The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-02-06 00:00:00

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

The quarterly returns of the births. deaths, and
inatriage-' in Englm.d and Wales alwaa s contain an
amount of curious and interesting reading. Thee for
the December quarter 1155 keit been published, and
appear to be both as complete and as faecinating as
nsual. From the Registrar-General's elaborate tatilee,
it appears that during the last, that is the Deccmlper
quarter, there were 121,1018 .leathe, which are equal to
an average annual death-rate of 200 per thousand.
This rate is exceptionally low ; indeed, it is stated
that it is lower than any death-rate which has pre-
vailed since DM with the single exception of 1345.
In theft days, when so much is written not only about
the physical deterioration of the population, but also
concerning the many new forme of unhealthy combi-
nations which have to be faced, particularly in the
large towns, the fact is one which ought to be brought
into prominence. The natural conclusion would seem
to he that existence is not now any greater a straggle
than it w . in the earlier part of the century. Turning
to the other side of the account, it appears that the
births registered amounted to 215,451, which is equal
to an annual birth-rate of 25-3 per thowan.l. The
actual excesa of births over death, during the pevi.l
miller consideration was 93,5.21. Believers in the
virtues of Maltbusian principlee may be a little shocked
at the signs which these figures show of over-popula-
tion. They will, however, take some slight comfort
from the fact of 20,265 emigrants of British origin
have to be substracted from the total. Emigration has
always been ..ne if the pet mine lies in this school, and
its Intent will assuredly cautie them much pleaeure. It
appears, further, that of these emigrants 14,371; were
English, 2,001 Scotch, and 731 Irish, figurer from
which it seems evident that of all portions of the
British Empire, Ireland, has lust to complain of. The
greater portion of the*: have left .air shore's for the
United Stat.,. ; the Australian e doilies are next in
favonr, suet Itritish North America comer very low
down 111 the lid.

The relations between the British flovernment and
the Porte cannot le so strainel as some persons would
have us suppose, at least if we may ju lge by the fast
that the Turkish Ambassador has been invited to be
present at the ..lanin f Parliament. It would be 11
great misfortune to London Society if Mwenrus Pacha
were recalled from the capital, for his family is among
the most popular in town.
Some statistics which have just been published show
that horsesflesh is far more palatable to French people
than might be imagined. The first horse butcher
opened his shop in Paris in ISO. In the following
year no fewer than 2,1e2 horses, asses' and mules were
ss.ld to the public for consumption. 'The number rae
in the following year to 2,4 KM, and it has steadily
increased each year, the total for 1871; being nearly
9,000 horses, 11.13 asses, and 35 mules.

It IA Sabi the butchers of Manshester have adopted
an ingenious plan of paying out the Company which
imports American beef and ',impels them to reduce
their pricer'. They have bought up all the old cows
they in lay their hands upon, and retail them AA the
new importation they thus 1.. i clwie if the