The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-26 00:00:00

ME SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 26, 1866.

The Naval Action of Lissa.

The Patrie, under date of Vienna, July 22, pub-
lishes the following account of the recent action
between the Italian and Austrian squadrons in the
Adriatic :

" Admiral Tegethoff, the same who on May 12,
1864, had to retire before the brave little squadron
of the Danes in the action of Heligoland, was on
board the armour-plated frigate Archduke Maxi-
milian, lying off the port of Pola, when a signal
from a sloop which had been sent out to cruise de-
noted some movement of importance. There were,
then under steam only two wooden ships of the line'
the Kaiser, three-decker, and a two-decker, and an
ironplated frigate. With this moderate force the
Admiral put to sea, and was joined soon after by
several armoured gunboats. When in sight of Zara
he received intelligence that the Italian fleet, com-
prising 23 vessels, most of them ironplated, were
about to attack Lissa. Three other vessels, of which
two had belonged to the fleet of the Austrian
Lloyd's, but had recently been converted into ves-
sels of war, and an armoured corvette joined the
Admiral's squadron. This force of which the three-
decked Kaiser formed the centre, took up its station
at some distance from Lissa, the guns of which town
had on the previous evening crippled an Italian ar-
moured frigate. Upon the squadron coming into
sight the firing both on sea and land became ap-
palling. Four Italian armoured vessels, two fri-
gates, and two corvettes bore down under full steam
upon the Austrian three-decker. The action be.
came furious, the three-decker, enveloped in smoke,
appeared like some monstrous animal standing at
bay against a pack of hounds. Her gunners, nearly
all Dalmatians, and who were not under fire for the
first time, replica to the broadsides of their antago-
nists by a fire less rapid, but better aimed. The ad-
miral, seeing the danger in which that ship was
placed, went to its aid and directed his own vessel at
full speed upon one of the large Italian frigates. This
frigate, already damaged at the water line, was stove
in a little above the deck. A great cry was heard,
a loud clamour, an immense gulf seemed to open
amid the waves, and then wide spreading circles
were seen upon the surface of the water which had
again become smooth. The frigate had been swal-
lowed up. Its engulfment was, however, marked
by a glorious episode. A half battalion of Bersa-
glieri, who were on board, climbed up into the tops,
and, while holding on by the ropes, shouldered their
rifles as on a parade ground and sent a volley upon
the deck of the Archduke Maximilian. This parting
farewell produced terrible effects-20 killed and 60
wounded falling around the Admiral, who seemed
to be invulnerable. Scarcely had this event been
concluded when a fearful explosion was heard. A
shower of iron and wooden fragments, mingled with
portions of human bodies, fell upon the decks of the
vessels, and an immense wall of water appeared to
rise up near the Kaiser. The Austrian Admiral then
found that a hollow shot from one of the guns of
the three-decker had caused the explosion of a se-
cond Italian frigate. Thus, two vessels were de-
stroyed, two crews lost, besides other serious damages
to the fleet. On board the Austrian ships the killed
were numerous, among them being one of the most
distinguished officers of the Austrian marine, the
Irishman, Capt. Eric O'Klin (fie). Trieste has been
illuminated ; Spalatro, Zara, and Ragusa, which
have furnished the fleet with many of its combatants,
have been decked out with flags. This battle will
have a great moral effect, for it is no mystery that
in all the towns just mentioned there exists a party
which is seeking to promote annexation to Italy.".
The Patrie also contains the following letter from
Milan, dated July 22 :

" The fleet has at last shaken off its immobility.
After quitting the waters of Ancona it proceeded
towards the island of Lissa, which it bombarded.
The Austrian fleet, although inferior in number,
offered battle to the Italian squadron. The infor-
mation already received is very confused, but from
despatches recently arrived we gather some interest-
ing facts. It appears that on board the Austrian
ships were embarked a number of Tyrolese sharp-
shooters, whose fire inflicted much damage to the
Italians. Two of the Italian vessels are lost, but
one, the Palestro—although the official account is
silent upon the point—was captured by the enemy,
and was blown up by its crew rather than haul down
its flag. Besides the two vessels lost three others
were entirely hors de combat. The action in its re-
sults was indecisive, but the retirement of the Aus-
trians gave an appearance of victory to the Italians.
One result of the action, however, was to demon-
strate the superiority of the French ironplating over
that of other countries. The Italian squadron com-
prised several vessels built and plated in France, not
one of which has suffered, notwithstanding the ter-
rible fire of the Austrians. On the contrary, all the
vessels constructed in England are in a deplorable
condition, and have their armour-plating pierced.
The Re d'ltalia, which sunk almost at a stroke, was
a vessel of very large dimensions, quite new, and
entirely constructed in English yards." *

* Qy.—Was not the Re d'ltalia, alias Re Galantuoino,
built in New York ?

