The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 123 1855:

THE SICK OF THE HIMALAYA.

At the usual. fortnightly meeting of the guardians cf
the poor of the Portsea Island Union, held at the Poor-
house, Kingston, Portsmouth, on Wednesday evening
last, the 10th inst., at which were present, Mr. J. F.
Pratt, J.P. (chairman), Mr. Alderman Levy (vice-chair-
man), and Messrs. Dore, Hannam, Batchelor, King, J.
Jolliffe, White, Saunders, Rout, Parker, Daw, Newlyn,
and Howell (guardians), and Mr. Devereux, solicitor
(clerk to the board), attention was called to the death of
John Williams, a seaman, who had been landed from the
Himalaya. This seaman had died seven hours after his
admission into the workhouse, and his death, according
to the records of the house, d taken place from " ex-
haustiOn and neglect."
In answer to Mr. Levy, Mr. Miller, the governor of
the union-house, stated that the deceased was admitted
in accordance with an order from the relieving officer,
and that he was a Welshman.
Mr. Howell—l should like to ask why the coroner
of this borough did not hold an inquest on the body.
Mr. Miller—The coroner said he saw no necessity
for it.
Mr. Howell—Did you write to him on the subject I
Mr. Miller—No ; I had a personal communication
with him in reference to the matter.
Mr. Howell—What was the answer he gave you, or
the reason he assigned for not holding the inquest ?
Mr. Miller—He said he saw no necessity for it.
Mr. Howell —And the medical officer said that the
man had died from exhaustion and neglect ?
Mr. Miller—l shall bring you the book and show you
the medical officer's report.
Mr. Howell Raid he knew the usages on board some
of the merchant ships, and he thought it highly neces-
sary that such a case as the present should be fully in-
vestigated.
The dispensary book was here produced, and the
chairman read from it the following entry, signed by
Joseph Bull, the house surgeon of the union :
" January 3.—John Williams, aged 24, admitted at 8
p.m., and died at 4 a.m. of January 4 from exhaustion and
neglect on his passage from the Black Sea, and while on
board the Himalaya. Allowed 3 ounces of wine. Other-
wise he bore the appearance of a fine strong man, and or-
ganically healthy.
Mr. J. Jolliffe—How soon did the surgeon see the man
after his admission to the house
Mr. Miller—The surgeon was immediately sent for,
and be saw him within an hour.
Mr. Dore—l have seen the burial certificate of the
medical officer in reference to the deceased, and it says
that the man died from exposure on land and likewise
from neglect during his passage home. The certificate
is signed by J. Bull,* and (addressing Mr. Miller) did
not the man say he had nothing during the last two
days—that the only thing he had was a drop of cold
water ?

THE PROGRESS OF BIRMINGHAM.

The year that has pa;se:l aff7,rds no unpleasant re-
trospect so far as the social and sanitary improvement
and the material progress of Birmingham is concerned.
There have been few parallels to it in the old world at
least. Within the last half century the town has al-
most increased in size fourfold. When the nine-
teenth century began, Birmingham consisted of only
some 15,600 houses ; its population was about 73,000.
During the first 40 years after there were many
alterations of prosperity and adversity, bad trade,
and poverty. But, taking the average, we find that the
yearly increase of houses, was about 608, with an addi-
tion of 3,000 to the population per annum. For the ten
years ending March, 1851, when the last census was
taken, ►the average increase of houses was about 890
every year, and an annual augmentation of the popula-
tion of nearly-5000. Since that period our progress has
been more rapid still. In 1852 nearly 3000 houses
were erected, equivalent to an additional population of
about. 15,000 souls ; in 1853 no less than 3784 houses
were built, giving an increased population of about
14,000 persons ; andnow that 1854 has passed away we
are enabled to show that although the great increase of
the two preceding years is not altogether maintained,
yet that our progress is steady, and very satisfactory.
A return of the building plans registered with the
borough surveyor, according to the Improvement Act,
from the Ist of January to the 31st of December, 1854,
shows this ; and for the sake of contrast wo give the
corresponding statement of the year preceding :

1853. 1854.
Houses .
Chapels
Synagogues
Schoolsl 5
Manufaotories
Warehouses
.
Workshops 3B
Sets of offices 4
Founlries
Casting shops
New shop fronts
Show room
Saw-mill . 1
Bakery .. 1
Machine-houses
Dancing-roam
Lecture-room
Music-ha11.
Savings-bank
Baths .. 0 - 1
Slaughter-hoaxes
Stables
Coach-houses 0
Alterations and additions

