The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-20 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 20, 1853.

TAMES HARMER, Esquire, deceased.—All
persons having any claim or demand upon the Estate of James
Harmer, late of Titer( ss Park, in the county of Kent, Esquire, de-
ceased, are requested to send the full particulars thereof for examina-
tion to the undersigned.
ADAM RIVERS STEELE, .
1, Lincolns-Inn-fields, London.

Vr; ESSRS. HUNT and ROSKELL beg respect-
07_1_ fujly to state that their MEDAL ot the revered Duke of
WELLINGTON, by G. G. ADAMS, dedicated by special permission
to her Most Gracious Majesty, is now completed.
156, New Bond-street, July, 1853.

"THE PRESS."---On SATURDAY, July 23,
JJII >To. XII., price Sixpence, of "THE PRESS," the new
weekly Conservative paper. Published every Saturday. Office,
No. 110, Strand. To be had of all Newsmen and at the Railway
Stations. Money orders for subscriptions, sent direct to the office, to
be made payable to Mr. Alfred lye.

r OSWILL & CO.'s CIGAR WAREHOUSES,
.1 No. 4. MONUMENT-YARD, and at 6,7, aed 8, PUDDIN G-
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99.6 d. per pound ; Cheroots, Mexican, and Pickwlcks, 69. to 7s. per
pound; genuine Foreign Havannah Cigars, line quality, 205., 225.,
and 245. per pound.
Toswill and Co.'s Union, &so their Universal Cigars, equal to
Foreign, 12s. 6d. per pound. Choice Tobaccos, Latakia, 7s. 6d. ,
Turkey, ss. 6d., &c., &c.

UMMER.—Ladies will find the application of
S
ItOWLANDS' KALYDOR
gratefully refreshing in preserving the delicacy and beauty of the
complexion from the baneful Influence of the sun and dust, dispelling
the cloud of languor and relaxation, allaying all heat and irritability,
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of balsamic nature, utterly free from all mineral admixture, and pleas-
ing and delightful in its effects, Rowlands' Kalydor tends to neutralise
the effects of the atmosphere upon the Skin, and to promote the healthy
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virtues have long been acknowledged.—Price 4s. 6d. and Ss. 6d. per
bottle.
Curriox.—The words "Rowlands' Kalydor" are on the wrapper
of each bottle.
Sold by A. Rowland and Sons, 20, Hatton-garden, London, and
by all Chemists and Perfttmers.

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

CHATHAM, JULY 18.

The depot of the 20th Regiment proceeds from
Chatham to-morrow, via Gravesend, Blackwall, and
London, to Winchester barracks, to join the head-quar-
ters of the corps that has lately arrived from America.
The undernamed detachments embarked this day at
Gravesend on board the freight-ship Hotspur, for con-
veyance to the Cape of Good Hope and Calcutta :-
12th Lancers—Lieutenant Fletcher, 1 corporal, and 16
privates. 2d Foot-4 boys. 43d-1 armourer sergeant
and his wife and child ; 60th Royal Rifles—Captain
Annesley, Second Lieutenant Charles Williamson, and
8 privates. 45th—Ensign Blair and Ensign Gray, with
42 privates and 1 woman. Staff Assistant-Surgeon
Snell embarks in medical charge of the troops ; and 1
sergeant and 6 privates of the 14th Light Dragoons
(volunteers from the 3d) also embarked for Calcutta, for
the purpose of taking charge of some entire horses for
the studs of the East India Company's service.

WOOLWICH, JULY 19.

Thirty-two non-commissioned officers and gunners
of the Royal Artillery arrived in the garrison here yes-
terday from Canada, the non-commissioned officers on
promotion, and the gunners on being invalided.
Captain Burrows's company, 4th battalion, at pre-
sent stationed at Montreal, and Captain Stace's
company, 7th battalion, stationed at Quebec, and
both serving in Canada since July, 1848, having been
ordered home to head-quarters at Woolwich, without
any other companies being sent to relieve them. The
whole of the Royal Artillery in garrison assembled to-
day in heavy marching order, for the inspection of the
commanding-officers of battalions, preparatory to the
annual inspection of the commandant at Woolwich,
which is intended to take place on Thursday and Friday
next.

THE RIVER THAMES.

(From the Times.)

