The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-02 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —I have been greatly delighted with the cleanli-
ness and width of the principal streets of London, so
different to the filthy and narrow lanes of our Indian
cities. But there is a great defect which demands the
intervention of the authorities to remove, viz., the plain
and crystal iron plates which are placed over coal-holes.
In rain, and especially in frosty weather, they become
"as slippery as an eel," and in the dark or frost are
not visible. Pedestrians too often fall in consequence.
A few nights ago I saw a gentleman fall over one in
Oxford-street. I believe he was severely hurt, for he
was conveyed home in a cab.
A few months since, on one snowy night, I myself
slipped over one, but fortunately escaped with a slight
bruise.—Yours, respectfully,
AN INDIAN OBSERVER.
London, Ist Aug.

LONDON DRAINAGE.—A motion is to be made in the 50
House of Commons this evening for the recommittal of
the bill for establishing the Great London Drainage St.
Company. The bill provides for the construction of two 50
main sewers, to carry the drainage of the metropolis to
the marshes, where it would be converted into a market- 12
able dry manure to the extent, it is believed, of 100,000
tons annually, capable of use by agriculturists in the g
same form as guano. The expense of construction,
which it is assumed must otherwise, in some form, be lc
undertaken by the public, will be 900,0001., on which €
the promoters ask a guarantee of three per cent. for 25 h
years. I`4
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES.— On Saturday some further 1!
estimates for miscellaneous services for the year ending Si
the 31st of March, 1854, were printed in a Parliamentary Si
document. The sum required is 228,6411., of which
70,000/. is for the new Houses of Parliament (supple- .1'
mental), 4,0001. for Windsor Castle (supplemental), 1,-
20,0001. for Buckingham Palace (supplemental), 32,6411. ig
fir Battersea Park, 5,5001. for Chelsea-bridge, 35,0001. s
for Chelsea embankment, &c., 20,0001. for Ardglass s
Harbour, 4,0001. for Archer's perforating machine,
5,0001. for SirW. Snow Harris as compensation, 30,0001. 8
for the electric telegraph (continental), and 2,5001. for
the Royal Dublin Society. (Museum). 1.,
LAND IN DEVONSHIRE.—An extensive sale of landed 8
10
property was held in Barnstaple, Devonshire, last week,
t'he results of which show how foolish were the predic-
-12
tions of the Protectionists with regard to investments
in land. The estates had belonged to the late Rev.
r 6
Prockter Thomas, and were offered for sale under an to.,
order from the Court of Chancery ; they are situated in
the parishes of Swimbridge, Atherington, Fremington, St.
Instow, Georgenympton, West Putford, and Kingsnymp- 20
ton. The principal lot was an estate called Dean, in 5
Swimbridge, lately let on a lease of 14 years, at the St.
rental of 1751., which was sold to Mr. Snow, of Vicarage ~„
Lawn, Barnstaple, for 5,650/., being above 32 years' pur-
chase ;an estate in Fremington and Instow, let at 921. 25
125., subject to chief rents of 5/.125., was sold to Dr. Yeo
for 3,5751., being above 41 years' purchase • ' a little
tenement, at Instow, was sold for 4501., or 45 years'
1C
purchase on the present rental of 101. ; a farm, at
`
Atherington, was bought by Captain Jones, of Pilton, 2(
for 1,6201., being 36 years' purchase ; another estate, in 2(
the same parish, was bought by the same party for 2(
1,8401., rather under 30 years' purchase ; a third estate, 21
in the same parish, was sold to Mr. Friend for 1,8201., 21
being a little over 28 years' purchase. I
PARIS.--It appears that the late Prefect of the Seine, 21
who has just become a member of the Senate, and who 2
has presided over the municipal works of Paris since
the 2d of December, not being a sufficiently "fast man"
for the superior authorities, has been succeeded by M. 2
Haussman. Report says that he is to propose a loan of 1
200,000,000 of francs (eight millions sterling) to be de-
voted to works ! At this rate, Paris will, in ten years,
be completely altered ; and, except the larger monu- ]
mental buildings, the completion of which was mainly
due to the late Louis Philippe, its whole aspect will `i
present an entirely new physiognomy. The greatest im-
provement !,
would result from the abolition Would of the octroi,
and substitution of a house tax. his w allow of '
the unlimited extension of Paris beyond its present
narrow and inadequate limits, and introduce life, energy,
and private building operations into the suburbs, as we
see in London,—The Builder.
HAYLEYBURT COLLEGE.—The examination of the can-
didates. for admission into the East India College took
place at the East India-house on the 28th, 29th, and
30th ult., when 42 candidates were examined, of whom
the following were reported duly qualified, viz.:--W.
M. Alexander, G. N. Barlow, R. W. Barlow, A. A.
Borradaile, J. F. Browne, F. C. Carr, W. H. Caulfeild,
R. V. Cockerell, E. Colvin, G. G. B. Coulson, C. J.
Daniell, J. P. Grant, W. S. Hooper, D. H. C. Inglis,
F. M. Kindersley, W. M. Low, A. C. Lyall, A. Mac-
gregor, A. W. Macnaghten, M. Melvill, F. D. Melvin,
W. Nisbet, G. Norman,' lIOn. F. H. North, C. It.
Ovans, IL T. Prinsep, J. W. Reid, G.R. Sharpe, W.
V. G. Tayler, V. Taylor, S. Thompson, W. C. Turner,
J. P. 11. Ward, and W. S. Whiteside.