The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-20 00:00:00

MACHINERY.

Class I.—Simpson, Brodlelt, Whichello, Woodward.
Drawings.—Christie.
Class IL—Cato. Drawings.—Cato, li.crshaw (req )
Class Quvtrevitle, Haytoo (req.).
Manipulation.—Skinner, Lowo, Nethersule.

PERSPECTIVE.
Christie, Woodward.

FRENCIT.

Class I.—Kershaw, Do Bourbel.
Class IL—Cato, Candy, sc n.
G ERMAN.

Class L—Broadrick, (xq ),
Class IL—Candy, ser.
ESSAY ON WATER SUPPLY TO TOWNS.

Robertson, Codrington, Simpson (mg.).
The President, his Royal ss the Duke Of
Cambridge, the Bishop of London, and General Sir C.
Pasley addreswd the meeting in brief and appropriate
terms. The Right Rev. Prelate in particular referred to
the benefits of religious eduestion, as illustrated by recent
events in this country and abroad.
After the company had left the College-hall, come in •
teresting experiments were exhibited in the laboratories
with a magnet of enormous power. The drawings of the
students in two large rooms were next in,apected. Some
of them were extremely good, and showed that the in-
struction given in this department is of the best kind.
In the machinery department, a curious model locomo-
tive for common roads, driven by compressed air, and
also a new rotatory engine, were exhibited, both having
been constructed in the College workshop.
It is very interesting to find that the most recent at-
tempts at invention are practically tested in this in-
stitution. After a handsome luncheon to the guests in-
vited, the proceedings terminated N ith evening prayers
in the chapel, which has been much improved since our
last visit to the College.

THE METROPOLITAN SANITARY

COMMISSION.

A third report from the Metropolitan Sanitary
Commission was laid before the [louse of Lords on
Friday. The subject of this report is an epidemic
fever which recently broke out among the scholars of
the Westminster School and the inhabitants of the
houses in the neighbourhood. The report commences
thus.—

" Having been informed that cases of fever of a pecu-
liar nature have recently occurred among the scholars of
the Westminster School, as well as among the inhabi-
tants of several houses in the Cloisters and precincts of
the Abbey Church, and rumour having ascribed the
origin of this fever to the emptying and cleansing of a
number of cesspools in the immediate neighbourhood, we
have considered that the circumstances were such as to
require investigation.
" We have accordingly examined the masters of the
school, its regular medical attendants, the physicians
consulted on the occasion, and the officers of the works,
together with such other persons connected with the lo-
cality as were likely to afford information, and we find
the facts, as far as we have been able to ascertain them,
to be as follows." _ _

It appears that in all 36 persons were attacked, 32 of
them within a period of 11 days; and that there were
5 deaths, 3 among the scholars, and 2 among the in-
habitants.

The report enters into the circumstances connected
with the sickness, which were examined at great length,
and the following is a summary of the results arrived
at:—

