The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-23 00:00:00

HEALTH OF THE METROPOLIS.

It appears, from the weekly return of the
Registrar-General, that the deaths in London, which
were 1,357 in the previous week, declined to 1,291
in the week that ended last Saturday. The deaths
under 20 years of age declined in the same period
from 690 to 658; those at 60 years of age and up-
wards from 267 to 244. The average number of
deaths in the ten weeks corresponding with last
week (taking the fifty-first in each of the years 1853-
62) is, with a correction for increase of population,

1,401. The actual number is, therefore, less than the
estimated mortality by 110. The births in the week
exceeded the deaths by 636. Small-pox was returned
in 19 cases; measles in 18; scarlatina in 101 ; typhus
in 51. Six deaths from scarlatina occurred in
Kentish-town ; 7 in the East sub-district of Isling-
ton ; 6 in Mile-end Old Town East ; and 6 in
Bow. The deaths referred to pulmonary diseases
(exclusive of phthisis) were 261 against:a corrected
average of 316. Those from bronchitis were 147;
from pneumonia 92. Phthisis was fatal in 150 cases.
Forty-nine persons died at the age of 80 years and
upwards. A widow is registered as having died in
the workhouse, Hampstead, on the 13th inst., at
the age of 100 years. At 12, Devonshire-square,
St. Botolph, on the 9th inst., a man, aged 42, died
from " an overdose of chloroform taken without in-
tention to destroy life."—lnquest.
Last week the births of 994 boys and 933 girls, in
all 1,927 children, were registered in London. In
the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 1853-62

the average number (corrected) was 1,817.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 30.121 in.
The mean daily reading was above 30 inches on
five days of the week. The reading fell to 29.62
inches on Wednesday, and rose to 30.34 inches on
Friday. The mean temperature of the air in the
week was 42.1 deg., which is 2.3 deg. above the
average of the same week in 43 years (as determined
by Mr. Glaisher). The mean temperature was above
the average on each day except Friday. The highest
day temperature was 50.2 deg. on Wednesday. The
lowest night temperature was 32.2 deg. on Friday.
The range of temperature in the week was there-

fore 18.0 deg. The mean daily range was 11.7 deg.
The difference between the mean dew•point tem-
perature and air temperature was 4.4 deg., the mean
degree of humidity of the air was 85, completesatu-
ration being represented by 100. On Thursday
and Friday the wind was generally north and
north-west; on other days the prevailing direction
was south-west. There was no rain in the week.
The mean of the highest temperatures of the water
of the Thames was 45.3 ; that of the lowest was
43.1 dig.

THE LEEDS MURDER.—REPRIEVE OF THE CUL-
PRIT.—The Secretary of State for the Nome De-
partment has thought it, on the recommendation of Mr.
Justice Mellor, to commute the sentence of death passed
upon Patrick Farley, for the murder of Anthony Goulding
at Leeds, on the 23d August last, to penal servitude for life.
The fact will be announced to the wretched man this morn-
ing by the governor of York Castle, the official intimation
having been sent off last night.
WRECKS ON THE NORFOLK COAST.—LIFEBOAT
SERVICES.—BACTON ABBEY, December 22.—Mr.
W. Cubitt reports;—At daybreak this morning six large
vessels were seen riding in the offing, and drifting towards
the shore. The wind was blowing a heavy gale from N.N.E.,
with much sea on: The crew of the Becton lifeboat of the
National Lifeboat Institution were at once mustered, and
the lifeboat was taken down to the Sands in readiness, At
8 a.n:L the brig Orient, of South Shields, parted irera her
cable and came to the beach, but as the tide was ebbing
fast the boat's services were not required to save the crew.
At 10 a.m., at low water, the brigantine Ellen, of Jersey,
slipped her sables, when she drifted nearly to the beach,
and as the vessel would not wear, she also came en shore,
amidst a very heavy surf. The lifeboat was immediately
launched, and after much difficulty succeeded in saving the
crew of the brigantine, eight in number. Both vessels are
probably become wreaks. It will probably be remembered
that on the 3d inst., during a heavy gale of wind, this
valuable lifeboat was the means of rescuing the crew of 14
men belonging to the barque Ina, of North Shields.
THE CASE OF PARRY V. THE GREAT SHIP COM-
P/INF.—The Great Eastern, which has been so
frequently before the public, came before Mr. Justice Mellor,
at chambers on Monday, in a somewhat novel shape. The
plaintiff had levied an execution on this ship and stores at
Liverpool. Claims to £lOO,OOO had been made on the pro-
perty, and on the application of the Sheriff of Lancashire,
an interpleader issue had been directed to try the question.
The stores, &c., were to be sold, and the money paid into
court to abide the result of the interpleader issue, which
was to be tried in London, On the part of the claimant it
was sought to sell some of the property on board the vessel,
and counsel appeared in the case. NT'. Justice Mellor made
an order that the stores should be sold on shore, and the
furniture and other articles which could not be removed
without damage to the ship to be sold on board, a sufficient
sum to be realised to satisfy the execution. The public to
have access to the ship.