; Mr. Henry Lintott, sales-
man, Smithfield; Mr. G. C. Street, F.R.C.S., Penton-
vino ; Mr. Henry Spicer, Highbury • Mr. George Craw-
ley, Highgate
' • Mr. H. E. Murrell, Islington ; Mr.
Henry Joslin, farmer, T.Tpminster, Essex ; Mr. James
Leatherdale, Islington ; Mr. James Wagstaff, Mr. John
Savage, and Mr. John Strudgett, Churchwardens of the
Parish of Islington ; Mr. John Layton, Vestry Clerk of
Islington ; Mr. Edward Suter, Islington ; Mr. Joseph
Wilson, J.P., Clapham-park; Mr. Joseph Fisher,
Islington Rev. John T. Baylee, Islington ; Mr. Thos.
Corke, salesman, Smithfield ; Mr. J. M. Molynoux,
Lezely-park, Guildford ; Mr. R.M. Atkinson, Islington;
Mr. W. Banton, Pentonvple ; Mr. G. Ere, salesman,
Smithfield ; Mr. B. Smith, flighbury ; Mr. Daniel
Hazard, Islington ; Mr. J. C. Peaehey, salesman,
Smithfield ; Mr. Slater, butcher, Kensington ; and Mr.
Thomas Lott, F. S.A., Carlton-villas, Islington.

N.4VAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

The Duke of Wellington, 131, flag-ship for Rear-Ad-
,miral the Hon. Richard S. Dundas, C. 8., Commander-
In-Chief of the Baltic fleet, will be taken to Portsnionth
'as soon as she is refitted for the next campaign, by the
:Captain of the Fleet (the Hon. F. T. Pelham), who is
:now cruising in the Exmouth, 90, to test her efficiency.
The Lightning steam-vessel, at present at Woolwich, is
to be appropriated as a tender to the Duke for the ser-
vice of the Admiral in communicating with the fleet, and
for postal and other purposes.
The Royal George, 10?, screw, haulded out of Sheer-
nevs basin on Tuesday. Her crew are turned over to
her, and she is taking in her guns and provisions as fast
no she can, considering the great difficulty there is in
getting boats through the ice.
The James Watt, 91, screw, Captain Elliott, is under-
cuing important alterations in the stea.re-basin dock,
Portsmouth, at the hands of the contractors, Messrs.
Bolton and Watts. They were bound to the Govern-
ment to furnish engines properly constructed, and for
a certain time. The contractors are now engaged in
making such alterations in the machinery as to be of a
satisfactory nature, and which will take about ten days
to carry into effect.
The Exmouth, 80, screw, Captain the Hon. F. Pel-
ham, returned to the Sound on Wednesday from her trial
trip. The results are said to be most unsatisfactory ' • she
rolls terribly ; her mainyard broke off short, and all the
crockery in the cabins, &c., smashed. Nothing that
possessed tke slightest liberty could be kept in its place.
Her steam maehinery is said to be all out of order.
The Majestic, screw, 81, Captain Hope, C. 8., hauled
out
preparations No. 3 dry dock,
were
madeSheerness,to h a uolnhe
in
Tuesday.tt e Yester-
daystream.
She has taken in a fortnight's provisions for her crew,
o
who will be drafted to her immediately she gets out.
Sin is entirely in the hands of tke engineers ; another
week and she will be fit for sea.
The Cressy, screw, 81, Captain Warren, is moored off
Sheerness, with her topgallanemasts housed, ready for
sea.

The Russell, 60, block-ship, Captain Scott, was under
the sheers yesterday at Sheerness, hoisting in her three
high-pressure engines, each 11 tons. They are working
at her night and day; and in spite of the incleMent state
of the weather, her rigging, &c., progresses fast. The
boilers in question are heisted in end on, to go down the
hatchways easier, when by another tackle on the centre
they cant and go into their places.
The Imperieuse, 51, screw, Captain R. B. Watson,
has hauled over from the coal depot to alongside her
berthing hulk, Victorious.
The Amphion, screw, 36 guns, Captain Key, is at
Sheerness. Preparation has been made to haul her out
to-day, when she will go under the sheers and whip her
new masts on board. The rigging is all ready, and she
has a fine crew, who will soon get her ready in that de-
partment. The machinery is the only thing that will
detain her, but they are working at her night and day.
The Horatio, screw frigate, Hon. Captain Cochrane,
is moored over on the west shore. All her guns are gone
to Chatham, and will be supplied, we herx, by two Lan-
caster mortars. In ceasequence of the ice this ship was
in distress latterly for bread, which, however, was got
off yesterday.
The Pylades, screw corvette, 22, Captain G. E.
D'Eynconrt, is still in Sheerness basin ; she progresses
fast both in rigging and machinery department. Every
possible despatch is being given to get this smart vessel
ready for sea.
The Desperate, screw, 8, Commander R. White, is in
No. 1 dry-dock, Sheerness. Her bottom is not at all
injured, and she will haul out this week. The slight
defects are in the pipes, which are a little corroded, &c.
She is only partly manned, with her topmasts struck.
The Driver, paddle, is surrounded with huge masses
of ice, off Sheerness. Yesterday afternoon she was
hauled through it. She will go into No. 2 dry-deck, to
have her bottom overhauled, as she has been on shore
several times whilst in the Baltic service.

The Porcupine, steamer, Commander Jackson, is in
the harbour at Sheerness, waiting orders, &c.
The Lizard, paddle, Lieut. Christopher, is in Sheer-
ness harbour, making good her defects, &c.
The Janus, paddle, Lieut. Kane, is also in the harbour,
waiting orders, &c.
The Cuckoo, paddle, Lieut. Augustus Murray, is in
harbour.