The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-20 00:00:00

BILLINGSGATE.

Salmon, is 6d to 2s Od ; trout, Os Od to Os Od ; eels, Os 8d
to 18 Od; prawns, Os Od ; pike, skate, sturgeon, and hali-
but, 6d per lb ; turbots, 2s 6d to 158 Od ; cod, 2s Gd to
10s Od ; brills, 2s Od to 8s Od ; doreys, 3s Od to 9s Od ; mul-
lets, 18 Od to is 6d ; lobsters, 18 Od to 3s Od ; crabs, Os 6d
to 2s 6d ; plaice and gurnets, Os Od to Os Od each ; soles,
Os 6d to 2s 6d per pair ; common oysters, 12s Od to 60s Od;
natives, 84s Od to 90s Od per bushel ; whitings, 48 Od to
lOs Od ; haddocks, 58 Od to 21s Od ; smeltri Os Od to Os Od ;
flounders, Os Od per dozen • mackerel, —s Od to Os Od per
120 ; fresh herrings, Os Od Os Od per 120 ; bloaters, Os Od
to Os Od per 100 ; carp and tench, Os Od to Os Od per brace.

Health and its Enemies in the Metropolis

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sut,—Whilst Parliament and the local authorities of
almost ,all the considerable towns in the kingdom are lay-
ing out immense sums of money in deference to the recog-
nised importance of improving their sanitary condition,
and removing, or as far as possible diminishing, dangerous
or unhealthy nuisances of every kind, it seems a most ano-
malous and inconsistent proceeding to sanction the unne-
cessary and enormous enlargement of one of the most
noxious of all annoyances in well-inhabited places, namely,
the manufacture of gas, which (on the overwhelming
weight of medical and scientific testimony, and the pain-
ful experience of those who live near such works) it is
impossible to carry on withott the discharge of effluvia
and exhalations offensive enough to the sense, but infinitely
more pernicious in their effects upon life and property.
Yet this mischievous violation of sound principle and
public interests is in course of preparation, and has actually
made some progress in the Legislature. A bill. has passed
the House of Commons, I perceive, which would empower
the Imperial Gas and Coke Company to increase its vast
capital by 100 per cent.; and to hold three times its very
large area, chiefly for the purpose of so enlarging the com-
pany's present very injurious works in Fulham and Chelsea,
as to convert them into, many times over, the most gigantic
gas factory-ever known, the effect of which would be, to
quote the language used at public meetings, and in memo-
rials and petitions to the House of Lords against the bill),
"to render an extensive district almost uninhabitable by
persons regardful of their health, and to destroy the value
of their house and other property to a great extent:-
It is only just to the Lower House to say that the pass-
ing of this hurtful measure appears to have arisen from in-
advertence. Nearly 500 private bills were to have come
before the committees this session. The vestries and local
communities that would be so grievously affected by the
bill under notice seem not to have had any knowledge of
the matter until it had made some way ; and it was in a
moment huddled through the House in the absence of any
proper representation of its bearing upon health and pro-
perty. But there is to be an organised opposition on the
part of the parishioners in the House of Lords ; petitions
from the vestries, the district board of works, and the in-
habitants will be presented and supported by the Bishop of
London ; and it is hoped that, with the political aid of the
influential public journals, the public will be protected
from this great wrong, the, error committed through haste
and carelessness in the house of Commons corrected, and
the company compelled to erect their additional works—if
additional works are required—in some thinly-populated
locality some miles from town ; in short, in a spot where
it could manufacture its gas and transmit it to the con-
sumers at the smallest possible amount of injury and
annoyance to the public. The facility with which this
could be done is exemplified by the fact that the gas made
by the company in Fulham is not consumed in the neigh-
bourhood, but in places miles distant.
Gas works, large or small, would never have been
permitted in the neighbourhood of towns had as
much been known fifty years ago as is known now
respecting their unavoidably deleterious effects. h
removal of the existing ones is simply a question
of time . and money. The consideration of that de-
sideratum was before the Metropolitan Board of Works
at a recent' Meeting, of which I find the Main Drainage
Committee reporting " that they did not consider the pre-
sent time a favourable one to apply to Parliament for
power to purchase up the gas companies of the metro-
polis." The principle, the necessity is admitted, and the
only point in discussion is, when and how to give effect to
it ? The proposition for increasing a gas factory in a
populous metropolitan neighbourhood to dimensions of un-
panalleled magitude is, therefore, very surprising, and but for
the astounding fact of its having been passed through the
Commons, the idea that it could be entertained for a
moment would have been scouted as absurd. With that
fact, however, looking us in the face, there is just a possi-
bility that, unless there be energetic movement and re-
monstrance, the bill in question may become law. I,
therefore, venture to bring the subject before you, in the
earnest hope that it will be noticed in your able and inde-
pendent journal.

