The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-29 00:00:00

says br. LETHEBY, has been in the re-
duction of organic impurity. In the year
1851 the quantity of organic and other
volatile matters dissipated by heat from the
solid residue of the Thames supply was 2.46 grains
per gallon ; in 1866 it has been only 1.05 grains.
In the Kent water it has declined from 2.61 grains
per gallon to 1.04 ; in the New River water from
2.79 to 0.89 ; and in the East London water from
4.12 to 1.04. This improvement has been effected
in three ways ; by selection of better sites for the
collection of the water, by careful filtration, and
by the storeage of the filtered water in covered
reservoirs. Notwithstanding all these advantages
there is evidently a good deal more to be done, as is
proved even by the above figures. We are, there-
fore, glad that there is promise of the whole sub-
ject being fully and impartially inquired into by
men of practical ability.

The state of the London crossings has long been
the subject of comment, and indignation has often
been justly expressed at the culpable neglect that
is manifested in their arrangements. The great
dangers which foot passengers incur at every large
crossing are indeed so plainly seen that it seems
extraordinary something should not have been done
before this to rectify the evils so loudly complained
of by all who face the perils and inconveniences of
a walk through town at this season. Besides the
risks to life and limb, the loss of time and
the stoppage to business must be taken
into account when we dwell upon the mat-
ter, and surely it is high time that something
definite should be done, and that a change for the
better should take place. Foreigners who visit our
metropolis must be surprised to find so enterprising
and wealthy a community submit to such discom-
fort and annoyance, and still more that they should
be willing to incur such frightful risks for want of
timely means of prevention being adopted. It is
true that from time to time suggestions are made
and plans proposed by some daring individual, but
little or no heed is paid to them by those
who might render the project available for public
safety and convenience, and after a time the discus-
sion is dropped, and what we did with yesterday
we can do with to-day.
Among the several schemes put forward, one of
the best seems to be that of constructing light iron
bridges across the most crowded places, and this
idea has for the most part been very favourably re-
ceived. It seems strange, however, to find that
there really exists a remedy for the evils which
cause so much complaint among those who
frequent the crossings from Bridge-street,
Blackfriars, to Farringdon-street. When the Par-
liamentary powers to extend their line were given
to the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, a
very suitable provision was made, which compelled
the Company to construct a foot-bridge, which was
to be parallel with the viaduct thrown over Lud-
gate-hill. This was really done, and these means
of safety and convenience are actually there, but
the entrances to the doorwayswhich are on the piers
and on which the bridge rests, are closed up, and
this is indeed an extraordinary state of things.
Why time should be lost, serious evils encountered,
and loss of life take place for want of a little
lively exertion we find it difficult to account for,
and certainly, wherever the fault lies, it is a very
inexcusable one. Surely some one can find out who
should be responsible for this great neglect, or, at
any rate, the municipal authorities should took into
the matter. Here we have a notable instance of
how much carelessness and indifference pre-
vail in matters which are obviously connected
with public safety, but we hope that
the new year will see a new state of
things inaugurated. We see no reason why this
means should not be adopted at other crowded
crossings ; while the erection of an obelisk at such
ones where inconvenience is now felt would be a
great relief. At any rate, the evil exists, and a
remedy should be found for it without any loss of
time, or a great responsibility will rest on those who
have the means and the opportunity to provide a
remedy, and thus obviate the great inconveniences
and dangers which foot passengers now suffer from

We learn from Hanover that the deputation of
Hanoverian officers who went to Vienna to solicit
King GEORGE to release them from their oath of
allegiance have returned to announce the success of
their mission. The ex-King's instructions are to
be carried out on this subject at once. An order
has already been given, which has been approved
of by the Governor-General, conveying the notifi-
cation that all officers and officials are absolved
from their oath of allegiance, and further-
more declaring that all officers and non-com-
missioned officers and men are dismissed from
the Hanoverian service who belonged to the
late Hanoverian army ; this order likewise takes in
those who have already entered into the Prussian
service. No doubt there will be great exultation in
Berlin when this intelligence is well known, but in-
dependent observers must consider it as another
proof of the arbitrary course upon which the Prus-
sian Government has entered, and to carry out
which to the full extent it seems prepared to sacrifice
truth, honour, and justice. A more harsh and un-
called-for proceeding than this wholesale monopoly
of military power by King WILLIAM could not well
have been devised, and, so far as we can judge, the
plans thus entered upon are entirely subversive of
that unity and community of interest upon which
so much depend. Whatever care and caution had
been adopted, it would at all times have been a
difficult and delicate task to effect so complete a
change in Germany.

The Originator of The Volunteer Movement.

By a vexatious and wholly unaccountable typo-
ed
igmr appr
eh s
si c
iaol n eorfr oyre sat e
rpdaarya rn arpeehoginnsietriotVofbLyieunsteinnaonutr-
Colonel Richards, of the ad City of London R.V.,
as beyond all doubt or question the Originator of the
entire Volunteer movement here in England, was
balked of its good intentions as a means of accord-
ing honour to one to whom honour is certainly dues
by an absurd interpolation of the word " Belgian'i
in the very heading of the paragraph-announcement
thus alluded to. Our only satisfaction in refer-
ring to a misprint so entirely unaccount-
able and inexcusable, arises from the reflec-
tion that we are at any rate afforded thereby this
fresh opportunity of testifying to the literal ac-
curacy of Captain Bertrand Payne's statement the
other day, when speaking in the highest terms of
eulogium about Colonel Richards as the patriotic
author, so far as any one individual can be regarded
as such, of a movement which in so very brief an
interval has furnished England with her noble
auxiliary army of Rifle Volunteers.

SERIOUS OUTBREAK OF' SMALL-PDX IN ST.
MARYLEBONE.—Yesterday, at the meeting of the
guardians of St. Marylebone, letters were read from Dr.
Whitmore, medical officer of hearth, and from Mr. Benson
Baker, medical officer of Christchaarch district, calling at-
tention to the prevalence of small-pox in the district, and
suggesting that the board should provide a place for the
reception of patients. The ReNr. LI. Davies, rector of
Christchurch district, attended the board, and urged them
to take immediate action in the matter. It appeared that
there wore between 60 and 70 cases in the district, and
there have been 11 deaths. The guardians immediately
appointed a committee, with power to act, to adopt theue-
cessary moue to meet the ememency.