The Thames seems to be attracting just now almost
as much notice as the Danube. Sir William Molesworth
has brought in a bill for constructing, not only a new
bridge, but a considerable embankment. Mr. Oliveira
wants a select committee to inquire into the state and
condition of all the bridges, and of all the points where
there are no bridges, and " generally to report upon
any measures for improving and facilitating the inter-
course between the two sides of the stream." Finally,
the Committee on the Great London Drainage Bill have
published the minutes of evidence received, and given us
the opinions of a dozen engineers on the capacities of
the river generally. We anticipated most of the present
agitation on behalf of our metropolitan stream. When
the plans for the Great Drainage scheme were sent in
to the Commissioners of Sewers for inspection, there
was one project amongst them which attracted con-
siderable admiration. It proposed, if our memory
does not deceive us, to embank the Thames on both
sides throughout the whole length of the metropolis,
by means of structures which would comprise a pro-
digious system of sewers internally, and furnish
many miles of spacious and airy quays beside. No-
thing could exceed the splendour of the plan. It
had one fault, and one only, which was, that it
would cost about 50 millions of money and 100 years of
labour. Sir William Molesworth's proposition is insig-
nificant in comparison with this, but it has at least the
advantage of being practicable. There is to be a new
public park at Battersea. This park will, of course, re-
quire a bridge, and the bridge a roadway. Moreover,
the Thames is to be " embanked" at this spot—that is
to say, its banks are to be, male soun4l--.fittraiglat., arid
solid, like the qtfays at Paris; or like the terrace by the
Houses of Parliament, except that there will be no need
of quite so much expenditure. We feel perfectly sure,
however, that when this has been done the sight of the
thing will create an irresistible desire to continue the
process. It will be just like laying down a piece .of
pavement in a town for the first time—all the streets
will be clamorous for the same luxury. There can be
no doubt that this plan should have been put in practice
long ago, and, if each successive generation had em-
banked its own portion of the river as the metropolis
extended, we should now have little difficulty in accom-
plishing our share. As it is, the expense looks serious.
Sir William's specimen is to cost, with the roadway and
the street, 146,0001. ; but we do not see it stated how
much of this is to go to the embankment itself, or what
is to be the precise extent of the operation.
In one of the arguments used on Monday evening we
entirely concur. The funds for the proposed works at
Battersea were to be provided by advances from the
Exchequer Loan Commissioners. Then came the ques-
tion of repayment ; and Sir William Molesworth could
only suggest that what was not forthcoming in the form
of contributions from those whose property would be
benefitted by the undertaking should be raised by tolls
on the bridge. This drew down remarks, not only from
Sir De Lacy Evans, but from Mr. Henley, who very
properly objected that such an arrangement would go
far to neutralise the whole advantages of the project.
classes
sssae say
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To establish a park of recreation for the working
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theon tendency
ernoeayd
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tha
than
porrocwehedomingthceouplak
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itshooiseno very
use
that the toll would only be a penny, or even a
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themselves unreasonable
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benefits
tpoenansky.
thosefroThmisraay seem
availing
proposed ; but, not to mention that twopence or
threepence may be a serious consideration to a
labourer wishing to take his half-dozen children
out for an airing, it is perfectly notorious that
small charges levied in this manner are always dis-
tasteful to the public, and always tend to defeat
their own object. We believe this sentiment is a feature
of the national character. An Englishman is more an-
noyed at being stopped on his way and asked for a
penny than he would be by an impost of ten times that
amount collected after the fashion to which we have be-
come resigned. We must pay our rates and taxes, and
we don't grudge them much more or much less whether
the rate is 14d. or 15d. in the pound. But to be pulled
up short for a penny or twopence, when we are talking
or thinking, or have forgotten the circumstance, or have
got no change, or in a great hurry, is a nuisance which
puts most of us out of temper, and leads to very unde-
sirable reflections on the Commissioners of Public Works.
The operation of the sentiment is manifest on all the
toll-paying bridges. Very likely the tolls may be low
and the conveniencee offered in return very great, but it
is perfectly notorious that such bridges, where passen-
gers have any option left them, are next to useless.
They do not divert the traffic or relieve the other bridges
in the least. If there is a free bridge within reach people
will go to it, and the new bridge is left deserted, while
the other is thronged as inconveniently,as ever. We
suppose it is upon some such conviaions as these
that Mr. Oliveira wishes his committee to inquire
" whether it would be desirable to throw open to the
public the present toll-paying bridges"—a question which
can only receive one reply. Sir H. Willoughby asked,
" how the ways and means were to be provided for with-
out a toll ?" But how are all other metropolitan im-
provements provided for? Nobody, we are sure, can
say that our pavements are not taken up often enough,
and yet we have no tollbars in Cheapside.
In all these discussions about the river, it will not be
forgotten, we trust, that the arguments employed are
perfectly worthless if applied to a ditch. There is every
reason in the world for embanking the Thames and im-
proving it in a thousand ways if it is to flow in its natural
character, but none whatever for expending money upon
the adornment of a common sewer. We possess a noble
river—a river which might be made to give infinite addi-
tion to the health, convenience, and ornament of the
metropolis. .We are bound to take all care of this pos-
session, and, indeed, there are certain officers, we be-
lieve, entrusted with authority and revenues for so
doing. At present, however, the real conservators
of the Thames—that is to say, those who keep it
what it is, appear to be the Commissioners of Sewers.
Though they have made the most energetic pro-
fessions of enlightenment in this particular, and even
published plans of their own for accomplishing the puri-
fication of the river, it appears that they have coolly
thrown over their own declarations, and reverted to the
original doctrine of the Commission, that no better main
sewer could be found than the Thames. But this doc-
trine can never be maintained again. It has not only
been convicted, but, what is more, it has been publicly
given up, and it must be perfectly understood that we
are not going to build new embankments for the pleasure
of promenading more leisurely by the margin of a mon-
ster drain.

