The Express.
London, England, 1854-01-11 00:00:00

HEALTH OF LONDON.

The Registrar-General reports that—
Fourteen hundred and forty-four deaths were registered
in London in the first week of the year. Of these, 656 were
deaths of children under 16 years of ego ; 431 vi en of per-
sons between 15 and 60 years ; end 3.53 occurred to men
and women in advanced life, who had completed sixty yesze

mod upward'.
In the ten corresponding weeks in the years 1844-53, the
avenge number of deaths wee 1,262, which if raised accord-
ing to increase of population, becomes 1,388. Though the
mortality at this season is usually high, the present return
shows an erects of 56 above the corrected. average. The
mean temperature of last week was 30.2. It fell as low in
the first week of 1849, and the deaths were then 1,131. It
feel to 29.4 in the week ending 2nd January 1847, when the
mortality was as high as that of lam week.
There died last week 352 persons from diseases of the
organs of respiration, while the calculated number is 279.
Twelve died of hayngitis and laryegismus stridulus, 189 of
bronchitis, 104 of pneumorda, 36 of asthma; 86 children
died of hoopieg cough. Only the following two deaths
were registered as caused by cholera:
Manrhanoorn (St. John's).—M 50, Acacia-mad, on 30th
December, the son of a merchant, aged 6 years, " English
cholera (11 Mere)."
Wurrecnsrat. (Whitechapel North).—At 10, Gralseem.
court, on 27th December, a labourer, aged 63 yews
" cholera (24 hours), fever consecutive (3 days)."
la the sub-district of Horton Old Town, at 13, Bowling•
genewalk, on god and 3rd January, two eitildna of a
Yew, deceased, aged respectively 8 and 5 years, died of
"scarlatina ; low continued fever." Mr. Pearce, the regis-
ter, says :—" I am informed that in this house there aro
hetesstly very cattails smells arising from iniperthet
dirrinege. The mother of the children registered is is a
wily destitute condition, living and sleeping with ea aged
Imilber in the apartment where the bodies are now lying."
Is Islington West, at 1, Oainfold•threet, three daughters
of a whitesmith died, ens on the lad, sad two on the 6th
January of searlatina maw."
In Braliff, at the sates workhouse, on 31st December,
a basket-maker sad his wife died, both at the age of 76
years, the former of " natural daisy ; cardiac dismal," the
latter of natural delay." They bad come from Madeira
Market. Mr. Wells, the registrar, relates a singular min.
Maras in the Byes of Ma aged couple. They were bora in
the same year, and on the same day of the month, and died
within half an hour of each other.

