§ MR. EASTWICKsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is not desirable that the Medical Officer to the Privy Council, and a chemist of eminence, should be associated with the Civil Engineer sent down to inquire into the state of Barking, in order that authoritative evidence may be obtained as to the 515 causes of the mortality at Barking, and as to the chemical state of the water in the adjoining creek; and whether, considering the importance of the subject, the Counsel from the Home Office should not also be associated with the Commission as assessor?
MR. BRUCEsaid, in reply, that as far as he was at present advised, he thought that Mr. Rawlinson, the gentleman to whom the matter was committed, fully competent to conduct the whole inquiry. If he wished for any assistance, or if the inhabitants were desirous that there should be a special machinery of inquiry, they might communicate either with himself or with his right hon. Friend the Vice President of the Council, who would direct the medical officer of the Council to have an inquiry made. It did not appear at all necessary that any legal assessor should be added to the person now conducting the inquiry.