The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-29 00:00:00

CITY OF LONDON IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr. R. L. JONES brought up the report of
the Improvements Committee. The following is
an abstract :—" The attention of the Court has
long been drawn to the necessity of an improve-
ment at Holborn-hill, by reducing the acclivity
thereof, aid they authorised an application to be
made to Parliament in the last session for power to
purchase and take down the houses 79, 80, 81, 82,
and 83, Holborn-bridge, with other premises in Field-
lane, towards that purpose ; that such application re-
ceived the sanction of Parliament, and the premies
are scheduled accordingly in the Act above referred
to ; that your committee, feeling it desirable the cor-
poration should avail themselves of these powers
without further delay, recommend that we may be
empowered to give the necessary notices for the pur-
chase of the premises in question, as a period of not
less than six months must elapse before any payments
can be required fur the purchase of the property, and
it is highly important the houses should be removed
to enable the accurate levels to be taken, in order that
the whole improvement may be carried out in the
most advantageous mariner. We further certify, in
connexion with this subject, and also with reference
to his plan for altering the inclination of Holborn-
hill and for a new line of street from Holborn to
King-street, Smithfield, that we referred it to the
Clerk of the City Works to consider of and prepare a
plan for the improvement of the acclivity of Holborn-
hill, being anxious, by every means in our power, to
forward and promote this most desirable and long-
called for improvement."—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN stated that the corporation would
be enabled, by the arrangement comprehended in the
report, to effect a great improvement in establishing
something towards a level in the locality.
The report was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. R. L. JONES brought up a report from the same
committee upon a petition from tenants of premises
in Farringdon ew-street for a remission of ground-
rent, as an equivalent for the loss and disappointment
they had experienced in consequence of the unfinished
state of that street. It recommended the extension
of the terms of the leases of the ground let to the
petitioners in that street from 61 to 80 years.
Agreed to.
SANITARY IMPROVEMENT IN THE CITY OF LONDON.

