The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-07 00:00:00

i wise to collect together all the sewage and the rain.
fall, and instead of at once passing it into the river
near where it fell, to take it in a covered sewer for thirty
miles to the sea. The withdrawal of that rainfall might
have a prejudicial effect on the Thames, and might at
some future time be brought as a serious charge against
them. In this matter he believed they might rest on
the judgment of Mr. Bazalgette, their eagineer, and
therefore he (Mr. Seeley) leaned to the side of econoruy
by adopting the cheaper and safer mode.
Mr, DOULTON said he should move an amendment to
this motion, and at some length contended that if this
motion was agreed to, and they went up to Government
with the plan, it would be returned to them, like their
former one, for it was not in compliance with the terms
of the act of Parliament. The 135th section of the act
of Parliament which they were called upon to carry cut,
said that the sewage should not be discharged within
the metropolitan area, and yet they proposed to go up
with a plan that did not meet those terms of the act of
Parliament. He concluded by moving as an amendment,
"That this board, having bad under their consideration
the 135th section of the Metropolis Local Management
Act, together with the interpretation put upon its words
by Mr. Austin's letter of 2d July, 1856, and by the
clerk, in his opinion delivered to the board on the 22d
of July, 1856, is not prepared to approve of any plan for
the drainage of the metropolis which would permit any
part of the sewage thereof to flow or pass into the River
Thames, or return within the limits of their jurisdic-
tion."

Mr. Howe seconded the amendment, and was in
favqur of cliscuesins the entire question whether they
should goat once to Sea "Reacb. It they adopted the
plan proposed by Mr. Carpmael, and they went up with
it to Government, he believed that it would he returned
to them, and they would be again "snubbed," as they
had been before.
:'fr. WARE said he had heard it stated that whatever
plan was adopted a certain portion of the sewage must
find its way into the Thames, and if that was so, the
objection oonveyed in the words of the amendment would
apply to all schemes that might be proposed.
The CHAIRMAN said that it could not be supposed in
cases of storm and overflow rainfall that all sewage could
be kept out of the Thames ; and thought if the amend-
ment was carried that it would tie up the hands of the
board from adopting any plan whatever. Therefore he
thought the amendment was one that could not be put.
The amendment was then, by leave, withdrawn.
Mr. WILKINSON thought, considering the difficulty
that existed as _ the terms of the act of Parliament,
that before fin adopting any plan, they should have
an interview a4l the Chief Commissioner of Works, to
ascertain his interpretation of the terms of the act of
Parliament.
Mr. LESLIE said that few persons appeared to under-
stand the words of the 135th section of the act, for by
the first part of the clause they were required to make
sewers to carry away the sewage, and by the last part of
it to make other sewers; to carry off the drainage and
rain overflow. He wished to ask the legal adviser of
the board whether that was not the proper interpretation
of the act ?
The CLERK (Mr. Woolrych) did not consider that the
board were called upon to make two sets of sewers, but
were left to their discretion, and to enable them to do so
the Legislature had conferred upon them large powers,
and, iu addition to main sewers, to form collateral
sewers to effect that object.
Mr. DAVIS opposed the resolution, and objected alto-
gether to any scheme for going under the Thames.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON was willing to take the opinion
of their own engineer, as set forth in page 3 of his re-
port, in which he said—" I am still, after mature con-
sideration, of opinion that the second proposition, or the
extension of the outfalls to Halfway Reach, would fully
satisfy the requirements of the Legislature, and be effee•
Live in a sanitary point of view, as already explained in
my former report, upon this subject. This plan would
not greatly increase the engineering difficulties in execut-
ing the works ; and, as regards expenditure, it presents
considerable advantages over any of the other plans.
The extension to Long Reach appears also to meet the
required object, in a sanitary point of view, although
the outfall would not be so remote from habitations as
that at Halfway Reach ; and if the former is objected
to, it becomes questionable whether this will be con-
sidered sufficiently advantageous to justify an increased
expenditure of upwards of three-quarters of a million."
