The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-12 00:00:00

MORTALITY IN EMIGRANT SHIPS.

Mr. DILDYARD wished to inquire of the Under-Se-
cretary of State for the Colonies whether the government
had caused inquiry to be made into the mortality which,
according to recent accounts from Australia, took place on
board four vessels chartered by the Emigration Commis-
sionen to Convey emigrants between the porta of Liverpool
and Melbourne. It appeared by these accounts that, in a
passage of 64 days, no less then 104 persons perished ; and
• great proportion of the remainder arrived at ldelboarne
in a state of great prostration and sickness. Us wished to
ask if there had been a strict investigation into this
matter, more particularly with regard to the number of
emigrants taken en board these vessels, and the means
adopted for ventilating the lower decks thereof.
Mr. PEEL said the Colonial-ollee bad received no par-
ticulars with respect to the mortality on board of oae of
theme vessels. They knew that 100 deaths had taken place
on board, and that on their arrival at Melbourne no less
than 300 persons were sick in some way or other. No
doubt a great mortality had occurred on board these four
vessels. They were of an unusual kind, and carried more
thau en ordinary number of passengers, having two decks
for passengers. It had never been the practice of the Emi-
gration Board to pat passengers on board vessels with more
than a single deck ; but the state of the shipping market at
the limo when these vessels were taken up rendered it una-
voidable on the part of the board to engage them, no other
vessels being tendered at the time. On board the three
vessels there had been no less than 179 deaths, but of these
no less than 163 were children; and there was board the
lour vessels an unusual number of children in proportion to
adults. That arose from a relaxation of the regulations of
the Emigration Commissioners, made in compliance with
the urgent representations of parties connected with the
colony and with its pastoral and industrial pursuits. But
immediately on the commissioners receiving intelligence of
this deplorable lass of life, they issued instructions that no
vessels with more than a single deck should be engaged by
their agents, and they refused to take families at the ex-
pense of the colony having more than two children under
7, or three under 10 years of age. Be believed these pre-
cautions would prevent the recurrence of the disaster.
Full particulars of t►e three vessels had been received, and
they had been referred to the Emigration Board, withdi-
reetions to report on their contents. That report would be
received in • few days, and there would be no objection to
lay all the particulars before the house.
METROPOLITAN GRAVEYARDS.

Lord D 7 if (iat wished to Dail the attention er the
noble Secretary fur the Home Department to the state of
the graveyards in the metropolis, which was generally con-
sidered to be most injurious to the public health, and most
d:sgraceful. The feelings of the public were °Hewitt', and
their health endangered, by seeing funerals per-
formed in churchyards in immediate contiguity
to the street. There were many instances—one in parti-
cular he wished to refer to—the church-yard of St. Clement
Danes, in the Strand. Yet, complaints had been made of
that church-yard ; and he knew instances of persons who
had been struck with malt serious diseases in consequence
of merely passing along the street. A gentleman with
whom ho was acquainted had happened to pass along the
street while a funeral was going on ; he was immediately'
struck with a most virulent disease, which assumed an ap-
pelicans, something very like the plague—with swelling
under the arms; and he lay for a considerable time in a
state of most dangerous illness. These funerals were taking
place every day; and he knew that medical men of emi-
nence considered it dangerous for persons to pass down the
street. Many lost their lives every year from merely pass-
ing while funerals were going on. He was assured by
medical men that they had frequently seen putrid flesh
and blood thrown up by the grave-diggers when these
funerals were going oa. He wished to ask the noble lord
whether his attention had been called to this matter, and
whether he would not exercise his authority to put an end
to so disgraceful a scene.
Viscount PALMERSTON—The subject to which my
noble friend has alluded was brought under my notice by a
deputation from the pariah to which that churchyard be-
longs, and the result was, a meeting of the vestry was held,
an application was made to me, by order in council, to
shut up that graveyard ; sad that order in council will as
soon as possible be pared. (Hear, hear.) With regard to
the question generally. I can only repeat the words of my
' noble friend, and say that the condition of the graveyards
in this metropolis is, s generally, a disgrace to a
civilised community. Hear, r.) And Ido trust that
the different parishes, with whom it rests, in the first place,
to take the primary stops with a view to correct so dreadful
an evil, will not be deterred by any considerations of local
expense from taking thews precautions which are necessary
to remove from the metropolis a source of pestilence; fur it
cannot be doubted that if the cholera, which is raging in
come parts of the Continent, should visit this island, and
should prevail In this metropolis, this source of pestilence
will be attended with most tliwtrous effects. (Hear, hear.)
I assure the house that the attention of the goverment will
be most anxiously directed to this subject.
The motion for adjournment was then put and agreed to.
SIR CHARLES WOOD ON THE STATE OF
PRANCE. _

Mr. DISRAELI—I beirtsTgiv; notice that oa Monday
next, I shall pat a question to the right hon. rottenest,
the President of the Board of Camtrol, if he is then in
his Place ; or if, unfortunately, he be not among us, per-
haps some of his colleagues may give a reply to it. The
question will have reference to a passage in a speech repre-
sented to have been made at Halifax very recently by the
right hon. gentleman ; and that there may be no mis-
take, and that an answer may be given to the question on
Monday, I will read the paragraph in question. Address-
ing his constituents and the people of Halifax a few days
back, he bad occasion among other subjects to advert to
our foreign relations; and he referred to France in this
language Take our nearest neighbours. Such a des-
potism never prevailed in France, even in the time of Na-
poleon the First. (Hear.) The press gagged—liberty sap-
preseed—no man allowed to speak his opinion—the neigh-
bouring country of Belgium forced to gag her press
—no press is Europe free bat ours, which, thank
God, he cannot gag. (Applause.) And hence his hatred
of oar press that it alone dares to speak the truth."
(Loud cheers.) I give notice that, on Monday, I will ask
the right hon. gentleman whether he has been correctly
reported, as I think it is convenient we should have an an-
swer on that subject before we come to any votes respecting
our armaments. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.)