The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-06 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

Yesterday Major-General H. Eyre, commanding
the troops in the Chatham district, commenced his
half-yearly inspection of the Royal Artillery, under
the command of Colonel C. J. B. Riddell, C,8.,
consisting of the first division of the depot brigade.
The officers and men were drawn up within the for-
tification at headquarters. In the course of his in-
spection, General Eyre witnessed the various bat-
teries go through the customary manoeuvres, and
afterwards inspected the barrack-buildings, schools,
institute, hospitals, and the other military establish •
ments. The number of men of the Royal Artillery
at headquarters is now very strong, in anticipation
of a large demand being made for reinforcements
for India and the colonies.

The half-yearly inspection of the pensioners, in-
mates of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, took place
yesterday morning. In the absence of the Governor,
Field Marshal Sir E. Blakeney, G.C.8., who is still
suffering from impaired health, Gen. Sir A. Wood-
ford, G.C.8., the lieutenant-governor, inspected the
pensioners. About 500 of the veterans assembled
for inspection, and they passed muster to the entire
satisfaction of the lieutenant-governor.

Quarterly Return of Marriages, Births, and

Deaths.

The quarterly return, just issued by authority of
the Registrar-General, comprises the births and
deaths registered by 2,000 registrars in all the dis-
tricts of England during the winter quarter ended
March 31, 1861; and the marriages in 12,663
churches or chapels, about 4,954 registered plac?s
of worship unconnected with the Established
Church, and 641 superintendent registrars' offices in
the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1863. With an increas-

ing popalation, the number of marriages was greater
than it had been before in any quarter. The mar-
riage rate—that is, the procortien of persons mar-
ried to population—was high, though in some pre-
vious instances it had been higher. The registration
of births was extraordinary, as not only were the
births more numerous than at any former period,
but relatively to population they were also nume-
rous beyond example during the last 10 years. As
regards deaths, an unusually high rate of mortality
attests the severity with which the inclemency of
the weather pressed on the public health.
MARRIAGES.—In the December quarter of 1863

the marriages were 51,974. They were about 3,000
more than 1 hey had been in the corresponding quar-
ter of 1861 or in that of 1862. The populous districts
of the cotton and woollen manufactures, as well as
those of coal and iron, showed increased activity in
nuptial celebrations, the result of increased or con-
tinued animation in their respective branches of ins
dustry. In Staffordshire the marriages rose from
2,009 and 1,955 in the December quarters of 1861-2
to 2,291 in that of 1863; in Lancashire from 6,078
and 5,362 to 6,503 ; in the West Riding of York-
shire from 3,809 and 3,800 to 4,279 ; in South Wales
from 1,695 and 1,771 to 1,827. In England and
Wales about 8,000 persons entered into wedlock
weekly. In London the number was about 1,200.
The marriages in 1863 were 173,388. The marriage
rate of the past year was 1.688, against an average
of 1.661.

BIRTHS.—The total number of births was 192,926
in the first quarter of the present year, of which
26,651 were in London. There was an increase on
the number registered in the same period of 1863 in
all the eleven divisions, except London and the
south-western counties. The number rose in the
north-western counties (Cheshire and Lancashire)
from 28,734 to 30,011. The annual birth-rate in the
quarter was 3.740 per cent., against an average of
3.605. It was singularly high, for of results obtained
in the previous 10 years the highest was 3.702 in the
June quarter of 1854. The birth rate rarely attains
so high a point as 3.70 in any quarter, and the ave-
rage for a year is 3.47, As the births were 192,926,
and the deaths were 143,030, in the same time,
there was an excess in the former amounting to
40,806, and representing the natural increase of
population in the quarter.
EMIGRATION.—The emigration from the United
Kingdom comprised about 10,923 English people,
2,175 Scotch, 24,779 Irish, and 3,160 foreigners,
altogether 41,037 persons. Of the Irish all, except
a section which did not count 3,000, went to the
United States. Of the English about 6,614 persons
sought the United States, 3,451 the Australian colo-
nies. The Scotch divided themselves almost
equally between these two destinations.
DEATHS AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH.—The deaths
greatly exceed the average number. Seldom has a
winter been more fatal, for 143,030 deaths, 1,572
a day, were registered in 91 days, including .the
additional day of Leap-year, for which due correc-
tion is made. The mortality was at the rate of
2773 per cent.; whereas the average of the season
in the preceding ten years was 2.490 per cent.; thus
the rate was nearly 28 instead of 25 in 1,000.
14,698 persona died in excess of the average num-
num-
ber. Upon dividing the population intoajprtiswinogptohe
r--
tions, the one living in the district co
chief towns is found to 1
rate of mortality, or 2
mortality was at the rate of 2*508 in the small towns
and in the country districts.
The town rate waß77e4 experienced
per the
while highest
the
cent.,
-296, the country rate .228, above their respective
averages; thus the increase of the rate was greater
in the town than in the country districts. London
suffered to an extraordinary extent, and is amounts
able large share in the increase. The average
an foranual
rate of the winter quarter in London is 2.577
per cent., but in the last winter quarter the rate
becomes 3 088, or .511 above the average. The
funerals increased in the proportion of five or six.
The rate of mortality in the south-eastern division
was 18 per cent. higher than in the two preceding
March quarters. Inflammation or congestion of the
lungs and the air tubes carried off the aged in great