The sewage of the metropolis, and how to utilise it / by Thomas Ellis.

  • Ellis, Thomas
Date:
[1863]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The sewage of the metropolis, and how to utilise it / by Thomas Ellis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    42/42 page 38
    contradicted in the most positive manner by Lord Essex, Mr. Philip, W. S. Miles, of King’s Weston, Bristol, Mr. W. West- wood, and several other witnesses, wrho were examined before the Select Committee, and who had all used sewage as well as our “ practical man,” and who could have no temptation to deliberately make false statements to the Committee. But how comes it that there is such a remarkable agreement of opinion between this “ practical man,” who gives us to understand that he is not interested in artificial manure manufacturers, and Mr. John Bennett Lawes, who clears his £40,000 a year from the manufacture of artificial manure—an income which would be all but lost was there a general adoption of the economic system of sewage utilisation? You will perhaps smile, sir, when I tell you that it is on the land of this “ practical man” that the burlesque experiments of Mr. John Bennett Lawes have been carried on for the Boyal Sewage Commission, to determine for the country whether sewage can compete with the ingenious concoctions of Mr. John Bennett Lawes, and which that commission gravely assures us they cannot; and so in effect says Mr. James Arch. Campbell, the “ practical man.” On a reference to the return of the Sewage Commission, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed, 14th April, 1863, I find that this “ practical man” gets a good rent from the Sewage Commission for his land, and that he then purchases from the Commission, at a reasonable price, the grass grown on his own land, to feed his own cows, which are the identical animals ex¬ perimented on by the Commission. And, further, that it is this “practical mans” son, Mr. Duncan Campbell, who is employed at a salary by the Commission “ to superintend, under Dr. Gilbert, the application and guaging of the sewage, the cutting and weigh¬ ing the crops,” &c., &c.f &c In short, sir, Mr. James Arch. Campbell, the “ practical man”— this “ old soldier,” this gentleman unconnected with the manufac¬ ture of artificial manure, this independent witness in favour of the artificial manure monopolists—is, like Mr. W. J. Christy and Dr. Gilbert, simply our old friend in another shape, the indefatigable Mr. John Bennett Lawes. It is therefore by no means surprising to find him reiterating the exposed fallacies of Mr. W, J. Christy and Dr. Gilbert with reference to the analysis of the metropolitan sewage made by Messrs. Hofmann and Witt, or stigmatising my statements as to the value of the sewage as “ ludicrous.” But as my “ statements” are based simply upon that analysis and the evidence of untainted witnesses, I can afford to laugh at the attacks of Mr. John Bennett Lawes and his clique. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, THOMAS ELLIS. Sept. 14.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3