In High-street, Battersea, at Illst December, a ship car-
penter, aged 92 pus, died hoot " decay, accelerated by
destitution." Certified by medical attendant.
In Aldgate, at 21, Peter's-coort, oa 28th Dumber. a
labourer, aged about 66 you., was " hand deed la a
genet, death apparently mooed by starvaticia."
In New Gravel-lane' Shadwell, on 12th December, Op
ems eta mat-maker, aged one year, died Mei eteseathee.
beguist.
Talk George-in-thaßast, at 8, Cbedierilleletomall et
Demealler, the daughter of a labiate* egg
some pm* was
11 heed Sled Is her father's arms; &ea minkentid by
went, espesere to sold, and privations." Isameet.
Is the ash-distristof Cavendish-square, as U Imam
a boy, aged 14 you., "mute febrile attack arbingfrem
(edges sad 'apostate to sold (5 days)."
In B'll-gees, Sydeshim, on the 30th Dimmable, a spin-
ster, sled 34 years, died hens "debility (4 ran). 'sego-
tion of lungs from upstate to extreme sold (48 heels)."
Is St. Jamie's, Chrtheswell, at 811, TurmillUreet, a
female, aged 48 lean, found dead on led January ;
"failure of heart's action from over distention of steam*
and cold." Pest wartime. Inquest.
Last week the births of 679 boys and 694 girl., in all
1,373 children, were registered in London. In the nine cor-
responding weeks of the years 1846-53 the average number
wu 1,666.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height
of the barometer in the week was 29.041 in. The reading
of the barometer demos& hem 79•42 ice. at the beginning
of the week to 29-16 in. by soon on the tad ; remained at
about this reading till the evening, when it tamed to in-
crease, and wee 111114 in. at 9 It. a.m. on the 3rd; it
thus ;anal to discus.., sad passed to the point 29 ia. at
shut mialeight, end sins 2883 in. at 9 h. a.m. as the 6th ;
lI that tuned le ismeme, and repassed the point 29 in. at
abut 10k. at. on the 6th; and reached 2946 is. by 9 h.
am. on the 7th ; wee 29 in. at 10 h. 30 m. a m., and de-
ereassd to 1841 in. by the end of the week. The meat
temperature wee 394 deg., which is 64 deg. below
the average of the ease week in 38 years. The mum
dilly temperature was below the average on sooty lay
et
the week, mope Saturday, when it was 44 deg. ohne
it. Os k wee 9-8 deg below it, oa Noeday 11l
Ist on dew. 'The temperature then roes.
Oa Illetelitahtee reedbm wee sill 194 deg._ The
bale tieentled ea Teeday, and wee 1111 low
fh .
highest a'dlsgthe
iv aa de w
dseday row hits
204 eWs to r 9 de9tb of
Gas area the kowil, nod in pews it bed MOM to the
depth et we but. Oa Thiele" the somas et melted
sew Wes 010 fa.; bet tbh ieseearasurt hrehandllf
dam the real eatreat, es awe wield be blowsh* the
lbw te.the igth weelads ea ThewoA7.
wee =et the la
ir Ma dip wee

CITY SEWERS COMMISSION.
Yesterday a court wu held ; Deputy PEACOCK
is the chair. Dr. Letheby atteaded the sitting, iiod Made
some observations to jostifr his report en the quilt, of t►e
gas supplied is the city of Leadva.

TON iATN FALL OP SNOW.
• petition. signed by the four contractors for removing
tie dirt fres the streets. preying that they might not be
• hr having failed to clear away the snow daring the
laMse part of last work, end that the Thames, under similar
eiremaseamese, might, for the future, be used as a place
of bpeeft, was read by the clerk. Evidence, at
senaidassible length, was glens by the inspectors to the
**Ma that many of the principal, as well u nearly all the
bask Meseta, and emits, ad% alleys, were covered with
Nam lee several days, until permission bed been granted
by the lend Mayor to throw it into the river.
The issatnctors pleaded in mitigation of penalty the utter
Impossibility of making greater exertions to clear the streets
than they did, one of them having employed between fifty
sad ditty, another forty, and a third thirty carts in the
basin's. They also said that they bad had men end horses
at work night and day from Wednesday till the present
The inspectors admitted that two of the contractors bed
made every exertion is their power to fulfil their contracts,
which was en impossibility on account of the enormous
quantity of snow.
Mr. kiIIYWOOD, the city surveyor, said that on Wednes-
day morning there was no lees a quantity than 85,000 cart
leads of snow in the streets of the City, which no available
faros could have removed within the time required, and
that by the following morning 50,000 cart loads had been
thrown into the streets from the tops of houses.
Mr. H. L. TATLOII then moved that the contractors be
fined the following sums .—Mr. Drummond, 251.; Mr.
Gould, 1001. ; Mr. Reddia, 501. ; Mr. Rooke, 1501.
Deputy GODSON seconded the motion.
Various amendments were made and seconded, and after
• long discussion the following penalties were imposed
.-
61., 601., 501., and 751.

