Messrs. Seutin and Gaudy are now ready, if required, to proceed to England for the purpose of treating the cattle plague, and are certainly very confident of success. They describe their objects to be more scientific and benevolent than pecuniary. This is probably true of Mr. Seutin. They require, however, to be secured against loss, and to receive certain guarantees. I have advised them to go and practise their art freely in England, and to derive their remuneration from the parties immediately benefited. Mr. Seutin was ready to adopt this course, and even to act on the principle, "No cure, no pay." But Mr. Gaudy declines to encounter any risk, and his co-operation is deemed indispensable. conditions which they demand may be reduced now to the following two: 1. To receive a sum of 200l., which is to cover all claims for travelling to London and back, for living in England, for medicines, and for their own remuneration. 2. Their travelling expenses from place to place in England, the wages of two skilled interpreters; the necessary assistance and appliances for the proper treatment of cattle are also to be secured to them. In return, they undertake to place themselves at the disposal of any authority which engages them for three weeks, to treat the greatest possible number of sick cattle during that time without making any charge, and to impart their system freely to all.

These proposals may be worth the attention of Her Majesty's Royal Commission or of other bodies, such as cattle insurance companies, &c., interested in the matter. It will be alleged that homœopathy has signally failed in dealing with this malady. This may be true of the experiments hitherto tried, but argues only the inefficacy of a particular treatment, not that of a whole system of medicine. There is no proof that the system applied in Norfolk was similar to that of Mr. Seutin. The homœopathic is still more multifarious than the allopathic pharmacopoeia. The true specific drug for combating every morbid system is only to be elicited by a series of practical experiments. This Mr. Seutin believes that he has at last successfully accomplished for the numerous symptoms constituting the cattle typhus. His practice is not rigidly homœopathic, excepting in its main principle,

that of applying drugs which produce in a healthy body the same symptoms which are desired to be cured-" similia similibus." One great advantage of this system is that it leaves. the constitution totally uninjured, which cannot be said of the drastic remedies, such as creosote, &c., of the allopathic school. An animal once cured, of course acquires additional value, as being thenceforth proof against the plague.

Viscount Sidmouth, who is now resident here, in the The Times of the 15th instant calls attention to, and strongly advocates, this proposed experiment, saying, "It is for the agriculturists themselves, therefore, to decide whether they will undergo whatever risk there may be in calling in, during the present terrible emergency, those whom I am entitled to call the only practitioners hitherto successful. They will be ready to leave Brussels within a week from the day the summons reaches them, and will be prepared to commence work almost immediately after their arrival. I wish to add that, after careful examination of Messrs. Seutin and Gaudy's terms, and consideration. of many circumstances upon which I cannot here enter, I have satisfied myself that what they ask is fair and reasonable. It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to say that I do not recommend the services of these gentlemen to my countrymen as the supporter of any particular system, but solely on account of the good which I firmly believe they are capable of effecting, nor that before doing so I have become convinced of their high respectability."

It must be acknowledged that this new process has undergone an actual practical test. It is true that the disease has assumed a mitigated form in Holland as compared with England. The proportionate number of recoveries is certainly much greater. The experiments hitherto made were on a comparatively small scale. Their results are certainly such as to encourage a further trial, without perhaps warranting an unqualified certainty of success. under all possible circumstances. Lord Sidmouth offers while here to be the medium of any bona fide communication with Messrs. Seutin and Gaudy. For my own part I readily made the same offer.

P.S. January 23, 1866.-I have just been informed that a bill is about to be brought in,

giving the Government full powers, firstly to prescribe any measures which the danger or the actual presence of contagious cattle diseases may render necessary, whether in the interior or on the frontier of the country. Secondly, to determine the conditions and rates of compensation to be paid for animals slaughtered by authority. Thirdly, to proceed at law against offenders of the rules thus prescribed. Infractions of these regulations to be visited with imprisonment from three months to two years, and with a fine of from 100 to 1,000 francs. Fourthly, in case of extenuating circumstances, the penalties of fines and imprisonment may be reduced to those termed "of police." It is highly probable that a military cordon will be posted on the frontier facing the Netherlands, to prevent the smuggling of cattle.

METROPOLITAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the Local Government and Local Taxation of the Metropolis.