The number of houses built during the last year, there-
fore, is equivalent to an additional population of about
11,000. Taking the number of houses, then, altogether,
as the basis of data, we find that the population of Bir-
mingham at the present time must be upwards of
272,000 persons. And while alluding to the material
progress of the town, it must not be forgotten that
there have been hundreds of houses springing up on
every side beyond the limits of the borough, which are
excluded from the above return. Probably we should
not be far wrong la estimating these at an additional
1,000 dwellings. We find also that industry has not
suffered to the extent which had been apprehended by
the disturbing influences of the war. In warehouses
and workshops, and premises for retail trades, there
had been a marked increase. _

But it is not merely in material wealth alone that the
vitality of the community has been developed. Chapels
and schools are making progress ; that higher education
than mere elementary instruction is being imparted by an
institute, the complete organisation of which we hope by
this time next year to be able to record ; and while some
attention has been paid to the cultivation of the intellect
and the improvement of morals, there are indications
that the amusement of the people will not be forgotten.
Sanitary measures have not been neglected ; and the
charities of Birmingham have been neither few nor insig-
nificant. The year that has gone has been one of great
mutations and some privations. This community has
well sustained its individual part among the other great
towns of the kingdom. The year that has dawned brings
with it, however, many things to be accomplished, which
should have been done in that which has passed away.
Amongst other things, whro are the parks for the people,
and their free libraty ?—Birmingham Journal.

SPURTING 'INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S—TauRSDAY.

The room was thinly attended, and only a limited
amount of business was transacted.

BANK RETURNS.

Ross Old Bank, 'Herefordshire, Ross— Mac-
dougal and Allaway
saffron Walden and North,Essex Dank, Saffron
alden—Gibsons and Co.
Salop Bank, Shrewsbury—Burton, Lloyd, and
•
o
Scarbor,:, ask Old Bank, Scarborough—Woodall
and Co.
Shrewsbury Old Bank and Shrewsbury and
Ludlow Bank, Shrewsbury—Rocke, Eytons,
and Co.
Sittingbourne and Milton Bank, Sittingbourne
—.Yallar_ce and Co. •
Southampton Town and County Bank, South-
ampton—Maddison and Pearce •
Southwell Bank, So athwell—Wylde and Co
Southampton and Hampshire Bank, Southamp-
ton—Atherley, Fell, and Co.
Stone Bank, Stone—W. Moore
Stafford ,Old Bank, Stafford—Stevenson and
Co.
Stamford and Rutland Bank, Stamford—Eaton,
Cayley and Co.
Shrewsbury and Welshpool Bank, Shrewsbury
—Beck, Downward, and Co.
Taunton Bank, Taunton—H. and R. Badcock
Tavistock Bank, Tavistock—Gill and Bundle
Thornbury Bank, 'Thornbury—Rolph and Co.
Tiverton and Devonshire Bank, Tiverton
Dunsford and Co.
Thrapston and Kettering Bank, Northampton-
shire—Thrapston, Yorke and Eland
Tring Bank and`Chesham Bank, Tring—But-
cher and Son
Towcester Old Bank, Towcester—Percival and
Co
Town and County of Poole Baia and Ring-
wood and Poole Bank, Poole—G. W. Led-

gard and Sons
Union Bank, Cornwall, Helston—Vivian and

Co
Uxbridge Old Bank, Uxbridge—Hull, Smith,
and Co
Wallingford ' Bank, Wallingford—Hedges,
;Wells, and Co
Warwick and Warwickshire Bank, Warwick—
, K. Greenway and Co.
Wellington Somerset Bank, Wellington—Fox,
Brothers, and Co
West Riding Bank, Wakefield, and Pontefract
Bank, Wakefield— L'eatham, Tew, and Co
Whitby Old Bank, Whitby—Simpson, Chap-
man, and Co
Winchester Alresford, and Alton Bank, Win-
chester—Bulpett and Co
Winchester and Hampshire Bank, Winchester
—Wickham and Co
Weymouth Old Bank and Dorchester Bank,
Weymouth—Eliott and Pearce
Wirksworth and Ashbourne Derbyshire Bank,
Wirksworth-:-Arkwright and Co
Wisbech and Lincolnshire Bank, Wisbech—
Gurneys and Co
Wiveliscombe Bank, Wiveliscombe—P. and
W. Hancock
Wolverhampton Bank, Wolverhampton—Goo d-
ricke and Holyoake
Worcester Bank, Worcester—Farley, Laven-
der, and Co
Worcester Old , Bank and Tewkesbury Old
Bank, Worcester—Berwick, Lechmere, and
Co

Worcestershire Bank, Kidderminster—Farley,
Turner, and Co •
Walsall Old Bank, Walsall—Charles Forster
and Sons
Wolverhampton Bank, Wolverhampton—R
and W. F. Fryer
Yarmouth and Suffolk Bank, and Halesworth
and Suarolk Bank, Yarmouth—Gurneys,
Birl,)eck and Co

Yarmouth, Norfolk, and Suffolk - Bank, Great
Yarmouth—Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart,, and
Co

York Bank, York— Swann, Clough, and Co