174 report — 1877. 



and his proposal was that the water should be got from deep wells within a dis- 

 tance of about twelve miles from London, and pumping that water to reservoirs 

 400 feet above the ordnance datum, these reservoirs to be connected or coupled with 

 large mains, and arterial pipes to be laid in every street, and hydrants fixed on the 

 pipes. These pipes for the supply of potable water should be laid to every house, 

 with a closed cistern attached, so that from three to ten gallons could be drawn off 

 at a time. But all water for washing-purposes was to be taken from the companies 

 as before. The object of this proposed change was to give to the metropolis good 

 water for drinking and culinary purposes, as well as to secure a sufficient quantity 

 for the extinction of fire. 



On the Tea-consumption of the United Kingdom. By B,. Bueeell. 



On the Debts and Liabilities of Sovereign and Quasi-Sovereign States due to 

 Foreign Creditors. By Hyde Clabke, F.S.S. 



The author showed how the number of these States had increased in this century, 

 and that for all were claimed the prerogatives of sovereign States of the highest 

 civilization. The U.S. of Columbia and the Argentine Confederation had imitated 

 the United States of America in endowing their provinces with a sovereign title. 

 In consequence of the war of secession, the States of the American Union had 

 ceased to be really sovereign, although retainingthe title and privileges. Thus 

 they could not be sued in the United States Supreme Court, nor in foreign courts, 

 while no diplomatic agents were accredited to them, and the United States Federal 

 Government declined to interfere with them. At the same time the English 

 Foreign Office had adopted a policy of non-interference with sovereign and semi- 

 sovereign States for claims of English merchants and creditors. The author traced 

 the progress of the issue of foreign loans in its legitimate relations, and in its 

 recent illegitimate expansion for fraudulent purposes. He showed that at present 

 although States can sue in English courts for claims against English citizens, they 

 are not allowed to be sued. He expressed a doubt whether, as a question of interna- 

 tional law, any State had the prerogative of suing. He held it to be only a matter of 

 comitv, but subject to submission to the procedure of the courts of England, France, 

 &c. Having pointed out the hardship to merchants and others of the present one- 

 sided jurisdiction, he proposed that it should be made a rule of the procedure of 

 courts' in Europe and America, that on a State presenting itself as plaintiff, it should 

 be acquired to accept services as a defendant. Service should be made, not on an 

 ambassador or minister, but on the commercial agents, the consul, or fiscal agent. 



On some Doctrines of Population. By Dr. Faee, F.B.S. 



The author said the unity of the human family was an accepted scientific truth. 

 Although there were infinite diversities in men, differences not only in rank, but 

 in character, never such equality between man and man as was passionately asserted 

 at the French revolution, and no single nationality in the same stage of civilization 

 as the rest, yet there was a unity of plan, of structure, faculty, passion, sense, and 

 intellect in individuals and in nations. The population of the world was estimated 

 by McCulloch in 1841 at 800,000,000 ; others raised the numbers to a thousand 

 millions ; but the more recent estimates of Behm and Wagner made the popula- 

 lation of the world 1,424 millions. The population of Europe and of America was 

 known by the censuses to be increasing, and it was probable that there was some, 

 though not a corresponding increase in Asia and Africa ; but the chief difference 

 was due to the recent estimate being based on a better knowledge of Africa and 

 Asia, acquired by geographical exploration. There had been censuses of the greater 

 part of European States, and it was announced at the St. Petersburg Conference 

 that the Russian Government proposed to take a census, by name, of its subjects in 

 1878. In a few years we might hope that the popidation of Turkey — the only un- 