" After having devoted to the examination of the
circumstances attendant on the fever that has occurred
in this small locality an extent of labour that might
have sufficed to investigate the sanitary condition
of a large m ess of the population, we have found
on the whole—That whereas it has been stated that
fever broke out immediately after the cleansing
of the cesspools, the fact is found to be that eight
weeks elapsed between the emptying of the last cesspool
and the first case of fever—a period which, according
to the predominant medical testimony, puts out of the
question the operation as an exciting cause of fever,
even if it had been performed in such a manner as to
evolve large quantities of noxious gases, instead of
by a method which produces incomparably less effluvia
than any process heretofore known. That whereas it
has been stated that the fever was of an entirely new type
such as had never been seen or observed before in that
or any other place, the fact appears to be that the type is
one well known and recognized as prevalent for years
past in that very locality and neighbourhood, as well as
in all other parts of the metropolis. That whereas it
was stated that fever was entirely unknown before in
the place in question, the fact appears to be that fever
had occurred there the 3 ear before, and also in 1846, as
testified by Dr. Basham, and cases had occurred in former
years ' • and although no regular record has been pre-
served, there is good reason to believe that epidemics
have from time to time occurred there, and that there
has been no such entire previous exemptions as
reputed. That whereas it was represented that there
was an excess of fever cases in the Westminster
district after the cleansing operations, it appears,
from particular inquiries in the places cleansed. that
there lots been a decided reduction in the sickness
experienced, and throughout the district a less amount
of sickness than previously. That whereas it has been
stated that an offensive smell was perceived in the
school, produced by the :Miner up or a cesspool that
had been cleansed some weeks before, tho fact
is found to be, that this particular cesspool gave out
no unusual smell en that occasion hut that the smell
complained of probably arose from the emanations given
off from a large cesspool which had never been cleansed
at all, and which communicated with the whole line of a
foul sewer passing c:irectly under the school;
the evaporating surface of this sewete as far-as it has
been possible to explore it, which is only through a com-
paratively small part of its course, being estimated at
2,000 feet, or more than four times the sur-
face. of the eighteen cesspools emptied in the early
part of the year. That the course of the disease
followed very exactly the line of this sewer, which
communicates by direct openings with several of
the houses where fever broke out, passes directly
under the school and the dormitory, is in close proximity
with nearly all the houses in which fever occurred, and
is in so foul a state that the officers of the Metro-
politan Sewers Commissions, accustomed as they
are to such examinations, were absolutely unable to pro-
ceed along it beyond a certain point, so that beyond that
point it still remains unexplored. That the public
sewers of the neighbourhood were comparatively
clear of deposit, and gave off but a very small amount
of effluvium. That if the private drains and the large
branch sewer, which were by mistake surcharged with
the soil from the cesspools, had been perfectly cleared
out when the cesspools a ere emptied, the probable source
of the extraordinary sickness and mortality would have
been removed, and the health of the inhabitants in gene-
ral as certainly promoted as the health of the porter of
the Cloisters and his family seems to have been improved
by the emptying and filling up of the cesspools under-
neath his house. That the probability of the recurrence
of a similar visitation will be diminished to the extent
that the cleansing of the present house drains and branch
sewers, and their substitution by a perfect drainage ap-
paratus, are completed; excepting always the more re-
mote and accidental emanations from adjacent districts
that may remain uncleunsed, from which it may be dif-
ficult entirely to protect the school or the Abbey pr--
chid. That the present occurrence is an impressive ex-
ample of the great mistake that has hitherto prevailed, in
supposing that the jurisdiction of the Courts of Sewers
fully comprehends all or the most important cleansing
works that have the most direct inflderree on public
health; it also shows the casualties and disappointments
that must happen wherever an efficient eystten of opera-
tions is restricted to the public sewers, and where the
private drains or cesspools are left to the ordinary sepa-
rate treatment, that is to say, neglected. That the main
sewers, or the portion of the drainage system under the
jurisdiction of the Court of Sewers, supposing them to
be in a foul state, present only one-fourth of the entire
evaporating surface of noxious gases, that Fourth being
for the most part the furthest removed from the general
population, and consequently its cleansing will afford
only a fraction of relief; that the cesspool surfaces make
nearly another fourth ; while the private house drains
supply fully two-fourths of the noxious evaporating sur-
face, which portion closely besets the dwelling houses,
and has its effluvia circulated throtigh the main sewers.
That, from inquiries made in relation to the expenses of.
cleansing and repairing the house drains that exist in
the district, it appears that those expenses aro consider-
ably greater to the householders or owners than would be
the expense, under proper legislative and administrative
arrangements, of abolishing all the cesspools and main-
taining a complete soil pan apparatus and impermeable
soil drains, by which the lodgment of refuse, and the
escape of the noxious gases of deconspiesition would be
entirely prevented. That imperfectly as the recent ope-
rations of cleansing would seem to have been conducted
by the mon employed by the Commission of Sewers,
they have been everywhere productive of benefit, and
have given satisfaction to the parties immediately affected
by them; and, as measures of partial aid temporary re-
lief, and until new and complete drainage works are
laid down, they ought to be prosecuted as extensively
and efficiently as possible ; but that any delay in
making adequate legislative provisions for conferring
powers and imposing obligations, as to the improvement
of house drainage and the abolition of cesspools, is a
delay in the removal of the most extensive sources of
disease and mortality.
" All which we humbly certify to your Majesty.
" ROBERT GROSVENOR. (L.S.)
" EDWIN CHAD WICK. (L.S.)
" I'. SOUTHWOOD SMITH. (LS.)
" RICHARD OWEN. (L.S.)
" RICHARD LAMI3ERT JONES. (L.S.)"
One, perhaps, of the most interesting portions of evi-
dence, having a practical bearing, that the report con-
tains, is that relating to the specific benefits arising from
the cleansing operations recently conducted under the
direction of the Commission of Sewers:—
" The porter of the Cloisters (Henry Burroughs), for
example, states that the health of his family has been
greatly improved by it. Being asked, What was the
state of the health of your family before this new ope-
ration of cleansing was performed?' he answers, I have
had a great deal of sickness in my family from time to
time, I have a sickly wife and young family, and I have
lost them all but two." What has been the comparative
health of your .family since this cleansing, has been
effected and the cesspools have been filled up?'—` I have
had no sickness at all; and myself, wife, and two child-
ren are perfectly well." You have ltd no sickness, you