The Loss of the Steamer Eagle.

OFFICIAL REPORT.

To the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade,
Board of Trade, Marino Department, London.
Police-court, Hull, July 20, 1866.
My Lords,—Pursuant to your directions, I have made a
formal investigation into the circumstances attending the
loss of the steamship Eagle, and have had the assistance
(in the performance of my duties) of Captain Baker and
Capt. Brooks, R.N., as Nautical Assessors. The result of
that investigation I have now the honour of laying before
you. The Eagle was an iron screw steamer, built at Liver-
pool in 1852, and registered in Hull, official number 1,389.
Her gross tonnage was 500.13, register 364.77. She was
a three-masted schooner, having two decks, was clinker-
built, and possessed two engines of a combined
power of 120 horses. Her length was 197 5-10 feet, her
breadth 25 1-10 feet, and depth 14 1-10 feet. Messrs. Wm.
Woolf and H. Haigh were the joint owners of 55 shares
of the Eagle, the owner of the remaining nine shares being
Benjamin Parker Beaumont, all the owners residing at
Hull. The Eagle stranded on a reef to the S.W. of Laesoe
Island, off the coast of Denmark, about 5 p.m. of June 11,
1866, being at that time in charge of Mr. John Wriggles-
worth, who holds a certificate of competency, which was
lost with the vessel. The Eagle had left Copenhagen on
the 7th day of June, 186 G, and after touching at Lands-
crona, had arrived at Aarhuus on the 9th day of June,
1866. The crew consisted of 16 hands all told, also a
stewardess, and also had on board two first-class passen-
gers. She had a general cargo, consisting of grain and
shoddy, shipped at Copenhagen, and she carried on deck
56 bullocks, severalcalves, and some pigs, shipped at Aar-
huus. She left Aarhuus on the 11th day of June, at 2 a.m.,
drawing 12 feet, being bound for Hull, the weather being
then fine:and calm, with a light N.W. wind. After steam-
ing at the rate of eight or nine knots the Eagle was
abreast of Hjelmans Island about 5 a.m., and passed it
about two miles from the shore. She then steered N.E.
by N. for Forness, and she passed Forness Point about 7
45 a.m., distant about four or five miles. The wind at this
time appears to have been from the W. At this point
the master directed her course to be shaped N. nothing to
the E. This course was kept during the day. The weather
was fine and calm, with a light N.W. wind, and occa-
sional haze, more or less dense, up to 12 25 p.m., the haze
having become denser about.l2. There were two com-
passes on board, the ono on tho bridge, the other on the
after part of the house, there being a difference of half a
point between the two. The ship was steered by the
bridge compass, but allowance is stated to have been
always made for its variation from the aft compass, so
that, in reality, the vessel ought to have been steered by
the aft compass. The compasses were adjusted on the 7th
and 10th days of May, before the vessel left Hull. The
distance from Forness Point to Duvale-ground Floating-
Light on the Chart is 48 miles, and the channel for which
the ship was steering is only three miles wide, with dan-
gerous shoals on each side. The Eagle was at full
speed all day, and the engines were never slowed till after
she struck. The evidence shows that she went at a rate
of not less than eight, or, more probably, nine knots an
hour all the time. From leaving Forness Point to the
striking of the vessel the lead was never heaved, nor was
there any look-out, except by the captain on the
bridge. Nothing was seen during the day except a
schooner going southward. At 11 30 a.m. th© log was
hauled in, and gave 2G knots from Foruess Point. At 12 25
p.m. the Eagle went on to a reef to the south-west of
Laesoe. She is described to have gone on very easily,
with very little noise, and there was no motion in the ship
at first after she had gone on the shoal. There was no
broken water, no sign of land, at that time, and she
remained perfectly quiet for an hour and a quarter or
perhaps an hour and a half. Afterwards land was seen,
about a quarter of an hour after the Eagle was on the
shoal, at some miles' distance. As soon as she struck,
soundings were taken, when two fathoms water were found
all round the vessel. Tho engines were reversed at full .

