The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-05 00:00:00

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE

WEEK.

( From the Registrar-aenerars Report.)
The mortality of the metropolitan districts continues
to increase. The deaths, which in the two previous
weeks had been 975 and 1073, rose in the last week of
November to 1,124. The number of deaths last week is
less by 137 than would have occurred if the rate of mor-
tality had been as high as it was, on an average, during
the corresponding weeks of the last 10 years.
The weekly deaths in November have been, taking
the averages, 126 more than they were in the preceding
month ; and the mean temperature of November has
been lower to the extent of about 9 degrees than that of
October.

There died last week 547 males and 577 females. The
number of males corresponds exactly with that of the
previous week, and, therefore, the increase (amounting
to 51) in the total deaths arose entirely in the female
part of the population. Fatal cases of disease of the re-
piratory organs (excluding phthisis) have been since the
middle of May less numerous than those referred to dis-
eases of the zymotic class, and in part of summer the
former were little more than a fourth of the latter. The
proportions are now reversed, and last week zymotic dis-
eases numbered 207, while complaints of the respiratory
organs were fatal in 234 cases. This effect is duo chiefly
to bronchitis, the deaths from which were 123. In
pneumonia, which numbers 84, hardly any increase is
apparent. looping-cough was fatal in 29 eases, small-
pox in 10, measles in 25, typhus in 27, scarlatina in 62.
Four deaths from the last-mentioned complaint are re-
turned from Kensington, all of them, except one, having
occurred in the " Potteries." Four occurred also in
Somers Town, where the registrar complains that cleans-
ing operations have been greatly neglected by the pav-
ing board, under whose management part of his dis-
trict was placed. A labourer, aged 53 years, died of
cholera, after 47 hours' illness, in Fuller's-rents,
Cotton-street, Poplar. Fifteen women died of fever or
other illness incidental to child-bearing. A girl, seven
years old, died from drinking, , a quantity of sherry
being ignorant of its effects.'

Last week the births cf 823 boys and 787 girls, in all
1,615 children, were registered in London. In the ten
corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54 the average
number was 1,415.

At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the barometer
rose to 30 20 in. on Monday. The mean reading of the
week was 29.969 in. The mean temperature was 39.5
deg., which is 2.3 deg. below the average of the same
week in 33 years. The mean temperature was higher
towards the end of the week than at the beginning, but
was below the average on every day, except Wednesday.
The highest temperature occurred on Tuesday, and was
46 deg. ; the lowest occurred on Monday, and was only
29.1 deg. The lowest of the water of the Thames on
that day was 40.7 deg. ; the mean temperature of the
river iu the week was 42.1 deg. The mean dew-point tem-
perature was 36.1 deg., and the difference between this
a.id the mean temperature of the air was 3.4 deg. The
wind which had been in the north changed to south-west
ou Saturday. With the exception of 801110 misty rain
on two or three days none fell in the week.

---
, MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS
NUMEER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED
IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DEC. I.
Z3rmotie Diseases 207
Diseases of Uncertain Seat 47
Tubercular Diseases ................... . 197
Diseases of the Brain. Nerves and genses
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of
Respiration... ......................................... 0q i
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other 0
rgam,
of Digestion . ........... .~
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. ...............
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, an MusC
Diseases of the Skin, &c. .............
Malformations
Premature Birth and Debility
i.e.
Atrophy 25
Old Age
Sudden .................... .............................. .34
44
.. . .......
Violence, Privation Cold, a
Causes not specified' and Intemperance 24
12

DEATHS FRQM ALL CAlISEB
Population Deaths in cone- Deaths
Enumerated, sponding week in the
1851. of 1854. Week.
West Districts ...... 376,427
North Districts...... 490,396
Central Districts 393,256
East Districts 485,522 327
South District 3
...... 309

Totals
2,362,236 1,350 1,124
Males.... ..... 547
Females ............................................... 577
BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.
Ma1e5....................................... 828
Females 787

1
Total ,615

Ti.7JE RBRarsir.