THE Committee was appointed the 27th February, 1866, and nominated on the 7th March, of Mr. Ayrton, Mr. Tite, Mr. Bayley, Mr. Locke, Mr. Alderman Lawrence, Mr. Baring, Mr. Mill, Mr. Hanbury, Lord John Manners, Mr. Beecroft, Mr. Turner, Sir William Gallwey, Sir Matthew White Ridley, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Kekewich. The committee examined Sir John Thwaites, chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Mr. Thomas Henry Fry, chairman of the Holborn Valley Improvement Committee, Mr. William Corrie, Mr. Peter Rolt, Mr. William McMurray, Mr. Benjamin Scott, Mr. Alexander Fraser, Mr. Henry Pownall and Mr. Horace Watson, Mr. Ayrton in the chair, and on the 16th April, reported as follows:

"The Metropolitan Board of Works was organized for the commencement of business in December, 1855, under the provisions of the 18th and 19th Vic., c. 120, called the Metropolis Local Management Act.' By that Act the City of London, 82 parishes, and eight extra parochial places, containing 78,029 acres, are constituted the metropolis, subject to the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board. By

the census of 1861 this metropolis contained 360,287 houses, inhabited by a population of 2,803,034, which is estimated by the registrargeneral to have increased at the present time to 3,054,940 persons. For the purposes of local government under the Act, the metropolis is divided into the City of London and 38 other districts, 23 of which are single parishes, and the remaining 15 are composed of two or more smaller parishes grouped together, as shown in the Appendix, No. 6, to this Report. The affairs of each parish and district are respectively managed by vestries and district boards. By the Act of 1855, the Metropolitan Board was empowered to construct the main drainage and principal sewers, to control all other sewage works constructed by the vestries and local boards, to improve the streets and thoroughfares, to preserve the line of streets in the erection of buildings, to regulate the naming of streets and the numbering of houses. It was, however, provided that any scheme of main drainage, as well as any plan of improvement, of which the cost should exceed 50,000l., was to be sanctioned by her Majesty's chief commissioner of works; but by an Act passed in 1858 this provision was repealed. The board was also empowered by the 19 and 20 Vict. c. 19, to make applications to Parliament for the purpose of providing parks, pleasure grounds, places of recreation, and open spaces for the improvement of the metropolis and the public benefit of the inhabitants thereof. By the Metropolis Building Act of 1855, the Metropolitan Board was invested with extended and varied powers to regulate the erection of all buildings within the metropolis.

"The powers and duties of the board have been considerably extended by subsequent legislation, more especially for the purpose of watching over the supply of purer gas and the due measurement of gas; the storage of petroleum; the protection of unowned open spaces; the regulation of the use of locomotive engines on roads; the collection of the rate to defray the charges for relieving the casual poor; the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade; and the superintending of measures for the suppression of the cattle plague. The board has also been authorized to appear and protect the public interest when

The vestries and district boards are invested with the following powers: the management of the local sewage and drainage, and of the paving, lighting, watering, cleansing, and improvements, and all other duties, powers, and authorities in anywise relating to the government or concerns of the district, or of the inhabitants thereof, except such duties, powers, and authorities as relate to the affairs of the Church, or the management or relief of poor, or the administration of any money or other property applicable to such relief. The rights of parishes, and other powers acquired under certain Acts of Parliament are reserved to each parish.

"They are also specially empowered to regulate vaults and cellars under the streets; to restrain the occupation of underground dwellings; to remove projections and obstructions from houses in the streets; to control the erection of hoards; to regulate the scavengering of houses; to object to licences for slaughter-houses being granted by justices; to appoint medical officers of health and inspectors of nuisances, and to exercise the duties and powers under the Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Act.

"In 1858, the Metropolitan Board, on being relieved by Parliament from the control of her Majesty's chief commissioner of works, determined upon a plan of main drainage, comprising a high level, middle level, and low level intercepting main drain for the north side of the Thames, meeting at Abbey Mills on the River Lea, and proceeding from thence to the outfall into the Thames at Barking Creek, and a high level and low level intercepting main drain for the south side of the Thames, meeting at Deptford, and proceeding from thence to the outfall into the Thames at Crossness Point. These works have been since completed, with the exception of the low level drain on the north side of the Thames.

"The main drainage was, in 1858, estimated to cost somewhat less than three millions sterling, but in consequence of additions to the works and of the rise in the price of materials and labour, their estimated cost was subsequently raised to 4,200,000l. The board has actually expended 3,583,7611. 9s. 3d. on

pleted within the second estimate of 4,200,0007.

