[104a] Page cliii of this Report.
[104b] While the workmen were digging the gravel out of “Craven Gardens,” I saw an old well which lay beside their excavation, the bottom of which did not appear to have been ten feet from the surface. I also remember that there was a pond close to this spot, at the corner of the Pest-house Field, which was not so deep as this well, but which was not dry even in the hottest summer.
[105] Vide Household Words, No. 142, for a most powerful picture of the present condition of the common sewers.
[106] One of the great reformers of the sixteenth century—Luther—said “The Christian must be obedient to the commands of the Government, even though it wrongs him, skinning and fleecing him.” And again he says, “Christians, whilst preparing for the eternal life, will remain in political things always stupid sheep, (Schaafe und Schoepse), they will never get beyond nonsense in the affairs of state.” German reformers of the nineteenth century see the effect these opinions have had on the world, and they reject these dogmas of their venerable reformer with the contempt they so well merit. Vide “The Reformation of the Nineteenth Century,” by Johannes Ronge, Part I. page 19. Deutsch and Co., Fleet-street, and Oswald and Covers, Cross-street, Manchester.
[111] The English Language, 3rd edition, page 286.
[113] Saxons in England, vol. i. page 36.
[114a] “William (son of Ansculfe) holds Abincebourne—Abinger. The same William holds Padindene. Huscarle held it of King Edward. At that time it was rated for four hides; now for three. Hugh, William’s man, holds three hides.” In Abinger parish there were three manors—Abinger; Paddington-Pembroke; and Paddington, otherwise Paddindean, sometimes styled from a former owner, Paddington Bray. There was also another manor of “Padinden” in Lingfield parish in this county. Vide Manning and Bray’s History of Surrey, vol. ii. page 136 and 347.
[114b] Unfortunately this, the Ranelagh Sewer still remains open in some parts of its course. In a letter from Dr. Aldis to the editor of the Times, September 7th, 1852, we find that it is open in Chelsea; and that “its present open state answers two purposes, one for the exhalation of noxious effluvia, the other for the drowning of little children happening to fall into it, an instance of which recently occurred.” And though the greater part of this sewer has been covered in and built upon, on “the bishop’s estate,” yet there is a considerable portion which is not yet covered in in this parish. Building, however, is now progressing close to this open sewer so that I presume it will not be long before this portion of the ancient Tybourn is for ever hidden from mortal ken.
[115a] Speculum Britanniæ.
[115b] Lancet, vol. 2, 1848. Reports of public meetings in the daily papers. And Dr Tilt’s various researches on this subject, published in a separate pamphlet and in the Lancet.