The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-20 00:00:00

£787 10 0
112 10 0
157 10 0
157 10 0
22 10 0
78 15 0
45 0 0
11 5 0

"e9Z.
WATER SUPPLI .
TiL:I”:!AV
(From the limes )
this The inhabitants of the metropolis ehould take care at
this conjuncture of their fortunes that they are not di-
/4", verted by any artifice or ingenuity from the true and
4;
_
commendable object of their agitation. They desire to
be supplied with good fresh water in abundance, but it is
neither the goodness nor the freshness of the article
which should form the only ground of their demands.
No doubt it is of vast economical and sanitary importance
that water should possess a proper degree of softness as
well as a high degree of purity, nor can there be the
slightest reason why these conditions should not be ob-
served to the utmost in the establishment of any -future
service. But such are not the paramount considerations.
The one great point of all is cheapness. What we de.
sire to see abolished is not so much the reservoir or the
cistern as the tax which turns a necessary of decent life
into a luxury accessible to few. There can be no
question that the water supplied by the com-
panies is bad water; but, of the two elternae
tires, it would be better to have an effective and
abundant service of this water, such as it is, than
a service with the Government stendard of purity at the
Government scale of prices. Those who could afford to
pay their 31. or 44 per annum might, perhaps, get a
better return for their money than let present; but what
is to becomerias
sgeoirpefvoitschseiobs(
d?e
generationtwho
vtnhtleattvbrerneolpnii
geoollh_tesstuteshhth)aeotalumlowcial ley to spare?
nearly
so; but, at any rate, the charge should be y.
rgTirohadetuoiwft oaaut ess
ilstLeoll'ei absolutely
within
stthe
impercep-
tible as not to stmd in the way of even the poorest. At
present, three times as much money as would provide a
good supply is levied to return a large interest on a fic-
titious capital, and this enormous overcharge eff,cually
precludes the free and salutary vise of water. Engineers
ecoonucldurbeinex statingecu texecuted
thatfbr about
oguotodlo 000 t a yi
metropolitan
ir,whereas
water service
s
the gross amount of water rates actually now levied is
425,000/, so that where we pay 1/. for the real cost of
the article we pay 31. ss. for the indemnities and profits
of the trader.
Here is the gist of the whole case, and we particularly
call attention to it because it has been found convenient
to overlay it with discussions of much less importance.
What the Government Bill does for the difficulty may
be at once understood from the simple fact that it leaves
the rates, and therefore the profits, just where they
stood before. We pay 425,0001. a-year now, and we
shall pay 425,000/. a-year, it not more, when Sir George
Grey's measure may have become law. Neither is the
case practically affected by the limitation of profits to 5
per cent., so long as this per-centage is computable on a
fictitious capital. If the water companies will reduce
their stock to the 2,043,7531. of capital originally sub-
scribed, and will accept a maximum of 5 per cent. in-
terest upon this in compensation of their services, their
proposal might deserve attention. But their
mode of reckoning augments this sum by up-
wards of 2,300,0004 of capital fictitiously or un-
fairly accrued, so that the total amount carrying in.
terest exceeds 4,500,0004 ; and it is in this way that
the ratepayers are made to suffer. Five per cent.
may not be an extravagant rate to charge upon money
invested in this Species of undertaking, but what we de-
mand is, that the stock thus capitalized should represent
bond fide investments for the public service, and net the
follies, extravagances, and corruptions of misgoverned
companies. If an outlay of 2,ooo,oooeattueirt,y why ya
priceshould
4 can supply this
rweteurbneincgonsdepmernecdentLo
buy watermetropolis
on nearly 5,000,000/.?
i with
pt he
r wp
These considerations show at once the comparative ir-
relevancy of Sir George Grey's discussions about the
Bagshot sands, and of the company's expostulations
respecting the purity of their reservoirs. The other day
we published a long advertisement from a company, ap_
pealing to metropolitan water drinkers in most ingenious
and attractive phrase. According to the secretary's
exposition it was possible to have water too pure;
in fact, it was the excessive purity of the water
acting upon the uncongenial surface of the pipes
which endangered the lives of the illustrious
exiles at Claremont. It appears that water,
to be serviceable, should not be absolutely clear, but of
an " opalescent" tint; that there is " nothing unwhole-
some" in the admixture of " fine sand, chalk, oxide of
iron, and vegetable matter," and that the presence more-
over, of " a few living infusoria" in no degree detracts
from the quality of the beverage. Into these agreeable
disquisitions we decline at present to enter; neither can
we institute any decisive comparison between " filtered
Southwark" or " boiled West Middlesex." What we
desire to be understood is our demand for a water service
at the fair cost of the supply. If, as engineers concur in
asserting, such service can be established for 2,000,0001,,
or thereabouts, it is plain that 100,000/. per annum, or a
yearly payment of some 6a. Bd. per house, will return a
good interest on the outlay; and when companies parade
their testimonials and their capabilities it is only requiste
to ask them whether they will furnish our dwellings with
constant service at an average rate of three-halfpence a
week.

