The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-05 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —As I perceive that you are taking a lively in-
terest in the growing nuisances from the sewers, arising
from the system of trapping now extensively carried out,
I take the liberty of submitting to you a scheme which
I proposed to the Metropolitan Commissioners in 1849,
when a plausible invitation was given fur suggestions to
clear up the difficulties which then beset them, and
which promise to go on ad infinitum, notwithstanding
the high names and theoretic pretensions of the schemers
who enjoy the favours of the persons in power.
The system which I propounded in 1849, and which I
have since submitted in extenso to influential persons, is
extremely simple, easily understood, and, I flatter my-
self, compatible with practicability and economy—its
principal feature being an unlimited command of water
'wherewith, to flood the sewers, accompanied with effective
ventilation.

The basis of the project was to sink a shaft at the sum-
mit level of a district to the level of the Thames, with
which to communicate by a tunnel in the London clay,
so as to bring an inexhaustible supply of water to the
bottom of said shaft ; to erect an engine, and pump up
the water partly upon the street and partly into the
sewers, which torrent of water could be guided through
the sewers at pleasure.
The boilers of said engine to be fed with air from the
sewers, whereby the atmospheric air would enter the
gratings, and, together with the effluvia of the sewers,
be discharged up the engine chimney. The advantage
of a large supply of water would be incalculable to the
inhabitants, as well as valuable in the event of fires.
In order to give full effect to this apparatus, the en-
gine must be worked immediately after high water, in
which case the refuse of the sewers would descend with
the ebb tide, and never more reach so high up the river.
I flatter myself that I speak practically when I assert
that,funder such a system as this, the perpetual removal
of the filth would have a much less injurious effect upon
the water of the Thames, whilst this principle of venti-
lation would place the sewers in a healthy and unobjec-
tionable state.

As to the grand projects which have now for years
engaged the public attention, they are, in my opinion,
not only impracticable, but will require such a profusion
of money and time that they will never be accomplished,
whilst my plan would take effect upon the existing
sewers, and could be carried out in a definite time.
Let any one acquainted with the city of London
imagine such an establishment as the above planted in
the neighbourhood of the Charter House, he will see
that it would command an immense area of descending
sewers, whilst the time and cost of accomplishing it are
brought within the scope of the most ordinary calcu-
lation.

MATTS. DUNN,
Government Mine Inspector.
Neweastle•upon-Tyne, Sept. 27.

IRISH LAND TONTINE. —An Irish land tontine is pro-
posed for certain estates in that country, valued at
180,0001., and yielding a rental of 7,500/., which is ex-
pected to increase. It is to consist of 1,800 shares of
1001. each, and the interests of the holders are to depend
upon any lives they may respectively nominate (either
their own or others), the persons so nominated not being
less than 70 years of age. When only 20 lives remain
the estates are to be sold and the proceeds divided
among the shareholders represented by them, or the dis-
tribution may be made at any earlier period if required
by four-fifths of the persons interested. A sum not exceed-
ing 1,2001. per annum is to be reserved for management,
and the net rental is to be invested in Consols, or such
other securities as may be agreed upon, and to be dis-
tributed in 1860 and 1365, and after that annually until
the final disposal of the property.
At a meeting of the creditors of Mr. W. A. Park, of
Manchester, held on Monday, a statement was pre-
sented, showing liabilities for 73,2621. against assets for
58,2381., and the estate was agreed to be wound up
under trustees.