ea old Romans decred civic crown to him
who had saved a citizen's /ife in battle. What
honour has our Government in store for the hero of
the following glorious deed, recorded by our own
reporter in his account of the late terrific explosion
in the camp before Sebastopol ?
Immediately after the first great explosion, when
was ascertined that the windmill itself—which form 4
our main magazine in this part of the camp, and
contains some 180 tons of powdtr—had escaped, Gea.
Straubenzee, who ccrntnands the brigade, hurried up to the
tents of the 7th Fusiliers, and asked if any of the men
would volunteer to mount the wall of the mill and cover
the roof wet tarpaulins and blankets as a protection
against the thickly-flying sparks and burning wood.
Now, the concussion had literally thrown the roof off
othietioleldspbrueialddiinngs,fialunies,
d there it stood in the very centre
exposed every minute to a thou-
sand chances of instantaneous destruction. Hardly any-
thing could exceed the danger attending such a labour
as the general proposed, but, notwithstanding, Lieut.
Hoe (senior) and 25 men at once responded to the briga-
oncr s appeal and proceeded tothe powder-crammed build.
ing. A sergeant and sonic men of the Rifles, with also a
party of the 34th Regiment, were induced to accom•
pany them ; and, within ten minutes from the first great
blow-up, Mr. Hope was on the walls of the mill piling
the wet coverings over the exposed powder-boxes—ex-
ploding shells and burning wood flying through the air
in perfect storms the while. Whilst the officer and
some half-dozen of the men were thus employe.), the
remainder carried water to throw upon the blankets and
bare rafters of the mill, and in little more than half an
hour this vast pile of powder was as well protected
from the thickly flying sparks and rockets as it could
be, short of entire removal from the scene of the con-
flagration. The danger, however, was still great, for a
shell might at any moment penetrate the textile co-
verings and send the whole into the air, spreading
around destruction and death, compared with which tl e
injury already done would have been as nothing. The
troops were therefore kept as far :is possible from the
scene of the fire till late in the evening, when it had so
expended its fury as to give less ground for apprehen-
sion. For the most perilous service which he had so
bravely and efficiently rendered, Lieutenant Hope was
publicty thanked by General Straubetiz -e and the colonel
• of his can regiment on Thursday morning on parade ;
and I, for one of runny, sincerely hope that his daringly
meritorious conduct will not be allowed to pass without
further reward. Had the contents of the windmill ex-
ploded, we should not now be reckoning our killed and
wounded by tens, but by hundreds, for experienced en-
gineer officers declare that hardly a living thing in the
whole Light Division could have escaped destruction.
This narrative appeared in our impression of
Thursday last, but we re-publish it in this promi-
nent position for the purpose of forcing it upon the
notice of Lord Pannaure. The incident is the theme
of conversation in all circles. It is the universally
expressed sense of the London public that Lieu-
tenant Hope and his twenty--five gallant voluntee: s
deserve special notice and distinguished reward.
From another source we learn that at the moment
of the explosion, Lieut. Hope, who was the only
officer of his regiment left in camp at the time,
with a degree of self-possession beyond his years,
seized the bugle and sounded the " Assembly "
for the men to fall in and parade. The self-pos-
session and promptitude of resource thus evinced
combined with his subsequent fearless and generous
self-devotion, show that he is the true metal to
make a leader of. His coolness and judicious con-
duct in such au awful and unforeseen emergency is
a far more real proof that he possesses the highest
qualities of a soldier than mere gallantry in action
could be. The honour reflected on his fancily by
Lord Hopetoun of Peninsular fame (Mr. Hope is
the only son of the Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland)
will be augmented yet by his young relative. The
truly brave are always the most ready to assert
the claims of others. We feel confident that any
reward conferred upon Lieutenant Hope would
lose great part of its value in his estimation, if the
brave and devoted men who volunteered along with
him were not rewarded at the same time.—Daily
News.

INSPITUTION FOR TIIE IigLIEF OF

DEAFNESS.

