large increments of building, is it not
essential that there should be some care for the health and the morals of
the people? Is it not a question which even in a selfish point of view
affects the whole empire?

* * * * *

I am aware that there are great difficulties in the way of any general
measure for regulating buildings. The first difficulty which occurs, one
which, of itself, forms a limit to building regulations, is, that if you
carry them beyond a certain extent, the poorer classes are driven, by the
increased expense, from the occupation of cottages to that of rooms,
which would be anything but a gain. Besides, it is obvious, on other
accounts, that any regulations with respect to building must be
introduced with great care, especially in an old country, and where the
buildings, which you would be most anxious to modify, are those which
will be erected in the immediate vicinity of ground already densely
covered with houses. The Liverpool Improvement Act affords a curious
instance of, what appears to me, absurd and impatient legislation on the
subject of building. By some of its provisions a certain description of
cellar in that town will be thrown out of occupation on a given day.
Now, where are the inhabitants of these cellars to go to? You might as
well legislate that no food except of a certain quality should be sold;
but it does not seem likely that this would secure the maintenance of the
population so legislated upon. Inconsiderate measures of this kind
occasionally put even wise interference out of countenance. Still, I
must contend that much good may be done by some simple building
regulations of a sanitary nature. Much may be done indirectly, all of
which is nearly sure to be good. For instance, it is very desirable to
lower the taxation upon building materials. Then, again, wherever the
window-tax can be modified, with a view to benefit the dwellings of the
poor, it should be done. Mr. Biers, a witness examined before the Select
Committee in 1842 on Building Regulations, says,

"The preamble of this Act (the Bill, I believe, then under
consideration) sets out that it is for the purpose of preventing
disease and giving better ventilation; now, it would much increase
the advantages of poor people if a rider or addition was made to the
17th section, for the purpose of giving a better ventilation without
being liable to the tax-gathere