Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Pollution, Sanitation, Chemistry, Agriculture, Scientific Practitioners

    Tells Michael Faraday, 'of Chemists first', of the desperate need to cleanse the Thames and asks whether chemistry can help. Suggests that the slush be used as manure and in the manufacture of 'Sweet essences', but stresses that it simply wants a river that is clean rather than sweet. Adds that the Thames might provide a local source for guano and therefore for fertiliser. Concludes by drawing attention to the shortcomings of conventional means of cleansing rivers and so asks Faraday to 'Do what thou can'st, if science can'.