The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-26 00:00:00

SARDINIA.

The Piedmontese Senate, in its sittings of the
22d, passed the bill for the loan of 40 millions of
francs by a majority of 41 votes to 12. The Minister
of Finance brought in the billl for granting indem-
nities to the sufferers from the grape blight, already
pissed by the lower chamber. The chamber of
deputies continued the debate on the budget of
expenses for 1859, and voted the portion relating
to the department of the interior.

SPAIN.
MADRID, JUNE 24.
The Queen inaugurated this day the canal bring-
ing the waters of Lozola to the Spanish capital.
Yesterday a fire destroyed a small bridge on the
Alicaut Railway, about four miles from Madrid.
The circulation, momentarily interrupted, was re-
established this afternoon.

The journals of the 21st state that rumours of a
ministerial crisis were again current, but that it
was believed in well informed quarters that no
change will take, place until the autumn. The elec-
tions for the provincial deputations were taking
place, and though they are not of a political charac-
ter, almost everywhere the candidates favourable
to the Government were returned. The Govern-
ment was about to undertake extensive works fur
Ihe improvement of the port of Alicant, which,
from the opening of the railway, will become of
greater commercial importance than ever. The
harvest had commenced in several provinces, mid
was very fine ; from the scarcity of labour, land-
owners had to pay very high wages.

A St. Petersburg letter states that the E nperor
of Ru isin, in the couroo of his approaching vibit to
Poland, is to inspect the fortresses of Alexander
Castel! and of Nowo (eorgiesk.

PUTRID FERMENTATION OF THE

THAMES.

The following letters have been addressed to the
Editor of the Times :

Sir,—The time has arrived when it is absolutely neces-
sary to call public attention in the most emphatic manner
to the great danger which hangs over the inhabitants of
this metropolis from the state of the river Thames, the
more especially as there has been a tendency in some of the
most able writers of the day to underrate the frightful
consequences which may ensue from its present pestilential
condition.

The great fact has been overlooked by those who have
earnestly called attention to the subject, that the river
Themes at the present moment is in a state of general
putrid fermentation--a state which I can positively assert
is a new state, and one which from observation over 30
years it has never exhibited before.
While I write the whole river is nearly as opaque and
black as iuk, and is much more offensive than the majority
of the sewers which enter into it, the animal matter of
which has not yet undergone the putrid fermentation.
Those who have lived in London have observed year by
year a general deterioration of the water—a gradual dimi-
nution of the higher forais of animal life from a larger
portion of the sewage being added to it. Year by year an
additional unpleasant odour has been superadded to the
usual odour of nearly all rivers in agitation ; but for the
whole of the river to enter into the putrid fermentation is
a new fact, the consequence of which we have no experi-
ence in London, nor probably in any other country.
It must now be regarded as unsafe for man, woman, or
child to venture upon our river, for no medical man can
predict who may be affected, and we can only say that the
putrid fermentation is liable in the highest degree to corn-
mubicate its death-producing influence.
Cholera is now absent. Were it epidemic probably
hundreds of thoesands would fa:l victims, as the whole
river is essentially worse than those sewers along which
the population was decimated. This, however, is the
most favour Me time of the year for London—a powerful
current of air sweeps up th, valley of the Thames, and
renders London one of the healthiest of towns. In
August, however, and in the first week in September the
air is stagnant, and no such breeze refreshes the inhabi-
tants. In all ages epidemics have then had their sway,
and should this state continue who will dare predict the
consequences which may ensue ?
The putrescence may endanger diseases of a contagious
type, such as fever or plague, and how great would be the
panic if a few leading men in succession were to fall a
prey ! And we must not shut our eyes to the fact that
causes now exist worse then at the timo of the Plague;
and therefore a destruCtion of life and an injury to trade
may arise which will make Londoners bitterly repine
their neglect of the warnings of medical men in not
diverting the sewage from the great highway of the world.
The case is now serious and urgent, and the treatment
presents the highest difficulties. No time can be spared for
twaddling debates of representative councils. Some one
man should be endowed with the powers of a general to geb
any assistance or advice-he may require, and carry out such
plans vigorously as the nature of the case may require.
I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
7, Finsbury-circus, June 25. ALFRED SMEE.

Sir,— Without vindicating the character of the Thames
at the present time, yet, with reference to the letter of
"T. G. in the Times of this morning, it may be interest-
ing to know that the fish in that river have always suf-
fered from any unusual heat in the weather. In the
Gentleman's Magazine for 1750 it is stated :—" Friday, July
13.—The excessive heat of this and some preceding days so
affected the fish in the Thames that they gathered in shoals
to the Bankside, and buried themselves in the ooze and
mud, and were easily taken in large quantities."
Yours obediently,
JAMES DAVIS.

Hampstead, June 25.

STATE OF THE THAMES,—The folloWing letter from
the Conservators of the Thames to the Metropolitan
Board of Works was read at the meeting of the latter
at the Guildhall yesterday :—" Thames Conservancy,
June 22.—Sir,—Having laid your letter of the 12th
inst. before the Conservators of the River Thames, in
which you inform them of the intention of the Metropo-
litan Board of Works to construct works for extending
the outlets of certain main sewers under their jurisdic-
tion, through covered channels, from high to low water
mark, and the Conservators having inspected the plan
submitted by Mr. Banlgette, I am directed to inform
you that the Conservators see no objection to the works
as proposed. With reference to the impediments to the
inshore navigation which will be caused by the tempor-
ary works requisite, it will be necessary that, as the
traffic of the river should not be interrupted more than
may be absolutely necessary, the prominent points of
such works shall be properly indicated by day and night;
and the Conservators have to request that plans of coffer
dams and piles may be substituted to them for their
approval before the same shall be carried into execution.

I am further directed to take this opportunity of stating
that it is the conviction of the Conservators that it is
impossible for them to preserve the water. of the Thames
in snytbing like a pure and wholesome state so long as
the contents of the sewers of the metropolis are dis-
charged into it. —E. BURSTAL, Sec. Mr. G. H. Wool-
ryeh, B. W.";
Tamil REPRESENTATIVE PEERAGE.—We understand
that, the Earl of Bandon will succeed to the vacancy in
the Irish representative peerage occasioned by the la-
mented death of the Earl of Glens% . .