speed, sail was made, and the cattle were shifted to bring
her on an even keel; but though the engines were
working more or less during the whole time, she
does not appear to have moved (at any rate beyond
a few feet), till about 1.30 p.m., when tho sea became
rougher, and the vessel bumped on the rocks. Shortly
after this sho appeared to be lifted, and her head slowed
round to the south, and at about 4 30 p.m. she came off the
rocks. The engines had been used throughout as circum-
stances required. Her head was to the southward when
she came off, with the engines going ahead. During the
time the Eagle was on the shoal no effort was made to
lighten her. When she came off the rocks she was put on
her course, and in half an hour water came into the engine-
room, and the water was, on further examination, found
to be rushing into the after hold in large quantities. All
the pumps (both hand and steam) were set on to reduce
the water, but in vain, and the ship began to settle by the
stern ; and within half an hour of the leak being dis-
covered, the passengers and crew were obliged to leave
the vessel, and, after half an hour more, she was seen to
sink, going down by the btern. The boats containing
the crew and pissengers reached the Kobber-ground
Lightship about midnight, and all hands got safely on
board. Two days afterwards they were taken by boat to
Fredrikshaven,and came thence to Hull, no lives being lost.
After carefully considering the evidence and the captain's
statement, while we are prepared to admit that ha appears
to have borne a good character for general attention to his
duties, we feel bound to find him in this case in default.
From Forness Point to the Duvale-ground floating light is
about 48 miles; but from Forness Point to southern ex-
tromityof the shoals on the S.W. of Laesoe, which must
be passed before the channel adjoining the light can be
reached, is only about 35 miles. When, therefore, we find
that the weather was at times very hazy, and a variation
from the true course of half a point to the eastward must
have brought the Eagle on the shoal, speaking in the
name of the gentlemen who have acted as Nautical As-
sessors in this case, as well as my own, I am of opinion
that, before the Eagle could by any possibility have ap-
proached the shoals, it was the bounden duty of the cap-
tain to have slowed his engines, and after that to have
felt his way, till he got to the Duvale Light, by
the constant use of the hand lead. Had such a course been
pursued after the log was hauled in at 11 30 a.m., or, at
the latest, half an hour afterwards, when the Eagle might
well have been estimated to have steamed nearly the full
distance to the shoals, she would probably have escaped the
shoals altogether. We are unable, from the evidence, to dis-
cover the exact cause that brought the Eagle so much more
to the eastward than was intended. Whatever that cause may
have been, we consider that it would have been success-
fully contended against, and would have ceased to operate
detrimentally, had the precautions suggested been adopted;
and, looking at the nature of the navigation on approach-
ing the Duvale Light, with a, comparatively speaking, very
narrow channel, and shoals on each side, the neglect to
take such precautions (more especially when the wea-
ther was very hazy, and it was impossible from any look-
out to ascertain the ship's position), was a serious omission.
We do not feel inclined to blame the captain forhis conduct
after the vessel was on the shoal, or to consider it an aggra-
vation of the default of which we find him guilty; but it is
by no means clear, had a different course been pursued,
that the Eagle might not have been got off the reef safely.
Recollecting that the Eagle only drew 12ft. aft, and that
after she was on the reef there were two fathoms all round
her, that she had gone on the reef very gently, and the sea
was calm for an hour and a half after she struck, it seems
clear that the injury she sustained was occasioned after she
began to bump, owing to the rising of the wind and sea ;
and when so little appears to have been required to make
the Eagle float, it does not seem improbable that, had the
cattle been thrown overboard at once on her getting on the
reef, and the vessel otherwise lightened, she might have
been floated off before the wind rose. The truth seems to
be, that the necessary operations of the ship were to some
extent impeded by the nature of the cargo, and thu captain
would feel a not unnatural unwillingness to destroy (ex-
cept at what he considered the last extremity) the cargo
entrusted to him ; and in this case, if lightening the vessel
by throwing cargo overboard could be available at all, it was
necessary to commence by driving the cattle overboard
after she struck. Although the captain's certificateprobably
bears date three years and a half ago, he appears to have
served as a mate up to his becoming captain of the Eagle in
May, 1866 ; up to that time his certificates of characterfrom
1858 are very satisfactory. It would seem that the captain
shaped a proper course from Forness Point, and there does
not appear to be any doubt that, from the comparison of the
compasses spoken to by several witnesses, he might bo led to
believe he was not deviating from such course. Nor can it
bo doubted that, if the course shaped had really been made
good, he would have passed the shoals safely, and have
found himself in mid-channel of the Duvale Light. It is
only fair to notice, also, that the captain has made a state-
ment in many parts telling against himself, which shows
the sincerity of his belief in the causes to which he attri-
butes the disaster that befel the vessel under his command.
Under all the circumstances, therefore, wo are inclined to
believe that the omissions of which the captain has been
guilty may, consistently with the ends of justice, admit of
some leniency being shown towards him; though, at the
same time, we do not fail to bear in mind how seriously
the safety of valuable property and human life may be
jeopardised by the omission of any of the precautions sug-
gested by prudence under circumstances of doubt and dan-
ger, such as those that surrounded Capt. Wrigglesworth.
The judgment I have given in this case is, that the certi-
ficate of Capt. Wrigglesworth be suspended for nine calen-
dar months from this date.—l have the honour, &c., &c.,
T. 11. TRAVIS, Police Magistrate, Hull.
We concur in this report,