say, since this emptying took place?'—' Not at all.'
ilas the apparent health of your children improved?'

" The returns in relation to till effect of p trtiulclesne-
ing made to the Metropolitan Cimmisssione:s of Sewers
are decisive and satisfactory."
On the subject of the extent of cleansing operations
required in the metropolis, the foflowing statements ar•
made:—

"At the last census, in 1841, there were 270,859
houses in the metropolis. It is known that there is
scarcely a house without a cesspool under it, and that a
large number have two, three, four, and more under
them, so that the number of such receptacles in the me-
tropo!is may be taken at 300,000. The exposed surface
of each cesspool measures, on an average, nine feet, and
the mean depth of the whole is about feet—so that
each contains 58i feet of fermenting filth of the most
poisonous, noisome, and disgusting nature. The exhaling
surface of all the cesspools (300,000 X 9) = 2,700,000
feet, or equal to 62 acres nearly; and the total quantity
of foul molter contained within them (300,000 X 580
= 17,550.000 cubic feet, or equal to one enormous
elongated ►stagnant cesspool 50 feet in width, 6 feet 6
inches in depth, and extending through London from
the Broadway at lian.mersinith to Bow-bridge, a length
of ten tulles. This, there is reason to believe, is an
under estimate. The cesspool, however, in general forms
but one-fourth of the evaporating surface: the house
drain forms half or two fourths, and the sewer one; but,
corm( eted as the sewers and house drains mutually are,
and acted upon by the winds and barometric conditions.
the miasma from the house drains and sewers of one
district may be carried up to another. We cannot
be absolutely certain that part of the stench expe-
rienced in the Dean's-yard may not have been due
to the contents of the sewers from the drains of
the House of Commons, or at some time from
Duck-lane or l'ye-street ; and, according to the evi-
dence of Mr. Batterbury, who met a strong current of
air coming from the extended cesspools under the
Deanery, the miasma from that place would have been
carried through the common sewers, and from them into
the streets and houses of other neighbourhoods. As
the Deanery is situated near the openings of the sewer
into the river, it is probable that this would commonly
be so. In addition to the examination of the old sewers
conducted by Mr. Joseph Smith, one of the assistant-
surveyors, and adverted to in his evidence, the Metro-
politan Commissioners of Sewers have directed an in-
quiry to be made into the state of the house drains.
From the evidence of Mr. Lovick, the assistant-'sur-
veyor who conducted this inquiry, it appears that much
larger sums are paid for cleansing and keeping in re-
pair the private drains than the public are in general
aware et. The returns -of information from the in-
habitants had not been completed, but from such as
were obtained it was found that the average annual
charge of cleansing and repairing the house drains
was 11. ss. per house per annum, and for emptying
the cesspools 15s. per annum, making 2/. a-year for this
one portion of house cleansing. But the returns con-
tain instances where sums of 301„ 401., 501., 1001., and
even 2001. have been paid for amending and reconstruct-
ing house drains; and notwithstanding such outlays the
foundation walls have continued damp, stagnant water
has remained in the cellars, and offensive smells have
still been emitted. In 21 houses in the Westminster
district the average annual charges during ten years
for making, repairing, and cleansing the use drains,
was 71. 6s. per house, and for cleansing the cesspools
21. 45.; in all 91. 10s. Now, from estimates which have
been made of the cost of abolishing the cesspools, and
putting down in their stead new and improved imper-
meable house drains which would remove at once all
decomposing matter from the houses—supposing the
work done upon a comprehensive contract and paid for
by the rates—the average expense of complete house
drainage, on the charge being distributed over a period
of thirty years, would be about 4s. 6d. per house per
annum, and for the highest class of houses about 7s. 6d.
per annum; which would be an average saving on each
of the 21 houses above mentioned of more than 91 a-
year."

