The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-10 00:00:00

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LONDON. FRIDAY. SEPI'ENIBER 10, 1d47.

It would be an act of supererogation to cite proofs
er to enter into any lengthened argument to establish
the pressing necessity that exists for the introduction
of an ample and comprehensive measure for the
adoption of sanitary regulations throughout the en-
tire kingdom. Perhaps the metropolis itself more
urgently requires that an efficient system should be
founded than any other portion of her MAJESTY'S
dominions. The myriads that are crowded together
in the lanes andialleys.; the scenes of distress and misery
that are of daily occurrence in this the capital of
the wealthiest and most prosperous nation in the
world; the insufficient drainage; the deficiency of
light and air in the dwellings of the poorer classes,
ascribable in a great degree to the effects of the
odious window-tax, and many other causes, combine
to produce the most injurious results to the
health and longevity of the inhabitants of the
less favoured districts. The weekly bills of
mortality furnish a sad catalogue of the
fatal consequences of a tainted and impure atmo-
sphere. The returns of deaths for the week ending
on Saturday, in the different metropolitan districts,
show an average of fifty deaths per diem, or rather
more than one-third of the number occurring from
every description of fatality, which are described as
having been occasioned by epidemic, endemic, and
contagious diseases. If these cases were more fully
investigated, a large proportion might be traced to
causes which could be removed by judicious and
energetic proceedings. The inquiries that have taken
place in every part of the world of recent years have
gone far to prove that the various scourges, by which
nations have periodically been depopulated, have
originated not in contagion imported from distant
lands, but in the neglect of plain and simple
precautions for averting the malaria spring-
ing up and reeking from their own soils.
A small proportion of the annual expenditure occa-
sioned by the carrying out of the quarantine regula-
tions, and of the annual leas and injury to our trade and
commerce, applied in the removal of the various im-
purities that are so unaccountably tolerated, in the
improvement of the drainage, and the providing for
the humbler classes an adequate supply of pure air
and pure water in their dwellings, would prove far
more effectual for the preservation of the public health
than the absurd system now in force in our ports aid
harbours.
It was not because the Government desired to ex-
clude the city of London and the surrounding dis-
tricts from the contemplated sanitary enactments,
that they were not included in the Act proposed
last session. A measure more specific in its
character and special in its details was required,
in order to deal satisfactorily with the various com-
plicated jurisdictions, the immense interests, as well
public as private, involved in the question. Many
taunts were, from time to time, thrown out by those
who sought to impede all legislation on the subject ;
who, in the words of a humorous contemporary,
" rallied round the stenches and the cesspools." As
to the motives that induced her MAJESTY'S Govern-
ment to adopt such a course, it was more than
hinted that it was owing to the connexion that
existed between the Noble. Premier and the city of
London and the then approaching general election,
when he would have to seek the suffrages of the citi-
'ens. If such accusations were given credence to for
a moment—if the straightforward and manly expla-
nations of the Noble Lord the Chief Commissioner of
the Woods and Forests, under whose especial aus-
picesthe measure was introduced, were not sufficient to
satisfy the public as to the Ministerial intentions, every
appointment doubt would be removed by the of the
Commission for inquiring into the sanitary condition
in
of the metropolis, announced elsewhere our o-
c
lumns. The constitution of that Commission is such
pu
blic.
Ato secure for it the entire confidence of the übr
A more judicious selection could not possibly have
been made. The majority of the persons named to
set thereon have made themselves particularly con-
spicuous for the great and valuable services they
have rendered to the cause. Mr. CHADWICK and Dr
SOUTHWOOD SMITH have probably laboured with
more unremitting zeal and industry, have devoted
themselves more incessantly to the subject than any
others that could be mentioned; indeed no Commis-
sion would receive the public confidence in which
they were not included. Their names afford the
strongest guarantee that a complete and thorough
investigation will take place ; that every fitting
inquiry will be instituted, and that nothing will be
'Ws 1
thomi. information inatinoroder to provide the Legislature with all
that may be requisite or necesia ryt
and to indicate the natuareosaznadTexc:ent of the required
worthyaosvesioa and Pro-
seacteaent.s. In Lord
Pro-
fessor ()wax they will havee
uffinceioennt
00alillIOYS. Few Members of Parliament,and
iiected with the Ministry, could be found whose
4 - • WO 14'310 two received with grvatzr approba.