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14
In reporting to you these nuisances, I am at a loss how to
express myself in terms sufficiently strong to impress on you the
necessity of immediate action towards the removal of the same.
During the prevalence of Cholera, these localities were particularly
infested by the disease; Fever is incessantly at work in all its
fearful forms; and, in fact, every disease occurring in these streets
assumes its most virulent character.
I have not touched upon the sewerage or drainage of these
streets, as I am aware that your Board is not in a position to give
those subjects your consideration until the Metropolitan Board of
Works shall have taken the initiative in the matter.
My next Report will be on sewerage, drainage, and watersupply,
when I shall make the necessary remarks on the above
mentioned localities.
Gentlemen,
I am aware that I have undertaken a heavy
duty and a great responsibility; that duty and responsibility I shall
not shrink from; I shall endeavour straightforwardly, irrespective
of persons, friends, or connections (knowing no party either for or
against the purposes for which you have honored me with your
confidence)—I shall endeavour, I say, to perform those duties with
an impartiality that shall at all times command the good opinion of
the public, and the support of your Board.
Should my remarks not appear to you sufficiently clear and explicit,
I trust you will attribute it to the novelty of my undertaking, and
the short period which has been allowed me to ascertain the facts
and classify the details. If, on the other hand, my Report should
appear to you to be too lengthened, my excuse will be, that the
magnitude of the subject demands a searching enquiry into all its
details; or, if, while endeavouring to lay before you the real
condition of your District and the remedies to be applied for its
relief, I have failed in, or have incompletely surmounted the