The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-08 00:00:00

STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

(From the ftegletrareienerars Quarterly Report.]
SOUTH Eastmax Demme
The cholera extended in Statue up the Thames to
Richmond, Kingston, and Chaney, and through Mitcham
south of Wandsworth to Croydon, but made no impression
on Epsom or the districts on and south of the Surrey Hills.
The population here enjoyed unusual health. At Leather
head, with a population of nearly 2,000, " no death," says
the registrar," has taken place since May 6, except of two
seven months children." The local sanitary committee had
every house examined, dunghills removed, drains laid down,
and privies moved to • distance from the dwellings. Farn-
ham was healthy, notwithstanding the bad drainage of parts
of the town, and the resort of thousands of strangers of the
poorest class to it during the hop-picking. In KENT, the
districts on the Thames, the Medway, and coestfrom Graves-
end, Milton, Rochester, and Chatham, to the Isle of Tieanet,
including Margate and Ramsgate, suff-red severely. The
deaths in Gravesend are on an average 127 in this quarter ;
they were in the lart quarter 640, of whist 193 were by
cholera. There are no available sewers, and the drainage
falls into rudely-constructed cesspools. The mortality of
Margate, Ramsgate, and the Isle of Usenet was more than
double the ge; so also was the mortality of Hastings in
Sussex; in Brighton the mortality was little less. All these
places, it will be borce in mind, were constantly interchang-
ing pa to of their population with London. Maidstone on
the Medway suffered ; but of 43 deaths from cholera in
Loose, one of its sub-distric s, all, except two or three, were
smone vagrants, chiefly Irish, who same into the parish of
East Farleigh to pick hope. In the Isle of Grain (Roo)
Folkston', and in several districtsin the itderior of Kere and
Sussex, the mortality was belsw, or not wove, the average.
Bantasenne.—The deaths its Windsor, Wokiegham, Read
ing, Bradfield, Wallingford, and Abingdon were somewhat
above the avenge; a certain number of cases occurred in
thew river-side districts. The mortality was low in Wantage
end Farringdon. Hamrsenut.—The deaths in Portant
Island, including Portsmouth, were 1,136; in Southampton,
479; ohLth is about three times the average. The mortality
in Purina Island was about 2 per cent., or at the rate of 8
per cent per annum of the population ; and in S eutbampton
less. The Wand (says Mr. Martin) is not two feet above
high. water mark, and pasts ere below; the drainage is bad
Alventoke, adjoining Pollee& Island, suffered ; so did South
Stoneham by Southampton, and Winchester, but the latter
•o a less ex eat. The mortality was double the average in
the Isle of Wight ; and the cholera chiefly affected Newport,
Cowen, and Ryde, on the aide of the island against Ports-
mouth and the Southampton waters ; the mortality was low
on the southern side. Many districts of Hccpshire ware
unusually healthy.
Solnix MIDLAND DIVISION.
MIDDLESEX.—Iu Bren:lord toe mortality was three times
the ge; and in Staines, the other district up the
Thames, there were many deaths trim cholera. Edmon-
ton and Barnet had many deaths ; but the other districts suf-
fered less. Mrrroltiniiitie—Royston and Hitchin. also
Ware and Hertford-en-the-Lea, and where the New River
has its source, suffered severely. So did Watford, ou the
railway. BECKINGHANSHIIia.—In Great Marlow-on-the-
Thames the mortality was doubled by cholera. High Wy-
combe also suffered. The other districts. except Rum, were
unusually healthy. Oxerottheninem—lo Oxford, on the
Isis, 39 persons died from cholera; but no deaths oceurr d
in six parishes where the street are wide and clean.
In Headington and Withey, also, a certain number
of dates occurred from stolen ; the other district, were
healthy, exempt Banhury,where 26 persons died of scarlatina.
NORTHARPTONSHIRS.—Northamptou has been affee•ed by
cholera, but the rest of the county, at well as HuNTINODON-
SHIRE and BEDFORDSHIRE, have ban healthy. A few
cases of cholera acd dive ma have occurred in particular
places, but the active sanatory measures employed (particu-
larly in Bedford) have kip: the di-ease in check. DAM-
BRIDOESHIRE.—Ia the Winbeach sub-distriot 80 tit aths
Irom cholera have been registered; and in North Witchforti
many. Both diidricts sre on the coast side of the Isle of
E:y. Cambridge itself and several of the remaining dis-
tricts have been healthy.

