The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-24 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

COijner's Inquest was held yesterday at
Hampstead, on another case of infanticide ; con-
nected herewith, allow me to mention a nuisance
bearing on sanatory regulations—the supply of water,
and the character of many dwellings of the poor.
The infant's body was taken from the pond in which
it was found to an empty house ; while performing
the post mortem, the gentleman who assisted, and my-
self, were immensely annoyed by fleas—troops of
fleas. When we left the house several hundreds of
them must have been on our clothes. On reaching
home, the linen was carefully rolled up and put into
scalding water ; the dead bodies, next day, might
hare been swept off. Coats and other outer gar-
ments have required sulphur fumigation, and subse-
quently drenching in the garden. I have known two
or three instances of poor families coming to reside
in houses as infested as this. Imagine a working
man and his family having, in such rooms in which
we were but an hour,—children, beds, husband, wife,
huddled together—bad ventilation and drainage,
little or no water.

Some years ago, I was directed by a medical
student, of general intelligence, to, visit a case of
" eruptive fever of suspicious character." I found
the poor child covered, literally covered with " flea
bites," acute, sub-acute, and chronic. On my telling
as much to the good dame, she replied, smiling, "La,
Sir, is that all ! well, we do swarm with fleas • one
might sweep them up ; but the boards are so old, and
the child is a stranger, and not used to them." Oh !
Mr. Editor, it is a sad thing when use makes a human
skin like a rhinoceros' hide ; there is a cause, too, to
suspect that something like moral fleas often turn
amiable sensibilities into hardened Devils.

Hampstead, so far from being worse than other
places, as some would idly fancy, has a thousand
claims beyond most others for salubrity ; to dwell on
which, would be "to paint the rose: It is true, it
may be, that some matters I have published in a
recent pamphlet, are not worse than they were thirty
years ago ; that there is nothing new in all the details
which sanatory investigations bring, per force, before
the public. Yet, the very antiquity of these faults,
and their widely spread character, spread all over the
world, show the need of a remedy,--demand, at least,
their removal from England. There is, however,
something very new in drawing public attention to
these things; something very healthy good and
holy in our gracious Queen and our modern Govern-
ment, telling the nation that these sources of evil
must be exterminated.
Improved dwellings for the labouring classes, like
the delightful, though simple, model houses at Bag-
nigge Wells, must soon be built for all, the rents
ranging from Is. 6d. to 6s. per week. Interim, an
unentermitting supply of pure water, light, and fresh
air, would cleanse out many a hole and corner, now
the hot beds of vermin, disease, and death, in our
present ill-constructed tenements for the industrious;
millions. The recorders of sanatory facts should be
very careful to check an idea going abroad, that indi-
viduals, as proprietors of particular places, are especi-
ally culpable; nor may the working population be
allowed to fancy their homes "showed up"
from any other desire than that of attempting
to remove evils under which they suffer,
which they, by themselves, have neither
leisure, knowledge, nor strength, to remove.
Tbere is something workman. like, business-like
earnest—in the style of publicity which sanatory facts
assume. Some people laugh, some sneer, some shud-
der, at the simple or disgusting details. We say like
Themistocles—' Strike, but hear us." Let it be re-
membered, that the existence of such facts, particu-
larly if no effort be made to alter them, not the pub-
lishing them, is the disgrace.
A knowledge of the principles of animal physiology
is all important, that men may know how to live in
order to command health. These laws must be fa-
miliarised to the rising generations—must be made as
familiar as their daily bread—as their pious, bible,
nnrsery faith. This accomplished, we shall have ad-
vanced another step in sanatory reform, from which
small eminence the public will see others more lofty
to with they will be led on to the intrepid and zea-
lous little band of far-seeing, thinking, free-acting
men, who, " through evil report and good report,"
dare to do what they believe to be right.
Mankind at large are deeply indebted to the daily
journals for the steady, humane, and spirited manner
in which all have advocated sanatory measures; rising
above the bias of party, the weekly as well as daily
papers have advanced this wise and humane move.
The mass of society may well afford an apology for
some political animosities, or factious squabbles into
which the press now and then may be hurried, seeing
it starts up gratuitously, unanimously, to labour in such
a cause for the common benefit of our common nature.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. EDITOR,
Your very obedient servant,
CHARLES F. J. LORD.
Hampstead, May 18, 1847.

The announcements of any names for the bishopric
of Manchester, or of the other new sees, are premature
—the arrangements not being yet in form for any de-
cision or selection.—Observer.

