The National Register.
London, England, 1819-11-08 00:00:00

THE PAiIIPHLETEER.

Tim Twenty-Ninth Number of this most
useful publication ha: just appeared, and from it
we extract the followin: inquiry " is it imporsible
to free the Atmosphere of London in a very con-
siderable degree, from the smoke and deleterious
-tpo'irs with which it is hourly impregnated? By
IV. Friend,Actuary of the Rock Insurance'
It is peculiarly opportnne at this moment, as we
doubt not but Mr. Michael Au.relo Taylor will
in.we fir the revival of the Committee which was
appointed last session to inquire as to the possibi-
lity of achieving so desirable a purpose.
-•

" The smoke of London, first viewed from a dist-
.ince, affords a sight which strikes a fitreign;:r with
astonishment. The inhabitants are so accustomed
to it, that they cease to regard it as a matter of much
inconvenience, though a box of clothes sent from
the metropolis sensibly affects their country friends.
In fart, the Londoner is in the situation of a man,
who lives in a smoky home : he is used to it : but
every one, who conies to visit him, perceives the
ditferenco between his sooty chambers and a well
ventilated mansion.

There are people, who, from long habit, are not
disgusted with dirt and nastiness The Hottentot
returns to his grease ; but I believe, that, if the
smoky atmosphere of this great city were exchanged
for a purer atmosphere, none of the inhabitants, nor
the occasional visitors of the metropolis, would
lament the loss of their black f0;,.7. All talk of the
smoky town ; but they it contented under their
dense vapours, from au opinion, that the ovil is
incurable.

This is thecase with every improvement that is
vuggcsted. A few years hat k, the visitors of Bedlam,
were assured, that it was impossible to ke'p the un-
happy patients but by such immense locks, bolts, and
chains as shocked humanity. The very people who
were thus 73diateltAl usid fettered, are now walking
about at their ease is thu new Bedlam, and are
mire tractable in consequence of the removal of
these restraints. I went over this excellent insti-
tution the other day, and, on contrasting it with
•what 'I had seen in the former mansion could not
Lett congratulate human nature on the modern im-
provements in the treatment of the greatest calamity
to which it is liable. The application of the same
Naimoli sense would produce similar improvements
in a variety ofinstancr.s.

To limn a judgment of the smoke of London, a
person should take a turn on Illackfriars' Bridge in
the midst of the day, and notice the effect of the vit.
mitories of smoke that surround him. A similar
walk, at night, will point out more strongly the
defect in their construction, when he perceives. from
many of them volumes of flame issuing forth, as from
so many volcanoes. If he takes his morning walk
in the middle of Summer, the contrast between the
smoke from the furnaces, and from the ordinary
fires, will be particularly striking. I conjecture,
that the smoke occasioned by a vast variety of ma-
imfactories, forges, glass &c., is at least
three times as great us that proceeding from all the
chimneys for family use : mid it is to be recollected,
that from some of these furnaces issue forth matter
of most deleterious mature.

Oa the inisehiefarising from noxious vapours, the
medical men are the best judges.; but it is some-
what remarkable, that so little attention is paid to
this subj:ct by the Leglslature. IVithin these few
years, un instance occurred, which brought it
forr;bly within my notice. There was a small
green lane near nw, which I used to frequent as a
betbre bicaktitst. Soon atter I had discovered
this little wAls, preparations were made our
and in a short tune two fliacions buildings appeared,
both furnished with furnaces, the chimneys of
which were not carried ten feet above the root' One
of which was anphed in the smelting of lead, the
other to the nwit:no,, I think, of iron. In a short
thne proceeded the usual appearance of such
works, and the air was proportionably infected. A
atroad, which promisLs to be one of the most
cousiderable thoroughfares in London, has lately
been made near this place ; and when the wind is
favourable, the pale whitish smoke from the lead
in:maw:tory is sensibly felt by those, whom busi-
ness or pleasure carries that way. On the erection
•-)1* these buildings I could not help poillting out to