The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-13 00:00:00

MARCH 13, 1846.

equally unknown. Besides, it was to be borne in mind
that fever was only one of many complaints arising from
a vitiated atmosphere. It appeared, from indisputable
calculation, that the class of artisans, instead of attain-
ing the average of forty-one years, were cut off at nine-
teen, thus losing fifteen years of existence, and including
in that the loss of fifteen years of productive labour to
society. In the ward of Farringdon Without, the habi-
tations of the poor were in the most deplorable condition.
Behind the finest streets, with their magnificent plate-
glasswindows, displaying the most costly productions of
the earth, was to be found a revolting mass of filth and
misery, which it was impossible to describe. In Hol-
born they had Field-lane, -and its shocking courts. On
the other side they bad Pluintree-court, with 600 inha-
bitants in twenty-eight houses, the houses not averaging
more than four rooms each. The rooms were but eight
feet in heighth and width, and the average of occupants
was six persons to each room, while the Inspectors of
Prisons allowed a room of ten feet to every individual
prisoner. The houses in the court were built back to
back, and the cellars, which contained an accumulation
of every filth, were never cleaned out.—(Hear, hear.)
From these nests of pestilence were hourly issuing
poisonous gases, fatal to animal life. They need but
enter a newly-painted room, to find how soon substances
suspended in the air imperceptibly entered and impreg-
nated the fluids of the body. So fatal was the poison
to which he alluded, that medical men were afraid of
applying a blister to a patient, from the fear it would rue
into a mortification. The mortality amongst children
was apalling ; and the ravages made by all the pre-
ventible diseases, exceeded what the most powerful ima-
gination could conceive. Similar close' Courts, in an
equally bad state, were to be found off Fleet-street. In
the Old Bailey there were nine courts, all without sewers.
Contagion was never absent. In Black Bear-alley, which
was only two yards wide, and had but five houses, he
had himself attended, in one summer, forty cases of
typhus. By the census return the average iu England
and Wales was five persons to each house, but in John's-
court, and Crown and Phcenix-court, Fleet-street, he
found in three-roomed houses eighteen people to each
house. In some of the dens called lodging-houses, he
had found six beds in a room, with two and three per-
sons in each bed, at twopence a head. In Fetterlane
there were 2,000 inhabitants to 145 houses ; and
in Plough-court, in thirty houses, there was an ex-
cess of 400 over-the. healthy standard, and no sewers
to mitigate the impurities. The number of occupants
in a house „ might be taken as a good criterion
of their circumstances. There were twice as many
residents in the wretched hovels as in the better class of
lanes ; and it was exactly where it was most wanted
that there was the greatest want of every sanatory pro-
vision. Both physical .and moral deterioration were
the inevitable consequences of all that misery. The
children grew up of diminished stature, of weaker fibre,
and so devastating was the effect of these injurious agen-
cies that a fourth generation was a phenomenon seldom
or ever to be met within the blasting circle of their in-
fluence. How few of the Court of Aldermen were na-
tives of London 1 how few of that Court were the sons
or grandsons of natives ! not one-half. London ab-
sorbed the strength of the country in body and mind,
and at the end of the third generation, in came another
influx of new blood to supply the place of that which had
been vitiated and exhausted. That the morals of the
people were contaminated by such means was equally
undeniable. Mr. Adams, the Chairman of the Clerken-
well Sessions, had declared from the judgment seat that
such places were haunts of crime, and that where there
was a large number of poor families crowded together,
every feeling of modesty, of morality, and even of decency
was utterly abandoned. He preferred sending juvenile
culprits to prison, than to those hotbeds of crime, those
nurseries of thieves and prostitutes. The Lord Mayor
had shown an anxiety to make the school supersede the
gaol, and by doing so he would render his Mayoralty
more distinguished and memorable than by any display
of pageantry or profusion with which he could possibly
invest it. To mitigate the evils so inadequately de-
scribed, they must, in the first place, provide a constant
and unlimited supply of water to the poor. They must
shut up the wretched hovels which generated disease,
and appropriate some of their vast revenue to accommo •
date the poor with cheap, well-drained, and well-venti-
lated d,vellings. Of the 125 who died daily in London,
fewer than nine died of old age. The supply of water in
London was a gross monopoly in the hands of a private
company, and their charge was most exorbitant. Dr.
Lynch here exhibited the prospectus of a company, with
Lord Francis Egerton as chairman, and Mr. Baring and
Mr. Jones Lloyd as trustees, which was ready to furnish
the metropolis with filtered water, 40 gallons per diem
to each house, at the rate of twopence a week, or seven
shillings a year. That was no speculation ; it had been
successfully tried in Nottingham, Greenock, Paisley,
Ayr, Glasgow,
.Preston, Philadelphia, and New York,
and was now ready to be applied to London, if the citi-
zens, or those who acted in their behalf, would only give
their sanction to the undertaking. Amongst the many
wise dispensations of Providence, there was none that
more clearly indicated its divine origin than the inti-
mate connexion which subsisted between our interest
and our duty. Whatever was best calculated to promote
the well-being of the human family, would be found to
be the most economical in the end. On the
contrary, whatever violated a sanatory law, or tended to
produce suffering amongst any portion of the people,
would be found to operate injuriously upon the rest.
There was a bond of union between the different classes
which rend, red it an act of common prudence, as well
as of humanity, to observe the condition and provide for
the comforts of those who stood lowest in the social
scale. Humanity, economy, public duty, good policy,
called upon them to protect the public health. Without
health the labourer must become a pauper. It was his
capital, his stock in trade, his fortune ; and society was
bound to protect it for him. Ancient cities, once the
envy of surrounding nations, had fallen because they did
not secure their permanency by providing for the hap-
piness and improvement of the masses.—(Cheers.) The
interest of the...labouring man ought-to be an object of
endearing interest with the members of that Court. By
labour they lived—by labour they had won wealth and
distinction amongst their fellow-citizens. By labour the
country had obtained, within the last fifty years, a
mechanical power equal to the labour of five hundred
millions of human beings. London boasted to be the
centre of civilisation ; the mighty heart of the political
frame, whose size and wealth, whose pomp and
commerce, had gathered within its limits all that could
contribute to the wants and pleasures of mankind. Lie
referred to this picture of its greatness and glory, in
order to contrast it with the deep disgrace of having
such hovels as homes for the protective classes in the
very heart of the first city of the first empire of the
world.—(Cheers.) He hoped, however, that they would
now act a part more consistent with their honour ; that
having done so much for the ornamental they would at.
length do something for the useful, and lay the founda-
tion of a good work, for which the press would praise
them, the people would bless them, and their own con-
sciences would reward them as benefactors of the poor
and the afflicted.—(Cheers.) Dr. Lynch concluded by
moving that the petition be referred to the Improvement
Committee.