If the plan was adapted a B it would serve
all the requirements of the public, and save an enor-
tnotfs expense, and therefore he was at issue with those
gentlemen who wished to carry the sewage down to
either Margate, Worthing, or Brighton. It they were
to carry the outfall to Mucking-creek, 'in Essex, it would
b.. 3 most unfair to the inhabitants of the city of London
that those works should be done at their expense. If
the inhabitants of Essex were to have the benefit of the
drainage, they ought in nommen fairness to contribute,.
something to the expense. After some further observa-
tions, he said that he was in favour of the point of out•
fall being at B on the plan, which went three miles lower
down the river than the limits of the metropolis, and he
hoped that it would be adopted.
Mr. SAVAGE moved an amendment to the effect that
the outfall for the sewage should be at a point that was
not within the limits of the metropolis.
Mr. 13nIsTown seconded the amendment, and in doing
so said he regretted that a :notion he submitted on a
former ccca.ion was negatived, which was that the
chairman and several members of the board should wait
upon the Chief Corntntssioner of Works and ascertain
what were his views upon this subject, for if they went
on discussing a plan which the Government would not
sanction they would only be wasting their time, and that
they would not only have the vox populi, but their own
consciences against them. Their own clerk had given
his opinion am to the point proposed, in which he had
said that if the sewage was discharged in Halfway Reach
it would be a "close shave." Such being the legal opi-
nion of Whir c':,; r, it was his (Mr. Bristowe's) belief
that if they ado; that close shave their plans would
he sent back t., teem. Ho did not believe that the
public would object to the expense of a large and effi-
cient system of sewerage which elioniti be effectual and
relieve the Thames front its present impurities.
Mr. TURNER supported the resolution, and said that
he was surprised to hear persons urge that Erith,
Gravesend, and other towns would be injured by the
works proposed. Did not all the sewerage of London
go by Erith and Gravesend now, and could they make
it worse than it was at present ? Why, by the contem-
plated works Erin, Gravesend, and Tilbury would be
benefited, inasmuch as they would not have a particle
more sewage past Erith than they had at present, and
that it would be diluted with a much larger amount of
water.
Mr. LESLIE said of all the transparent fallacies he had
ever heard uttered, the speech just delivered by the hon.
member for Hampstead was the most so, for his argu-
ment was that although they might have the same
amount of sewage past Grays and Gravesend there was
a great difference in having it pent up in an enormous
reservoir of 15 acres, and discharged in two hours, to
having it passing gradually at all hours of the tide. It
had been said that they had got three miles beyond the
metropolitan arcs, but, having recently measured it, he
was prepared to say that taken in a direct line it was
only five-eighths of a mile below that area. He would
ask the inhabitants of Hampstead, who returned the hon.
member, if they were prepared to support him in the
enormous expense that would be incurred in taking the
rainfall into the sewers, which added 105 per cent. to
the entire estimates of Mr. Bazalgette? The present plan
would merely create an enormous cesspool at a cost of
five millions, which they would never be able to raise
under the authority of the present act of Parliament, and
in conclusion he hoped, as the only safe course, that they
would negative Mr. Carpmael's resolution.
The CHAIRMAN then put the question, when there ap-
peared—

For the amendment l4
Against it l7-3
Mr. CRIILLIN then moved, as another amendment,
" that the deodorising works recommended by the en-
gineer at Barking-creek be adopted" but this amend-
ment was not persevered in.
Mr. WRIGHT said he should vote for the motion on
the ground that scientific men at the present day had not
made up their minds as to what should be done with
sewage manure. Until that qaestiou was determined
it would be iwpossiL'le for them to say whether or not
they should carry the outfall line down the river.
The CHAIRMAN then put the original motion, when
there appeared—
For the motion l5
Against it l7-2
Tire motion was therefore negatived.
Mr. lavrNic then rose to move the subject of which he
had given notice, which was for the purpose of freeieg
the Thames from offensive sewage matter, and prepar-
ing the Name for agricultural purposes. In support of
his views he produced a long document, which generally
condemned the present use made of the public sewers,
and the injudicious conclusions to which some persons
had rushed in the abolition of cesspools. The offensive
matter, it was alleged, might be removed in the night
by means of waggons from collecting sumpts, and con-
verted into sewage manure for fertilising purposes,
which could not now be done when it was mixed and
diluted with rig- i. i and subsoil water. He concluded
by moving thdt the engineer be directed to report whe-
ther, in his jeJoinent, any practical means can be adopt-
ed for the purpose of diverting tLe offensive sewage
matter from the Thames other than those pointed out
in his report."
