The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-29 00:00:00

THE SEWERS OF LONDON.
The public mind has been much occupied of ,late with
the question of the health of towns, and in that question
is involved the drainage of the metropolis.
Our readers will perhaps find some amusement from
the consideration of the rise and progress of The most
ancient of these subterraneous works.

The oldest drains in London are probably the Fleet
River and the Walbrook, two natural water-courses,
carrying off now the accumulated drainage of a densely
populated area, as formerly they conveyed the waters of
the river Fleet and springs falling into them down to
the Thames.

As long ago as the year 1290, we read of the monks
of the White and Black Friars, with the Bishop of Salis-
bury, whose house was situate on the site of the present
Salisbury-square, in Fleet-street, complaining to King
Edward I. of the condition of the Fleet river. At this
time it must be remembered that this river was of such
size and depth that " ten or twelve ships navies at once
with merchandises were wont to come up to Old Bourne
(Ilolborn) bridge;" but a few years after the above date
it was made subject of complaint that the river " had
become so narrowed by the raising of wharves, but
specially by the diversion of water made by them of the
New Temple for their mills, outside of Baynard Castle,
and by otherimpediments, that their ships could not en-
ter as they were wont," whereupon the mayor and the
sheriffs of London were directed to amend this.
Thus from time to time this Fleet river was cleansed
and repaired under the direction of the civic authorities,
and in 1589 the Court of Common Council raised the
sum of 1,000 marks for this purpose.
This river (according to Stow) was anciently called
" the River of Wells ;" and about the beginning of the 14th
century, that portion of it which lay north of the city
boundary was known as " Turnmill Brook," from the
number of mills erected on its banks; but the lower part
became gradually used as a mere sewer.
After the Great Fire of London, it was cleansed
and repaired by the mayor and court of al-
dermen ; the sides were embanked with masonry,
and warehouses for coals constructed on its
banks, with a wharf of thirty-five feet width formed
on either side; and at Bridewell, Fleet-street, and
Ilolborn, handsome bridges of Portland stone were con-
structed, at a cost of 30,0001. The corporation have in
their library at the Guildhall, a picture of the period,
representing the Bridewell, the Fleet river, and the
bridge over it.
In 1736 it was arched over by the corporation from
Ilolborn to Fleet-street, and the old Fleet-market
formed on its site; but it was not till after Blackfriars-
bridge was built that the southern portion was arched
over, and New Bridge-street formed in its present state.
In 1825 Fleet-market was removed by the corporation,
and the street now called Farringdon-street was formed.
So much for this ancient sewer. It has long been hid-
den from the eye of the passenger; but the bridges re-
ferred to above yet exist in part, and the waters rush at
times through this mighty culvert with a force and ra-
pidity that would alarm the inexperienced. Indeed,
conveying, as it does, the bulk of the drainage of all.the
country round the base of Highgate-hill, Camden-town,
Battle-bridge, and places contiguous, this sewer almost
equals the larger sewers of ancient Rome, and, we be-
lieve, it is the largest of our metropolitan arched sewers,
and probably the largest in the world.
The next watercourse in importance in the old city
of London is that anciently forming the Walbrook, and
of late years built over and enclosed within the limits
of a modern sewer, now running from London-bridge
through ging William-street and and Princes-street to
the City boundary at Moorgate. Here is a work of
the last fifteen years, constructed chiefly on the site of
the ancient Walbrook—a river of great width and
depth in former days, having its source about Hoxton.
Few persons consider, as they travel through the streets
before-mentioned, that a sewer of a sine large enough for
a cab to drive through runs beneath their feet, up
which the Thames flows as high up as Lothbury. Such,
however, is the fact ; and this wonderful work has en-
abled the low flat ground of Holloway to be drained of
late years.
Such are the main sewers of London. The old town
ditch, recorded by Stow to have been two hundred feet
wide, winds still in its original track round the course
of the old city wall, though now limited to a sewer va-
rying in size. But still it is an interesting relic of the
olden time, and, with the other watercourses of London,
form the main arteries in a system of drainage which now,
within the limits of one square mile, counts at least
forty-three miles lineal of public sewers within the mu-
nicipal division called the city of London.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
NORTHAMPTON SPRING MEETING.
NORTHAMPTON, TUESDAY EVENING, SIX O'CLOCK.
Further Arrivals—War Eagle, Prairie Bird, Dacia,
Latitat, Puffy, Farthingale, filly by Cotherstone, out of
Kalmia; Embrace, Sylvan, Routh, Convict, Antler, Pic-
colo, Rothersthorpe, Nina, Retail, b f by Csesar, out of
Emily, Goodwood, Historian, Harlestone, Consuela,
Multum in Parvo, Brother to Counsellor, Elimea, Tho
Judge, The Pony, Mawkstone, br f by Touchstone, out
of Chapeau d'Espagne; Sword Player, and The Fiddler.
Dawson's lot expected to-night.
The following is the complete entry for the Queen's
Plate:—Mr. Pedley's Miss Burns, Mr. Parr's Marietta,
Lord Chesterfield's Lady Wildair, Mr. Bouverie's War
Eagle, Mr. Irwin's Ballinafad, Mr. T. Price's Legislator,
Mr. Mostyn's Sagacity, Mr. Verity's Walmgate-bar
Without, Mr. Hussey's Embrace, Mr. Peck's Ellen
Loraine.
BETTING AT MANCHESTER—TUESDAY.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES.-4 to 1 agst Ballinafad ;
II to 2 agst Enchanter, (t) —8 to 1 agst Walmgate Bar
Without, (t) —8 to 1 agst Joe o' Sot, (t)-10 to 1 agst
Joe Lovell, (t) 12 to 1 agst Lady Wil fair.
WINDSOR STEEPLECHASES.—TUESDAY.
Ilrndietip Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft, and only
5 ft if declared, with 100 added; the second saves his
stake. Four miles. (22 Subs., 9of whom declared.)
Mr. Elmore's British Yeoman, list Ilb (J. Mason) 1
Lord Strathmore's St. Lcger, llst llb ... 2
Captain Harvey's Mushroom, lOst 3
The following also started, but were not placed :—Cap-
tails W. Peel's Chandler, 12st 41b—Mr. Hunter's Amea,
lOst 61b—Mr. J. R. Walker's Mushroom, lOst 71b—Mr.
Clifton na Young Lottery, 9st 131b—Mr. J. Anderson's
Profligate, lOst—Mr. Whitfield's Gipsy Queen, 9st 91b.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Chandler, 9to 2 agst St. Leger,
5 to 1 each agst Profligate and British Yeoman (taken).
8 to 1 agst Captain Harvey's Mushroom, and 10 to 1
agst Young Lottery. Won easily.
The Light-weight Military Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each,
5 ft; the second to save his stake. Four miles.
Mr. H. Joliffe's Hornet ... ... walked over
The Hack Stakes of 2 sovs. each, and 12 added, list
each, the second to save his stake, and the winner to be
sold for 601, three miles, were won by Mr. Young's The
Painter (Land), beating Mr. Hussey's Gridiron, and Mr.
West's Sylvanus. 2tol on Painter. Won easily.
Match-100 sovs. Two miles.
Captain Somerset's Twilight, list (Mr. Berkeley) 1
Mr. Joliffe's Brunette, 12st ... ••• 2
7t04 on Twilight. Won in a canter.
Free handicap of 5 sovs. each, and 20 added. Three
miles.
Lord Strathmore's Scylla, lOst 41b ... (Archer) 1
Mr. J. Mason's Hipbriar, list 71b 2
Sir E. Poore's Pilgrim, list 21b 3
The following also ran :—Mr. Coghlan's Urchin,
9st 121 b, and Mr. Anderson's b g by Economist, lOst.
Even on llipbriar, and 2to 1 agst Scylla. Won by a
length.
LINCOLN STEEPLE CHASE.—TUESDAY.
This race, which is now established as one of the
favourites, took place this day. Tho signal being given
for starting, Wanderer took the lead, closely followed by
the whole field; all took the first fence. On crossing
near the race stand, Jenny Lind fell and lost her rider.
At the fourth fence some refusals were made; Wanderer
still kept the lead, and maintained it up the hill though
closely watched and pushed by the Maid of Athens.
Coriander fell back on rising the hill. Richard the First
and Abraham Parker kept on the lurch. Forest Boy
was up and at work, and all were in earnest; on reach-
ing the last fence, -Wanderer still kept the lead, Forest
Boy gaining considerably by taking the fence lower
down; Richard the First here made a push, but the Maid
of Athens began to look suspicious, All was anxiety
for Wanderer, who led through the whole distance, but
blood will do it at a push. On nearing the last flag the
interest was exciting—Forest Boy, Richard, and the
Maid of Athens altogether, contending with all their
speed, heading Wanderer; a race began between Forest
Boy and the Athenian Maid, when on reaching the win-
ning post the Maid of Athens won by two lengths. The
following is the order in which they were placed:—
Captain Barnett's b m Maid of Athens (M`Donough) 1
Mr. Donaldson's b g Forest Boy, aged ••• ... 2
Mr. J. S. Moseley's b g Richard the First ...
Mr. W. Marshall's Wanderer, aged ... .•. ... 4

