The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-09 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

AT the commencement of the present week a gloom hung over London
such as has not been witnessed, we believe, since the time of the great
Plague. Through some cause, yet unexplained, the cholera broke
out with terrible malignity in the Golden-square district; in a few
streets, as Brewer-street, Wardour-street, and Broad-street, the deaths
occurred with appalling frequency ; the ordinary means of burial were
found unequal to the emergency, and dead-carts went round at night
to remove the bodies of the unfortunate victims of pestilence. The
appearance of the streets this week indicated the extent of the cala-
mity : they were watered with a solution of chloride of lime to purify
the air, and the faint odour thus emitted, though doubtless beneficial
in its effect, gave reality to the impression of an infected district.
Most of the houses—shops as well as private dwellings—were shut up,
and business was almost entirely suspended. Females went about
with handkerchief to mouth, and on the faces of many of the inha-
bitants who stood at their doors, or who collected in awe-struck
groups in the streets, were visible traces of deep distress, leaving no
doubt of the loss they had sustained. It was particularly remarked
that the shops of the undertakers were, with scarcely an exception,
closely shut up. In the general distress, however, a morbid curiosity,
or craving for horror, seemed the predominant feeling. Wherever a
hearse stopped, groups silently gathered about it to witness the body
brought forth, and as the vehicle moved on the crowd dispersed, to con-
gregate round the spot where it next stopped. The report of the Soho
Dispensary states the deaths from cholera in the immediate neighbour-
hood during the last fortnight at 150, and among the number is the
surgeon of the dispensary, who was seized on Sunday night and died
in a few hours. This mortality, great as it is, has, however, been
exaggerated by vulgar reports and terror. It was commonly reported
at the beginning of the week that black flags were hung out at the
entrance of the infected streets, and this notion of the " black flag,"
which, on personal inspection, was not visible, raised in the vulgar
mind an indescribable feeling of alarm. In this visitation the direct
form of Asiatic cholera has been more fearfully manifested than on
any previous occasion, and the cases are generally given up as hope-
less by our medical practitioners as soon as seen. During the last day
or two the accounts are more favourable ; from the Soho districts the
pestilence seems silently departing ; but, in the absence of any official
returns (and the prudence of discontinuing them seems questionable),
we can speak only from general rumour. The mortality last week was
double the usual average.
The Board of Health has displayed some activity, and has nominated
a Council of Physicians. As a precautionary measure the step comes
too late. There has been a strange want of those ordinary means of
prevention which common sense suggests. The pestilence has found
us with open sewers, untrapped drains, and nuisances of the foulest
kind in the midst of thickly-populated neighbourhoods ; and the interval
between the coming and the parting of the pest is much too brief to
allow of measures to be taken to abate its virulence. We can only
hope that the terrible lesson may not be lost upon us, but that the
work of sanitary reform will be commenced in earnest as soon as the
dread visitant which now afflicts the metropolis has taken its
departure.

Attention is once more fixed on the Crimea expedition. The
decision to advance has at last, it would appear, been definitely taken,
but the French and English force will be much weaker than originally
contemplated. United they will amount to 50,000 men, the French
contingent being reduced from 40,000, the original estimate, to
28,000. 20,000 Turks will raise the total army to 70,000. Before
deciding on this great enterprise we must suppose that the com-
manders have thoroughly weighed its difficulties, and entertain a
well grounded hope of success. Of the forces which can be opposed
to them we have seen no reliable account, but the generals cannot
be without some trustworthy information on this important point.
The delay which has taken place has been in every way favourable
to the Russians ; and if the strength of the fortress be at all propor-
tionate to its reputation,—and the force of the covering army as
numerous as recent reports would lead us to suppose,—the opera-
tions now in progress will be for ever memorable in the annals of
war. The main body of the expedition would, it was supposed,
consist of about 60,000 men, the remainder following at an interval
of some days. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE'S division had embarked on
the 29th ult., and the expedition probably sailed at the commence
went of this week. The point of debarkation was not known, but
been decided on, during the reconnaisances lately

authentic details of the late battles in Asia
of the Russian commanders had not exagge-
tctories. The Turkish forces are completely

for the time in the Baltic. The capture of
only exploit of the year. General BARAGUAY
had arrived at Dantzic on his way to France.
be at Ledsund, and we may conclude, there-
any other of the Baltic fortresses was deemed

bad most likely been deci
~, 4na4e by the commanders.
. The p4blicattion of au
11#
~ ,;..,•Faiitir, he despatches
rz:iv. ;
i... . 4 their vii
.4,4-•,-.s. 4.c. i.i! ''''S '
~. .
... g.llt over
iv 7% ~.. ,VA , j n the c
'' ~'• ...It staff he
...-- ; : , '''' . ; rted to b
gar"- timit me Attack on any
pracrabtWAile season.