The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-22 00:00:00

that if civilised Europe allowed the CZA.R. and his
barbarians to take provinco after province, and
kingdom after kingdom as they pleased—the
issue must be that Paris and London would soon
become as enslaved as Vienna and Berlin. Eng-
lishmen lament as much as Mr. LAING and the
former deserters the cruel necessity of War, and
deplore its cost ; but they are confident that it
is only by a sufficient outlay now they can save
the past outlay from being mere wanton waste.
What is most to be regretted is that Mr. LAING
and his predecessors do more to prolong the War
by misleading Russia than all the other causes
combined. But for Lord ABERDEEN, and his in-
dependent abettors, COBDEN and BRIGHT, we are
confident we should have had no War at all.

The main questions to be considered with re-
gard to the plan for the northern main drainage,
described in another column, from the printed
reports prepared by Mr. BAZALGETTE, Mr. HAY-
WARD, Sir WILLIAM CUBITT, and Mr. ROBERT
STEPHENSON, and approved by the Commissioners
of Metropolitan Sewers, are those of efficiency
and economy. What is wanted is to have Lon-
don as perfectly drained, and the Thames as little
contaminated as possible, and both of these ob-
jects achieved at a reasonable cost. How far the
plan iu question is likely to accomplish these ob-
jects scientific men should be best able to say,
but as scientific men are liable to aberrations, and
have not unfrequently had their perceptions
sharpened by means of plodding investigation,
and sober rumination on the part of the public, it
may be well for the latter to avail themselves of
their right and satisfy themselves on the above
points. This much is certain, that, however com-
pletely it provides for the completion of a perfect
system of sewerage towards the river, it does not
wholly exclude the drainage from the Thames.
The great feature of the plan seems to be to
intercept the greater part of the sewage, and so
secure, under certain limitations, its being carried
off to Barking Creek, there to be deprived of its
solid matter, and the remainder, a large propor-
tion doubtless, to be subsequently ejected into
the river under the notion, it would appear, that
the noxious stream will be carried out to sea,
never more to return and offend the senses of the
inhabitants. The incompleteness of the plan will
become more apparent when the reader perceives
that the western division, commencing a little to
the east of Brompton, and extending to Brent-
ford, and comprising an area of 18 square miles,
will empty the liquid portion of its drainage into
the Thames, near the entrance to the Kensington
Canal ; that during every smart shower of rain
the entire sewage, liquid and solid, of a densely•
populated and exiensive area lower down will also
ba discharged, much as at present, into the stream ;
while the great body of the liquid sewage will, as
we have stated, be disembogued into the river at
Barking. Is it not possible to have a better
practical scheme than this? It is a serious ques-
tion, and thoughtful consideration is required
before an answer should be given. The cost of
the plan, it will be seen, is estimated at
1,750,000/., to which will have to be added
1.250,0001. for the southern main drainage.
What the cost of interception, ch., alone is we
cannot say ; but it doubtless forms by far the
largest portion, and must be more than enough to
warrant careful inquiry.
The sanitary point of view, however, is the most
important. That the plan will mightily lessen
the aggregate of filth in the Thames cannot admit
of doubt; but what certainty is there, quite irre-
spective of the western district and the contin-
gency of showers lower down, that the liquid
sewage will be carried out to sea, and Will not
continue to pollute the river ? The public will
feel a natural anxiety on this head, for they have
learned a little chemistry of late, and, besides

being aware of the pestilential odours arising from
a filth-overcharged stream, know very well that
the fluid sewage will contain a large amount of
organic matter, and that if this is brought back
with the tide, the water taken from the Thames,
however well filtered, must of necessity have the
benefit of it. If it be certainly ascertained, and
many will be disposed to doubt it, that the fluid
will not retu;n, still the Thames is not put in a
way of becoming pure. A vast quantity of foul
sewage will contiuw:i.ily find its way into it. Is
it necessary that it should ? Can no plan,
we repeat, be devised to divert the sewage
of the metropolis from the river alto-
gether ? If this be possible at any reasonable
cost, in HEAVEN'S name let it be done, and let
there be no bungling with an imperfect scheme.
In this view thousands will concur with us, and
we trust, while there is no unnecessary delay,
nothing will be commenced without full conside-
ration. The eminence of the authorities in favour
of the plan tells, doubtless, greatly in its favour
as a practical scheme. That recommendation

may, however, have been biased by considerations
which they were bound to respect, but which
should have no -weight with the public. However
this may be, we have done our duty by inviting
attention,,, if in a desultory way, to so importan
a suloject, our desire being that the cure of a
Prievous evil shall be as complete and effected at
as reasonable a cost as possible, and our excep-
tions to the plan being solely those we have in-
dicated. In every other respect, we dare say, it
is m,st efficient.