The annual meeting of the subscribers and friends of
the above institution was held in the committee-room,
Cherry-street, on Thursday last ; T. R. T. Hodgson,
Esq., Mayor, in the chair.
Amongst those present were the Rev. J. C. Miller,
rector of St. Martin's, J. F. Ledsam and Wm. Lucy,
Esqrs., Messrs. J. Dadley, J. 0. Mason, John Allday,
J. C. Wynn, J. Seeking, W. Dutton, and other
gentle-
men.

The MAYOR, in opening the business, said that the
meeting, although small and select, was nevertheless
one of considerable importance, having for its object the
interest of what he believed was a very valuable institu-
tion. It was the first public meeting over which he had
had the honour of presiding since his election, and he
need not say it afforded him pleasure to be in any way
instrumental in forwarding that or any other of the im-
portant charitable institutions of the borough by which
any portion of his fellow-townsmen might be benefitted.
He did not know much of their institution, but be
believed it bad been eleven years in existence, and
during that time had conferred very great benefit upon
numerous persons of with deafness, a malady
which they all knew was next in severity to that of
blindness. He was happy to learn that the institution
bad steadily increased from its commencement, and that
during the past year it bad still further progressed ; in-
deed he felt confident it only required to be known to
be appreciated and rendered capable of conferring groat
advantages upon many of the working clasees.
Mr. J. 0. MASON read the report of the committee,
and the statement of accounts for the past year, and
in doing so said he much regretted the absence from in•
disposition of Mr. William Chance, jun., who had been
honorary secretary of the institution since its commence-
ment, and had really rendered it the utmost service.
That gentleman had taken a deep interest in the welfare
of the institution, and he felt confident that no one
could have evinced more zeal in the promotion of the
undertaking. With respect to the report, it was highly
satisfactory, and reflected great credit on Mr. Dufton,
the surgeon, who bad rendered very essential service to
many poor persons afflicted with deafness, and who
could not purchase the skill and ability that gentleman
had exercised in their regard. It appeared from the
report that not fewer than 2,869 cases had been treated
in the institution since its establishment, that 154 per-
sons had been cured during the past year, 110 had been
considerably relieved, and 27 were deemed incurable.
The total number of persons who had received benefit
from the institution since the last annual meeting was
291. The cash account was also favourable, showing,
as it did, a balance in hand of 74/. 13s. 59.
The Rev. J. C. MILLER moved the adoption of the
report, and after congratulating the committee on the
satisfactory state of the finances of the institution, the
balance being, contrary to usage, on the right side of
the account, proceeded to observe that although the
meeting was small and select, yet it was important.
It was indispensably necessary that the anniversary
meeting of such an institution should be kept up, and
as much publicity as possible given to its proceedings
through the medium of the press. He would observe
that the real value of an institution was not always to
be mea,ured by the prominence it assumed before the
public, for although some institutions might he able to
exhibit a long list of names of patrons and directors,
r yetsults
they could not always boast of great practicalaamet to sup.
such as the institution they were that
would.. row? g continue
port. He hoped the institution
he felt assured the untiring devotion d
its hold upon the sympathies of the philanthropic, tr h. ro p
Dutton andto
diseasesfmfamily
h oa fd the
beenea r
greatlyf o r h
dtalitie.mli.nstirituet(!omnr.um,asillerlsceorruilndgboefarthteesir.
ttihtnetposrtogcroemssmeonf
The clergy bad
a peculiar
in promoting the success of such an institution
lttiunrwnYt htaot hiem egmrbeeartsof efficiencyisoal,no
a unusual thing to bear those who lived in
for it was 11
ibnetneerfiesttedbyhis treatment.
the continual neglect of the means of grace allege as
their reason for non-attendance at the places of Divine
worship their inability to hear the cervices of the sanc-
tuary. Indeed it was only the day before he had to at-
tend a sick man who could not hear what be said to him,
and it was indeed most unpleasant under such circum-
stances to have to speak at the top of one's voice into
the ears of an afflicted person. It afforded him great
pleasure to be able thus publicly to testify to the great
utility of the institution.
J. F. LEDSAM, Esq., seconded the resolution, which
was put and carried.
Alderman LUCY moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Dufs
ton, and in doing so complimented that gentleman upon
his great zeal in behalf of the institution, and his very
successful treatment of the cases submitted to his care.
A gentleman et Manchester, who had a daughter deaf
wrote to him (Alderman Lucy) to know if he could re-
commend Mr. Dufton as one to whom he could confide
the cure of his daughter. He replied that be could do so
with safety, and the result had been highly satisfactory.
The young lady had been under the most skilfultAClnrowt,
in Manchester and London without effect, c
hbaun
owing to Mr. Dutton's treatment, a decided change
forward
ultimately the better had taken place, and theya k
ultimately to a still greater relief being
which was put
Mr. J. DADLEY seconded the motion,
and carried unanimously.
and took occasion to
the Institution WAS
lfforded.
Mr. DUFTON returned thanks,
absence e of Mr.W.Chance,
deeply indebted for hisragrae se at
rvices.
The seat, the Rev. J. C.
etoxpNtr'ehsosiu hish e greatl
could regretwith cthteresieta_Vbvs s
The Mayor having
Miller was called thereto, and thanks having been voted
to the Mayor for his conduct in the chair, his Worship
briefly returned thanks, and added his Lame as an annual
to the institution. Aris' Birmingh,cm
Gsuabzseteireier
.b