Mr. ANDERTON stated he seconded with the highest
pleasure the motion of Dr. Lynch, after whose admirable
speech it could not be expected that he could say much.
In all that had fallen from the lips of the mover, he most
heartily concurred, and he hoped the proposition would
be unanimonsly adopted. He had, within the last eight
weeks, visited, several of the wretched places which the
professional occupation and the indefatigable exertions
of Dr. Lynch had made that gentleman familiar with ;
and he confessed that his astonishment was only equalled
by his compassion for the unhappy inmates.—(Hear,
hear.) He rejoiced that such an appeal had been made
to the Court on behalf of the poor but powerful claim-
ants upon their consideration ; but notwithstanding the
vivid description whida they had just heard, they must
accompany Dr. Lynch on his "circumnavigation pf
charity," to form a proper estimate of the horrors by
which they were surrounded.—(Hear, hear,) In order
to get rid of crime they must assail it in its hot-bed, the
densely crowded habitations of the poor. It was there
that crime was engendered, and there they must go to
render permanent service to those who were destitute of
the means of, in the slightest degree, improving their
condition.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. KING differed altogether from the gentleman who
had just addressed the Court. He considered that the
petition eas one which the Court could not for a mo-
ment entertain. It was, in fact, completely farcical to
present it, with the expectation that anything like a
compliance with its prayer could be given--(Murmurs).
People were in the habit of taking credit to themselves
far the inclination to do good. Although he was not one
of those people, perhaps he was not less disposed to do
good than any of them. He did not consider that his
approbation of the measure proposed would be by any
means evidence of his intention to render service to the
Petitioners ; for, in fact, he looked upon their appeal as
ridiculous and nonsensical.—(Laughter, and murmurs.)
Why what could be more absurd than for these poor
people to ask the Court of Common Council for places to
dwell in ? They might very reasonably apply to Parlia-
ment, but what on earth could the Corporation do ?
(Cries of "Hear; hear," and murmurs.) They required
that part of the 20,0001., which had been voted
for distinct and specific purposes, should be given to
make dirty pople clean, to make wicked people holy, to
bring about a millenium—to reform, in fact, tha populous
neighbourhood of. Farringdon Without.—(A laugh, and
laud expressions of disapprobation.) How could the
Court think of entertaining a petition with such an ob-
ject? He was determined, for the sake of common sense,
which was outraged by such an appeal, to giie it his
most strenuous opposition.—(A few cries of " Hear,"
drowned in strong expressions of dissent.)
Mr. STEVENS said it was important to the working
classes that the Court should manifast its sympathy with
them.—(Hear, hear.) What the Court might be
able to do was another thing. It had been mentioned
that the petition had a visionary object, When it was
said that cleanliness could be produced if the inmates of
these wretched habitations were supplied with water,
was that, he would ask, merely visionary ?—(Hear.)
Was it merely a visionary good, if the tottering anti
miserable hovels which bounded the City were pulled
down and substituted by cottages in which cleanliness
could, according to the statement of Doctor Lynch, be
supplied -at so cheap a rate?—(Hear, hear.) Whatever
the Court might ultimately be able to do, it was at all
events the duty of the Court to treat such an appeal,
not with, silence, but with respect and attentiQn.