EASTIRN DIVISION.
Essex.—ln West Ham, east of B .w, and Romford on the
north side of the Themes. the deaths were 286 and 278,
dot Ole the average. Coolers was equally rife in R ,chford,
u:rtb of the Thames, at its mouth. In Oreett and Billericay,
intermediate districts bordering on the Thames, the 11107ta•
lity was not raised. Maldon, round the Blackwater, suffered
slightly; and in Ten4ring, extending north to the Stour, on
which the sea-port of Harwich is built, the mortality was
high. In Harwich the births were 28, the deaths 111. The
districts in the interior from Epping to Chelmsford and COl-
- and the other more rural districts, were healthy,
except Dunmow. The registrar cites an example in which
cholera appears to hay:" been conveyed into thie district trots
West Ham. SUPPOLK.—lpswich, which is generally an,
healthy, had 241 deaths, or somewhat shove the airings
number ; a few from cholera, which also destroyed several
lives at Lowestoft, in Mutford. Plomesgate and
Blything, on the coast, and Stow and Coeford in the
interior, were the only other districts of Suffolk in
which the mortality was slightly above the ge. Nou
FOLIC.—Yar nouth, Norwich, and Depwade, throne's which
the Eastern Counties Railway , and the two first con-
nected by the navieshl• river Ire:lrr are the only 'Ms in
which the mortality was sensibly above the average- A'
Yarmouth the mortality was not double the average ; and of
65 deaths from cholera in the northern sub-district, 18 were
'of persons landed at Yarmouth, from London vessels,
which had taken in water at the port. The r-st of the coast
of Norfolk, fenced by sand-banks and cliffs of sar.d and
gravel, on which the sea is encroaching, suffered nothing ;
and many of the districts in the interior of the county were
unusually healthy.

BOOTH WsOTYax DIVISION.
Wiltshire has presented great contrasts. Highworth,
Cricklade, Malmesbury, and Marlborourth have been 'tr-
ete• icily healthy ; so have Pe wsey and Amesbury on Sabi-
, bury Plain, which is naturally salubrious ; as well as Tie-
, bury and Mere, on the borders of Dorsetstore. Ciiippenhom,
Caine Davis',, hlelksh me, and Bradford had an excess of
Ideathi ; 30 deaths from cholera were raffish red in the
Devises sub-district, and the cholera visited Salisbury with
fearful violence. The population was 9,490 in 1841, and he
average deaths in the lour summer quarters (1845 8) were
48 ; in the summer quarter of 1849 the deaths were 263, of
which 161 were from cholera, 33 from diarrhea; 68 from other
causes. Salisbury is always an unhealthy place ; it is on slow
damp valley, in the midst of water meadows ; the courts
and alleys where the lower classes reside, are in a With,
state, and derive ao benefit from the general system of
cleansing carried on in the main streets. There is a mill-
dam ; " and any attempt," says Captain Denison, " to Ira
prove the general drainage, would be impracticable; it
would interfere with too many interests." The surround.
ing dirric•a of Wilton and Alderbury suffered ; at &Word,
the births were 22, deaths 63 ; 17 deaths from cholera, 12 from
diarrheas, aenerally in the overcrowded, small, badly -
yen limed houses. The Avon flows from Salisbury through
Forditigbridge,Ringwood,and Christchurch to beam. rd-
ingbridge was infected; Ringwood, lower down the river, and
Chrirchurch on the sea, as well as Lymington, were un-
usually healthy. Donsirentaz.—Taking tho coast dis-
tric's front the east,the Poole sub-district had 18 deaths from
cholera ; but only 45 deaths In all, out of 8,236 ie.babitanta
(1841) ; is the Wareham sub-district the mortality wee
elighthy above the average; in the Weymouth sub district
the deaths were 126 (51 from cholera) in about 10,290 inhk-
tanti. The mortality of the isle of Portland hat been tee...s-
olve through the year. In Bridport the deaths in the last
summer quarter were 108, somewhat above the avenge;
5 deaths from cholera are mentioned. Dorchester Beek,
king north of the Black Down, which separates it from
Weymouth, suffered to some extent ; but generally the
health of the districts of the interior was above he
average. Devorthainn.—The mortality has been higher
than the average in the districts on the south coast ,• Exeter
has suffered lightly ; in the city and the surrounding district of
St. Thomas a few deaths from cholera have occurred ; some
of pen me from Plymouth. In Newton Abbot, on the
Teign, the deaths were nearly doubled ; in one of its sub
districts, Torquay, 45 deaths from cholera were registered in
seven days, in the lower part of the town where the sewers
are in a bed state. In Plymouth and the adjiiiniog dia•riet
Prympthn St. Mary, East Stonehome, and Stoke Demerol,
containing 99,859 inhabitants (2,100 military) in 1841.
the deaths from all causes were 2.290. The
mortality was more than 2 per cent, or more than three
times the average of the season. The mortality of 2 per
cent, in the quarter is at the rate of 8 per cent. it. the year
In the beginning of June three cases, one :Tom an emigrant
ship, occurred in St. Andrew's, and about the Moe ban 9
deaths in the American Eagle lying in Plymouth Seurat,
two miles south of the town ; in July the epidemic broke
out, and raged in August and Serember with great viq.
lance over all the locality. Tavisttick district, north of Ply-
mouth, extending over Dartmouth Forest, suffered; hut
the cholera appears to have been very math confined to Buck-
land Monychornm next Plympton St. Mary, and to Tay.-
stack town. The mortality was below the average
rate in the districts of Central and of North Devon, ex-
cept in Barnstaple on the west coast, where the deaths
from all causes were only 190 in a population of 97,195
(1841). Scarlatina, diarrhea, and cholera were prevalent
in the lower parts of Ilfracombe, a healthy place, but a port
over against Swansea and Neath, where cholera was exces-
sively fatal. COANWALL—In St. Ckroians, next Plymouth
and the estuary of the Tamar, the deaths from all louses
were 306 (five times the average), is a population of 16,120 ;
in the little fithieg town of Kingelsod 93 died out Of a
population of 789. In Lisheard the mortality was doubled.
In Sr. Austell the deaths (277) were nearly tripled ; in
the Mevagiasey sub district the births were 16. the deaths
140 to a population of 5,218 ; the inhabitants left