[PRICE SD.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

MEN-OF-WAR STEAM-SHIPS FOR THE CAPE.

It has at length been determined to convey the rein-
I forcements to Sir Harry Smith by men-of-war steamers.
It is already known that the Birkenhead paddle-wheel
steamer, Master-Commandrr Salmon, has been ordered
to proceed at once to the Cape. She sailed on Wednes-
day evening from Portsmouth to Queenstown, and will
embark 400 men of the 2d Regiment, and will leave as
soon as they are on hoard.
It is also known that the Megzera screw-frigate, baying
broken down in her machinery, end returned to Sheer-
nes?, has turned her officers and crew over to the paddle-
wheel steam-f'rigate Cyclops, which vessel will be ready
in a des or two to start for the Cape.
Within the last two days, however, two other men-of-
war pad,lie-steamers have been ordered for the some
service—namely, Retribution, 28, steam-frigate, Captain
Warder, now re-fitting at Portsmouth; and the advanced
frigate Sidon, at Portsmouth—the latter ship to be com-
manded by a master.
ilt s to bo hoped that the 12th Lancers will be sent out
in these steam-vessels, and thus be landed at the Cape
within forty days, instead of in about three months by the
dull freight-ships.
ADMIRALTY LEVEE.—Admiral Dundas, C. 8., held a
Tuesday, levee on at Whitehall, which was attended by
the following officers :—Captains C. Talbot, C.
Hope, J. Monday, F. Newell. Commanders—Reeve,
West, Henderson, J. Lunn. Lieutenants—E. Nares, T.
F. '
Young, G. S. Tayler, L. Pigot W. Strickland, G.
Brine, E. A. Blackett, F. A. Close, F. Cutler, R.M.
Master—F. Skead.

PLYMOUTH ROYAL NAVAL CLVl3.—The members of
this club held their quarterly dinner at the Royal Hotel,
Plymouth, on Tuesday, the I.7th instant, in celebration'
of the anniversary of the battle of Bunker's Hill, Cap-
tain W. Blight, R.N., presiding, and Captain Isaac
Toby, R.M., in the vice-chair. The company comprised
Rear-Admirals Pasco and Rogers; Captains J. King-
combe, J. Pearse, W. F. Glanville, J. Wilcox, J. w.
Blight, RN., Captain Toby, R.M., Dr. Rae, Royal Naval
Hospital; the secretary of the club, W. 0. Cox, Esq.,
paymaster, R.N., with other members and distinguished,
triends. They sat down to a dinner, served in Elliott s
best style;at six o'clock, and did not separate unttl.mid-
night. The customary loyal and national toasts having
been enthusiastically drunk, " The Heroes of the Day"
was given from the chair, Captain Toby, R.M.,.respond-
ng in a very appropriate speech, highly gratifying to
an assemblage composed of members of the naval ser-
vices. The Royal Marine band was in attendance, and
enlivened the scene with some choice and excellent mu-
sic. The company was less numerous than anticipated,
from the fact of the gallant port-admiral (Sir John Om-
manney), who would otherwise have been present and
presided, having on the same day entertained Colonel
Gordon, commandant of the division of Royal Marines,
and a large party of the officers of that corps, at dinner
at the Admiralty-house, Mount-wise.
The paying off the Wellesley, 72, and Caledonia, 120,
will greatly add to the already large numbers of seamen
seeking employment in the Royal Navy. It is, there-
fore, to be hoped that the Lords of the Admiralty will
give their attention to the state of these gallant fellows,
and, as soon as the estimates have passed the House,
order the ships necessary for relief to be commissioned
without delay.
Ajax, 60, screw-ship, Captain Quin, and Hogue, CO,
Captain Macdougal, arrived at Queenstown from Ports-
mouth on Tuesday. The First Lieutenant of the Ajax,
Mr. Massie (1838), died on the passage. Lieutenant
Henry Croft (1841) has been appointed to the vacancy.
Brisk screw steam-sloop, convoyed by the Monkey
brig, arrived on Wednesday afternoon, en route for
Glasgow, for her engines. The Brisk anchored at St.
Helen's, but the Monkey arrived for a supply of coals.
They have proceeded.
Caledonia, 120, Captain Carter, is to be paid off at
Devonport on Tuesday, the 24th inst. She is dismantling
and returning stores with great rapidity, and is ordered
to paid off on Tuesday next the 24th, which is exceed-
ingly early considering the large quantity of old stores
from Malta, she has to return to the dockyard, &c. The
good state of discipline this ship is in, is a subject of
very general remark. On the Sunday of her arrival in
port, there were nearly 3,000 visitors on board of her,
and yet not a single disturbance occurred, nor was a
man drunk, notwithstanding the crowded state of the
vessel.

PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The Retribution steam-
frigate, 22, Captain Warden (ready for sea), and the ad-
vanced steam-frigate Sidon, 26, have been this day
ordered to prepare with all dispatch for the reception of
troops for conveyance to the Cape, reported to bo the
50th Regiment from Queenstown. The crew of the Re-
tribution are to man both vessels with seamen; the
stokers will be supplied to the Sidon from amongst those
of the Retribution. Commander Gardener, of the
Blenheim steam-guardship, late first lieutenant of the
Sidon, is to have the command of that vessel. Both
ships are to be brought alongside this jetty to-morrow to
have their guns taken out, and to be fitted for the officers
and troops.
The Tiger steam-frigate was taken out of the steam
basin today, preparatory to her being sent on an ex-
perimental cruise, under the direction of Captain Hen-
derson, C. 8., of the steam ordinary.
The Hecate steam-sloop, Commander Hand, returned
to Spithead in the night from Chatham.
The American Eagle line-of-packet ship sailed this
morning at daylight for New York.
WOOLWICH, JUNE 19.—The Triton, formerly mail
steam-packet on the Mediterranean station, Lieutenant-
Commander Glinn, has had her masts taken out, and is
now in the basin at Woolwich preparing to be paid off
OD Saturday next.
The Vivid mail steam-packet, on the Dover station,
Captain Smithett, left Woolwich this morning on her
return to Dover.

The advocates of the companies aro forward in de-
claring for themselves and their clients their repudiation
of the Government Bill. In so far as their remonstrances
may show that no single person approves of Sir George
Grey's measure, the Hon. Secretary is welcome to the
evidence. In point of fact, as we need hardly say, their
interests have been preferred to a!l others, and Sir Wm.
Clay is eminently prudent in his resolution to sit still,
and take without effort what Government is so abun-
dantly disposed to give. But, as concerns the main
point at issue, it signifies absolutely nothing at all
whether the companies aro assenting or dissenting,
whether they " oppose the Bill by counsel," or swallow
it with speechless satisfaction. The only interests to be
considered in coming to a decision are those of the
public at large. The cheapest service of the beat
water is what we are entitled to, and less than this
we decline to take. If after these arrangements have
been made it can be shown that the incorporated
companies have been wrongfully damaged, their
claims to compensation may be entertained accordingly.
They deserve justice but not favour. If their agency
can be judiciously employed in carrying out the designs
ultimately approved, it will of course be desirable to re.
tain it; but it is of the utmost importance that no recog-
nition should be given to claims of "proprietorship" in
a service like this. So gross have been the errors of
Government throughout these transactions that, as was
observed the other day at the Southwark meeting, Sir
George Grey's Bill actually proposes to create rights of
this obnoxious description. At present there is no kind
of reason why a " Metropolitan Water Company" should
not be started with a capital of 2,000,0001. to do all that
is desired. The companies could offer no reasonable
opposition, nor could they compete with its operations
except on ruinous terms. This last resource against
their extortion we do still possess, and it is of this that
Sir George proposes to deprive us. Whether his Bill
will improve the water supply or not it is difficult to
foretel, but it will infallibly charge the metropolitan
community with the duty of finding 5 per cent. interest
on five millions of money for ever, although less than
half that sum would purchase the service required.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.
The fallowing has been posted at Lloyd's:—
" Hydrographic•office, Admiralty, June 12.
" COAST OF PORTUGAL—FIXED LIGHT ON

CAPE ST. MARY.
"The Portuguese Government has given notice that
the new Lighthouse on Cape St. Mary has been com-
pleted, and that it is intended that the display of the
light therein shall commence on the 24th of this month.
"It is a fixed light, and the lantern being 109 feet
above high water, it will be visible at the distance of 17
miles from the deck of a vessel 10 feet above the water.
Its position is 36 deg. 56 min. N., and 7 deg. 51 min.
longitude, W. of Greenwich."

