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contiguous parishes, to the effect that the offensive gases
(Sulphuretted Hydrogen, Sulphurous Acid, &c.) given
off from these works, were carried great distances by the
wind to the annoyance of the complainants.
Besides affecting the air, a nuisance of a more grave
and dangerous character arose from the practice of letting
into the sewers the heated effluent waste from the works,
holding in combination offensive gases, which, with the
sewer gases liberated by the heated fluid, forced their
way into the houses by the drains and issued in volumes
from the ventilators, gullies, and side entrances of the
sewer in the New Road.
These premises were frequently inspected by the
Board's Officers, who pointed out to the proprietors the
evils complained of, and promises of improvement in the
methods adopted, and of the employment of more efficient
apparatus were constantly made by the latter, without,
however, resulting in the slightest amendment; indeed
the nuisances complained of were never at any time in
the slightest degree abated, except when the apparatus
was not at work.
The consequent action adopted by the Board, both
by indictment and in the Court of Chancery, is so well
known to every one concerned, that it is unnecessary to
recapitulate here; it is, however, sufficient to say that
these proceedings were successful in either court, and
great commendation has been bestowed by the Times
and other leading Journals on the Board for their perseverance
in legal proceedings against Messrs. Wallace,
by which a great and dangerous nuisance has at length
been stopped, and which, it is to be hoped, will finally
lead to the exclusion from the metropolis of like manufactures
of an offensive character.
The Alum and Ammonia Company's Works were, for
some time, the cause of many complaints from the residents
in the neighbourhood of the Lombard Road. The manufacture
there carried on was that of sulphate of ammonia, but