The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-05 00:00:00

course, precisely the very sentiments that
might have been predicated in the matter in that
most dignified assemblage of gentlemen in the
world. There was but one feeling, there was but
one opinion upon the subject of the motion, though
the House was addressed in succession by the hon.
and learned member for Sheffield—by the noble
viscount, the leader of the administration—by the
right hon. gentleman, the chief of the confronting
opposition—by the present Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, and, among others, afterwards, by Sir
GEORGE GREY and Sir GEORGE LEWIS, Mr.
BRIGHT and Mr. WHITESIDE, Lord STANLEY and
Mr. NEWDEGATE. The universal acclaim was—of
course—that no scrutiny, threatened by a petition
ought to be allowed to be evaded by a collusive
withdrawal of that petition, upon the understand-
ing of a nearly simultaneous acceptance of the
office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. It was
scarcely surprising that Mr. DISRAELI should have
availed himself of that most tempting opportunity,
presented to him yesterday—as he did, though
after a momentary disclaimer of any such inten-
tion. We allude to the remarks made by the
right honourable gentleman at the outset of
his observations, when be said, in the midst of
general cheering " But, sir, I think these
are questions which demand our very serious atten-
tion." Adding—" I shall address myself to it in a
temper which, I think, becomes the seriousness of
the question, and totally free from party feeling, so
far as a Cabinet Minister is in the question. I
shall not remind the noble lord of the observations
he made to me when I sat on that side of
the house, as to my levity of tone with re-
gard to accusations against the Government, and
that before a very long time had elapsed, I
should find cause to change that tone. What-
ever has happened with regard to the general
elections, the results are not of such a cha-
racter as to cause any humiliation to the gentle-
men who sit on this side of the House. (Great
cheers from the Opposition.)" Cheers that we can
hardly, in reason, wonder at any more than we can
wonder at the remark that elicited them—remem-
bering the extraordinary anti-climax of these
Election Committees of late, coming upon the
morrow of those imputations of bribery and cor-
ruption, directed with such a prudish and scan-
dalised air by the then Opposition against the
DERBY Government.

A very intelligent Correspondent, who stu Cies
nature with a chemical instinct, has been ponder-
ing over the state of the Thames among his other
inquiries into our social system, and has sent us
the following suggestion as to the matter at
issue between the Parliament—the Board of
Works and the public at large. He asks—
" Is it not possible that the peculiar putrid condi-
tion of the Thames, during the past two years, may
have been caused chiefly by the removal of the im-
mense carbon, which, previous to the Smoke Pre-
vention Act, was continually poured forth from the
steamers and manufactories, in form of soot, and
which, conveyed to the sewers by the rain, and
thence to the river, by its powerful antiseptic and
deodorising properties preserved the contents of
the water from decomposition until the tidal pro-
eess carried it from us ?" Here is matter for grave
reflection. If we repeal the Smoke Prevention
Act we shall be placed on the horns of a dilemma.
Shall we be smoked blind, or be poisoned with our
eyes open ? A very pleasant alternative truly !

Our own opinion is that no effectual remedy will
ever be attained until the main drainage sewers be
carried right down to and into the sea. Half mea-
sures never have answered ; and in the present and
daily accumulating bad condition of the Thames it is
idle to hope for any pure relief until the river be
allowed to run clear from its source. Sir S. M.
PETO has endeavoured to force the consideration of
the subject on Parliament, in order to ascertain its
cause and provide a remedy. We know that the
knowledge of a disease is half its cure ; but in the
present case, Lord PALMERSTON very pertinently
observed, that there was no use in granting a com-
mittee to investigate a cause which was already
but too well known. The state of the river was
occasioned by its being made a common sewer ; and
until that was remedied by the Board of Works it
must so continue. Now, this is the plain fact.
And a sad consolation it is, if any; for when will
the Board of Works begin ? As yet all that we
hear is—words, not works. If ever a community
was cursed by delegating power to a represen-
tative body the long-enduring people of London
is that suffering party. If the Board of Works
would work more and speak less there might be
some hope ; but while their precious time is wasted
by technical jargon and motions ending in nothing,
what beneficial result can follow? To talk of

competitive examinations as a means of promoting
efficiency in the public service! Why, here we have
a whole board of competitors each jealous of the
other; for their chief rivalry seems to consist in
making amendments ou every motion, till at last
there is neither motion nor amendment left ! The
fact—the mournful fact is—that if the public ad-
vantage were more considered and personal vain-
glory cherished less the health of the people would
benefit more. In that Board there appears to be
some half-a-dozen, or it may be even more, whose
sole object seems to be to hear themselves speak,
and speak so often and so offensively that one could
heartily pitch them and their intolerable jabber
into the Thames together.