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. •
LIVERPOOL, JULY 19.
STOCK Excuntion.—The business done to-day has been
rather more than usual. Notwithstanding, prices may be
said to be stationary, at yesterday's quotations. The sales
are—Birkenhead. Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction (late
C. and B.), 221. Shares, 8 die.—East Lancashire, 04/.
Shares, Preference, 14 p.—Great Northern, 8% dis.—Great
Western, Quarters, 1% die.—Lancashire and Yorkshire
(late Manchester and Leeds), Fifths, 3, dis.—Ditto, 101.
Shares, Preference, I Is. 3d. p.—Ditto, (late West Riding
Union), Fifths, dis.—London and North-Western, 12714
—Ditto, Fifth Shares, 614. p.—Ditto, New Quarters, 1
p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire. 101. Prefer-
ence, 101,—Midland Stock, New Halves, 5% dis.—Seuth-
Eastern and Dover, No. 4, Thirds, 2.311 dis.— York., New-
castle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 11/4 p. •
MANCHESTER, Jui.y 19.
STOCK F.XCILANGIS.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire, and Cheshire Junction, 31/. Shares, 74 dis.—
East Arv;lian. Preference, 3 ii—Lancashire and Yorkshire,
Fifths, 3, dis.— Ditto, 10!. Preference, 6 per cent., % p.—
London and North-Western (Leeds and Dewsbury), 40—
Ditto (Branches), Halves, 51/4 dis.—London and South-
Western, 49—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 60—
Ditto, Preference, 10!g—Ditto (Grimsby), 20/. Shares, 8%
dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4,4 i dis.—York, New,
castle, and Berwick, Preference, l p.
BIRMINGHAM, JULY 19.

STOCK EXCITANGE.—The sales are—London and- North-
Western, 10/. Shares (M. and B.), 234 p.—North British,
Thirds, 1:14 dis.—Groat Northern, 834 dis. ex. int.—North
Staffordshire, 2% dis.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham. (A),
5/. ls. 34i. dis. ex int.—Ditto (B), 31. 33. 9d. dia..ex.
South Staffordshire, 3 dis.

N E WCASTI, E- UPON-TYNE, JULY 18.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Newesstle and Car-
lisl e, Scrip, iO3—Ditto, (red), 4 p. North British, Thirds,
375. dis.—North Staffordshire, dis.