"The board was by the Act of 1858 authorized by Parliament to raise a loan of 8,000,000l. to be guaranteed by the Consolidated Fund, and to levy a rate of 3d. in the pound, for a period of 40 years, to provide for its repayment, but in consequence of the increased cost of the works, the board was subsequently authorized to raise an additional sum of 1,200,000l., also to be charged on the rate of 3d. No increase of the rate was deemed necessary, as it appeared that the proceeds of the rate had increased so largely that not only the 3,000,000l., but the additional loan of 1,200,000l. would be paid off in less than 38 years. The board has, up to the present time, borrowed under these powers the sum of 3,600,000l. at 33 per cent. interest, and they have already paid off by means of the rate the sum of 800,000l., leaving 2,800,000l. outstanding. As the works of the low level sewer proceed, they will have to borrow the further sum of 600,000l. to meet the cost of them. But the produce of the rates having continued to increase in a greater ratio since 1862 than before, now reaches the sum of 181,850l., it is obvious that the entire loan will be paid off, and the ratepayers will be relieved of this tax of 3d. in the pound at a much earlier period than the 40 years for which it was originally imposed.

"The board having applied itself to the utilization of the sewage, instead of pouring it into the Thames, entered into a contract in the past year with a joint-stock company to take the sewage at Barking Creek, and convey it by a culvert through Essex to the Foulness and Dengie Sands, for the purpose of irrigating the adjacent lands, and applying the surplus to the reclamation of the sea-shore. The company, after providing a preference dividend of five per cent. on its capital of 2,000,000l., is to pay a moiety of its profits to the Metropolitan Board. This undertaking has been sanctioned by Parliament, and steps are being taken to carry it into execution; but your committee do not deem it expedient to reckon upon the anticipated profits of this undertaking as a source of revenue until the results have been ascertained by experience.

"With regard to metropolitan improve

ments, the board, in accordance with the policy of the Act of 1855, were authorized by an Act passed in 1852 to construct an embankment on the north side of the Thames from Westminster Bridge to the eastern boundary of the Inner Temple, and a viaduct thence to Blackfriars Bridge, with approaches thereto; the estimated cost of this undertaking submitted to Parliament, and on the faith of which it was sanctioned, amounted to one million sterling. But it is due to the Metropolitan Board to state that the undertaking was not designed by them, nor was the bill introduced with their previous concurrence, or prosecuted through Parliament by them; they are, therefore, neither responsible for the estimate submitted to Parliament, nor for the introduction of any special provisions into the bill as passed. Your committee therefore abstain for the present from any report on these provisions, as they involve important questions which it is not necessary to determine immédiately.

"The Metropolitan Board have proceeded to carry the Act into execution, and have already expended the sum of 632,6041. 17s. 10d.; but they have now come to the conclusion that it will be inexpedient to carry out the approaches in the manner provided by the Act, and that it will be necessary to make other approaches instead, at an additional cost of 270,000l., and they find that with this addition the cost will so greatly exceed the original estimate, that, after taking credit for an unexpected sum of 200,000l. to be paid to them for the use of the embankment by a metropolitan railway company, the actual cost of the whole undertaking will not be less than 1,973,5107. nearly double the estimate laid before Parliament.

"In 1863 an Act, promoted by the Metropolitan Board, was passed for the construction of a new street in connection with the embankment from Blackfriars to the Mansion House in the City of London, which was estimated to cost one million sterling. The board having proceeded to carry this Act into effect, have already expended the sum of 643,175l. 14s.11d., but it now appears from the revised estimates, that, after taking credit for the resale of the surplus property which it will be necessary to acquire, the cost will be about 1,299,260.

"Another Act, promoted by her Majesty's

Chief Commissioner of Works, was passed in 1864, for the construction by the Metropolitan Board of an embankment on the south side of the Thames from Westminster Bridge, with approaches, at an estimated cost of 480,0001. This work has also been commenced by the board, but it is now estimated that it will not be completed for less than than 909,000l., or nearly twice the estimated cost.

"For some years previous to the establishment of the Metropolitan Board of Works, the Corporation of London had been authorized to levy duties to the extent of 1s. 1d. on coals, culm, and cinders brought to any place within the Port of London, or within the cities of London or Westminster, or the borough of Southwark, or to any place within the distance of twenty miles from the General Post Office in the City of London, by any railway constructed or thereafter to be constructed, or by inland navigation, or any other means of conveyance, and also a duty of 4s. a tun upon all sorts of wine which should be imported into the port of London by way of merchandise. The wine duties, and 9d. per ton of the coal duties, had been specifically appropriated by Parliament to the payment of the cost of the approaches to London Bridge and other improvements and public works sanctioned by Parliament for the benefit of the metropolis. The Corporation of London had been allowed to dispose of the remaining duty of 4d. a ton for such purposes as it deemed fit, up to the end of the year 1861, under the circumstances herein-after stated.