PRICE SD.

Mr. STACY said, that although he was not very
sanguine in the expectations that all the petitioners
asked for would be granted, still he trusted it was in
the power of the Corporation to make an essential im-
provement in their condition.—(Hear, hear.) The
Commissioners, of whom the benevolent Mr. Peacock
was the chairman, were, he knew, deeply interesting
themselves for their poor fellow citizens.—(Cheers.)
lle hoped and he believed that they would take up the
question in their way, and according to their capabilities,
It was allowed on all hands that an abundant supply of
water would effxt a sort of revolution in the densely
crowded Imes and alleys of the City. If the Commis•
sioners of Scwers would begin by directing their labours
amongst the inhabitants; in supplying them with the one
great necessary of health, the good example would be
speedily followed, and all classes of the community
would feel the blessing of the benefits.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir JAMES DUKE (the Alderman of the Ward) paid
the highest compliment to the talents, energy, and virtues
of Doctor Lynch, and expressed a hope that the petition
would be unanimously referred to the Committee.
After a few words in reply from Doctor Lynch, who
was greatly sheered, the petition was agreed to by an
unanimous majority, no more than three hands having
been held up against it.

INSTIT UTION: OF CIVIL EN-
GINEERS.—MARCH 10.
(Sir JoPtic RENNIE, President, in the chair.)
The paper of the evening was an " Account of the
Drops used for the shipment of Coals at Middlesborough-
on-Tees, with a description of the town and port of Mid-
dlesborough," by George Turnbull, M. In3t. C. E.
The communication first gave an account of the town
of Middleborough-on-Tees,and then described the docks,
and the coal drops used there. The rapid rise of the
town into commercial importance was treated of and
accounted for, chiefly by the fact of a branch having been
constructed from the Stockton and Darlington Railway
to Middlesborough, which, as a port for shipping, pos-
sessed many advantages over Stockton. As an example
of this increased importance, it was stated, that the
quantity of coals sent down the Stockton and Darlington
Railway and shipped at Stockton and Middlesborough,
in 1825-26, was 7,926 tons ; and in 1840-41 it had in-
creased to the comparatively immense amount of 498,092
tons. The handsome manner in which the town was
laid out and built, and its active manufactories, were
also noticed.

This commercial activity necessarily caused the want
of a dock to be felt, and the present works were accord-
ingly executed.
The approach to the dock was stated to be by a chan-
nel of more than a quarter of a mile in length, which
was kept open by sluicing ; the entrance lock, built of
stone, was 132 feet long by 30 feet wide, the area of the
dock itself was about nine acres.