FRENCH NEWSY.). PERS.—Previous to the Revolu-
tion, the feuilkions of the Paris papers were quite as im-
portant us the political part. It was here that the most
popular of the French romance writers, such as Eugene
Sue, Alexandre DUIDaS, Paul de Kock, &c., gained both
their reputation and the it money. The stuns paid these
and other popular writers, by the principal French jour-
nals, is scarcely credible. It, is well known that Eugene
Sue received 100,000 francs, or 4,0001., from the Constitat-•
tionnel for each of his novels, and that he was engaged
by this journal at this rate for a period of ten years.
Alexandre Dumas was about as well paid. However,
he wrote his novels on a wholesale system, as in mere
manual labour no one man could have written an
equal quantity. His system appears to be, to employ
five or six clever young men, who, having no public
reputation, are glad to write for him at a nominal rate.
Having chalked out the plots for them, they fill in all
the other parts, while the master, finally going over
the whole, adds a few Dumasion dashes, which gives
t.) the work the imprint of his genius. At present,
the feuilletons are become nearly a dead letter. Every-
body is employed with politics, and they remain un-
read. Dumas himself :Abandoned them for politics,
which he, however, found unsuccessful. lie started the
Liberte, and wrote for some time in it ; but having still
a leaning for the ex-royal family, the responsibile editor
refused to insert his articles, and the consequence was,
his withdrawal lrom this journal, and starting another.
If the feuilletonistes aro well paid on the French papers,
none of the other parties are. The principal editors
receive but indifferent salaries. There are but
few reporters, and scarcely such a thing as foreign
correspondents. They give themselves little trou-
ble about obtaining lute news. A paragraph written
by a general news-collector, is handed in to all the
offices of all the papers, and appears duly next morning
in one or two, and in the rest, perhaps, a week after.
The legal news is reported for papers especially dedi-
cated to it, and anything peculiarly interesting is copied
into the political journals of the following morning. Al-
though the French paper had some distinguishing fea-
tures, still, as a whole, it was far below its English neigh-
bour in general completeness. Few things, indeed, as I
have said, are paid much attention to in a French news-
paper, except the political leading articles, 'which are of
the very first rank. It was thus that Tbiers and Guizot.
and thousands of others, gained their first reputation; •
however, they gained little more, as French writers are
miserably paid, in fact often not at all—the outlet to
their opinions being considered as sufficient remunera-
tion. Still, it opened the way to them in other spheres,
as a vast number of the Government employis have ob-
tained their situations through their connexion with the
press.— Tait's Magazine for July.
_FASHIONABLE DISPLAY.—The chief source for the
employment of labour in the metropolis has this season
been crippled
.more from the effects of the cold 'damp
weather of last month than from political excitement or
any other cause commonly assigned. But happily
during the last few days the July sun has shone, forth
with its usual intensity, acceptable to agriculturists, as
tending to ripen the crops, as also to London manufac-
turers and tradesmen, who are encouraged to produce
such novelties as may be considered suitable to the
season and the tastes of their patrons. One corrobora-
tive instance can be cited whereby employment must
have been given to many hundreds in the production of
an entirely new fabric made into a new form of Paletot,
elegant in its appearance, and peculiarly agreeable under
a sultry sun to the visitor of the sea-side, the tourist, or
the man of fashion. The patentees are Messrs. Nicholl,
at whose warerooms, in Regent-street and Cornhill
these garments may be seen in thousands.—Globe.
FETE AT FULHAM.—Yesterday her Majesty the
Queen, Prince Albert, and the rest of the Royal Family,
honoured with their presence the fete given at Willow
Bank, the residence of Arthur Webster, Esq., in aid of
the Baths and Wash-houses in Goulstone-square White-
chapel, which was also attended by the Elite oft the no-
bility. The grand concert was conducted by Signor
Costa, and at which the following distinguished artistes,
who kindly gave their services, sang with their usual
ability :—Mesdames Grisi, Castellan, Madlle. Alboni,
Signori Mario, Tamburini, Lablache, and M. Roger ; „
as also, during the dancing of Countess de Flahault's •
quadrille, the Countess of Eglinton's Juvenile Quadrille,
and Lady Eddesbury'a Quadrille, in the largo tent
erected fur the purpose. M. Robert Houdin afterwards
gave his Seance Funtastigue. Messrs. A. Sedgwick and
Scate's Concertina Quartette party performed several
pieces before the Queen.