Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Pollution, Sanitation, Government, Chemistry, Politics

    Discusses remarks made to the House of Commons by the First Commissioner of Works, William F Cowper, who explained how, thanks to the efforts of Goldsworthy Gurney, the air inside the House is purer—because it is washed in a stream of water—and cooler than the air outside. Reflects on the foul air of London and wonders why Gurney's air purification process is 'not more practised', pointing out that theatres would benefit from this treatment. Questioning whether the scheme 'will wash', hopes Gurney will not prove 'a second Guy Faux' (a reference to PU1/11/3/2) and blow up Parliament. On this basis, suggests that the 'fittest man' to check the air in parliament's cellars would be George B Airy.