Mr. Davis seconded the motion.
Mr. D'IFFANGER said that he had lately visited Pa-
ris, and bad there Inquired as to what was done with
the sewage of that city. He found that it was removed
from the houses at considerable expense to the inhabi-
tants, and the sale of it was all but unproductive.
The motion was then put and negatived.
The subject wal adjourned shortly before 5 o'clock
until Wednesday week.

NEW LIBRARY AND MUSrnJM AT LIVERTOOI.---Tile
prize of 150 guineas offered by the town council of
Liverpool for the best design for a new library and
museum bac, I•een awarded to Mr. Allow;
of Thornhill
chambers, St, Martin's-lane, and the second prize of 100
guineas to Mr. Holmes, of Bury—both subjeot to the
opinion of the surveyor as to Tilotller these designs can
be executed for 20,0001.

) (-7/-1-e cef '7 / C _
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Nand and Military Intelligene ,--, ---7;:i, ~),'::.'.X.7pet
le=,.
.9 ..7t,..4.' ' A. 9 V,
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' -- , , . !..%-ciZA, 5ee.,,,.
Yesterday morning a detachment of 112 non- Mekteie-eej eStee-e:?:'," 414 see
si 'ned officers and men belongieg to the 19th sad i2d
lieeime•'-e--'0: - ' eef tof the Rifle Brigade, IN I 4t,„;
, .„.,
._
n, for Fort Pitt, where taw
were naedica,:e 1; -eeby Dr. J. P .r.--ior, C.B
..-
•••
. order having oee ii resae —at the in di estahlishmeee,
cern!: ac
et lir
sa ran o
n,
dfmr
etnh e d
whios c harge of t
were c
o nshoi
des
re
ed
un fit
for
non-commissionedfurther
i
service. The troops inspected yesterday were all Crimea
men suffering from wounds, or being otherwise dis-
abled, and each man wears the Crimean medal with two
and three clasps, several having 15 or 20 years' service.
The whole of them will be discharged as soon as the
order for their pensions has been forwarded to the in-
valid depot, Chatham, from Chelsea Hospital.
The depot of the Medical Staff Corps, upwards of 500
Strong, now stationed at Chatham, under the command
of Brevet-Major Se G. Bunbury, are in expectation of
being removed from that garrison to Southampton,
at which station it is expected the Government will fix
the head-quarters. There is to be no increase to the
strength of this corps, which has been lately reduced,
owing to a number of men having been discharged, and
in ad,litien to which 53 men are now waiting to receive
their discharge.
Capt. Knox's Company of the 9th Battalion, and Capt.
Loegton'e Company of the 13th Battalion Royal Artil-
lery were inspected yesterday in front of head-quarters,
Woolwich, by Major-Goneral Sir W. F. Williams, Com-
mandant of the Garrison and Staff, on their return from
Irelan
paddle-sloop, Commander Mecham,
The Salamander, 6,
haring shipped the whole of her cargo of stores, medi-
cines, beddings, &c., for the sufferers from cholera at
Madeira, left Portsmouth harbour yesterday afternoon,
and sailed direct for her destination.
The Dee paddle-sloop, Master-Commander Pullen,
arrived at Portsmouth yesterday afternoon, having in
tow four new gun-boats from the eastward.
The Dragon, 6, naddle-sloop, Capt. W. 11. Stewart,
C.B, went out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday, and
anchored at Spithead to take in powder and shot prietto.,
-leaving for her destination. .
- The Fox, 42, converted into a screw steam storeship,
went out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday to test her
machinery. It is reported to have worked satisfactorily.
The Industry steam storeship sailed yesterday morn-
ing from Portsmouth for Deeenport with Reyal Marine
artillery and stores.
The Amphitrite, 24, fitting as a coastguard ship for
Newhaven, was taken into the fitting basin at Ports-
mouth yesterday to be docked.
The Rhea Silvia transport, Captain Silvia, arrived at
Portsmouth yesterday with 25 men of the police of
Scutari, who were under the command of General Storks,
and were the last of the British to leave Scutari. She
also brought five women and three children ; all the
passengers being under the medical orders of Staff-sur-
geon Fairburn. This vessel brings some medical stores,
fin: -engines, &e., from the hospitals at Scutari.
