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15
by a nuisance, have endeavoured at various times to set the
power of the Vestry in action for the suppression of that
which might have been a serious personal annoyance, but
not, either in its character or degree, fairly to be considered
"injurious to health", and I have no doubt that some disappointment
may have been experienced that the offence or
nuisance was estimated by the officers of the Vestry in a
lower degree of importance than by those who have been
annoyed, and have so become complainants. To bring cases of
nuisance within the circle of the power of the Vestry to
suppress them by proceedings by law against the perpetrators,
it is a necessary condition that the manufacture or
process should be conducted in such a manner as to be
injurious to health, or likely to promote or aggravate disease.
If it be but personally offensive, and not poisonous in its
nature, nor capable of generating disease, or aggravating it
when it already exists, it is beyond the power of the Vestry
to put an end to it. I am aware that some eminent men
consider almost every odour to be an impurity, even on the
ground of the occupation of space in the atmosphere, and so
occupying the place of that which is more fit for respiration.
I must confess that I cannot go to the same extent in belief
that they do.
In Mile End Old Town at the present time may be found
many of the most important conditions for the maintenance
and enjoyment of health, to the fullest extent which could
be reasonably desired. We have a system of drainage very
little short of being complete; stone paving has been spread
on the footpaths from one end of the Hamlet to the other,
we have good water, an excellent natural position of moderate
elevation, a stratum of gravel of considerable depth