R. B. BAKER,
E. J. BROOKS, Cora. Nautical Assessors.
R.N.,}

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.—This year has been a year of surprises,
but no more startling announcement has been
hitherto made than that which astonished all Lon-
don yesterday evening. It was proclaimed by the
Reform League that the Home Secretary, at an in-
terview granted to them, had given up Hyde Park
to their wishes. Mr. Beales had represented to Mr.
Walpole that considerable excitement prevailed, and
the best way to qUiet it was to abdicate in his fa-
vour ; and Mr. Walpole was so struck with thepro-
priety of the advice as to adopt it, at all events as
far as Hyde Park was concerned. According to the
report of the interview which was published by the
organs of the Reform League, the police and the
military were at once to be withdrawn from the
Park ; Mr. Beales was to be at liberty to hold his
meetings there, upon his personal undertaking to be
responsible for any mischief that might ensue. This
was the impression which the Reform Council car-
ried away from their interview, and they at once
issued a manifesto declaring it to the world. For a
little while the statement took away men's breath
with surprise, but incredulity soon supervened. We
publish to-day a letter from Mr. Walpole, deny-
ing altogether that he had made the agreement attri-
buted to him, and a complete report of the inter-
view, which supports his denial. It is a matter of
exceeding regret that any misunderstanding should
have arisen at such a time, even though, as it ap-
pears' the Home Secretary said nothing which
could have given any countenance to it ; but it is,
at least, satisfactory to know that responsible Go-
vernment has not entirely ceased, and that Mr.
Beales is not yet Minister, and, more than Minister,
independent of the Crown, of Parliament, and of the
nation. If it had been true that Mr. Walpole had
consented to leave the Park defenceless on the
strength of Mr. Beales' guarantee that no mischief
should be done, we should not have known which to
admire the more of the two parties to the agree-
ment. The conception which brawling and igno-
rant patriots had formed during the last few days
of Mr. Walpole as a dark and insidious enemy of
the people must have given place to a truer picture
of a man only too amiable and conciliatory. On
the other hand, what must we say of Mr. Beales ?
He is bold enough to assume the duties of Home
Secretary, to keep order among his own followers,
and among the thousands who are ready to assist
them in any demonstration,without the assistance of
the police—unless they were to be put under his orders
—and all this in addition to his previous task of
reforming the Constitution. It was right enough
for Mr. Beales and the other members of the Coun-
cil of the League to seek an interview with the
Home Secretary after what took place on Monday
evening, and it was right in Mr. Walpole to grant
it ; although it would have been wise to have under-
stood what were the proposed bases of peace before
agreeing to an armistice. Nothing could have been
more proper than that the Council should have come
acknowledging their errors, and offering their ser-
vices in the attempt to restore order. Let us un-
derstand what had happened up to yesterday. l‘lr.
Beales and his friends had advertised their inten-
tion of holding a mass meeting in Hyde-park. They
were informed by Sir Richard Mayne, as the Chief
of the Metropolitan Police, that the meeting could
not be allowed to take place there, on the ground
that it would interfere with the proper uses of the
Park, and that it was impossible to guard against
the mischief which might ensue. The Council of
the League were indignant against this, as an asper-
sion on the orderliness of their supporters ; but the
experience of the Trafalgar-square meeting, in itself
a perfectly quiet gathering, had shown how power-
less the managers of such meetings must be. After
the business was over, the looser members of the
crowd betook themselves to Pall-mall and St.
James's-place, threatening violence upon all ob-
noxious to them. The reception of Sir Richard
Mayne's notification left Mr. Beales and his friends
under a grave responsibility. They knew they would
be kept out of the Park, and it was open to them
to choose some other place of meeting. They chose
to go through the form of attempting an en-
trance, bringing together at the Marble Arch, in
addition to their own numerous followers, the
throng, many times more numerous, of persons in-
different to Reform, but quick enough to join in any

