610 Metropolitan Improvements. [ Dec. 
of the Commissioners of the Sewers, who, to give them credit, do. every 
thing their great powers will allow them to do, to remedy the defect of 
the present sewerage of the metropolis—and would be inclined to do a 
great deal more, but that their powers, despotic as they are, are limited to 
the repair and the rebuilding of old sewers. They are not only debarred 
from constructing new ones, however necessary they may be, but even 
from contributing to the expence, should any private individual be in- 
clined to undertake a work of the kind. A remarkable instance of this. 
occurred in the large sewer, which has lately been built in Catharine 
Street, in the Strand. There was a sewer, running from Russel Street, 
and Covent Garden, to the middle of Brydges Street, with no commu- 
nication into the Strand, and, consequently, with no sufficient drainage- 
The proprietors of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, were willing to re- 
build this sewer, and to make it effectual for the whole neighbourhood, 
if the commissioners would enable them to do it, by constructing a 
sewer to communicate with the Strand. This, however, their powers 
would not permit them to do, as there never had been a sewer there 
. before. Their surveyors acknowledged the necessity, and the Commis- 
sioners regretted their inability. At length, that an object’ so desirable 
to the whole neighbourhood should not be abandoned, it was agreed, on 
the part of the Commissioners, that they should take up, and re-build, 
that part of the sewer which the proprietors of the theatre proposed to 
construct, and which their powers enabled them to do, only because 
there had been a sewer there before ; and that the proprietors should 
build the connecting new sewer to the Strand, without which everything 
would have been ineffectual; and thus this very desirable object was 
attained. ; 
But whatever obstacles the present part of London may offer to the 
accomplishment of this plan of Mr. Williams, there can be none in the 
numerous and increasing neighbourhoods which are growing up around 
it, and increasing its boundaries. When we see squares and streets, 
rising simultaneously in all our out-skirts, we regret that the Legislature 
has not compelled the adoption of some such plan; and, we most ear- 
nestly recommend to the agents of Lord Grosvenor, and of the Bishoprick 
of London, to see that some effectual method is adopted, to ensure the 
health, convenience, and comfort, of the future tenants of the magnificent 
places which are building in the neighbourhoods of Pimlico and Bays- 
water. 
To these rising and increasing neighbourhoods we would recommend 
Mr. Williams to direct his attention. There his plan is feasible, and its 
adoption so much to the advantage of the estate, that every landlord 
ought to give it his serious attention ; and we are assured ‘no tenant 
would begrudge the payment of a rate, which was to ensure him so 
much convenience. 
At all events, the public ought to be obliged to Mr. Williams, for the 
industry with which, in his volume, he has collected everything that has 
been said and done in the metropolis of late years, with regard to 
sewage, gas, water, and pavement, perfection in all of which is so 
essential to a great city. Though upon water, it is but a dry subject to 
have spent so much time upon ; and we heartily hope that some future 
period will, at least, see a partial adoption of his plans, and that the 
supply of pure water will enable him to mix the “dulce” with the “ utile” 
of a scheme, which might be rendered so beneficial to the inhabitants of 
London. Ss. S. 
