A deputation from the parish of St. James, Westminster, headed
by the Members for that city, waited yesterday upon Sir William Molesworth, to point out to him the inefficiency of the Nuisances Removal and Dis- eases Prevention Act of 1848, and the Metropolitan Building Act, and to request that they might be revised. Mr. Nelson fully stated the case of the parish ; and Sir John Shelley and Sir de Lacy Evans asked for mu- nicipal institutions in the name of their constituents. In reply, Sir Wil- liam Moksworth said, that if he understood rightly, the object of the deputation was to impress on the members of the Government the neces- sity of bringing in measures to facilitate the removal of nuisances—to remove slaughter-houses, to prevent various noxious trades from being carried on, to amend the law which prohibits underground dwellings, and a general revision of the Building Act—
"He could only say, that these were matters which he acknowledged to be of the greatest possible importance, which are now engaging the attention of her Majesty's Government, and especially of the Home Office and the Board of Health. He could not state distinctly what measures might be brought forward. He could not be expected to express his opinion at this moment with regard to the corporate inquiry. No doubt, it must lead to a very great change in the government of the City of London. It was most important to consider whether municipal institutions should be extended over every portion of the Metropolis: and, without expressing any distinct opinion on the part of the Government, he should say individually, so far as he was concern- ed, that he thought corporate government should be given. That was his own individual opinion. The subject, as might be supposed, had not yet been brought under the consideration of the Government ; but the whole ques- tion of municipal institutions would be carefully considered." The Poor-law Board considers the evidence produced before Mr. Coro- ner Wakley, at the inquest on the body of the infant Walsh, "is of such a nature as, in the opinion of the Board, to render it incumbent upon them to hold an official inquiry into all the circumstances; and they have ac- cordingly intrusted their Inspector at once to institute such inquiry." This determination was officially notified to the Board of Guardians which met yesterday. Dr. Russell and Mr. Messer complain of unfair proceed- ings at the Coroner's inquest. Mr. Francis Bennoch, goaded by the continued attacks of the Court of Common Council, has resigned his office as Deputy for the Ward of Cripplegate-Within. He says that the honour of being a member of that "venerable and fat-witted body" is not worth the annoyance. He con- siders their conduct as a consequence of his evidence before the Royal Commission.
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