The Powerful, 84, and the Leander, 50, both of which
vessels were recently paid off at Chatham, having been
stripped and dismasted, have been placed in ordinary in
the Medway, and attached to the Chatham division of
that fleet of vessels.
The Resistance, Government troopship, Com. J. T.
Russell, is to be paid off.
The following transports have arrived at WoolOch
since Saturday—The Irene and Andover, laden with me-
dic-al comforts; the Preciosa, with 200 tons of land trans 6
port and hospital stores and 1,000 bags of bread ; the
Medium, No. 104, with powder, military clothing, blan- •
kets, &c.; the Foster, with shot, shell, and guns ; the
Riverdale, with ammunition ; and the Andover C. 223,
Capt. Peterson, has brought 80 casks of wine, a number
of iron tubes, blankets, 900 bed boards, sundry casks of
ale, vinegar, whisky, potash water, sherry, Marsala, port
wine, lime juice, &c. The Ireightship Wigrams is ern-
harking 44 tons of Ordnance stores and timber from
Woolwich Arsenal for St. Helena, and will sail from St.
Katherine's Docks.
The freight-ship Nautilus is being laden with Ordnance
stores from Woolwich Arsenal for Bermuda, and has
likewise a number of cabin passengers.
The 16-gun screw steam-sloop Fawn, launched on
Thursday at Deptford, arrived at Woolwich yesterday
morning, and was taken into the fitting basin to have-.
her engines, of 100-horse power, and machinery applied.
The following appointments were made yesterday at
the Admiralty :
IV. H. Parker, master, to the Devastation ; John
Molloy, second-master, to the Starling ; Edward
d'Auvergne, James Wade (B), and W. B. C. Christy,
surgeons (additional), to the Boscawen ; Edwd. Sexton
and Daniel O'Sullivan, acting-assistant-surgeons, to the
Boscawen ; Richard Evans, assistant-surgeon, to the ize
Formidable.
W. Johnson, C. R. IL Wilkinson, G. IL Allen, and
V. F. Johnson, second masters, were yesterday pro-
moted to be masters.

THE AMERICAN FRIGATE MERRIMAC.

The local variation of compasses on board ships is a
matter of the most serious consequence, and of the
greatest interest. It has been alieady stated in The San
that such variation is prevented on board the Unite.!
States screw steam frigate Merrimac, now lying in South-
ampton Water, by three magnets. Each of these ma:?,-
'' nets-in about 9 feeicloug, a little Enos. alas-a:Pi:inch in--
. width, and about three-quarters of an inch in thickness.
One of the magnets is placed immediately under the
compass on the upper deck, it's direction being fore and
aft. Another is placed under that one in the same
direction, and is fastened to the ceiling of the main deck.
The third is fastened to the same ceiling, about 4 feet
distant on the larboard side, and its direction is athwart
the ship, so that it is at right angles with the other two
magnets. The invention of this contrivance for counter-
acting local variation is due to Capt. Morris, the com-
mander of an American coasting steamer, and is much
in use in United States merchant ships ; but the Merri-
mac is the first man-of-war in which it hat lawn tried. •
The Americans have done away with the old-fashioned. '
cutlass fir sailors, and the substitute for it is a straight,
short Roman sword, adapted to cut and thrust, and is an
exceedingly handy and formidable weapon in boarding,
where fighting men are crowded together. Both the
Minie rifle and Brown Bess are on board the Merrimac,
and the men are armed also with pistols, and the officers
with revolvers ; 130-pound and other heavy shot can be
thrown from the enormons guns of the Merriniac, with
good aim, upwards of two miles, and would do terrible
execution that distance. The lug on which the gurelock
works on Dehlgren's guns ;.:‘, cast with the gun, and there
is a spsre lug which could be easily made available
should any damage be done to the one in use. Every
one of the guns on board the frigate has the elevating
screw. The gun carriages are the French pattern ; they
nave icily wheels forward, and the hinder part rests on
the ill cle and acts like a break to prevent too great a
recoil in tiring. The hinder part of the carringes is as-
sis ed for sard again by roller handspikes. The shells
used on board the frigate have an improved fusee; which
cause them to burst with great accuracy. Toe head of
the mop used for sponging out the guns is made with
bristles, which is a great improvement on the old sheep.
skin sponge. Flogging has been done away with in the
American navy for 4or 5 years past. The punishments
resorted to in board the frigate are solitary confinement,
reduction to the next inferior rate, deprivation of liberty
on shore, extra police duties, and loss of pay. The fri-
gate's crew have fresh meat and bread now they are in
harbour, each man being allowed llb of meat a day.
