LONDON IN 1860.
PEOPICEIIC visions of an altered state of society are very common. A book, if we remember rightly, has been written on the state of London in the year 2000. A distinguished Member of Parliament has imagined a future New Zealander surveying London, restored to the Papacy, from Westminster Bridge. Without entering into these vatiemations, we may in some respects see beyond.the pro- phetic vision of that Member or of the imaginary New Zealander. For that purpose, we need not conjure up fanciful changes but only look to the fact of those whose commencement is already re- corded on our statute-book, or in other authentic forms set own for completion. The bridge, for instance, on which the New Zealander was to stand, is destined for removal. It had indeed decreed a removal for itself; having for some years shown such determined siren of vanishing, that more than one writ ne exeat has been issued, lest the Thames should convey Westminster Bridge to the Nore with- out notice.
Other new bridges are destined, at Battersea, and probably also at Putney, in lien of those traps that now serve as a man-weir for Cockney fish that float up and down the stream. A new park at Battersea, a new embankment with a path on the right bank of the Thames above the Metropolis, will effect a considerable change in the remote landscape of the upper stream ; to say nothing of the improvement in the bridge itself. Hence, should the embank- ment not go lower than Millbank, it will bring the ornamental portion of the Thames within the range of the Metropolis. By that time another important change will have come over the stream. The smoke which now hangs above London is in part forbidden, especially to the Thames : this year the steamers must cease disgorging their sullen contribution to the cloud. Next year the great furnaces will be added to the list of the proscribed ; and then, probably, the private houses will begin to follow, and that before a very long time ; because the prohibition of smoking to many trading establishments will necessarily stimulate invention which is already devoted to planning arrangements for producing fire without smoke. This clearing of the atmosphere will in itself be a vast alteration to the aspect of London. The securing of translucent sky will be a great first step in securing the translu- cent wave below ; since the cloud of soot will be withheld from the Thames.
For a time, the noisome odours of that ill-used stream, no longer emanating from atmospheric causes, will be limited to the sub- aqueous abuses ; but it is probable also that the supply will be cut off in this respect by improved plans of drainage, which will in- tercept the grand drains before they flow into the Thames and carry down the refuse beyond the Metropolis, there to be destined to useful purposes. Plans for that purpose are already in exist- ence; they only await the proper authority; and Lord Palmerston has promised a step in that direction when he is to give to the Commission of Sewers new powers, with something in the way of representation,—a practice also introduced in regard to other local improvements. In other words, these matters are to be placed under a Municipality, and London will have the means of setting its streets and drains in order as well as its houses. Translucent Wave will then reflect translucent sky.
But other improvements are already in their commencement. A bill has received the Royal assent for constructing a subterranean railway from Bayswater by Paddington to King's Cross,—an ex- periment which fits in with an idea long maintained by Mr. Charles Pearson, of a central London terminus, with branch rails to relieve that traffic of goods that now oppresses the streets of Lon- don. A widening of the streets in the City is already going on; but with such a relief as that contemplated, the widened streets would be doubled, and the traffic reduced to much greater system. With a wider space, far less would be needed in the way of horse- drawn carriages. Now the commencement of these improvements is authorized by act of Parliament.
Not only will the aspect of the entire Metropolis be changed by these comparatively few improvements, but the manners and cus- toms of its inhabitants will receive a corresponding change. The public buildings of London will no longer be piles of blackness; but if smoke be generally prohibited, and the use of our present firing be discontinued, the human face may cease to be black as well as public buildings, and then we shall have neither coal- heavers nor scullions nor chimney-sweepers introduced amongst us as a most unsuccessful burlesque of Negro slavery. Indeed, with the exile of smoke the whole population would probably do much more credit than it does to the daily efforts at keeping itself in a state of cleanliness. Abolish the smoke, and to a great extent you abolish the chimnies ; but what is the thing which keeps the London people above all others absent from the roofs of their houses, if it is not that detestable smoke ? Abolish the smoke, and it is as certain as that certain flowers grow out of earth turned from certain mines, that flowers will flourish also on the tops of London houses ; and where the flowers grow the cultivators must appear. It is by no means impossible that in six years the report of a, Select Committee may have been converted from a recommendation into a law, and that by that time the whole of the London as well as the English people will be conducting their bargains in a decimal system of coinage: another reason, with many more why useless prolongation of daily labour should be somewhat contracted ; and then possibly the London clerk or the London tradesman may set himself to enjoy his evening in a new fashion.
In the first place, he may turn of the fire, which might then be a handy application of gas, as convenient to kindle suddenly as it would be economical to turn it off as soon as he ceased to want it. He will then sally forth into the unencumbered streets, proud of the public buildings here and there, old or new ; for if London can be made handsome, buildings will inevitably multiply. He will bend his steps towards the translucent wave. Here, standing amongst the gay promenaders on the Lung° Tamigi, he will ask himself whether he shall pursue the walk by the architectural beau- ties that flank the river- to the new Park at Bette:ma ? whether he shall take the rail for the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, there to survey and contemplate nature and art in one view? whether he shall join the gay crowd at this or that pleasant bath- ing-house, to sport in the translucent wave ? whether he shall join some pleasant boating party exhibiting its skill to the loungers on the banks in the very midst of London ? or whether he shall ascend the prospect-minaret of the Panopticon in Leicester Square, to survey the progress of horticulture on the roofs of his beloved city,—possibly, with a hope of catching some indiscreet court- ship interestingly pursued by a Romeo and Juliet of private life, where now the cats and the chimnies usurp the domain.
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