I remain, Mr. Editor, your very obedient servant,
HAUD IGNORUS.
_ _

May G, 18G5.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT.
HOUSE OF COMMONS-MAY 19.

THE TAX ON ATTORNEYS, SOLICITORS, &c.
Order for committee of supply read. Motion made and
question proposed, " That Mr. Speaker do now leave the
chair." Amendment proposed, to leave out from the
word " That" to the end of the question, in order to add
the words "in the opinion of this house, it is just and
expedient that the annual duty payable upon certificates
taken out by attorneys, solicitors, and proctors in Eng-
land and Ireland, and by writers to the signet, solicitors,
agents, attorneys, and procurators in Scotland, should be
abolished," instead thereof. Question put, " That the
words proposed to be left out stand part of the question."
The house divided—Ayes, 143 ; Noes, 146.

A YES —143.
Acland, T. D. Finch, C. W. Paget, Lord C.
Adam, W. P. Fltzwilliam, C. W. Palmer, Sir R.
Adeane, H. J. Farrer, J. Palmerston, Visct.
Agnew, Sir A. Foley, H. W. Peel, Sir It.
Athlumney, Lord Foljambe, F. J. S. Peel, P.
Aytoun, It. S. Foster, W. 0. Percy, Earl
Bailey, C. Fortescue F. D. Pollard Urquhart W
Baring, A, H. Fortescue, C. S. Portman, W. H. B.
Baring, T. Galway, Viscount Potter, E.
Baring, T. G. Gibson, T. M. Po.ter, T. B.
Beaumont, W. B. Gilpin, C. Proby, Lord
Bentinck, G. C. Gladstone, W. E. Pugh, D.
Blackburn, P Gower, F. L. Robartes, T. J. A.
Bonham-Carter, J. Gower, G. W. L. Rothschild,Baron M
Booth, Sir It. G. Greenwood, J. Russell, H.
Bouverie, E. P. Grey, Sir G. Russell, A.
Bouverie, P. P. Grosvenor, Earl Russell, Sir W.
Briscoe, J. I. Gr.,svenor,Lordßd. Salomonm,Aiderman
Bromley, W. D. Hamilton, Lord C. Scourtielo, J. H.
Browne, Lord J. T. Hankey, T. Selwyn, C. J.
Bruce, Lord C. Hartington,Marquis Seymour, Danby
Bruce, H. A. Hervey, Lord A H. Shafto, R. D.
Buckley, Gen. Hayter, Sir W. Smith, Augustus
Bury, Viscount Headlam, T. E. Smith, M. T.
Butler, C. S. Beathcote, G. H. Stanley, 0.
Cardwell, E. Henley, Lord Stansfeld, J.
Castlerosse, Vist. Holland, E. Steel, J.
Childers, H. C. E. liorsiall, T. B. Stewart, Sir M. It.
Colebrooke, Sir T.E. Howard, C. W. G. Talbot, C. It. M.
Collier, sir R. P. Hunt, G. W. Tracy, C. R. D.
Corry, H. L. Jervoise, Sir J. Trelawny, Sir J. B.
Cowper, W. F. Kinglake, Serj. J. Villiers, C. P.
Crawford, R. W. Knatchbull-Hugess Vivian, H. H.
Crossley, Sir F. Layard, A. H. Walcott, Admiral
Dalglish, R. Lawson, W. Waldegrave-Leslie
Davey, it. Lefevre, G. J. S. Walter, J.
Davie, Sir H. R, F. Lee, W. Watlington, J.
Dent, J. D. Leighton, Sir B. White, J.
Disraeli, B. Locke, J. Wickham, H. W.
Duff, M. B. Lowe, R. Willoughby, Sir H.
Duff, R. W. Mackinnon,W. A. Winnington, Sir T.
Dundas. Sir D. Marjoribanks, D. C. Wood, Sir C.
Dunkellin, Lord Marsh, M. H. Wyndham, H.
Egerton, E. C. Merry, J. Wyvill, M.
Elcho, Lord Moncreiff, J.
Enfield, Viscount Moor, IL TELLERS.
Farquhar, Sir M. Morrison, W.
Fenwick, H. Packe, CoL Brand, 11.
Fermoy, Lord Paget, C. White, L.