THE POLISH BALL.
Friday evening one of the most splendid reunions of
rank and fashion of the season took place at 'Willis's
Rooms, St. James's, in aid of the Literary Association
of the Friends of Poland, of which Lord Dudley Stuart
is the well-known and distinguished patron. It was a
most gratifying, philanthropic, and festive espousal of
that chivalrous cause which has so long enlisted the
sympatkies of enlightened Europe. and which of late has
become more intensely interesting than ever is connec-
tion with Russia's re-impressment, if we may so speak'
of an unnatural wrong upon a noble people, and her
flagrant violation of laws that were sacred among nations.
The attendance was of a character truly distingue, °a,
the following selected list of the principal persons h
show :—The Hon. Mr. Murray, Prince Louis Bonaparte,
Major Schonswar, Lord Walsingham, Lord Dudley
Stuart, Hon. Mr. de Grey, Colonel Singleton,
Dartmouth, Lord Grosvenor, Lady Jervis, Alderman
Parebruther Sir Willoughby Jones, Viscount Milton
Captain dardner, Hon. Arthur Douglas, Lad/
Stratheden, Hon. Miss Campbell. lien. W. Scarf.
the Earl of Fingal', Countess of Fingal!, LadY
13/bre,
Emma Plunkett, Major Harvey, Chevalier
Colonel Meyrick, Sir Percy Shelley, Captain Chiches-
ter, Mr. Hume, M.P., Lord Morton, Lady de Clifford,
Capt. Compton, Marchioness Clanricarde, Lady Em ill
de Bourgh, Hon. Captain Lindsay, Captain Sotheby,
Earl of
Lady Eleonora Palmer, Hon. Sydney PierrePont, Sir
Lady C. Fitzroy, Lord Chas. Fitzroy
M. Bruce, Capt. Broke, Sir P. Broke, Hon. E. Forester,
Hon. Mr. Pechell, Mr. Milner Gibson', MX.,
Malmesbury, Sir J. Drummond, Lady Sarah Finch,
Lady Guernsey, Marquis of Northampton, Lady KW;
Lord Henry Loftus, Sir Stratford Canning, Princess
Collimaki, Lord C. Chichester, Lady Fergusson Davie,
lion. George Keane, Hon. Fane Keane, Capt. Forrestef:
Baron Zedwitz, Sir H. Meux, Sir H. Blake, his Doe'
leucy M. Van de Weyer and lady, Hon. Miss De Sils,
Sir W. and lady Molesworth, Mr. Gibson Craig, MX"
Mr. Vivian, Hon.
lidouSnPtaellseseori
M.P., Lord Carew, Lady L. Wilbraham, Sir
C. Morgan and Lady, Conte De Burke, Countess Pau d},
Lady James Stuart, Colonel Elphinstone, 4
_ladf
Adelaide Clarence, Lady Caroline Gower, Lord and 10
Blantyre, the Ladies Fitzwilliam, Hon. Dudley De ft°si
M Countess of Glasgow, Lady Diana Boyle, Countess °
Bective, Hon. G. Astley, Lieut. Bruce, Mr. ac„,.A.,
Lady R. and A. Russell, Hon. F. Blake, LadY "
court, Sir Sanirneßrs. B.
trohni,llAipis.p7dmliassdyE, Lordoow eCr,ranst° ,
lioneer
able Miss Brown, Lady Mostyn, Sir PierceXttrjil
Lord Leigh, Lady Leigh, Miss Lascaenllae,s Lady ale— e
and Miss Carroll, Colonel Angerstein, Elja-raldf
Lady Leslie, Viscount Bury, Lord gsyoress
of N°rburli
uct
Marquis of Kildare, Honourable C. Lawless,
~,-sca°,o,
and Viscountess Ebrington, Honourable Mr. 01°-I•l'dy
Marquis of Abercorn, Lord Claud Hamilton, liar!
Palmer, Marchioness of Aylesbury, Comte Revel' • ce
of Munster, Lord Walsiughaw, Count Eisendel, rrla
WTheito Czartoryski.
ld
lades
patronesses rendezvoused ill ote
° d
room at ten. 'hey were the Duchess of Sather tube
the Duches of Bedford, the Duchess of St. Athans'ro,
Marchioness of Aylesbury, the Lady Charles FLtl,aff,
the Lady Caroline Sandford, and the Lady Agnes Jcidish
Whilst the procession entered the ball-room the The
national anthem was played in striking style. „..5,
dances then followed. They were the Camelia Tof
drille, under the direction of her Grace the D° ire
Bedford; the Strawberry Quadrille, under the dir the
of Lady Charles Fitzroy and Viscountess Milton)„,
Polish Colours Quadrille, under the direction 0f.0"4
countess Ebrington; the Mazurka, under the direct' ay
Lad Agnes Duff. Of
Altogether the ball was one of the most brilliant
season.