the town. Truro end Fabnouth s--24611 attacked. but the death/ were not iciaed &ore lin 60 per Nat Heiman. Penzance, and the Scilly Ithitiql
the south-west, with Launceston, Castellani, and
in the northeast, were exceedingly healthy.
81118.11 The mortality has been below the na an
severs' districts of Boersetsbire; but Bridaewatee
to soma extent tram cholera; so did Wells, &trap IbL" end Clucton, lying between the Parrot and the Ave% T. Xeynahans and Bath, on the Avon. the mortality was 110
about 60 per cent. by cholera; in Bedmiester
the ,
from Bristol by the Avon, the deaths (440) weft trip&i..72
mortality about 1 per sant., or at the rate of 4 pee soTt.
per SIIMAIS.

SHEFFIELD ATHENEUM
BAD HECHANIcsi
11

opening of th. la..
NebGrateSotlhßeEll.
guished and numerous company. Tteunas D.,
A public sOireeOPtolaloeil
who was received with (led
stirution, took place in the Atheneum Booms, Surtey * -
yintsairodaucttoeyhat
srherfisinus,
and
isit.l
Sheffield, on Tuesday last, when the members were h- .
by a distin
Eaq., of fibeffield, occupied the chair, sad after au ia
tort':epTlpi l
aehaveup
are ;eh
la
Earl
l after t:y
CARLISLE,sasame
introducedtruly said
mingham ware almost the only towns over the gidi
er indeed l4
111121.141
canopy of which the blast of the pesUlooe. Ntiisi
fa
a moment to poanised
itself,
briht and then
in fiul
ap away
pheres ci
which seem to be more susceptible of the belief:l Worse
This was so much the ca.e tkat some persons have tr,a - vak
the works in iron sad steel upon which the indwtsioyN.
tives of these two towns are so constantly employed, ay is
sow ke of their countless furnaces were in thwaselrea ne.
servatives against the disease. I would not I eve yva;;j:
too confidently upon any suck theory. I renewer
n.."'"
in this very town telling you that the patron ""'
smithies, forges, and furnaces—the old god Vulc.n,
to the- ancient mythology—was married to the wake
healthowthch il .—b(icahnecehresd) —sao nad
inhoyweetheotr
cheeks
ilia: yvibett.,mila es:
beauty ; but I never heard of cis being wedded to thole
dpemst
many lb eats amongst a large portion of the tcwns and mike
of England cannon be looked upon as merely
as even if the cholera itself should not return in its gig
hateful lorm, we know from the greatest gracumultbee g
experience that dinar s of the same kind, that ten,
and fever are produced by the same causes, that theglieli
the same localities, and stake down the same viefiall
would only most earnestly exhort you ail to take alee
from yourselves, to act upon your own experience, sad by it,
tension in time to sanitary precautions, by pettiog senate
..rains In streets, and alleys, and courts where there argue
at present, by the removal of nuisances, by the adraineg
fresh air into your rooms, and pure water intoyour human
take what will be the beat preservatives, under the Anew,
blaming, against the introduction of the revive of this di.
order. (Cheers.) Now I must beg your pardon if what 11101
said may seem in my position to smell too mach of to
shop (laughter and cheers) though I mw: hake
f.restune to say that I do not think there is so much wsat el
connexion as may be at first apparent between tie saile
on w huh I have now ventured to touch and the melee
which more especially make the bushiest of tl is even
That purpose—it I rightly interpret it—is to at apsn e
throw open, and to conmerwe a temple, as it were, fie rot
lectual improvement and lot' mental enjoyment (gars,
hear.) But it is not from the languid bed of sicknenie
not from the troubled couch of fever, it is not from ne
g.oorny chamb.rs ut death that we can expect to dumdum