COLONIAL BANK.
__.._

The ordinary half-yeariy general meeting of the
proprietors of this bank, was held yesterday at the London
Tavern. Mr. CHAIILICS Cave presided in the absence of 1
Mr4Muriott, the chairman of the company.
Tin following statement of the financial position of the
arapasy to the 30th of June, 1853, was read by the Se-
ason
1, Debta.—Cisculatios, 185,3701. 15s. 10d. ; deposits and
liabilities, 1,042,4891. 17s. 6d. ; paid-up capital,
5000
1. ; fund to meet bad debts, 117,7211. 19s. Ild. ;
8,2131. 15s. 2,1. ; total, 1,873,7961. Bs. bd.
Amts.—Specie, 198,3721.8x.82. ; due to the Bank in the i
Colonic', on bills discounted and purchased, including
those past due, 712,1211. Bs. Sd. ; due to the Bank in the
Colonies, on cub credits and current accounts, 125,7361.
4s. 11d. • due to the Bank in London, on bills remitted,
cult at bankers, Ike., 827,7581.116.7 d. ; bank premises end
furniture, in London sad the colonies, 9,8041. 14e. 7d. ;
total, 1,878,7961.85. M.
The CHAIRMAN introduced the report which he said was
prepared on this, as on all previous occasions, with a strict
regard to the actual position of the company, and its present
aid fetus interests, but which he was 'Hippy to believe
was more in accordance with the wishes of the proprieten
than the statements which the directors had been able to
Nuke at former meetiegs.
The report, of which the following is a copy, was then
read and unanimously adopted :
" The directors point with satisfaction to the above state-
ment, showing the net profits of the half-year ending on
June 30, 1853, after making provision for all current, bad,
and doubtful debts, paying the income-tax, and setting
apart the cuatomsry amount towards the reduction of the
cost of bank premises, &e., smouat to 18,2131. ligs2il.
Out of these profits the directors, although not login sight
of the large sum still required to make gocd the heavy'
loss their capital some years since sustained, think that
the time his now arrived for giving effeot to the fre-
quently expressed wishes of the proprietors, by recom-
mending that a dividend of 2 per cent. for the six months
ending June 30 last, being at Pe rates or 4 per cent. per
annum, be now declared. (Cheers.) This dividend will
amount to 10,0001., after the payment of which, there will
remain the sum of 8,2131. 16s. 21. to go to the fund for
bad debts, which will then amount to 125,9351. 15i. 2d.
The accounts which the directors have received from the
breaches of the half-year's business now just concluded,
are satisfactory."
A resolution confirming the proposed dividend of 2 per
cent. for the half-year, free of income-tax was also passed,
and Messrs. Andrew Colville, William Davidson, James
Fletcher, Alexander Stewart, and Henry Bruce, who re-
tired from the direction, and Mr. John Bloxam, the pre-
vious auditor, having been reelected, a vote of thanks
was passed to the chairman, which concluded the business.

IMPROVED DWELLINGS.
-...._.

The average rental of good eight or six-roomed
Mom tbe suburbs—Gosh as Portland. Camden, sad
. . .

Kentish Towns, Camberwell, Kensningtoo, dec., Ike.,
61. per chamber, or 30/. for a six-roomed, or 401. for an
eight-roomed house, with kiteben asd weishhesise. These
homes, too, are finished with some pretensions to taste;
and, though aristocrats may smile at it, even to luxury.
Cendeets and luxury are comparative: a poor man can
lamellae in a clean, warm room, without excessive owns-
tameketion : • clean kitchen is a luxury: a waahhouse and
drilnosnam or ground are exceeding lu:curies—luxuries
the deli Minot appreciate, who have never at an evening
MIAS Ms reek of a week's washing, extended on lines
Ihressghoit the one sole living-room.
If, therefore, a small mansion or villa can be erected and
let at the rate of 61. per chamber, why should not houses
of plainer finish, adapted to the wants of simpler folks, be
erected and let at the rate even of 31. a chamber ?
31. a year would little exceed Is. per week, bat suites of
rooms constructed with recesses for beds (to separate the
sexes, or children from parents) might be erected even at •
much smaller oat; and such buildiags might also have
(if on a medium scale) common kitchen and washhouse,
with all the accessories essential to the health and comfort of
families. An able and practised architect wand the
writer that the cost of each suite of chamben, including a
good-sised sitting room, two sleeping compartments, toge-
ther with pantry, water laid on every finer, and the other
accessories, need not exceed 80/. Take the interest, then,
of 801., the outlay, at 6 per cent; it is 41. ; add thereto for
ground-rent, or usufruct of purchaee 21., and If
you ;like 21. more, or 26 per cent. profit, and
you have this convenient family abode for 81. •
year, or at • fraction under 3s. Id. • weak.
To secure, however, the most prompt and effective
re-
medy, the alteration and adaptation of old houses should be
g Ily retried out ; not that the middlemen of St. Giles's
or Clerkenwell could be prevailed on to let their tenures
at moderate rents: no, they make too good a thing of it;
but there are numerous houses and ranges which might be
rented by companies or solvent individuals at a reasonable
rate, and which, after alteration, repairs, and adaptation,
would leave to speculators a very large profit, securing at
the tame time to the labouring poor commodious and cheap
houses; this is the way, In this respect, to secant the
greatest good to the greatest number; it is what the con-
dition and circumstance of the age regaire, and any one
who enters into the calculation may be confident of the
results.