"But the objects for which the duty of 8d. a ton, and the wine duty had been levied, having been satisfied in 1861, an Act was then passed by which the coal and wine duties were continued until the 5th of July, 1872; but it was provided that the coal dues should only be levied on coal, culm, or cinders brought by vessels into the Port of London to the westward of Gravesend, within the limits of the metropolitan police district, and brought by railway or otherwise within the limits of that district, instead of a radius of twenty miles from the Post Office, subject to a drawback on all coals, culm, and cinders, conveyed out of the limits prescribed for the collection of the duty. The duty of 9d. a ton on coals and the wine duties were directed by the Act to be

paid, after satisfying all existing charges thereon, to an account to be opened in the name of the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, at the Bank of England, to be intituled The Thames Embankment and Metropolitan Improvement Fund.' Such fund was to be applied to the improvement of the metropolis in such manner as might thereafter be determined by Parliament.

"By the same Act the duty of 4d. was directed to be applied by the corporation of London in the first instance in payment of the interest and in discharge of the principal of the following sums raised by the corporation and charged by them upon that duty, viz., 300,000l., 200,000l., and 40,000l., for the purpose of improving Cannon Street and effecting other improvements in the City; and an account of the receipt and application of the duty was to be kept separate and distinct from the accounts of the corporation, and an abstract of the account was to be annually laid before Parliament; and after discharging the above sums and interest, the duty of 4d. was directed to be applied by the corporation towards or in aid of such a public improvement or improvements in or adjacent to the City of London, as Parliament should thereafter sanction.

"By an Act passed in 1863, the coal and wine duties were continued until the 5th of July, 1882, and the proceeds were appropriated in the manner provided in the previous Act.

"The coal duties of 9d. a ton and the wine duties have been charged by Parliament with the sum of 2,000,000l. for the embankment on the north side of the Thames, and the street in continuation to the Mansion House, and with the sum of 460,000l. for the embankment on the south side of the Thames, making together 2,460,000l., which the Metropolitan Board is empowered to borrow for these objects. The board has already borrowed the sum of 800,000l., and the remaining sum of 1,600,000l. remains to be raised for the purpose of proceeding with the works; but inasmuch as the present estimate for their completion exceeds the original estimate by the sum of 973,510l. for the northern embankment, 299,2601. for the street, and 429,000l. for the southern embankment, making together an excess of 1,701,770l., it will be necessary

for the board to borrow that amount in addition to the loans of 2,460,000l. already sanctioned, to complete these improvements.

"The 9d. coal dues and the wine dues have produced, under the Act of 1861, the following net amounts: Surplus of London Bridge Approaches Fund, 137,9921. 18s. 1d.; from 22nd July, to the end of 1861, 81,277l. 1s.; 1862, 162,2221. 13s. 4d.; 1863, 175,8681. 14s. 9d.; 1864, 182,755l. Os. 11d.; 1865, 195,6771. 3s. 11d.; total, 935,793l. 12s.

"The value of these dues, computed at 187,000l. a year on the 25th of September last, for the period already mentioned, interest being allowed at 3 per cent., was estimated at 2,300,000l., an amount with the proceeds already received more than sufficient to meet the balance of the loans charged thereon.

"The Metropolitan Board has also carried out other important street improvements under special Acts of Parliament as follows:

"An improved thoroughfare from Westminster to London Bridge, called 'Southwark Street,' at a cost of 596,7061. 19s. 1d.

"An approach from Cranbourn Street to Covent Garden, called Garrick Street,' at a cost of 125,446l. 10s. 9d., and an approach from Poplar to Victoria Park, at a cost of 43,430l. 17s. 5d.

"The expense of these improvements has been partly defrayed by loans amounting to 442,000l., raised by the board, and charged on the rate for general purposes, levied by it on the metropolis. The residue has been paid out of special funds placed at its disposal for the purposes, as well as by its rate for general purposes.

"The board has also undertaken two other street improvements, which have received the sanction of Parliament; one for the construction of a thoroughfare from Whitechapel to the Commercial Road, at an estimated cost of 175,000l., and the other for clearing away Middle Row, Holborn, at an estimated cost of 61,000l.

"The board has likewise taken steps to fulfil the duty imposed upon it of providing parks for the recreation of the inhabitants of the metropolis, by obtaining an Act for the creation of a park on the north side of Islington, to be called Finsbury Park,' for which the board has purchased the land at an expense

6