(Prom the Morning Chronicle.)
A bill to continue the Metropolitan Sewers Commis-
sion, which, under the existing Act, would expire on the
7th of August, is now before the House of Commons,
and was read a second time on Monday night. There
can be no doubt that, under the circumstances, some
temporary measure of this kind is necessary, as it is im-
possible, at this period of the session, to give the subject
that careful consideration which its importance demands.
Yet it must be owned that there is great inconvenience
in passing, session after session, " An Act to con-
tinue an Aet ;" and we are glad to infer, from what
Lord Palmerston said on Monday, that this is the
last occasion on which such an expedient will be
resorted to, and that the measure of next year will be
based on a more permanent and satisfactory— principle.
Mr. Peto stated last year, in the house, the circum-
stances which led himself and several of his most dis-
tinguished colleagues to resign their places at the board ;
and he drew attention to the internal differences which
had impeded their efficiency, as well as to the difficulties
which they had experienced from their inability, under
the terms of the existing act, to give satisfactory security
for moneys advanced. On the other hand, strong com-
plaints have been made of the enormous sums expended
by the Commissioners on particular undertakings, and
of the very heavy charge for superintendence, which has
amounted, on the average, to 40 per cent. on the cost
of the works executed. On these and other points the
public are entitled to fuller and more satisfactory ex-
planations than any which have yet been furnished, and
there is no subject more imperatively demanding the
close'and vigilant attention of the metropolitan mem-
bers in particular. We believe we are correct in saying
that the act which constituted the present Commission
passed both houses without an hour's discussion. One
member, indeed, announced his intention of opposing it in
its earliest stage, but the house was forthwith counted
out, and no subsequent attempt was made to arrest its
progress or to amend its details. Similar apathy will
not, we feel assured, be exhibited on future occasions.
Since the period to which we refer the cholera has again
visited our shores, and we know not how soon it may
once more appear among us ; and science, moreover,
has taught us that, while we are directly sacrificing
human life by neglecting to make proper provisiofi for
the removal of substances prejudicial to the public
health, we are guilty of the most wanton extravagance
in wasting fertilising materials which would be of in-
estimable value to our agriculturists. The facts of the
case are simply these :—The metropolitan district com-
prises more than 100 square miles, and requires 2,000
miles of drainage ; it possesses only 1,000 in good work-
ing order ; and the number of deaths annually occasioned
by diseases which efficient sewerage would prevent, was
estimated, by the noble lord who recently presided over
the Commission, at no less than 12,000.
While the public have been content to leave this mat-
ter in so unsatisfactory a state, individuals have not been
idle, as is sufficiently proved by the minutes of evidence
taken before the select committee on the Great London
Drainage Bill, and recently printed by order of the
House of Commons. In 1832, the subject attracted
the attention of Mr. Morewood, who has devoted eight
years to the consideration of his plan, and incurred very
heavy expenses in making the requisite experiments.
The history of the impediments which have from time
to time obstrusted his progress, is not without interest.
In 1845, the necessary deposits were made, but the
matter was referred to a Select Committee, whose re-
port was, however, deferred till after the change of Ad-
ministration in 1846. In the autumn of that year, the
deposits were again made, but " the Government inti-
mated to the Lord Mayor their intention of bringing in
a bill." A third attempt was foiled by a resolution of