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.
Yesterday was the warmest and finest day that had
shone on London for some weeks, and the visitors to the
Crystal Palace eagerly availed themselves of it. Within
two hours after the opening about 36,000 had entered,
and in two hours more the number had risen to upwards
of 52,000. The numbers for the different hours were as
follows:—
From 10 to 11 o'clock 17,731
18,139
From 11 to 12
From 12 to 1
From 1 to 2
From 2 to 3
From 3 to 4 3,762
From 4 to 5
From 5 to 6

SEABORNE MAILS.
[N signifies that the malls are sent front the General Post-Mee
by the night—and 31 by the morning--elispateh.)

When made up in From what
PLACES. General Post-office' port dill- When
London. patched. due.
America (by Brit. pkt.)N.June 20 .. ..'Liverpool.. June 22
America (by U.S. pkt.) Liverpool .. July 2
America (by IY.S.pkt.) M July 2 .. 'Southanapt. ,June 26
Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month ;Plymouth (July 3
Alexandria* • ... N 19th & 30th of mo.I Dover .. June 2S
Belgium .. • • •• N Daily .• .. Dover .. Daily
Brazil .. . .. M,9th of the month Southampt. July 12
Buenos Ayres • • .. M 9th of the month Southampt. July 12
California(viaChagres)Ml2d & 17th of month Southampt. June 20
Cape of Good Hope N 14th of month (Plymouth.. July a
Constantinople* .. • • IT 7th 17th 27th of molDover Jnne 20
Central America .. M2d & 17th of mon. ISouthampt. June 20
Channel Isles • • .. N Mon., Wed., & Fri. Vutkampt. Ta. TILS a
Chili Mil7th of the month Southampt. June 20
France & NlTwice daily .. .. Dover .. Twicedaily
Greece* • • N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover Juno 20
Hamburgh N,Tuesday & Friday London .. Tues. Sat.
Holland 31Wednes. & Satur. London .. Men.Ther
Honduras Nil7th of the month SouthamPt. June 20
Ireland .. M & Twice daily Holyhead • . Twicedaily
India (via Soathamp.) M 20th of the month Southampt. Arrived
India (via Marseilles) N 7th& 24th efmonth Dover • . July 1
Mediterranean (via c
Southampton) .. M 20th of the month Southampt. Arrived
Mediterranean (via
Marseilles) .. N 7th& 24th of month Dover „July 1
Mexico M 2d of the month.. Southampt. July
Madeira •• •• 9th of the month Southampt. July 12
C 7th 17th 19th 27th
} Dover Juno 20
Malta* N & 30th of month
Naples* . • .• N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover .. June 22
Papal State:;* N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover • . • June 21
Peninsular.. M 7th 17th 27th of mo SouthamPt. June 26
Peru " • • • • M 17th of the month Southampt. June 20
Tuscany* N sth 15th 251 h of mo Dover .. June 22
West Indies .. 17th of the month Southampt. I June 20
West Indies (except
Havanna & Nassau) Mild of the month .. SouthamPt. July 5
* The mails to those countries thus marked (*) are conveyed by
French packet vi;

Total to 6 o'clock
The amount taken during the day was— 63,709
For season tickets
At the doors 2,984 12 0