Mr. R. L. JONES brought up the following report,
to which he most particularly requested the attention
of the Court, as containing matter of essential im-
portance :
We whose names are hereunto subscribed, your
Committee for effecting improvements within this
city, to whom, by two several orders of the Court, it
was referred to examine the allegations in the petition
of the inhabitants of Farringdon Ward Without,
praying the Court to set aside a sum of
money to improve the sanitary condition of
the ward, and to adopt such measures as will improve
the habitations of the labouring classes, and in
the petition by the inquest of the parish or precinct
of St. Andrew's, Holborn, in the said ward, on the
danger to the public health arising from bad sewer-
age and other causes, and to report our opinion
thereon, do certify that we have proceeded in the con-
sideration of both petitions, and been attended by the
deputy of the ward and the foreman of the inquest,
who represented that the principal objects contem-
plated thereby were to ensure an increased and ade-
quate supply of water, especially in the poorer
localities—an improved state of sewerage, with poivers
to compel landlords of houses to drain such houses direct
into the sewers—an extended ventilation in narrow
and confined courts and alleys by widening the same,
and for restrictions being placei on common lodging-
house keepers as to the number of inmates to be
lodged and harboured.—(Hear.)
" That havinc, taken the said statements into consi-
deration, we find with respect to the complaint as to
the supply of water, that the Commissioners of
Sewers have taken measures to remedy the same, and
have arranged with the New River Company to
grant a daily supply thereof to the various courts and
alleys within this city; which arrangement has been
carried into effect.—(Cheers.)
" That with regard to the extension of the sewers
in those localities, a considerable portion has been
effected under the direction of the Commissioners, and
contracts have been made by them for the formation
of additional sewers, which are proceeding as quickly
as circumstances will admit. That they have taken
legal proceedings to enforce the emptying, cleansing,
and repairing cesspools, privies, and drains on the
basement storeys of the houses requiring the same,
where the parties have neglected or refused to attend
to the representations of the Commissioners. That
many such parties, when applied to, have readily per-
formed the requisite works, whereby great benefits
have been conferred upon the inhabitants of those
localities, of which they are fully satisfied; and that
the Commissioners, finding they have not the power to
compel landlords to drain their houses into the sewers,
and that various other additional powers are required
to put the whole system of sewerage of this city into
the most perfect condition, have agreed to recommend
the Court to apply to Parliament in the next session
for an Act to amend and extend their present power,
with such additional powers as are necessary to meet
the public requirements, and so as effectually to
carry into execution the beneficial purposes contem-
plated by the petitioners, and have directed a Bill to
he prepared for these purposes, which Bill, when
ready, will be reported to this Court.—(Cheers.)
" With respect to that part of the petition which
recommends the widening narrow and confined courts
and alleys, instead of the formation of a new line of
street from Cannon-street to St. Paul's, your com-
mittee have to report, that the Court having agreed
to the plan for such new street, and applied to Par-
liament in the last session for authority to effect the
same, and the Act authorising the formation thereof
having been passed, the outlay for which must of
necessity amount to a very considerable sum, they
are not at present prepared to recommend any ex-
tended or additional works, and are indeed already
restricted from proceeding with those thus authorised
till such time as the Court have agreed upon the mode
fur raising the funds required for the same.
"It must be apparent that, however desirable it
may be to widen the narrow and confined courts and
alleys throughout the City, the same cannot be effec-
tually done without a general improvement of the
existing localities and the formation of the leading
streets and thoroughfares in their immediate vicinity ;
but we are led to believe, when the measures in con
templation for a more general system of private
drainage into the existing public sewers are fully
carried out, as well as the increased supply of water
now afforded, there will be little, if any, reason to
complain as to the sanitary state of this city.
" With reference to the allegation of powers being
obtained for placing restrictions upon lodging-house
keepers as to the number of inmates to be lodged and
housed, we do not offer any suggestion, the more
especially as her Majesty has been pleased to appoint
a commission to inquire what special means may be
requisite for the improvement of the health of the me-
trcpolis, of which the chairman of your committee is
a member. That commission will, doubtless, among
other subjects referred to them, turn their attention
to this point.
" Connected with the foregoing subjects your com-
mittee beg to report that the Court was pleased, on
the 12th of March, 1846, to see a petition from the

working men of the metropolis, for furtherance of
the means of improving the sanitary condition of the
working classes, presented by the late Dr. Lynch,
which petition embraced most of the points alluded
to in the foregoing petitions, and prayed that a por-
tion of 20,0001. per annum agreed to be appropriated
by the Court for the public improvements within the
city might be devoted to the provision of suitable
abodes for the working classes ; this was duly
brought before us, and upon the last occasion when
we were attended by Dr. Lynch (December 16,
1846), he stated that the memorialists would prepare
and submit a plan for our consideration. Circum-
stances, however, occurred which prevented his so
doing, and we received no further communication
from him upon the subject, in consequence of which,
ai well as from his melancholy decease, we have not
proceeded further with this reference, but beg to draw
the attention of the Court to the previous part of this
report upon the petitions of the Ist of July last as our
views and opinions in reply to the said petition.
" We avail ourselves of this opportunity of report-
ing, that in addition to the steps taken by the Com•
missioners of Sewers, as before stated, the Court of
Aldermen directed prosecutions to be instituted against

" R. L. JONES.
" T. EVANS.
" G. AITCHESON.
" W. CHRISTIE.
"J. BRITTON.