The bills of Messrs. James M'Henry and Co., of
Liverpool, returned yesterday ; but the amount of their
liabilities, which are believed to be very large, has not
been stated. The difficulties of this house have occa-
sioned less surprise than those of Mr. Oliver, since during
the last five months they have been reported to have re-
turned about 100,000/., or 130,0001., of draughts
drawn upon them from New York by a Mr. J. B.
Kitching, who was supposed on that side to act as their
agent. The reason given for the dishonour of these
draughts was, that they had been drawn without in-
structions. Messrs. WHenry and Co. are understood
to have speculated largely in cotton and corn as well as
other produce, and were represented as having made
98,0001. by their grain transactions during last autumn
and spring.
It became generally known yesterday afternoon that
the bills of Mr. Edward Oliver, an extensive merchant
and shipowner of Liverpool, Lave peen returned. The
position of his house, however, is of such importance
that the strongest efforts are in progress to avert a per-
manent stoppage. Its liabilities are stated at 700,000/.,
while the value of the assets, chiefly in ships, is asserted
to be over 1,000,0001. Meetings of some of the banks
and the leading firms have taken place, and a committee
has been appointed to ascertain the correctness of these
figures. Should it clearly appear that the hoped-for
surplus exists and merely requires time for rerlisation;
Sufficient aid, it is understood, will be at once afforded
to prevent a final suspension. Should that event not be
averted, it is feared other houses will fall. Whatever
may be the view taken, it is to be anxiously hoped that
nothing will be sacriaed through panic just at a moment
when all the evils of a long period of pressure are gra
dually disappearing, and everyprospect is presented of an
easier and more healthful state of business than has pre-
vailed for many months.
The Cand' with the India and China mails, and the
Argo, with the Australian mails, left Southampton water
yesterday. The Indiana steamer also left Southampton
yesterday for New York.

WRECK OF THE MINERVA.—LegaI proceedings conse-
quent en the loss of the Minerva steamer, the property
of the Cork Company, have been instituted by parties
who had goods omboard. A trial will take place in
November, before a special jury.
MURDER IN CLARE.—An occurrence of the most
painful nature occurred on Friday last, the 29th ult.,
at Core, near Feakle. It appears from the facts that
have reached us that two boys, named Laurence Grogan
and John Twaddle, each aged twelve years, quar-
relled about some trifling matter, when Grogan wrested
out of Twaddle's hands the spade with which he had
been digging. Twaddle immediately went to his
father's house, brought out a gun, and shot Grogan
at the distance of 20 yards. The unfortunate lad died
almost instantly. Twaddle was arrested on the same
evening.

THE CRIME A.

CONSTANTINOPLE, SEPT. 25.

At the battle of the Alma, on the 20th of Sep-
tember, the Russians numbered 45,000 men, and

100 cannon.

The English had 1,895 rank and file, 96 officers,
114 sergeants, and 23 drummers killed and

wounded.

The loss of the French was 1,400 men and 60

officers.

VIENNA, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4.
The Trieste Zeitung says that the reported fal

of Sebastopol is false.

The Allies had sent to Varna for cavalry.
VIENNA, WEDNESDAY EVENING.

Advices from Odessa of the 29th September
state that fighting continued uninterruptedly in
the Crimea from the 25th to the departure of
the courier on the 27th.

The allies were on the rivers Belbek and Mer,

terewady, ten wersts from Sebastopol.
The English Levant steamer took 340 wounded
Russians from Eupatoria to Odessa on the 28th.
Six allied steamers had captured prizes off
Odessa.

The Turkish troops at Bucharest fired guns on
the 2d to celebrate the victory of the Alma.

VIENNA, WEDNESDAY.
"The Russian Embassy last night published a
despatch of the 26th of September, in which it
is said that Prince Menschikoff had met with no

impediment in advancing from Sebastopol along
the road to Bakchiserai, and that no attack had
been made on Sebastopol.
" This intelligence was telegraphed from St.
Petersburg on the 2d.
" It is not doubted here that the despatch was

forwarded by Mensehikoff on the 20th, and not
on the 26th. The journey from Sebastopol to

St. Petersburg, via Moscow, takes seven days.
"It is now 10 o'clock, and the Turkish Em•

bassy has received no news from Omer Pasha
confirming the taking of Sebastopol."

THE WAR IN ASIA.

TREBISONDE, SEPT. 16.

General Andronikoff, with a superior force, had
fortified himself at Urzugheti. The condition of

the Ottoman army on the Tschuruk-su was unsa

tisfactory.
The Governor of Kars remains active.
The Russian outposts had advanced to Untschi•

kilissar again, interrupting the communications

with Persia.

A second caravan, with 3,000 horses, had been

intercepted.

Schamyl has abandoned the attack upon Tiflis,

appearing resolved to co-operate with the allies

on the Circassian coast.

THE PRINCIPALITIES.

JASSY, Ocr. 2.
Baron Hess arrived to-clay, with 8 squadrons
of cavalry, 6 battalions of infantry, and 3 bat-

teries.

The population received. the Austrian troors
joyfully everywhere.
The Emperor of Russia and the Hereditary
Grand Duke were positiirely soon expected at
Warsaw.