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16
cesspool in the yard of No. 37, Albemarle Street, close
behind. This cesspool, 13 feet deep, 6 long, and 4 broad,
has been abolished. It was distant a very few feet from a
favourite pump well.
An immense number of cesspools probably remain in the
better parts of the parish ; in the poorer, we hope they are
almost eradicated. The fatal mistake was made when waterclosets
were first introduced, of not providing at once a
system of pipe drainage, which should convey the stream of
manure down to land under cultivation. Instead of which,
the old cesspools were made receptacles for immense quantities
of water, whence it flows and contaminates the earth
and springs; and the old rain-water drains were made to
carry off the surplus. Hence the pollution of house-drains,
of street-sewers, and of the Thames.
In addition to three of these receptacles abolished in
Stafford Street, and one at 37, Albemarle Street, one dry and
disused, but not filled up, remains at No. 38. Seven were
abolished at the London Hotel, Nos. 43 and 44, in 1849;
five were abolished at 45, Albemarle Street, in 1853; and
one that continued undiscovered, in 1858; eleven were
abolished at Nos. 18, 35, and 40, during the last ten years;
and one at 32, Dover Street.
Lee's Mews. A rain-water pipe from the Globe Public
House, which was both an encroachment and a cause of
serious nuisance, has been abolished.
Hay's Mews, No. 21, where occurred a death from
diphtherite, was cleansed in obedience to a Notice.
King Street, No. 1. A death from the same malady occurred
here; and a cleansing and new drainage were ordered
and executed.
White-Horse Yard Stables. Cesspools have been abolished,
and pipe drainage substituted.