E. HICKSON.
"J. LORT. •
"H. BURN.
"R. TAYLOR."

Mr. ANDERTON said he had never heard any re-
port read in that court which had given to him any-
thing like the gratification he felt at the document
which had been just read, and he was convinced the
public would entertain just the same opinion.—(Hear,
hear.) It was calculated to show that, whatever the
general opinion might be with respect to the ideas of the
citizens of London as to sanitary reform the Corpora-
tion were determined to do everything in their power
to accomplish so great an object. There were two
detestable nuisances which required their active and
immediate exertions—the interment of the dead
within the City of London. and the execrable an-
noyance of smoke.—(Hear,.bear} i Towns in- which
the last-mentioned abomination was abolished by Act
of Parliament had been long afflicted by it, and were
now enjoying all the advantages of a salubrious
atmosphere, while London seemed to be the arena in
which it was doomed to flourish without check or
restraint of any kind.—(Hear, hear.) He rejoiced
that Mr. R. L. Jones had been appointed one of the
commissioners for inquiry into the sanitary condition
of the metropolis, for he was well acquainted with the
manner in which that gentleman performed all the
duties of the important situation in which he had
been placed.—(Cheers).
The report was unanimously agreed to, and or-
dered to be printed.

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr. R. L. JONES brought up the report on the sub-
ject of the completion of the line of street from Far-
ringdon New-street to Clerkenwell-green. It stated,
that unless some arrangements were made for pro-
viding funds for carrying out this purpose during the
present year, the time must necessarily be delayed,
probably for years ; that the committee did not feel
themselves justified in recommending the Court to
comply with the application for carrying on an im-
provement beyond the limits of the City; but, inas-
much as the measure itself had received the sanc-
tion of Parliament, who granted the sum of 25,0001.
towards effecting the same, they were of opinion it
was a fit subject to be brought under the notice and
consideration of the Commissioners for Metropolitan
Improvements, to whom it appeared to them legiti-
mately to belong, and they recommended the peti-
tioners to apply to them accordingly.
Mr. ANDERTON thought that, as the City of Lon-
don was suffering from the non-completion of so
necessary a work, the Court ought themselves to
apply to the Commissioners of Metropolitan Im-
provements, and to all others by whose influence
metropolitan improvements could be advanced.
Mr. BURN moved an instruction to the Committee
to make application to the effect suggested by Mr.
Anderton and approved by Mr. R. L. Jones.
Unanimously adopted.
MONUMENT TO SIIAKSPERE.

Sir P. LAURIE stated that he did not at present
intend to press his motion for a grant of money in
aid of a fund for the erection of a monument to
Shakspere. He had received many communications
highly approving of the proposition, but he thought
it advisable to postpone his motion until the return
to town of many on whose support and influence he
relied. There was another reason which weighed
strongly with him, which was, that the committee
for purchasing what was called Shakspere's house
at Stratford, had appealed to the public, and he was
unwilling to interfere in any way with that body, or
to divert into any other channel those funds to
which they looked for re-imbursement.—(l-lear.)
Adjourned.

WATCH AND CLOCKMAKERS PENSION SOCIETY.—
The triends of this excellent society had their annual
dinner on Monday, at the White Conduit House Tavern,
which was served in Mr. Rouse's usual superior style.
Mr. Sheriff Kennard was in the chair. It appeared
from the report read by the secretary, that this society
has the merit ot being the first to establish an asylum ot
benevolence, by which the condition of the decayed and
necessitous workmen and their widows is brought under
the notice ot their happier and more successful brto
thren—an example which has been since followed by
almost every other branch of industry in London. Sinee
its establishment, in 1817, it has disbursed upwards of
6,550 L, in rescuing 129 persons from the worst evils ot
poverty, and has now 26 male and 13 female pensioners,
grateful recipients of its bounty. After the usual loyal
toasts had been given and acknowledged with enthusiasm,
the chairman proposed, " Prosperity to the Watch and
Clockmakers' Pension Society," &c. The evening was
enlivened by the excellent singing of Messrs. Robinson,
Shoebridge, and F. Smith. A list of subscriptions,
headed by a handsome donation from ,the chairman, was
read, and the festivities of the evening terminated with
a ball, which was very numerously attended, and most
ably conducted by Mr. Croft, one of the gentlemen of the
committee.
FIRE IN CLERKENWELL.—Last night, about nine
o'clock, Peter's-lane, Cow-cross, Clerkenwell, was the
scene of a fire, which broke out in the premises of Mr.
Roe, a furniture broker, situate in the middle of the
above-named thoroughfare. Owing to the highly com-
bustible character of the stock in trade the fire travelled
with more than usual rapidity, so that before the in
mates in the upper part of the house became aware of
the outbreak the shop and all it contained were in a
general blaze. Fortunately, the whole of the parties
succeeded in effecting a retreat without receiving Rev
personal injury. In a very brief period the parish and
London brigade engines attended; and, there being an
abundant supply of water, the flames were extinguished,
but not until the lower portion of the premises wa,
burned out, and ale stock therein consumed.