SIIORT-TIME MOVEMENT IT OLDHAM.—We understand
that about thirty firms, producing an aggregate of about
120,0001 b. of yarn weekly, have signed a declaration t
work from breakfast time till dark for one month.
INlany other:, who decline to sign, say that they will join
the movement should it become general. It is state d
that Messrs. 'Worthington and Saus, of Hollinwood
Messrs. J. Brideoake and Brothers, of Waterb.ead,
Messrs. Radcliffe and Sons, so far as regards `bol4
looms, commenced working short time two or ?rcl
weeks since. It is pretty certain that on Mondiaivmber
d.T`
u
there will be a commencement of short time by %I
to l
of firms,. but to what extent it will reach ri
Been,_manchretcr Guardian.

ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES•

The following are extracts from the American
papers (brought by the Asia) on the alleged
threatened difficulties with Great Britain.

The New York Daily Times of Nov. 20 says :
The Chamber of Commerce had a special meeting
yesterday to discuss our threatened difficulties with
Great Britain. It was stated that Lord Palmerston
had assigned the suspicious circumstances connected
with the barque Maury as the reason why the British
West India squadron bad been strengthened ; and the
meeting was held ostensibly to discuss and investigate this
rumour. We adhere—in spite of semi-official assurances
to the contrary-7to the belief we have repeatedly ex-
pressed, that it is in regard to Mr. Crampton that the
two Governments are most at variance. Whatever other
misunderstandings may exist this is the one upon which
the collision is most direct. Our Government charges
the British Minister with improper conduct involving
the violation of our laws—and desires his recall, as also
the withdrawal of the consuls implicated in the same
misconduct. The British Government, on the other
hand, regards our treatment of its representative
as grossly unjust, unfriendly, and in violation
of the courtesy which should always govern the
conduct of friendly powers. Upon this point the
two governments are directly at variance ; and we
are confident that the withdrawal of Mr. Crampton
will be found an indispensable condition to an amica-
ble adjustment of the controversy. We have no doubt
that the whole difficulty will be adjusted, and that, too,
without any loss of dignity or honour on the part of
either country. As to war between England and this
country for any such frivolous cause as this nobody
believes it possible. Even if the two governments
were so insane as to dream of such an issue, the people
of both countries are too wise and tio powerful to per•
mit it.

The New York Herald, of the same date, says :
Our difficulties with England have no reference to the
Central American question, but are narrowed down to
Mr. Cushing's instructions to the District Attorney of
Philadelphia, of which such a handle has been made by
the English press. It is stated that when Mr. Cushing's
letter reached London an immediate demand for an ex-
planation was made to our Minister, and orders were at
once issued to reinforce the British West India fleet.
The Cabinet at Washington is, as usual, hesitating as to
the course to be decided upon, and the whole question
now turns upon the probabilities of the President being
able to make political capital out of it by backing up
Cushing.