The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-30 00:00:00

HEALTH OF THE METROPOLIS.

(From the Registrar's-General's Weekly 2?eturn.)
The total number of deaths in London in the week that
ended on Saturday was 1,312. It differed little from that
of the previous week ; but the deaths at 60 years of age
and upwards rose from 244 to 285. The average number
of deaths for the 52d week, derived from the returns of
that week, in ten years, 1853-62, is, with a correction for
increase of population, 1,558. The actual number is less
by 246 than that obtained by calculation.
There were 14 deaths from smallpox and 44 from measles
Six of those caused by the latter disease were returned in
Somers-town, and five in the sub-district, Lambeth
Church, second part. Scarlatina was fatal in 78 cases, six
of which were in Kentish-town, eight in Islington,'
Bronchitis was the most fatal in the week of all the dis-
eases on the list ; it was recorded in 154 cases, while the
corrected average in ten corresponding weeks is 185. The
deaths from bronchitis rose, as compared with the numbers
of two previous weeks—but those frem pneumonia, which
were 81, showed a decrease. Whooping-cough increased
decidedly; it was fatal to 49 children. There were 138
deaths from phthisis.
Three cases of murder or manslaughter, 2 of which were
deaths of infants, were recorded in the week.
Only 2 nonagenarians died; they were widows, aged 92
and 95 years.
Last week the births of 805 boys and 727 girls, in all
1,532 children, were registered in London. In the ten cor-
responding weeks of the years 1853-62 the average number
(corrected) was 1,828.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height
of the barometer in the week was 29.970 in. The mean
daily reading was above 30in. on three days of the week.
The reading was 30.30 in. on the morning of Sunday—
and fell to 29.70 in. on Tuesday. The mean temperature
of the air in the week was 42.5 deg., which is 5 deg.,
above the average of the same week in 43 years (as
determined by Mr. Glaisher). The mean temperature was
above the average on every day, except Tuesday ;
and on the last three days the excess was from 8 deg, to 11
d eg. The thermometer fell below the freezing point of water
on two nights ; the lowest reading was 26.5 dog. on Wednes -
day ; the highest day temperature was 51.9 deg. on Satur-
day. The range of temperature in the week was thersfore
25.4. The mean daily range was 12.2 deg. The range on
three days was only 7 and 8 deg. The difference between the
mean dew point temperature and air temperature was 4.6
deg. The mean degree of humidity of the air 84, cor3plete
saturation being represented by 100. The wind blew from
a westerly point—on Tuesday from the north-west, and
afterwards from south-west and west. There was no rain
measured. The mean of the highest temperature of the
water of the Thames was 44'2 deg. ; that of the lowest was
42 deg.

MINCE-PIES AND THEIR ORIGIN IN WHAT LEIGH
HUNT CALLED " MINCEPIETY !" Nlisrule and
Mumming and Wassel are no more, having fallen victims
to the scythe of Time. Mince-pie, and Carol, and New
Year's Gilt have been more fortunate, blessed as they are
with a healthy constitution, and having led a less riotous
life in their younger days. Christmas himself is destined to
survive all his children, and to flourish with his snowy
beard long after the last mistletoe is planted above the
grave of the last mincepie. But all true patriots will join
in wishing Mince-pie a long and merry term. He is pro-
bably about the eldest child of Christmas. They Saboan
spices indeed presented by the Kings of the East, at Beth-
lehem, are said in him to remain and to perpetuate
them-
selves. Nor has his life been always peaceable and placid.a.uee.
He has seen rough times, and had his portionabuse.
Virulent theological contests have been fought
A over
and
reverend person. He has gone through goth°l7
rtoeprtures of
evil report, and known what it is to sufferobably
destined
religious reproach. His future days P
6 he will pass away
to be tranquil, and when he pass" away'ei history of his ear-
got on board th
in a green old age, when the chequoerrun
SAILOR'S CHEST.
EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE lost lier career is either unremembered" A
y lost in Ramsey Bay,
—A sailor's chest was
recenott far from its owner's door
libeuctrnewothing else,
and has actually been cast usPunat
in Whitehaven. It t a sailor,ial °l:Li:led of':ill
seem in the schooner Sistersof
O'Neil, of Whitehaven, . sailedt. the Sisters lay windbou ci
Fleetwood. On the
Dian,3clw when she was run into uin
Ramsey Bay, Isle of
er,tound to Liverpool, and by a
large Glasgow schollcl.immedi-
atelye Glasgow
and were con-
O'Neil afterwards
veyed to Liverpoo
where
he arrived on thelnade way home to
Whitehaven,
chest, which had llth inst., and,
strabge t° say, his
day gone down with the
Sisters, arrived the . after. i
It -8 said he was on the
h Wall at the time, and saw it floating past the pier-
head.Nort It was picked up by a man at Redness Point, and
taken to the Custom House, andrestored to
subsequently
armies,
ti ztt
CAPTUREDt here d reduction ninrisT7us
spl,ex
its owner.
STATISTICS OF THE
vessel , afterwards
savinga escr.niivesT,
LANCASHIRE DISTRESS.—
ja November, 1862, 448,955 persons were in the cotton
district receiving relief. This year in the same month the
number was only 17n
-..,850, It is still equal to two great
retary of the Federal navy, in his official report tot Congress
refers refers to the number and value of the i
riz
rites
thatcapthuer capture
the decimation of the blockade.
Ile
soyato the amount of up-
of 1,015 ritesp, representing propertyr.ubini tted to the judgment
wards of i'3,000,000, have
be'llbo.ut hall that sum has been
of the Fede.-al prize courts.
alter paying all expenses,
adjudicated upon, leaving,
nit the captors of the move-
' Z 1,200,000 for distribution amoni,
ral prizes.
BBEy,--DISCOVERALOS—RTEI2LeICSSe.e--
GREEN, like Kennington Common
F
,iew to its becoming a recreation ground.
genteel park, baying been enclosed and
been discovered some very interesting
e:e
AN
aystead Abbey, Notts (the seat of the late
hasrTpelhlaince
ssrtnEeLibwev, NaaswrbGriv
eteETtochroo:li3;
Lord:ni D They were found by labourers employed in
i•ist of a portion of a statue representing a warrior of the
lime of :awry 111., as exhibited in the chain mail of that
period ; an ancient freestone it:or, probably part of ?n,
ambulatury ; a great quantity of window tracing of the
11th century, and saute small jamb shafts of the 13th
century. A portion of the specimens have been preserved.
Ilug
ytr i onne)w.
carriage drive in the park. The relics con-

SECOND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST
4 O'CLOCK.

SAN DOIYLINGO.

Advices from Domingo to the sth state that rein-
forcements were constantly arriving from Havana.
The losses on both sides were great. The nephew
of the Captain-General had been killed and General
Gacdartt murdered. The rebels were fortunate in
cal +lug off the, Spanish leaders.

TM: D E 'MON

SUN OFFICE, SEVEN O'CLOCK.

THE PACIFIC NAILS.

Exchange
Drought prevailed in the southern provinces of
Chili, and mnch distress existed.
Business at VnaPa
:a4i3s;
47/47as exceedingly dull.
The Peruvian Government had voted 2,000,000
onLodlon
dols. for Public Works.