They have beef four times and pork three timee a week.
Tnero is divisional exercise of guns on board ou itiesdaye,
Wednesday's, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Mondays
general exercise of gnus takes place, and on Satierda:es
there is exercise at fire quarters, when every rnovein,mt is
gone through, as if a fire were on board. The arraoge-
inents in case of fire are very complete. The force pumps
and fire hose are kept in the most perfect readiness:
The windlasses and capstans do not appear to have
the improve fonts that are to be seen on board Bri-
tish men of war. Dinner tables for seamen have not
been introduced into the American navy, and the men still
sit on the decks to eat their meals. The ,seamen of the
Merrimac have a small library ; they are else getting up
theatrical amusements, and forming among thexosolves a •
choir of Ethiopian singers. The same order, quietness,
and cleanliness are to be observed on board of her as Ire
re•ticed in English line of-battle ships. Admiral ths.,
E sr: of Hard wicke and other naval officers have visited .
the American frigate, and have examined' her with the
utmost minuteness and interest. The following is her
list of officers :--" A captain, seven lieutenants, one
master, one surgeon, one past assistant-surgeon, one as-
istaxit surgeon, one purser, a captain and lieutenant of
marines, four past midshipmen, and four midshipmen.
There ie no chaplain on board. The captain is bound by
law to have Divine service at suitable times and places,
but he is not limited to any particular form of worship.
On board the Merrimac, however, as in board most
American ships of war, thel Church of England service
is read. The officers of the Merrimac have been elected
honorary members of the Southampton Cldb during the
stay of the frigate at the port of Southampton. All per-
sons are allowed to visit the frigate, as it is contrary tte
Am, rican republican notions to admit by tickets or to
make any distinction between persons. It is exp,'U
that a small steamer will run to the Merrimac
therel
eietithamptsbil for the convenience of visitors, should
be any continuance of fine weather.

Inl:mtis:erKußtErtil'inesi:
-
Tut; LONDON COFFEE AND EATING .
atheir annual
the
BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
number event' g
committee of this association, with
:it Freemasons' Tavern. The
chair
resy for the - Mr.
friends, assembled on the occasion of
was taken
b supper
flarding, the president ofbthem.r•. current
Kirton, Mr.
year, who was "IP°rt,ed by
upwards of fumy g .r'
Mr. Hammond, &c.•
. c visa on
excellently served
tiornen presouL
a iliost„lihi.irAl set, and
ie,rince
.. , the chairman
A:bert, A.lbett Prince of
Pr°P9"(1"1116 (queen,
the r• • ,
Afteritblietr, entertainment, whi h . -en"
%Vales, and the rese o Royal . amtly, ' which was
immediately followed by
Association,"
to the Coffee and
Eating House K.eepe
stave •‘ The Pre6ident of the paA year, Mr. Baker," and
i:i doing so P . on behalf of
" resented to that gentleman,
the committee, a written testimonial of his valuable ser-
vie,s to the association during his term of office—an
utmowledgineut which was manifestly most cordially
coMnirred 111 by all present. Mr. Baker having- briefly
rmurned than, Mr. Rogers proposed the health of
Mr. Horiling, the preAdent ; and Mr. L4vson, the vice.
I -,sident, of the institution. The Chairman and Mr.
-
Lawson re.ipectivisly returned thanks. Among the re-
paining, toasts were "The past Presidents of the Assn
eiatio, 'no loss than Six of whom were present; 1:
Preasurtr, Air. Kirton, and . the Committeer and
al3:-,,
1,•Ot ;" a The Press ;" "The ViEitorktrana
-, .
"The becretary, Mr. Rogers," &c. The p
- r°c
hardly
the evening were highly satisfactory, and could.
Meedicgs of
prosperity of
fail to conduce, indirectly at least, to
the
eere connected.
the excellent iastitntion with which they