Her Majesty and Prince Albert
Total receipts -
Royal, visited the building about h 'l7 with
accompanied by the King of the 2)996the3Proincess
II ;L.-past nine o'clock,
daughter, the Princess Charlotte. Count or Flanders, and his
the Duke of Brabant and e.!giltas, his two sons,
attended by the usual suite The royal party were
do more on this occasion
obtain
Colo-
nel Reid on the part of 1 and were received by Colo-
the Executive. They did not
s
central avenues of the than walk up and down the
gallery, to
fwrohmichthaepfpoeraeriegdn naves, and ascend into the foreign.
a general view of the Exhibition,
Majesty' extremely. to interest and gratify her
illustrious visitors. The royal party walked
to the English nave, and on their return
ascended the staircase at the back of Spain. About this
time the public was admitted, and the royal party went
to the edge of the transept gallery, to see the shilling
visitors pour in. Soon afterwards, walking along the
north gallery, they descended by the west staircase, and.
departed by the usual exit door at the back of Holland.
The Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos, the Earl
and Countess of Clare, Lord Fitzwilliam, Lord Duu-
boyne, Lord Listowell, Lord Ennismore, the Duchess of
Sutherland, and the Marchioness of Londonderry' were-
.
on s
present at the Exhibition in the course of the day,
At ten o'clock Professor Tennent lecturedeem,
at one o'clock Dr. Lemercier lectured, with the
ill-usTra-:
tions afforded by Dr. Auzoux's elastic
models, on the
circulation of the blood; and at twoe
a o'clock
id
Cowper lectured on machinery for lace and stockings,
Professor
rendering this difficult subject, by th
diagrams, alike interesting and intelligible. of models and
The heat during the afternoon
i was considerable, and
in the transept excessive; but there are always many
c
parts of the building perfectly
three o'clock nearly 6,000 visitors
and pleasant. Before
sitors had departed.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, JUNE 19.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The share market continues ex.
L
tremely dull, and no business of import
porNta nc9. e was transacted.
IVERPOOL, JUE 1
STOCK EXCHANGL—The share market still continues re-
markably flat, with little business doing. The transactions
reported were—Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 3 dis.—
Lancashire and Yorkshire, 42A— ondon and North-West-
ern, New Quarters, 3% p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin-
colnshire, 25%—Midland, 48%—Ditto, Halves, 185 die.—
South-Eastern and Dover, 22/ York and North Mid-
land, 20—Ditto, Preference 11/g dis.
MANCHESTER, JUNE 19.
&roc% EXORAWGE.—The share market was vary dull to-
day, and the prices of yesterday are scarcely maintained.
The transactions were as follow :—Great Northern (Ili 12%
Lancashire and Yorkshire, 521,4 London and orth-
Western, 1221/2—Ditto, New Quarters, 3 7-16 p— N ortli
Staffordshire, 8% n. d. —South-Eastern and Dover, 22%.
.

THE ENGLISH IN AMERICA.—A new work of
SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATIONanniv or THE GOSPEL.-- interest has been announced, which coming from the pen of
Wednesday the 150th .one of our msohstarpeopular Writers, can scarcely fail of attract-
was celebrated in St. Paul's Cathedral. At three o'clock
the clergy, n a largelEgglish inA
in their robes, assembled in the nave of the ca- En
of
public attention. The title, " The
thedral, where they received the Archbishop of Canter- America will prepare
reader for a work of
unusual importance, and the name of the writer, Chief
bury, the president of the society, and a procession was
':el-''
formed, which included in its ranks the Bishops of London, lialiburton, better known as the author of " Sam
St. Asaph, and Winchester, Dean Blilman, Archdeacon Hale, formation.`-'11 `, ' gives promise of a fund of useful and entertaining in-
the Rev. Canon Dale, the Master of the Temple, Dr. Jelf,
MEXICAN COMPANY. )eevrt ia nsghoefldthoin
s s
the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, and several alder_
company (adjourned from
Ten. The
choirs of her Majesty's Chapel Royal, St. Paul' , Westminster ---tThehelstanMnal lya il a salt
Abbey, and St. George's Chapel, Windsor,, assisted. The Wednesday last; Mr. J. 0. Hanson in the chair. The re-
pieces selected for the occasion were ' Cantaie amine" port, which was read by the secretary, stated that the call of
(Haves), " Deus Miseratur" (Hayes), anthem (Farrant), five shillings per share, agreed to at a recent special meet-
andd and that sixty-four proprietors, holding
two anthems by Handel. The sermon was preached by
who took his text from the 2d nag, had been ma c,
the Bishop of St. Asaph,
chapter of Daniel, 35th verse. At close of the service, by fifty-eight proprietors, on which the call bad not been
which was attended by a very large congregation, the Arch_ it ained with the proprietors to deal with these
. paid. rem
bishop of Canterbury and the other Church dignitaries left shares as they should think fit. From the last letter re-
the cathedral in procession, and a collection was made at ceived from Mr. Fenochio, the company's agent at the mines
the doors. aca, dated 25th Februar
y, it appeared that the loss 'on
The accounts from New York by the Baltic state tinheOpaaxst year, including 500/. reserved for the expenses in
consequence of
that some more small failures had occurred in amounted to 10,886 dollars, or 2,176/. The report
London, _
losses on cottonthey had had no affect e—ect in weakeni was adopted unanimously. A. vote of .
thanks to the chair-
. the general confidence. ng
man And directors concluded the proceedings.