It cannot be denied that there is an objection very preva-
lent against lodging-hostas, which on a large scale look
like barracks. The very poor (sod the poorest are those
who mast dress well and keep up an appearance, such as
clerks, shopmen, sy, and even curates) think they must
occupy a house in terrace or row, so uto have a designs-
tion and address; bat this feeling will soon give place to
that prudence and common sense which led our countrymen
in Scotland to subdivide their houses in fiats. The French
have long been habituated to occupy large musicals in com-
munity. They first established the omnibus (a species of
conveyance that we at first ridiculed, but afterwards fell
in with). The Italian noble often lives in his attic, sub-
lets his palszzo, piano nosilis and all, keeping
the cellars only for the retail of wines, the
yield of his vineyards. Oa the comforts of home
depend the amenities of life : these are ever present with
us: they cement the domestic affections, humanise the mind,
elevate the morals, and shed a bright influence, which
perishes not with life, but descends to our children, even in
poverty. The asperities of home need no commentary be-
yond the daily reports of police-offices and criminal courts.
Repelled by irremediable discomfort, the parent lodgers too
often seek in the gin-palace what is denied at home; deser-
tion and neglect become habitual; health fails; and their
offspring, the early object of tender care and solicitudes, us
driven on a course of vice, crime, and retribution.
Here, then, is scope for the exercise of true philanthropy.
If this is a Christian country, the pious or the Church
ought to accelerate the movement: if we are only mer-
chants, shopkeepers, and speculators, the adventurous will
find a profit as well as "luxury is doing good."—Tho
Builder.

THE BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE
ISLE OF DOGS.
--4--

Extending all along the embankments, from the
miters to the western sides, are to be found the industrious
seats of Nome. •isf the most important metallic and futile and
chemical manufacturers indigenous to the metropolis.
There is As celebrated engineering establishment of
Messrs. Seword and Cape'', distinguished for the great en-
tent of its British and foreign contracts, and for the inven-
tion of the Cycloid.' paddle-wheel. There is the active and
crowded engiueering and iron ship-building establishment
of Messrs. Scot., Russell, and Co, from whence the war-
steamers Grappler and Mestere were launched, and where
the practical application of the wave-line theory of the
distinguished proprietor, one of the secretaries of the Great
Exhibition, is fully carried out. There are the extenaive
works of Messrs. klerewood and Rodgers, where iron is
galvanised; of Mr. Walker, where galvanised iron is
turned into houses for Australia; of Rutin° and Bova,
where the iron is turned into springs, and wheels
for railway carriages. Sir Charles Price and Co.
have still their old-established milli, where oil is
crushed from seed., and where spirits of turpentine
are distilled from Stokholm tar. Rope works are
there, where huge cables are made from Rigs hemp; and
rope works, where cables are made from iron wire. Blash-
field's works have for nearly forty years been known for
their manufactures of Roman cement, Portland cement,
plater of Paris, and useful and ornamental works in terra-
cotta. There are chemical works, where ammonia is pre-
pared from the bones of dead dogs ; smelting works, where
gold and silver are reduced from their ores; disinfecting
fluid works, where preparation, are made for pouring down
cesspools ; ironworks, where all the old iron of her Majesty's
dockyards is puddled into new rods and bars ; and,
finally, there are Messrs. W. Cubitt and Co.'s works, where
curious machinery is used for cutting wood; and where
bricks, cement, and drain-tiles are manufactured upon a
large scale. This island, so long a tract of barren and un-
productive mush land, and still the greater part of it 7 feet
below high-water level, is now in • flourishing condition.
It has a population of 5,000 people; • rateable property of
20,000!. in value; 630 houses; sixty manufactories; fora
places of worship; one or two good sehool-houses; ten ex-
cellent public-house; a doctor (no lawyer!) ; • house
agent ; a gas work ; an omnibus ; • post-office ; and a sta-
tion for the Thames police.—The Builder.