disturbance, and at the same time they were so con-
scious of the sham they were acting that they
brought with them printed handbills announcing an
adjournment to Trafalgar-square. The mob re-
mained, and, as we know, levelled the rails and got
into the park ; but had Mr. Beales and his party re-
mained also, they would not have been more directly
the authors of the tumult. Under these circum-
stances the only thing which would have justified
the interview between Mr. Beales and the Home
Secretary was a desire on the part of the Council of
the League to express their regret for the course
they had taken ; but, wonderful to relate, they ac-
tually sought, through their spokesman, to have the
park given up to them. More wonderful still, they
left Mr. Walpole with the impression that he had
yielded to their request. Mr. Beales told the Home
Secretary that the public feeling was very excited
with respect to the unnecessary violence attributed
to the police, and that he had received communica-
tions from persons of the highest respectability
which proved to his satisfaction that the public must
be appeased. The way to conciliate the angry mon-
ster thus freely sketched was plain--Mr. Walpole
should resign, as far as the park was concerned, in
Mr. Beales' favour. We venture to say that the as-
sertions upon which this conclusion was founded
were as wild and irrational as the conclusion itself.
There was not even on Monday any serious excite-
ment of public feeling. A large mob, indeed,
gathered, but, happily, it was as a whole as free from
malice and as a mob could be. On Tuesday
the gathering in the park had degenerated into knots
of the lowest and most disorderly "roughs"—the
yeasty scum of the previous day's turmoil. Yesterday
the frequenters of the park were scarcely distinguish-
able from the ordinary character, and although the
marks of ravage must for some time remain, there
was no reason to apprehend further disturbance.
Even before Mr. Beales appeared and advised
the few who got around him and his friends
to withdraw, there was a very inconsiderable crowd
assembled. Things were, in fact, rapidly returning
to their accustomed order, and, unless the unfortu-
nate placard of the League revive the clamour, there
is no reason to apprehend any further disturbance.
The supposition that Mr. Walpole had actually ac-
ceded to the request of the Reform League, and had
handed over Hyde-park to the guardianship of Mr.
Beales, is so absurd that nothing short of over-
whelming evidence could induce us to believe that
it was done. If Mr. Walpole had granted what
was asked, Mr. Beales would have been, in fact,
Home Secretary in bis place. He would have been
more, for he would have been an autocrat exercising
his own irresponsible discretion. As far as his juris-
diction extended he would have been supreme. Sir
Richard Mayne would have taken his orders from
him, and the Commander-in-Chief would have had
to acknowledge a new allegiance. It is almost in-
conceivable that even Mr. Beales should have sup-
posed that he had been endowed with such authority,
much less is it conceivable that Mr. Walpole should
have attempted to give it. A full report of the in-
terview shows clearly that Mr. Walpole must be
acquitted of such an imputation. All that he said
was said on the express stipulation that no attempt
should be made to insist upon the supposed right to
hold a meeting in the park until a court of law had
decided the legal question, and he pledged the Go-
vernment to assist the League in obtaining a speedy
decision. Subject to this, he promised to withdraw
the police and military if order were restored, which
would, of course, have been done in any case. Itis a
sorry commentary on the intelligence of Mr. Beales
and his friends that they should have twisted those
words into a permission to hold a meeting next Mon-
day subject to no supervision but that of Mr. Beales
himself, and subject to no guarantee of order but his
undertaking. The mistake is inexcusable, if it be not,
as we are willing to believe it is not, wilful. The ex-
tensive currency given to it last night by the placards
of the League and by Mr. Beales' address in the
park cannot fail to rouse a strong feeling of disap-
pointment when the truth is exposed, but, if any
anger be excited in consequence, it ought to be
directed upon the Council itself. Of one thing we
may be certain—that the notion of a meeting in
Hyde Park under Mr. Beales' guardianship must be
dismissed as an idle dream. Had any words of Mr.
Walpole given countenance to it, the supposition
must have been at once repudiated, but when an
announcement such as that the League put forth
last night is made without any warrant, it can only
recoil upon the League itself.
HERALD.—It is idle to deny that cholera has burst
upon the eastern districts of London with sudden
and extraordinary fury. The pestilence may de-
part as hurriedly as it has arrived, but its effects at
.present are unmistakeably severe. The Registrar-
General, in alluding to this remarkable visitation,
speaks of it as a " fatal explosion," so sudden and
destructive has been the character of its attack.
During the first week in July the deaths from cholera
in London were only 14 ; in the second week they
became 32 ; while in the third week—ending on