The branch railway diverges from the Stockton and
Darlington line, and terminates in ten double lines, lead-
ing to the ten coal drops. The manner of working the
drops was thus described:—The loaded waggon is run
on to a cradle or stage, which is arrested in a position
immediately over the hatchway of the vessel to be
loaded; it is then let down perpendicularly, by means of
counerbalance weights, and when it has nearly reached
the deck of the vessel the contents are discharged into
the hold; the counterbalance weights then preponde-
rate, and the empty waggon is rased to the level of the
rails. At the ordinary rate of working, about thirty
waggons can be discharged an hour by each drop.
In a statement annexed to the paper, it is mentioned
that in the year ending July 1, 1845, 505,486 tons of
coals were shipped by means of the ten drops here
described. The cost of the drops was 7,300/. The total
outlay for the whole works amounted to 122,0001. These
works were designed by Mr. W. Cubit, Vice-President
of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr. G. Turnbull
being the acting engineer.
Mr. Slemen's chronometric governor was exhibited,
and after being explained to the meeting, its merits as a
regulator of machinery were testified to by several gen-
tlemen who had used it for corn and other mills, and it
was acknowledged to be very superior to the ordinary
pendulum governor of Mr. Watt.
The following paper was announced to be read at the
meeting of Tuesday, March 17 :
N. 734.—0 n the relation between the velocity and
the resistance encountered by bodies moving in fluids,
by J. M. Heppel, Graduate of this Institution.

TESTIMONIAL TO MR. RENCRAFT IN RESPECT TO HIS

SADDLE.

We cannot do less than givethefollowing, as corroborative of what
is stated in the public announcement in respect to Mr. Bancraft's
invaluable patent. The authority we now quote will quiet the minds
of the most sceptical, and prove that in the multitude of every-day
improvesnents the march of the mind has in nothing else exceeded
the patent now under our consideration :

Croydon, March 4, 1846.
Dear is with peculiar. pleasure that I tender the following
remarks upon your highly-Important inventions, viz. :—" The Pa-
tent Mimes," and " Elastic Spring Saddle." For the last twelve-
months I have had the hames almost in daily use, upon a variety of
horses; rnyjournies have been long, on roads of variable character,
not unfrequently having to ascend hills of unusual aclivities, coarsely
gravelled. These tests have perfectly convinced me that my horses
have received a great boon.

The distinguished features of merit are the close adaptation of the
collar, and the uniformity of its pressure cpon all proper seats of
bearing, the patent Names admitting of such a salutary division of
the points, thereby not only affording increased facilities for draught,
but avoiding all abrasion.

These circumstances combined have a tendency to diminish or re-
move a bad habit acquired by some horses called heaving, or break-
ing into a sort of half canter, a sad bane with many otherwise good
buggy horses.

fern also able to bear testimony that by using your halms
galled shoulders may be healed in the midst of work.
Your elastic spring-saddle I have ridden upon, within the last nine
months, some thousands of miles, the average number being from
ten to fifteen miles per day upon the road, including two days a
week severe stag-hunting ; the same saddle possessing the singular
Quality of fitting three of my horses.

I am of opinion that Concussion to the hunter carrying high
weight is avoided in almost endless variety, during an arduous
chase, owing to the construction of your elastic spring saddle re-
lieving the ridge of the spine from pressure, and diffusing or
equalising the burden over a more extended muscular surface ;
this must tell not only in speed, but I apprehend far more in a suc-
cession of difficult fencing, where the animal is required, with tile
weight of his rider, first to elevate, secondly, -to elongate, and
thirdly, to land himself armly and judiciously. -
With such extraordinary demands upon this noble animal's muscu-
lar powers, a diffusible spring, well arranged, must be a grand desi-
derattun to every sportsman's saddle. .
I am, dear Sir, yours truly,
THOMAS TURNER,
President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
To S. Bencraft, Esq.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.
LOSS OF THE BRISTOL.

A letter has been received at Lloyd's from the Foreign-
office, enclosing a copy of a dispatch from her Majesty's
Consul at Cape Verd Islands, reporting the total loss of
the Bristol, Joseph Cowart, master, on the Island of
Fuego, 23d Decembsr last; crew saved.
DEFECTIVE STATE OF THE PILOT ESTABLISHMENT
AT MAIILMAIN.—A letter received at Lloyd's, mentions
that complaints were made at Maulmair against the de-
tective state of the pilot establishment there ; of course
of the injury of the shipping interest. The master at-
tendant is said to have too much to attend to.