The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-29 00:00:00

All through London the clay rests on a bed of chalk.

Among the suburbs on the north side of the Thames
Brompton enjoys the mildest and most equable winter
climate. Built on gravel, with a moderate elevation of
20ft. between Chelsea (10ft.) on the south, and Kensing-
ton (40 to GOft.) on the north, it is somewhat protected
against north winds, without being so enclosed as to pre-
vent evaporation or free circulation of the atmosphere. Its
northern neighbour, Kensington (from 40 to 60ft.) has a
border of brick-earth on the south ; then clay, more to the
north ; then gravel. It has great advantages in the
numerous trees and open squares ; but as it partly rests on
the slope of a hill—for the ground rises towards the north-
west (Notting-hill) to 125 ft., and towards the north (Bays-
water) to 80ft.—it must be exposed to greater vicissitudes
of temperature than Brompton ; still it would be a more
desirable residence for the whole year, especially the
eastern and western part, than Brompton, which is too
relaxing in summer.

Bayswater, and particularly that part intersected by
Queen's-road, enjoys the advantage of a moderately high
elevation (80 ft.), and of being partly built on gravel soil.
The air is bracing in summer, and not too bleak in winter,
as the ground, though a little lower on the clayey West-
bourne-grove (60 ft.), exhibits some eminences further
north, and higher hills still more northerly. Regent's-
park, though somewhat more elevated, from 80 ft. to 206
(at Primrose-hill), is built on clay, and lying on a decli-
vity of the hill, the moisture will be more apt to be retained
on the around, evaporation being further somewhat impeded
through the steep northern hills. The climate will, there-
fore, be mild in winter, but somewhat relaxing in summer.
St. John's Wood (from 140 to 160 ft. high), also built
on clay, has a bleaker climate in winter, being more ex-
posed to vicissitudes of temperature, with the disadvantage
of retaining moisture longer than gravelly soil would;
whilst the neighbouring Hampstead heights, on the north-
east, afford only partial protection against northerly winds.
In summer, however, it is a very desirable residence.
Hampstead Hill (430 feet) 'and Highgate Hill (412 feet
high), both having siliceous sands of the Bagshot series as
a superstratum, whilst the other gravelly soil mentioned is
only composed of drift, gravel, and sand, are very bracing,
and would be extremely well adapted for genitalia, to admit
convalescents after severe and exhausting disease. Three or
four weeks spent there would probably have a more restora-
tive effect than double the time at the ordinary home. But,
of course, for a winter residence both places are too bleak
and might, by the vicissitudes of temperature, produce
bronchial and pulmonary as well as rheumatic diseases,
whenever a predisposition exists to these ailments.
In the north-east, Dalston and the southern part of
Hackney are built on gravel, and have a moderate eleva-
tion of 40 feet ; the climate is therefore mild in winter, and
somewhat less relaxing in summer than Brompton. That_
portion_or Hackney surrounding London-fields is more
humid and relaxing than the eastern and northern part.
Victoria-park, built on gravel,with the exception of a strip
of brick earth at the south-western termination, is not very
elevated, having an altitude of 40 min. at the western fron-
tier, and of 20 min. where it approaches Bow (built on gra-
vel), at the south-eastern frontier. It is therefore very
mild, but too relaxing in hot summers. North of Kingsland
Railway Station, till near Stoke Newington, the houses are
built on brick earth, and enjoy an elevation of 60 feet (this
includes part of West Hackney). Stamford-hill (97 feet
high), in the north, to 80 feet towards Upper Clapton, is
built on gravel, and also the contiguous portion of Lower
Clapton. It has a very bracing and salubrious climate.
Stoke Newington (80 feet), built on clay, lies on a some-
what sloping ground, from west to east, as the north-
western Highgate hills gradually descend towards Stoke
Newington. The latter, therefores, shares some of the
advantages belonging to Regent's-park.
Highbury, situated to the south and west of Stoke New-
ington is built on a ground rising to 132 ft. (Highbury-place
and hill), with strong clays in the west, and brick-earth in
the east : from here the ground gently slants again to 120
and 100 ft. The climate thus partakes of a bracing and mild
character, the altitude allowing a free circulation of the at-
mosphere ; and though the ground would absorb moisture
more readily if it was gravel, the eminence on which it
stands, with the sloping circumference, favours evaporation.
West Ham, east of Bow (built on gravel), borders on a
bed of peat and alluvium, which stretches from the north-
western part of the River Lee, along the Leyton, Hackney,
and Plaistow marshes, and extends beyond Barking Level,
with an altitude of only 10ft. in the north, and diminishing
towards the south.