Saturday last, the mortality from this cause was no
less than 346, being an increase of more than ten-
fold. At the same time the mortality from all causes
exceeds the average by 428, so that something more
than cholera is at work to carry off the population.
It is useless to attempt any concealment of these
facts, and it may serve a valuable purpose to mak e
mention of them. The more the public are en-
lightened as to the real action of cholera less likely
are they to be afraid of it, and it is only by a fair
discussion of the facts that we can hope to bring
about those sanitary improvements the want of
which is obviously connected with this sacrifice of
life. Whatever may be mysterious in the appearance
and spread of cholera, it has an evident preference
for certain localities and circumstances. The excep-
tion may occur, but it is an exception still, for the
disease to spread havoc among a cleanly and well-
ordered population. Still less is it likely to com-
mence in a district where the sanitary arrangements
are reasonably good, although it may ultimately
visit such a locality after breaking out in some filthy
nest at no great distance. Cholera is a disease which
has all manner of exceptions, and yet observes cer-
tain general rules which are by no means equivocal.
Long ago we stated in these columns that the medi-
cal men in the metropolis could in many cases point
out the very houses to which cholera would come in
the event of a recurrence of the epidemic. Cholera
has now returned to us, and what do we find ? The
statistics of the past week show but 1 death in the
central districts of London, 6 in the north, 11 in
the west, and 20 in the south ; while in the east the
fatal cases are no less than 308. The fact that the
eastern and central districts join each other renders
the difference between 1 and 308 the more remark-
able. On looking into the reports of the sub-dis-
tricts we find Bow with 39 cholera deaths, Poplar
with 52, Limehouse 43, Bethnal-green proper 30,
and the eastern part of Mile-end Old Town 33. As
the Registrar-General states, the cholera mortality
has occurred " chiefly in the comparatively poor dis-
tricts of the east of London." In that part of Lon-
don the deaths averaged more than 40 per day during
the past week. Cr, in other words, nearly 90 per
cent, of the cholera deaths in the metropolis have
taken place in the eastern districts. And of the
remaining 10 per cent. the greater part evidently
belong to the poorer classes, and the neigh-
bourhoods where they are found. Atmospheric
causes may have had their influence in bring-
ing about this attack. We have had unusual
drought. No rain fell in London last week, and,
strange to say, none fell in any of the twelve large
towns included with London in the Registrar-
General's report. At the end of June and early
in the present month the weather was fiercely
hot. Of late the temperature has fluctuated con-
siderably, but even last week it was upon the whole
somewhat above the average. Dry weather in
summer is not generally found favourable to the
public health. We have also had a prevalence of
easterly winds. A change of wind, and a few wet
days, might rid us of the cholera, though wet weather
following heat is usually rather fatal at first. But
these " skiey influences" are what we must always
expect, and, like sensible people, we ought to pre-
pare to meet them. Unfortunately, it is very diffi-
cult to excite sufficient attention in regard to this
subject until disease has actually broken out amongst
us. The proper time for preparation is allowed to
pass by, and there is a general indifference until
apathy is replaced by something which approaches
to panic. In the memorandum of precautions
against cholera just issued by the medical officer of
the Privy Council allusion is made to the fact that
a year ago the attention of nuisance authorities and
the public generally was called to the renewed pre-
sence of Asiatic cholera in Europe, and suggestions
were offered as to the precautionary proceedings
which were called for under the circumstances.
"It was their lordships' hope," Mr. Simon states,
" that, after this warning, the interval which might
elapse before a reappearance of cholera in England
would be vigorously used by the nuisance authori-
ties of the country in preparing their respective dis-
tricts for the contingency which has now come."
Not in London alone, but also in several scattered
localities of the kingdom, cholera is now present
with us. But what can we say for the " nuisance
authorities ?" In some cases they have probably
done well, in many cases they have done something,
but we fear that the work actually accomplished is,
as a rule, very far short of what is requisite if ever we
are to be in a condition to defy the cholera contagion.
The Disease Prevention Act is now in force, and
two Orders in Council have been issued under the
authority of the statute. Certain measures of
medical relief are now confided to specified autho-
rities, these latter being the vestries or district
boards of the metropolis, and, generally speaking,
the boards of guardians throughout th c country.
In addition to these arrangements ti ere are the
Nuisances Removal Acts, the administration of
which is confided to various authorities, according