DEATH OE MAJOIL-GENERAL TATLOR.—We are
sorry to have to add another to the list of deceased general
officers in the person of Major. General Thomas William
Taylor, C. 8., Colonel of the 17th Lancers, end Lieut.-
Governor of the Royal Military College. Major-General
Taylor entered the army as cornet in the 6th Dragooe
Guards, in 1804, and after passing rapidly through the
junior grades of the cavalry service, became Brevet Lieut.-
Colonel on the 18th of June, 1816, having served during
the campaign, the great event of which took place on that
day. There are now three colonelcies (the 60th Rifles, 16th
Regiment, and.l7th Lancers) at the disposal of Lord Bar-
dingo, besides the Lieut.-Governorship of Sandhurst.
SNOW SQUALLS IN NORTH WALES.—The moult-
taiaons districts of North Wales have been ren-
dered completely impassable by the severe snow
storms and squalls which, during. last week, occurred
throughout the kingdom. For three days no delivery took
place of the London mails, the lines and roads were com-
pletely blocked up, and at one period three engines were
entirely embedded in a mew bank near Aber 100 men
being employed to clear the lines. The snow here was 16
feet deep, very considerably above the telegraphic lines. A
singular sight occurred in the vicinity of Penmaen Maur,
six trains being stationary at one tim-, neither able en ad-
vance nor recede. The station master at Conway dispatched
an engine to their aid, and, at different intervals, three
others, all of which were successively blockaded not far
from each other. The weather was tremendous, and the
wind blowing in brick squalls, the snow was drifted in
such masses that the drivers could not see beyond their en-
gines. One poor man lost his life near Conway while clear-
ing the snow. A train came up, and, owing to the snow,
made no noise ; while too late endeavouring to get out of
the way, the engine struck him on the back of the head,
fracturing the skull. He survived only a few hours. The
Chester and Mold line was impassable, a train containing
several magistrates and a number of witnesses on their way
to Mold, to appear at the sessions, being unable to proceed,
though powerful engines were employed. The poor in-
habitants of the mountains have suffered most severely.
In the Pass of Lbusberis, the cottager' being unable to leave
their dwellings, passed much of their time in bed. In many
instances She farmers narrowly escaped being frozen to
death, in vain endeavours to rescue their sheep, the poor
animals being buried by hundreds on the mountains.
THE BOOMERANG PROPELLER--111 the Southamp-
ton graving deck there is a screw steamer with a boomerang
propeller, the first that his been seen in Southampton
water. The vessel is named the Manilla, and is intended
for a collier in the China sem, for the Peninsular and
Oriental Company. The Manilla will carry nearly a
thousand toss of coal.
QUICK VOTACIT..—The Cololllbo, a screw-SWAM;
which took out the India mail from Southampton on the
20th ult., reached Malta in about eight days, after making
d stop at Gibraltar. The distance between Southampton
Mt Malta is 2,1112 miles. This is the quickest voyage to
Malls ever made.
THE WIZOK OP THE MERMAID.—The Sea Nymph
which wired at Liverpool yesterday morning,
teas captain (Robinson) and crew of the unfortu-
ip Mermaid; from Liverpool to Philadelphia, which
Aare on the Copeland', near helfastoeil4Ehleh
are Repast the send a total week, IyhignOtani
Mt the largo:width was "Fr *gam OD%
I &Wit is ea &nohow

• •

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