the Commissioners of Sewers, and a fourth was abandoned
in consequence of the change of Government, which
gave other occupation to the authorities of the Home-
office. In the present session Mr. Morewood and his
friends have renewed their application. Their principal
opponent? in Committee were the City and Metropolitan
Commissioners of Sewers, and ultimately the Committee
reported the preamble not proved. We do not dispute
the justice of this decision, for there were undoubtedly
objections to the scheme suggested, and one material
provision, at least, was unusual, though not unprece-
dented ; but we must impress upon those who
thought proper to come forward as its opponents that
they have taken upon themselves no light responsi-
bility. They are bound without delay to produce a
comprehensive and practical measure of their own, and
to give some satisfactory assurance that the new lease of
power which Parliament is now about to bestow upon
them shall be spent, not in discreditable quarrels or
costly jobs, but in the systematic and scientific prosecu-
tion of the great work with which they are entrusted:
The promoters of the rejected Drainage Bill contem-
plated the formation of one main intercepting sewer on
each side of the river—that on the north extending from
Westminster-hall to Barking-creek (about ten miles),
and that on the south from the Effra sewer to Horn-
lane, below Greenwich-marshes. The depth below the
surface was to be throughout very considerable—in St.
Paul's Church, no less than sixty feet ; the works would
have been carried on with little, if any, obstruction of
the thoroughfares above them ; and the evidence showed
that there would have been no difficulty in connecting
the existing sewers with these main lines. It was further
proposed that, at each terminus, the tunnel should
discharge itself into a well, and that the sewage
should thence pass into a series of tanks, in which
it` 's -to' be subjected. to the operation of liquid
lime, the deodorising properties of which are well
known. This mode of treatment has for some time
been practised with success in the county gaol- of
Cardiff, where the material obtained is sold, after
desiccation, for 31. per ton. it appears, from the
calculations of one of the witnesses, that the number of
tons which might be annually collected from the sewer-
age of London would be more than 100,000—the price
of which may be taken at 300,0001., subject to a deduc-
tion of one-half for the cost of manufacture. It was
strongly urged by the opponents of this bill, and ad-
mitted by the promoters, that sewers of the size proposed
would be too small to carry-off the sudden rush of water
occasioned by storms; but it was contended, and appar-
ently with good reason, that the first flush of water
would wash all the deposit out of the existing sewers
into the intercepting tunnels, which would not previously
be more than half full, and would thus be ready to re-
ceive it. The surplus water, which would, be compara-
tively pure, might then, it was argued, be safely left to
find its way into the river by the existing outlets, which
would be left undisturbed. The whole expense of the
projected undertaking would have been, according to
the estimates furnished by competents engineer, about
900,0001.—0 f which sum one-ninth might have been
saved by terminating the northern sewer at Bow-creek,
to which there did not appear to be any substantial
objection. In order to secure the interest of the
capital thus advanced, it was proposed to throw upon
the parishes principally interested a certain limited
liability, which was to continue for twenty-five years,
and which could not, under any possible circumstances,
have exceeded 27,0001. in any one year. We have above
alluded to this proposition as a very unusual one, and it
may be fairly questioned how far the promoters were
entitled to expect so great an indulgence ; but it is right
to observe that no opposition was offered to the bill by
the parishes or districts upon which the burden would
have been thrown. We believe that it is only by tunnel
sewers of the description proposed that the low-lying
districts of the metropolis can be effectually drained.
Such was the challenge offered by the promoters of
the bill, and not very satisfactorily met by their oppo-
nents. For the present, however, the opposition has
been successful, and we are left in the power of the Com-
missioners of Sewers. We now ask those gentlemen what
steps they intend to take ? Mr. Brunel, one of their
witnesses, objected to the measure which we have been
considering as " too vast and comprehensive." Are we
to understand that petty and inefficient mea-
sures are deemed preferable ? The same gentleman ob-
jected to creating a monopoly, which might, he con-
ceived, prove disadvantageous to the public if the specu-
lation should turn out profitable. Are the Commission.
ers, then, to have a monopoly of inutility and extrava-
gance ? Is it true that they contemplate the extension
of inland drainage only, and do not intend to take any
steps for relieving the Thames from its pollution—that
its vast bed of mud is still to be exposed at low water,
"red with animalculm," and more and. more offensive as
each year increases the discharge which it receives I
Are our sewers to continue, as at present, for sixteen
hours out of the twenty-four, vast cesspools, sending
back into our dwelling-houses their fetid stench, preg-
nant with disease and death ? And lastly, are our agri-
culturists still to be compelled to obtain from distant
countries, at a heavy expense, precarious supplies of
that fertilising material which we possess in abundance
at home ? All these questions will, we trust, be satis-
factorily answered before the bill for continuing the
Sewers Commission finally receives the sanction of the
Legislature.