The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-24 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OE THE MORNING ADVERTISER.

Sir,—lt is scarcely to be credited that the Common
Council of the City of London will so far stultify its past
resolutions, as to countenance anything like serious oppo-
sition to the magnificent project of the new City Railway
Terminus.

But, nevertheless, it must be forgotten, that there is a
small but active body in the corporation who cannot, by
any means, reconcile their minds to the idea of modern
social progress. Everything that promises improve-
ment upon a large, and really effective scale, is
sure to meet their strenuous, and somewhat viru-
lent opposition. They seem thoroughly imbued with
the spirit of the old- slow-coach times, and have, like-
wise, a few former grudges to remember. Sone of
these gentlemen can neither forget nor forgive their defeat
,upon the question of the removal of that monster nuisance,
Smithfield, with all its attendant horrors and abomina-
tions ; and also, in spite of their hostile prognostications,
the successful reduction in the price of gas. But they are
apt, likewise, to extend their resentful feelings to the per-
sons and plans of those who have succeeded in thwarting
them on former occasions. It is from this party alone that
the entire success of one of the greatest improvements ever
contemplated in a modern city, is in any degree of danger.
But they aro skilful to make up in litigious activity what
they want in real power and numbers, and may therefore
contrive, unless due vigilance be used, to curtail the pro-
ject of much of its grandeur and utility. Against this, the
friends and promoters of the scheme should be especially
on their guard.
Upon the entire subject nothing could have been more
to the point than the speech of Mr. Deputy Bennoch, in
the Court of Common Council, as reported in your paper
of this morning. With his usual sensible earnestness and
practical wisdom, he appealed to facts, and cited the case
of other large towns which had benefitted immensely, both
as to trade and local improvement, by the introduction of
railway termini into immediate contact with the chief
centres of business and passenger traffic. In short, he dealt
with the whole question as a man fully disposed to meet,
and as it were anticipate the exigencies of the coming time.
The project is doubtless a large one, but not greater than is
absolutely required for the locality and the occasion. And
the proper way is, as Mr. Bennoch's amendment suggests,
to appeal to Government for such aid and encouragement
as they, having regard to the extent and importance of the
plan, may be able or inclined to bestow.
For years the question of a viaduct at Holborn-hill has
been the great and insurmountable difficulty of the City.
An opportunity now presents itself such as may never oc-
cur again, of providins a most complete and effectual re-
medy. At the same time the entire locality has been for
years a worse than barren and useless waste, for want of
some mode of adapting it to a really useful and beneficial
purpose. Are the myriads of passengers from the north
and the west, for all time to come, to be doomed to take
the incovenient route of the Blackwall railway, some nine
or ten miles out of the way, when three or four would suf-
fice to bring them to the Farringdon-street terminus. It
would bo just as reasonable to insist upon all shipping for
the future going round Cape Horn instead of by the lake
of Nicaragua or the isthmus of Darien in order to reach
the Pacific.
The public in the City are deeply indebted to you, Sir,
for the manner in which you uniformly advocate all the
great and liberal measures brought forward from timo to
time for their especial benefit. Your various papers and
articles upon this interesting subject, have been of groat
use in rivetting public attention upon it ; and if the Corpo-
ration will but heartily take up the question in the tone
and spirit of Mr. Bennoch's amendment, final and complete
success cannot fail to be the result.--I am, yours respect-
fully. A CITIZEN.
City, Feb. 23, 1853.

RUMOURED APPEARANCE OF Two FRENCH STEAMERS
OFF THE COAST.—On Thursday last, considerable sensa-
tion was produced in Exmouth by the report, brought
in by some fishermen, that they had noticed two French
steamers off the bar. The object of these steamers ap-
pears to be to take the soundings of the port, as they
are noticed to advance at dusk, and to retire at day-
light.--Enter Gl/4tatte.

[PRICE &D.

CITY SEWERS COMMISSION.

The Commissioners assembled' on Tuesday, for the
purpose of transacting the general business.
THE CITY SEWERS BUSINESS FOR THE. YEAR 1852.--THE
LABOURS OF THE COMMISSION FOR THE LAST YEAR.

The SURVEYOR laid before the Court his report of
works performed during the year. It was of great
length, was divided into 21 distinct heads, and gave an
abstract of the various works executed by the Commis-
sion, and a general review of their proceedings. The
following is an outline of the most important