But these are the follies of learning. Had our lexicographers known that the vulgar were, as Dr. Latham says, “the conservators of the Saxon language” with us, they would have sought information from the word “shore,” which the uneducated, and, consequently, unperverted, invariably use in the place of the more polite “sewer”—the common sewer is always termed by them “the common shore.” Now the word shore, in Saxon, is written score and scor (for c = h), and means not only a bank, the land immediately next to the sea, but a score, a tally—for they are both substantives, made from the verb sceran (p. scear, scær, pp. scoren, gescoren), to shear, cut off, share, divide; and hence they meant, in the one case, the division of the land from the sea; and in the other, a division cut in a piece of wood, with a view to counting. The substantive scar has the same origin; as well as the verb to score, to cut, to gash. The Scandinavian cognates for the Saxon scor may be cited as proofs of what is here asserted. They are, Icel., skor, a notch; Swed., skâra, a notch; and Dan., skaar and skure, a notch, an incision. It would seem, therefore, that the word shore, in the sense of sewer (Dan., skure; Anglice, shure, for k = h), originally meant merely a score or incision made in the ground, a ditch sunk with the view of carrying off the refuse-water, a watercourse, and consequently a drain. A sewer is now a covered ditch, or channel for refuse water.
[65] This outlet is known to the flushermen, &c., as “below the backs of houses,” from its devious course under the houses without pursuing any direct line parallel with the open part of the streets.
[66] The following is the analysis of a gallon of sewage, also dried to evaporation, by Professor Miller:—
| Ammonia | 3·26 |
| Phosphoric acid | 0·44 |
| Potash | 1·02 |
| Silica | 0·54 |
| Lime | 7·54 |
| Magnesia | 1·87 |
| Common salt | 13·66 |
| Sulphuric acid | 7·04 |
| Carbonic acid | 4·41 |
| Combustible matter, containing 0·34 nitrogen | 5·80 |
| Traces of oxide of iron. | |
| Making in solution | 45·58 |
| Matters in suspension, consisting of combustible matters, sand, lime, and oxide of iron | 44·50 |
[67] The following note appears in Mr. Fortescue’s statement:—“In some trial works near the metropolis sewer water was applied to land, on the condition that the value of half the extra crop should be taken as payment. The dressings were only single dressings. The officer making the valuation reported, that there was at the least one sack of wheat and one load of straw per acre extra from its application on one breadth of land; in another, full one quarter of wheat more, and one load of straw extra per acre. The reports of the effects of sewer-water in increasing the yield of oats as well as of wheat were equally good. It is stated by Captain Vetch that in South America irrigation is used with great advantage for wheat.”
[68] The following statement may, according to the work above alluded to, be presented as an approximate.
[69] Rental of the districts now rated.
[70] Rental of the districts within the active jurisdiction in which expenses have been incurred, and which are about to be rated.
[71] These officers are paid only during the period of service, and are chiefly engaged on special works.
The corresponding officers for London are under the City Commissioners.