i8 4 7.] 



SANITARY WORK. 



103 



bishopric. To a Liberal, who objected to a resolution to 

 this effect passed by the Association, he replied, " As we are 

 not indebted to one party more than to another, we intend to 

 continue, as we have begun, perfectly independent ; and shall 

 express our opinions fearlessly, although (we trust) with perfect 

 good-will towards those who differ from us." Meanwhile they 

 wished to use the powers conferred by the existing law, and gave 

 valuable information to the municipal Nuisance Committee.* 

 Many of his colleagues ceased to have the time, and some the 

 will, to continue these labours, and for a long while they 

 seemed of little avail. They bore fruit eventually, however, 

 and some who are most earnest for the public health were first 

 roused to action in that terrible time. A gentleman, who is 

 a member of the municipal Sanitary Committee, then used to 

 go about with a whitewash bucket, to do himself what he could 

 not else get done. It was towards the close of this year (1847), 

 that the Warrington Waterworks came into operation. 



In the letter from which we have quoted, Philip speaks of 

 learning to swim. There was a young man who had been a 

 very regular attendant at the school for those out of work, in 

 whom he took a great interest, and whom he found to be an 

 accomplished swimmer. He got him to give him lessons, and 

 describes the result in a letter (October 7, 1847) t0 his friend, 

 Mr. W. H. Herford, who had been anxious respecting him : 

 " I never was better in my life. I walk upright,f am fuller in 

 the face, and my chest is grown much larger ; stronger alto- 

 gether, and in a healthy state of mind. This is to be attributed 

 to my going to bed at ten and getting up at five, and spending 

 all the before-breakfast time in air, water, and exercise. The 

 event which has worked this radical change in my habits is 

 learning to swim — an accomplishment I never expected to 



* One of Philip's letters, June 7, describing various abominations, 

 ends thus : "I shall be happy to accompany any gentleman to any of 

 the above places at any time that maybe convenient." Describing some ' 

 "horribly stinking pigsties," he adds, "I suppose the owners think they 

 have a right to poison themselves ; but I doubt it." 



f He says that when he came to Warrington he was described as " the 

 parson who always walked with his head first ! " 



