might be so in a despotic government,
but not here. It is an oversight, when, in such cases, a general
improvement is not calculated upon.

One of the first things that might be attempted in the legislative way is
Smoke Prohibition. It is exactly a matter for the interference of the
state. The Athenian in the comedy, wearied of war, concludes a separate
peace with the enemy for himself, his wife, his children, and his
servant; and forthwith raises a jovial stave to Bacchus. Now all
sensible people would not only be glad to enter into amicable relations
with Smoke, but would even be content to pay a good sum for protection
against the incursions from factory chimnies and other nuisances in their
neighbourhood. But there is no possibility of making such private
treaties. The common undistinguishable air is vitiated: and we ask the
State, for the sake of the common weal, to see this matter righted. It
has been long before the public; and there is sufficient evidence to
legislate at once upon. At any rate, if Mr. Mackinnon's bill is referred
to a Committee, it ought to be upon the understanding that the
suggestions of the Committee shall be forthwith and earnestly considered,
with a view to instant legislation. If the Committee were to make an
excursion into the smoke-manufacturing parts of the Metropolis, they
would see here and there factory chimnies from which less smoke issues
than from private houses. This seems to be conclusive. They will not
find, I think, that these smokeless chimnies belong to unimportant
factories. Now, if the nuisance can be cured in one case, why not in
all? Here we have new and stately public buildings, in the East and the
West of the town, which only a few of us, for a short time, will see in
their pristine purity. If we cannot appreciate the mischief which this
smoke does to ourselves, let us have some regard for the public
buildings. Consider, too, at what an immense outlay we purchase this
canopy of smoke. Certainly at hundreds of thousands a year in London
alone. We have, therefore, made an investment in smoke of some millions
of money. If we had but the resources to spend upon public improvements,
which have thus been worse than wasted, we should need no other
contribution. Moreover, the proposed restrictions in the case of smoke
would not only be beneficial to the public, but profitable to the
individual: and the more one considers the subject, the more astonished
one