8 started. The distance, four miles, was run in 12i
minutes 3 seconds.
THE 'lmmix RACE.—For this race, which has now
become fashionable, there were thirteen entries, but only
five started ; the ground chosen was round the raco
course, with four flights of hurdles, over two miles ;
and for a full view no better country could be found.
On starting they all went off at full speed ; three took
their first leap most admirably—the other two brashed
the fence, and a hurdle was knocked down, all the other
fences were cleverly cleared. On ascending the hill they
kept well together—for although Cavendish was per-
mitted to have the lead, it was evident the others were
politely waiting, which is a good deal to say for a
" clod hopper." On nearing the last eight Clod Hopper
challenged, and Dickens accepted the challenge. Fatima
attempted to charm them, but they paid her no atten-
tion. Dickens headed at the last flight of hurdles, but
was scarcely off his legs when Clod Hopper was over,
Fatima:quickly on them; but it was evident the race was
to be between Clod llopper and Dickens—and a good
race it was, which ended in favour of Dickens. Whit-
worth never rode better than when nearing the last
fence ; with a jockey less experienced, Clod llopper
would have been number one. They were placed as
follows:
Mr. Snaith ml b h Dickens ••• ... (Whitworth) 1
Mr. Davis's g g Clcd Hopper. aged 3
Mr. C. Empon's ch m Fatima, aged
The race was run in 7i minutes.
,ed from the Lincolnshire Times.