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11
situated between Willow Row on the North, Ropemakers' Fields on
the South, Nightingale Tavern on the West, and the Barley Mow
Brewery on the East. I had frequently to examine this locality
on account of the dilapidated condition of the houses contained
therein; the Inspector was constantly reporting to me concerning
sanitary defects there; and I finally came to the conclusion to make
a representation to the Metropolitan Board of Works under the
provisions of the Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement
Act, 1875. I am confident that the houses are incapable of further
repair; the closets are constantly becoming stopped; the ground
floors of many of the houses are below the level of the surface, and
the area is distinguished by a death rate much higher than that of
the District. The Representation has been made to the Metropolitan
Board of Works, and after some further information which I
have to furnish to that body, I hope will be considered in a favourable
manner. The site in question, abutting on no valuable frontage,
and consisting for the most part of dilapidated houses, would form
a valuable investment for the Trustees of the late George Peabody's
fund.
Small Pox continuing to increase during the early part of the
year, the Board, on Jan. 16th, passed a resolution to form a Committee,
whose special duty would be to take cognizance of the
progress of the disease, and devise means for the prevention of its
extension. The Epidemic Committee thus formed met whenever
occasion required, sometimes as many as three times a week, and
to it my duty was to report the progress of the epidemic, and