The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, 'I UESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 3, 1863.

of :the public health, the aspect of the political
horizon, and the general degree of peace and
plenty which is enjoyed by the people. The re-
turns just published, giving an account of the mar-
riages during the second quarter of the year, and
the births and deaths of the three months ending
'with September, contains some curious features.
The marriages and births exceed the ordinary rate
as much as the deaths do their average number.
Daring the last two years the marriage rate has
suffered a considerable depression, but in the
first quarter of 1863 they rallied, and since then
have risen considerably above the average. The
registrar conjectures that this may be partly due to
the fact of numerous marriages having been de-
ferred during the last two years, until the arrival of
better times. It is satisfactory to find in the tabular
division that the North Western counties, which•
include Lancashire and Cheshire, show an average
of six hundred on the corresponding quarter of last
year. Five of the English shires manifest a de-
crease, and these five, strange to say, are removed
from the area of the cotton famine. The unsettled
state of the population during the present distress,
moving from place to place in search of employment,
serves to affect the number of marriages in some of
the manufacturing districts as well as the depressed
condition of trade. The increase of the population
is rapid enough to have startled MALTHUS,
being estimated at the rate of 660 daily.
This natural increase is modified by emi-
gration. The attractions offered by the United
States seem to be all powerful with the enthusiastic
and impressible Irishman, while the "canny "
Scotchman is not to be so easily lured from his
rugged fare and free action to the questionable
luxuries of New York. Of the 58,320 emigrants
who left these shores during the last quarter,
20,000 were of English origin ; 36,496 of these
emigrants, or nearly two-thirds of the sum total,
were bound for the United States. The statistics
from Scotland are very different, none of the 3,283
persons who sailed from Scottish ports having gone
to the United States. The emigration taken col-
lectively was nearly three times as great as that of
1861, and there was some truth in the declaration
of a Southern journal, that England might easily
put a stop to the war, if she would, by checking
Irish emigration. Another important ingredient
in keeping down the population is the unusually
great number of deaths. From what cause, it is
not easy to say, but the death rate during the three
months of July, August, and September has been
considerably higher than that of any corresponding
quarter since 1854. The fluctuations of the season
have seemingly been injurious to elderly persons,
while the younger members of the community have
suffered severely from scarlatina, diarrheei, and
other epidemics. The two diseases just mentioned
have been the main causes of the increased mor-
tality. The deaths rose to 2.166 per cent. per
annum, against the average summer rate, of 1.982.
In the Eastern and North-Midland coanties the
death rate was rather below tha average of Eng.-
land; in London it rose to 2.325 ; in Cheshire and
Lancashire it was 2.431; in Yorkshire, 2.446.
The cotton districts do not occupy so prominent
a place in the list, as might be expected,
as, unfortunately, in more prosperous times they
have always held a conspicuous position in the mor-
tality tables. It says a good deal for the liberality
and discrimination of the relief committees that,
notwithstanding the terrible ordeal through which
they have passed, the population of the suffering
districts have not fallen victims to epidem;c disease
in larger numbers. The Central Executive Com-
mittee, desirous of arresting so terrible an evil in its
first progress, should it unhappily appear, has re-
commended the establishment of temporary hos-
pitals in any places where infectious diseases may
have broken out. A system of house-to-house visi-
tation, and other sanitary precautions, are also urged
upon the attention of the local committees. we may
hope that in one respect, at all events, the cotton
famine will have positively benefited the health of
Lancashire. The deficient drainage, the absence of
sewers, the ill-kept roads, have probably assisted
largely in rendering these districts so especially
unhealthy, and the vigorous application of the
powers of the Public Works Act will indeed be an
undertaking that " blesses him that gives and him
that takes." When shall we learn to apply the
knowledge which men of science have unfolded to
us, and to follow those laws which theory and prac-
tice alike declare to be indispensable to health, air,
and water, two of the cheapest and most unia use'
blessings might be rare and costly luxuries, to judge
by the way in which they are enjoyed. An instance
of the beneficial effects of pure water and good
drainage is to be found in the town of Salisbury.
Important sanitary works were undertaken some
ten years ago, since which period a complete system
of drainage is in fall operation, and pure water is
plentiful. The result is that the number of deaths
is annually decreasing, and that the average has
sunk from between 250 and 320 to 185, the deaths
during the late unhealthy quarter numbering only
20. When man cannot be persuaded to avail him-
self of the health-giving breezes blowing round
his walls, it is certainly not likely that ho will un-
dertake works so costly and troublesome as drainage
systems, and accordingly we find the advantages of
a country life considerably neutralised by the total
lack of drainage, as well as by the heaps of refuse,
which are left to generate poisonous gases close by
the poor man's door. The damp walls, the leaking
roofs, the terrible overcrowding of the labourers'
cottages,have all evil influences on the public health,
for the NEMESIS of fever and typhus, born in the
poor man's stifling, undrained, leaking, and closely-
packed hovel, stalks forth on its vengeful mission to
the halls of the great, and the clean comfortable
homes of the middle classes. It is no doubt a wise
and provident arrangement by which we accumu-
late the statistics of these reports, but how much
more serviceable would eur Registrar's statistics be,
and how much wiser and more prudent should we
deem ourselves, did we profit a little more by

what he tells us. It is strange, with all the un-

employed capital and energy of the country, that

matters vitally important to the national health

and welfare should be left unregarded. The high
rate of mortality, which has swept away 23,000

persons more than the sanie quarter of 1860, has
been doubtless commented on in many quarters in

terms of surprise and regret. It would be well if
we were to consider how far it is to be regarded

in the light of a special ordinance of Providence,

and how far as a self-inflicted chastisement. Whilf:.
WO wilfully neglect the plain and simple laws and

conditions of public health we have no right to

wonder at our tables of mortality. Let us then each

do what we can by authority, by influence, by

example, to promote a more active and conscien-
taus feeling on such matters, and endeavour, so far

as We may, to secure to the humblest as well as

the highest, the three great and indispensable con-
ditions of health—fresh air, pure water, and good
drainage.

