drainage, and who, consequently, had it all
to learn, was appointed as the engineer of this
Commission. After a twelvemonth's labour
at this new study, having every help from
the able assistant-engineers and surveyors
of the Commission, and all manner of
suggestions, hints, and warnings from the plans
of the competitors of 1849, the chief engineer
compiles his plans, lays them before the Board,
and they are forthwith ordered to be printed
and published. Pens, ink, printing, and paper,
again—but still, be it understood, not, at
present, the remotest order as to the use of
a pickaxe. The plan has not even gone the
full length of preliminary paper-work;—
some of the most important of the estimates
have not yet been made, or commenced: to
say nothing of surveys, compensation, and law
unfathomable.

But, meantime, here are the plans—the
plans so long required of the Metropolitan
Commissioners for the drainage of London
and its environs. Need I—I, the dirty town
of Fulham—describe the hope and anxiety
with which I have examined all the maps
and the descriptive report of the chief
engineer!

The system, now finally, or assumed to be
finally, laid down, is a system of intercepting
sewers; that is to say, three new main lines
are projected, which will be united with old
sewers at present existing. One of these
new lines, which we will call the high level
line, begins at Kentish Town, crosses Holloway
to Stoke Newington, stops abruptly at
Hackney, and then falls directly south into
the middle level line. This new main line,
or middle level, begins at the head of the
Serpentine in Hyde Park, and extends as far
as Barking Creek. The new line of the low
level, sewer where pumping will be required,
(as it will be, at the pumping station, forty-
seven feet below the other main sewers), is
to begin at Chelsea, and take, nearly, the
course of the river as far as Limehouse, when
it will follow the line of the Limehouse Cut,
passing under the river Lea: on the eastern
bank of which the sewage is to be pumped
into the new main sewer on the middle level
line. By these means the disposal of the
whole of the lower level sewage is provided
for, without any outfalls into the Thames,
until it arrives at Barking Creek. The south
side of the Thames is treated upon a somewhat
similar system.

Now, this is, probably, a great improvement
on the old system and on the present existing
sewers—so far as the provisions of the plan
extend. Several improvements in details of
construction are also projected. Many of the
old sewers will be destroyed, which, even for
the safety of the houses above them, no less
than for utility as sewers, ought to have been
destroyed long ago; and many will, no doubt,
be repaired.

The outfalls of sewers into the Thames are
to be done away with, except as far down as
Barking Creek, and this is obviously a great
improvement. So far, so good.

But, now comes a provision for occasional
exceptions. Such of the old sewers as are at
present existing and intended to be retained,
will receive the house drainage as at present,
but will convey it into the new main lines now
projected. In times of rain-storms, however, if
these new main lines prove inadequate (which
the chief engineer of the Commissioners
evidently anticipates), the old sewers which will
be connected with the new main lines, will then
discharge the surplus water, house-drainage
and all, into the old outlets, and have their old
outfalls into the Thames! The effect of this
will be that of a combined gigantic flushing,
This feature of the plan should by no means
be condemned; for, if taken proper advantage
of, it is one of the great secrets of good
drainage. It was proposed, in evidence,
before the Sanitary Commission; and then
(of course) met with much execration and
ridicule, but has been invariably adopted
since, as a sound principle, by the very men
who opposed it. No injurious results attend it.

So much for what is proposed to be done.
And now a few words on what is omitted. I
should premise that the jurisdiction of the
Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers
extends to the distance of twelve miles all
round London; although the Commission issued
does not take advantage of so extensive a
radius.

Judge of my feelings, all ye clean towns of
England—if any exist—and, at least, all ye
towns whose cleanliness is thought worthy of
being provided for by the Commissioners—
judge of my dismay, at discovering that no
provision whatever is made for me, in the
shape of sewers and drains! But, am I the
only dirty town thus omitted? By no means.
The same total neglect is displayed towards
the populous towns and districts of
Kensington, Hammersmith, Turnham Green,
Walham Green, Brook Green, Shepherd's
Bush, Parson's Green, Chiswick, &c.; and,
on the other side of the river, Clapham,
all Battersea, Wandsworth, Putney (where
the cesspools are in many cases close to the
wells, and percolate into them), Barnes, &c.
The sewers of most of these towns and
districts have their outfalls, as usual, into the
Thames; and the sewage, floating down with
the tide, and passing all the favoured places
for which the plans propose an improved
condition with a distant outfall, the advantages
of their own improvement are proportionately
set at nought, both as regards themselves and
the other towns in the line down the river.

Envy becomes no one. It would worst of
all become a dirty town like me, to speak
enviously of one who is about to appear in
new and highly improved circumstances.
Yet I must be permitted to say that, although
I rejoice in my cousin Richmond's good
fortune, flood my drains! if it is not a piece of
undue favouritism. A special, elaborate, and