Walthamstow, north• east of Stamford-hill, rises from 80
to 100 ft. with clay soil, except the centre, which consists
of gravel. Snaresbrook, ;its eastern neighbour, enjoys an
altitude of 100 ft., with the advantage of a gravelly soil
The ground slants to the south (80 to 60ft.). Wanstead,.
Stratford, north-east of Boy, with an altitude of 20 to 10ft.;
West Ham to its south, Plaistow to the south of the lat-
ter, East Ham to the east, and Barking still more easterly;
all lie on gravel soil, with a low elevation, and exposed
somewhat to the neighbouring marshy exhalations. As
regards the more distant western suburbs, Hammersmith
lies partly on 'gravel, towards the south, and on brick-earth
in the northern part (loft.), which soil extends to Shep-
herd's-bush, and considerably beyond Uxbridge-road ;
Chiswick, west of Hammersmith, is built on brick earth,
and likewise Fulham. Being contiguous to the Thames,
they have a very slight elevation; but the Thames becom-
ing a pure river through the deviation of the sewage by
means of the stupendous main drainage works lately ac-
complished, the freshness imparted to the air by the rapid
course of a tidal stream will afford some compensation for
the deficient altitude.

South of the Thames we have Barnes, built on brick-
earth, rising towards the south to 20ft. (gravel soil) on the
common. Putney-heath, rising towards the south-east to
163 ft., with gravelly soil, surrounded by sandy clays. Put-
ney, south of Fulham, gravel soil (20ft.) Wandsworth, to
the east, same soil, with an altitude rising to 60ft., inter-
sected by the river Wandle; the common to the south-east
on gravel soil, surrounded by clay, rising from 40 to 93ft.
Battersea-fields, south of Chelsea, on brick-earth. Clap-
ham, on gravel soil, rising southward from 20 to 60ft., and
to 93ft. (Clapham-common). Camberwell, to the east, gravel
soil, 10 to 20ft., then rising southward on sandy clays to 40,
60, 80, and 130 ft., with Peckham, on sand and mottled clay
separated by Shelly
to the east, 20ft. high, clays from the
southern Peckham Rye, rising from 20 to 40ft., and posses-
with a southern border of pebble
sing soil of striped sand,
bed; moreover, rising ground towards the east from 60 to
184ft.(Nunhead, Telegraph-hill, Ilatcham on sandy clay), and
towardsthe south from 60 to 80,100, and 160 to 284 ft. in the
south-east (Forest-hill) built on clay, and also towards the
west, from 60 or 80 feet (Denmark-hill rising to 130 feet,
with gravel in the centre and clay at the circumference),
afford an excellent protection against north-eastern, south-
eastern, and south-western winds. This confirms the
popular belief in its salubrity for persons affected with
bronchial irritation or incipient phthisis. According to the
above geological characteristics, it must prove especially
useful, as a summer residence, in cases of profuse bronchial
secretion, whilst in severe winters, and where the cough
exhibits a dry and irritative character, Brompton would
deserve the preference.

REVISING BARRISTERS.—Mr. Charles Evans, of
the Norfolk circuit, has been appointed to revise the
list of voters for the borough of Cambridge. Mr. Samuel
Cross Fish has been appointed revising barrister for the
Northern division, and Mr. William Mawdesley Best for
the Southern division, of the county of Essex.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.— A notice has been placed
outside the British Museum gates, by order of the
trustees, announcing the closing of all the departments
from the Ist to the 7th of September, both inclusive. For
the next two months after the re-opening the museum
will be closed at five, instead of six, as in June, July, and
August.