lul votaries of intellectual and mental progrem. (lieu.) lii
vigorous exercise of the judgment, the buoyant play of %Is
fancy, the elastic impulses of tho soul, require t ealthy est
um:liaised organs tor their lull display sod d.velopeest
The mind and body will almost in every ease—thouga los
are brifsiant exceptions—but the general rule it,tl at the mild
and body will be found to re act upon each otter, and the
who most promote the enlightened care of the physical area
will most truly advance the use and esjoyment of !iteration
and moral faculties, (Rear, hear.) The undr.ined alley,
the unventilated room, and the impure atutobpnera te Whet
I have alluded wit but serve to irritate the tempers ler whet
we trust bele to provide serene enjoyment, and to clog sal
debase the energies for which we shall endeavour hew h
furnish fit opportunity and congenial nurture. Now,willite
ape ct to the general objects of such an institw ion sinning
have I more to say I—fe hat have I to say in addition to gild
may have already said iu this town ? There are . thers km
to whom this meeting is likely to 'Wen with high gnlii.
cation and useful instruction. To them, fp-title:nen, lad
Jingly would devolve the tan of further enlightening sad
electing you. It has been long thought to be the pelt*
of the peerage to be dignified and quiet—(lsughtu sad
cheers)—and so far at least as the present octanes it
concerned I do no: feel inclined to waive the ptivilege
which belong to me. (Renewed Laughter and cheer')
But as we tie here in one chamber, as they de
row at Paris, only I hope we form a more orderly se.
semblage than theirs—(hear, hear)—and the lays d
the concert which has been provided for us, and tie ii.
' perience wo have already had of the powers of the musk*
prove it must be a more harmonioue one—(laughter)—l
would take, bet re I conclude, this opportunity of rang
to you that no one in this circle around m'—so ou is
the whole extent of this well.proportigned apartment—se
one in this town, can go beyond me in the most ordifl
' wish that every kind of proaperity may attend this ma.
' bined institution, w.d in entreating of you who heft as,
and all to whom what I say may in any way reach, to
uphold and beiriend them with a liberal and distrait
nacing, and persevering support. (Cheers.) Do this, ir,
do this, ladies and gaud maen. Di it in gratitude; for I
would call upon you whose lot in life may penes enable
you, when the drudgery of the bu mess of the day is
done, to retire to your comfortable—perhaps some of you
to your luxurious abodes—and find, when you haw
enriched yourselves upon your easy arm-chair by yon
well piled fire, the day's newspaper or the last review to
help the leisurely pr .cess of your digestion, or may remise
your well-stored b.ok-shelves for the rich maguand
.bought and the self cted treasures of ages which they tote
Alin, I would exhort one and all of you to r. member 11110il
is for whom the se commodious coffee rooms, libraries, sal
lecture rooms are intended for the purple of promoting their
moment re. re ati.n or useful instruction. Why, it is er the
hard worked—it is in intention, and I hope Is Is to a gent
extent in tr. silty, for the hardworked eons of toil, fur the se
t.ficers and architects of your own wealth, for the Wend
your enjoyment, for the highly-wrought sinews and our.
wrought brain which compose the wonder working Watery
of Bagland, it is for those and for them that your liberal
is now claimed. (Cheers.) I have said do this en gradate.
Do this in prudence also. The prosperity of &talent may
wax or wane ; for trade, like love—