---- • --
THE POOR IN ST. PANcaas.—Yesterday at a very
numerously attended meeting of the directors of th,
poor of St. Pancras, held in the new board- room, ad
joiningworkhouse, King's-road--Mr. Churchwardo
Howarth i the
n the chair—Mr. M`Gahey, the clerk, brough,
up and read the report of a committee appointed to in•
quire into the present system of administration of out
door relief, and whether a better method could be in-
troduced to prevent imposition, and insure effectual relief
to the deserving and destitute poor. The report stated
that the committee were of opinion that no reason ha.
been shown to alter the instructions under which the
relieving officers administered out-door relief, and no
reason to alter the system adopted by the board it,
granting out-door relief, but, that it would be advisable
to have an additional agent appointed, in order that
more effectual inquiries into the circumstances of the
various applicants might be made. Mr. Douglas moved
the adoption of the report, which, having been seconded,
was adopted. After some other business the board
separated.
:MANSLAUGHTER.—The subject of careless driving
by cabmen and others has often been the object of ani-
madversion in the Liverpool papers. Oa Monday an
inquest was held on the body of a child named Anne
Owens,waaftserkia th
lleldenbgybeeninegd
run over of 3 lir 1
and careful investigation of the case, the jury returned
a verdict of " Manslaughter" against the driver, Tho-
mas
a i
springng Burlington-street, n setarrete—t,
cart—when,
llaye, who was committed for trial on the Coroner's
warrant.
HEALTH or TowNs.—Last night a respectably
attended meeting was held in the large room of the
Talbot Inn, Mortimer-road. Kingsland, on the sanitary
condition of the district. The principal object of the
meeting was to take steps for the removal of a nuisance
in the Tottenham•road, arising from the accumulation
of filth and noxious matter on the De Beauvoir property
re,pecting the abatement of which there were some legal
difficulties, owing to its being partially a private and par-
tially a public property. Mr. Baker, the coroner, had exa-
mined it, and given a certificate of its unwholesome and
detrimental character. Benjamin Bingley, Esq., was
called to the chair, and after commenting on the im-
portant nature of the matter, called on the secretary,
Mr. Hawkins, to read a communication from Lord Mor-
peth on the subject, which was to the effect, " that he
himself had no power to interfere directly in the matter,
and the board of guardians ought to be consulted with a
view to its immediate removal." A resolution was una •
nimously carried for that purpose. Thanks were then
voted to the chairman, and the meeting separated.
FINE ARTS AT THE LONDON MECHANICS INSTI-
TUTION.—An exhibition of drawings and modelling
executed by the members and students of the modelling,
human figure, and landscape drawing classes of the
London Mechanics' Institution, will take place on Mon-
day, September 27th, and remain open the whole of the
week, to commence at 8 o'clock, P.M., and close at past
10, P.M. We are asked to mention this as a contradic-
tion to " those who think that the mechanics of London
have no brains to generate new forms either of beauty
or usefulness, and are unable to assist those who are
above them in art."-7he Builder.
The Senatus Academicus of the University and
King's College, Aberdeen, conferred the honorary de-
r
gree of LL.D. on the Rev. George Tulloch, of the Belle
Vue Academy. an Alumnus and Master of Arts of the
University.--Aberdeen Journal.