to local circumstances. There are in reality two
classes of measures before us, one preventative and
the other curative. The medical regulations are
mainly of the latter character, while the laws for the
removal of nuisances are obviously
de-
fective preventative..
The active carrying out of one or both of these set:
of measures is imperative upon our local authorities
throughout the kingdom. This is by no means
best time for emptying cesspools and opening.
drains; but nuisances which cannot positivellt
be removed during the present season can at lea:,
be temporarily neutralised by the
proper disinfectants, and by a careful system 1,
medical visitation. So far as London is concernea.
we have some terrible evils to contend with. 111;,
ing over the table of deaths, we see that a consider-
able able proportion is set down to 'Asiatic cholera.
metropolis—or, at least, its eastern extremity
therefore, in that condition to which Mr. Sim°ll,l:„.
fers in his memorandum,wherein the slightest poi'.
application
oi,
th
tion of the water or the atmosphere is fraught v 7,1,
the utmost danger to the public health. How ac'en'i
London stand in this respect at the present time
First, as to air. Was ever London so overcrowd
as it is now ? The danger of cholera breaking °be
in the midst of the densely-packed population W
found in the poorer parts of the metropolis v 173.
dwelt upon in these columns some months , agn,
London is now supposed to be enjoying the Ova°,
tages of a system of drainage so perfect in its at„
ception and execution that the world has never se",
its equal. It is true we have miles of main sewersl
big enough for railway tunnels ; we have COlos°,3
steam-engines to help the sewage on its wai! Ls
distant outfalls to get rid of it into the Tuai,g
on its journey seaward. But to what extent:
Bethnal-green or Poplar the better for all this
How many wretched courts and alleys—how In3s'-
a
streets even—are as yet undrained, so far as °is
proper system of sewerage is concerned ?
wn
not all the drainage of London that goes u°
on
to Barking Reach or Crossness Point. Mr. Sim
demands the " immediate and thorough remoooo
every sort of house refuse and other filth." 9the
any one imagine that this is done througholitiera
east of London ? If foul odours can propagate e13,1°'„,,
—if this disease has " a certain peculiar contagic):o
ness of its own, which, where sanitary circurnstannot
are bad, can operate with terrible force," we are :At
surprised that 32 fatal cases of cholera in one
should become 346 in the next ; and unless ata'r;
pheric influences should favour us, we fear tot L%
what may be the nature of the next return.
cholera once get a footing among half a minion $
people, crammed into dwellings pervaded
.„,14, es
tainted atmosphere, where the air at the best of wif
is more :or less animalised, and can we wonclebrio
such a disease should spread like fire among stub of
of
If Mr. Simon's theory as to the propagatl7,ent
cholera by discharges from the body of the Pa"ot
be at all correct, a very grave responsibility toe
rests upon those persons whose duty it is to
The
measures for preventing the spread of the pesw-ple
which has unfortunately come among 118•,,ed.
purity of the water supply remains to be disc don?
What is the water supply of the poor in Lontleir
Our intermittent service requires them to keep.ther
store in tubs and pans, which are frequently elf so
filthy in themselves or affected by the foul air e.... 40
over-crowded dwelling. It is very satisfactory i 4
far as it goes—to consult the figures containe
Professor Frankland's analysis of the water suPPO
by the London companies. But the water l'fAcv
flows through the companies' mains differs icluo
from that which is drunk by costermongers, wealroin
seamstresses, and dock labourers. We must g°, the
the main to the tub if we would know NY"'
011
people drink. The weekly analytical return noel
shows the maximum purity. For the maximal° to
we must look elsewhere. We should also hg
know what Mr. Simon has to say to the Ivilput,sol
of the Upper Thames, and what are the presPe"ther
London, if Kingston or Richmond, or certaino.°6l/,
river-side places, should suffer from cholera ? v ebope
there is work for our authorities to do and we
they will do it, for not an hour is to be lost.