The Sun. — 1859-07-28 (London, England)

TEE SERPENTINE.  On Tuesday last a deputation waited upon the Right Hon. H. Fitzroy, at the office of Works, Whitehall, on the subject of the continued unwholesome and dangerous condition of the Serpentine in Hyde-park. The deputation consisted of Mr. James Heywood (late M.P. for Nth Lancashire), Dr. James Copland, Dr. Spurginr Dr. Tilt, Dr. Pettigrew, and Mr. John Lilwall (hon. sec. to the committee promoting the proposed improvements, Mr. HEYWOOD introduced the deputation, and called on Mr. Lilwall to explain its objects. The HoN. SECRETARY said the committee represented by the gentlemen present was appointed at a large public meeting of householders and others, held so far back as June 1848, presided over by Lord Harrowby, and which had been called in conquence of the filthy and dangerous state of the Serpentine. Resolutions were passed on that occasion authorising the committee to adopt such measures from time to time as were calculated to secure the carrying out of the necessary improvements. Two other public meetings had also been held on the subject. A very numerous and respectably signed petition of the inhabitants of Knightsbridge, Brompton, Sloane-street, Kensington, &c. had been presented to the House of Commons in favour of the measure, and the committee had, moreover, from time to time within the last 11 years, sent six deputations up to the Office of Works upon the subject, and, inasmuch as the several chief commissioners had one and all admitted the existence of the evils complained.of, the committee had good reason to believe that but for the constant change of Governments which had taken place the necessary improvements would have been effected some years since. One thing to be done was to shut out the filth that occasionally flowed into the lake from Bayswater sewer, the deep holes required to be filled up, and the bed of the river to be reduced to a graduated depth of from two, to at the utmost six feet; and lastly, it was necessary that there should be a sufficiently increased supply of water to bring the cascade at the eastern end into constant play. He suggested that the plan which had been adopted for improving the lake in St. James's-park was of a most simple kind, and as it had answered its purposes so admirably he thought the same method might be adopted forputting the Serpentine into order. Moreover, an abundant supply of water could be pumped up to the Serpentine from St. James's-park by forming more adits to bring water to the present shaft there. Mr. FITZROY believed that was an error. _  Mr. LILWALL wished to be considered as making the statement with great deference, but he spoke on the authority of a man eminent in his profession as an engineer, and who had given considerable attention to the subject. it was well known that the source of the supply was the Thames, and as the water had to filter through some half-mile of sand it was found to be in an excellent state when pumped  up. Dr. COPLAND observed that, in a medical point of view, the water was not only unfit for the purposes of bathing, but was also detrimental to those who frequented the shores of the lake. Dr. PETTIGREW thought that something ought to be done, if only for the sake of the many thousands of the poor who flocked to the Serpentine for the purposes of bathing. It was really the only national bath to which there was access free of charge. He believed the number of suicides in the Serpentine wculd be decreased were the depth of the water roduced.  Dr. TILT remarked upon the impurities of the lake, when Mr. Fitzroy produced a bottle containing a sample of the water taken from the Serpentine that looked tolerably clear. Mr. LILWALL said that nothing could be more delusive than the appearance of the Serpentine water. One day it looked sufficiently clear, and the next it would become discoloured and offensive. But even though it always appeared clear to the eye, it must be obvious that a sheet of water that was stagnant, in which persons suffering from loathsome diseases and running sores often bathed, was quite unfit for persons of cleanly habits to bathe in. But further than this, the sacrifice of life occasioned by the deep holes and large deposits of slimy mud was in itself a serious evil, and it should be borne in mind that the actual deaths which occur on the spot form but a small proportion of the number of persons whose constitutions get injured by being so long under water, and who never thoroughly recover from the shock which their system thus sustains. Mr.