Health of Towns' Association. UNHEALTHINESS OF TOWNS, ITS CAUSES AND REMEDIES: BEING A LECTURE DELIVERED ON THE 10TH OF DECEMBER, 1845, IN THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE AT PLYMOUTH. BY VISCOUNT EBRINGTON, M.P. PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION WITH HIS LORDSHIP'S KIND PERMISSION. LONDON: Published at the Depot of the Association, 356 STRAND. 1847. G. LUXFORD, 1, WHITEFRIARS STREET, FLEET STREE 1 Health of Towns' Association. NHEALTHINESS OF TOWNS, ITS CAUSES AND REMEDIES: BEING A LECTURE DELIVERED ON THE 10TH OF DECEMBER, 1845, IN THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE AT PLYMOUTH. BY VISCOUNT EBRINGTON, M.P. PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION WITH HIS LORDSHIP'S KIND PERMISSION. LONDON: Published at the Depot of the Association, 356 STRAND. 1847. The Right Hon. Earl Lovelace. The Right Hon. Earl of Shelburne, The Lord Bishop of St. David's.. The Right. Hon. Lord Robert Gros- The Right. Hon. Viscount Morpeth, The Lord Ashley. The Viscount Ebrington, M.P. The Lord John Manners, M.P. The Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart. The Right Hon. R. L. Sheil, M.P. The Hon. F. Byng. The Hon. W. F. Cowper, M.P. Sir James Clarke, Bart., M.D. Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bart., M.P. Sir William Clay, Bart., M.P. Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, Bart. The Hon. W. Leslie Melville. Sir Edwin Pearson, F.R.S. Sir George Stephen. The Rev. W. Weldon Champneys, M.A. The Rev. C. Girdlestone, M.A. The Rev. Edward Pizey, M.A. The Rev. W. Queckett, M.A. The Rev. Chancellor Raikes. The Rev. J. C. Blair Warren. C. J. B. Aldis, Esq., M.D. Richard Aulsebrook, Esq. W. H. Black, Esq, William Ewart, Esq., M.P. R. D. Grainger, Esq., F.R.S. William A. Guy, Esq., M.D. W. Henry Hyett, Esq., F.R.S. John Liddle, Esq. Stephen Lewis, Esq. W. A. Mackinnon, Esq., M.P. James Smith, Esq., of Deanston. Henry Austin, Esq., Hon. Sec. MEMBER'S SUBSCRIPTION. An Annual Subscription of £1 and upwards, or a Life Subscription of £5 and upwards, constitutes a Member. Subscriptions received by the Treasurer, The Hon. J. T. Leslie Melville; Messrs. Williams, Deacon, and Co., Birchin Lane; Barclay, Tritton, and Co Lombard Street; Drummonds and Co., Charing Cross; Strahan and Co., 217 Strand; and HENRY AUSTIN, Hon. Sec. I A LECTURE, &c &c. BEFORE I enter upon the subject which I have undertaken to treat of this evening, I cannot help expressing in the first place how much I felt flattered by the invitation I received from the Committee to deliver a lecture here, and how honoured I feel by the attendance so many of you have given. We are met together to consider a subject in which we all are deeply interested, because the health, the tranquillity, the morality, nay, the Christianity of the people of this country are nearly concerned in the sanitary condition of their towns: and yet one upon which persons of all classes, all parties, and all creeds may, both in consultation and action, harmoniously combine, and cordially co-operate, because it affords no scope for political or theological differences. I only hope that, though I cannot treat it as it deserves (and I assure you I am painfully sensible of my insufficiency), yet that I may at any rate assist in attracting to it the attention of others better qualified by knowledge and eloquence to do it justice, but above all, of those whose position gives them the opportunity of improving the health of the towns with which they are connected. It seems to have been almost the universal impression of mankind, even in very early times, that a country life is more healthy, both in body and mind, than a town life. Classical writers are full of allusions to its superiority. A complete school of poetry, indeed, was formed (the pastoral) to celebrate the simple pleasures and occupations of rural life, and to contrast its health and happiness with the dangers and vexations of crowded cities. Nor have modern writers, either poets or philosophers, been wanting to perpetuate with all the graces of imagery and eloquence, the same opinions and feelings among us. A 2 |