Spreads its bright wings and be &moment dies.
I do not upon an occasion like this seek to enter °maul
local question or upon any local controversies; but I matte
allowed to remind you that there can be no ad sim
guarantee of the prosperity, the peace, and the renown d
your own Sheffield as to keep the bulk of its pogellslel
occupied, orderly, cheerfeu, and apt to be phased. (Cbsetel
As your chairman has very properly ientioded you, life
is serious things, and they must suggest themselves to a*
mind. Life, the world, and the world beyond, etch the
chime and duties, in front of which all else is u Dodd*
But our purpose here and now is with a subsi iuy taw'
our to amuse the leisure, to refine the taste,
strengthen the understanding, to stimulate rill
where it may exist, to borrow its lustres ad is
communicate them where they would otherwise be U.
known. He who makes himself meet acquainted end
the ornaments, the 'legumes, the soft humeni ies sheet
t row a spell even on ibis rude and jarring world of an
will be least inclined to disturb its social order. (Chat..)
He who has toted moat the rich flavour of knowledge '
' be the least tempted to lose the precious hours of time is*
haunts of drunkenness and impurity. (Cheers.) Beet.
has mastered most sad comprehended most of the !lanced
the past and the capacities of the present, will he brut gash
lied to digrity and adorn the future. Well, thee, ladies sed
gentlemen, we have met here to celebrate and continue et.
union of these two institutions, the Sheffield Atha.***
tie Sheffield Mechanics' Institute—a Grecian and all Bar
lush name. May they both in their annals hence'ortka
they new do in their names, combine the arts and aro*
plishments which every grace and every muse conferr.dupel
:he ancient Athens, and the needy sense, the patient lad*
•ry, the noble enterprise, the household virtues, and the to
iegious trust which I fervently pray may long be tbe
racteristies of our honoured lingland. (Loud and protrated
applause.) _

- -
Mr. ROEBUCK, on rising, was vociferously and mel
wily cheered. After the plaudits had subsided, he said:
This, sir, I em told, is a Mechanics' Institute. las
glad to hear it, and I will tell you why. I have asked
myself why we have met. I have been told it is
Mechanics' Institute: what Is the meaning of that? lite
if rue. will allow me, sir, I will say that I think I haw
paid some attention is the great business of our lives bete,
end I will tell you why I think this is a mater of jet-
port...nee. Into this world we have imported a eel
lament. In the olden time—in three bright eras which„
I have no doubt the noble lord at my right hand well
knows of—the days of classic literature and law, who
repuSlics were talked of and were in being, there was
people. But in this monarchy of ours, which is WI/
much decried because it is not a republic— :sid I am jag
u much that way Inclined ea meat men—in this monarch!,
I say, I fired a great element which did not is. it WOO,
and that is the piople. (lieu, hear.) Biome time rises
there was a great and a good, a ben. ficent, • baievilest
man—l am sure I may so speak of Dr. B.rk b. ck (aPP110")
—he saw the new element which was i^aveduced into w•
cisty, and he most wisely said, Let us see it we can't soars'
this new element in the favour of good government sod
peace and happiness. And for that purpose he endi aroma
to introduc. Mechanics' Institutes. Re did do so. 11s
established them throughout the country. And pa
sir, have mentioned a period of some ram WI
very far lenge, than I like to remember, ttimeg"
do remember them—(lsughter)—the period when be
teoduced and established this assembly—this very Me;
chinks' Institute which I have now the honour. of,
addressing :he created a Mechanics' Institute—fa WO'
purpose ? For this, sir. "As in ordinary life we
1
combined towers to serve our other interests—as we 11_,
clubs and vatious other means to provide fur our Ot,
and oar social rest ea' ions," he said, " let us m mbme
many he del monster, as it is called, of the ptiple. lig
to
in his small might maintaining that which we desis.
advance, let him contributes to the educivion of his clee"
thus combining that which the increased knowledge of
.
mankind has enahled us to do, brioging tog,ther all T.L.r.
separate powers in that which is called a Mechanics' 4'2