MR. BEN
EDICT'S CANTATA " RICHARD" will be
produced at the St. James's Hall, on Friday evening next,
with Mesdames Tietjens and Trebelli, and Messrs. Wilbyo
Cooper and Santley. The music, says the Athenaunt,
improves on examination and closer acquaintance.
ROTA' PREZ HOSPITAL, GRAY'S-INNN-ROAD.—
The number of patients relieved at this hospital during the
cans,
week ending October 31 Was 3,043, of whom 963 were new

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAM.]

AMERICA.
FRESH ADVANCE OF LEE'S ARMY.
NEW YORK, OCT. 26, 1 P.M.

(Per the Africa, by Telegraph to St. John's.)

Lee's infantry is reported to :have crossed to
the north side of the Rappahannock on Sa-
turday, repuiting Gregg's Federal cavalry with
heavy loss. After a slight engagement with two
Federal infantry brigades, the Confederates then
patsed forward to Beaton Station, where they again
attacked the Federal cavalry, with what result is
not known.

Lee occupies a line with his left resting near
Beverley Ford, crossing the railroad near Beaton
Station and extending towards Stafford Court-
house. The object of this movement is unknown.

The remainder of General Longstreet's corps has
reinforced General Bragg.

Another Confederate incursion into Kentucky is

reported.

General Grant has arrived at Chattanooga.
Breckenridge and Hindman's Confederate divisions
have been withdrawn from the Federal front at
Chattanooga, and aie moving in force upon the
Federal left.

It is rumoured that the Federats have made an
attack upon the rear of the Confederate positions
at Rome and Atlanta.

Money tight. Gold, 49 per cent, premium.
The rise in gold is caused by the news of Lee's
advance. Exchange on London :—Banker's Bills
165 ; Stocks steady ; New York Centrals, 1381 ;
Illinois, 1254 ; Erie, 1102; 6 per Cent. U.S. Bonds,
10S1. Cotton in limited demand; Middling Up-
land, 840. Flour 20c. higher and advancing.
Wheat sc. higher, Corn 3c. higher, good inquiry.
Provisions quiet. Coffee steady. Molasses very
firm. Petroleum steady; crude, 30 to 31, refined,
49 to 50.

The steamers Canada and City of Cork passed
Cape Race on the 26th inst.

THE POLISH INSURRECTION,
CRACOW, Nov. 2.
The Russians were defeated by the insurgents
under Bosak, on the 29th October, between Chmie-
brik and Kielce.

Wierzbicki had an engagement with the Rus-
sians on the 26th October, at Goscieranow, in the
palatinate of Lublin, which terminated to his ad-

vantage.

Many engagements have taken place in the dis-
trict of Opoczno, palatinate of Radom.
Letters received here from Warsaw, to the 28th
October, announce that the Russians continue to
make numerous arrests during the night. The pri-
soners are taken to the Citadel.

During the day the soldiers arrest and search the
passengers in the streets ; women who wear mourn-
ing are arrested in the streets, and conducted to the
barracks.

MADRID, Nov. 2, Evening.
Signor Rios Rosas will be the Ministerial can-
didate for the presidency of the Congress.

DRIIRY-LANE THEATRE,

Last night a new farce entitled " Beauty or the Bast"
was produced here with immense success. Although but
a trifle, it comes most opportunely after the last great
achievement of Messrs. Falconer and Chatterton, and the
audience is thus enabled to enjoy a hearty laugh before
they leave the theatre. The fun Is produced by the fol-
lowing incident, which has been worked out in the merriest
mood imaginable. A certain Mr. Wadding, a stuffier of
birds and animals, has a pretty cousin, to whom he stands in
the position of guardian, and a stuffed bear that he has made
the secret repository of his savings. Both are taken away
from him by the rival lovers of the young lady, Higgins,
Figgins, and Wiggins, and the band of the beauty is made
to depend on the restoration of the money-stuffed beast,
The Laughter occasioned by the perplexities of the aforesaid
Wadding was intense, and for many a year a more genuine
and mirth-exciting farce has not been produced. The whole
of the parts were capitally supported by Miss R. Leclercq,
Mrs. E. Falconer, Messrs. Addison, Barrett, G. "Weston,
Spencer, and G. F. Neville, the latter gentleman making
his first appearance in the metropolis as the perplexed Mr.
Wadding.

The theatre was crowded in every part, and it is with
pleasure we announce the fact, because it shows that the
splendid production of Manfred has now become a settled
and positive success.

Mr. German Reed's New Entertainment.

If the attendance on a first night can be taken
as a criterion, then Mr. Reed's new " Opera
de Camera" entertainment will result in a brilliant
success. Shortly after the opening of the doors every
seat in the Gallery of Illustration was occupied,
and precisely et the hour announced the performance of
the new opera, " Jessy Lea," commenced. The characters
represented were Jessy Lea, by Miss Edith Wynn; Ash-
ford, by Mr. Whiffin ; Hugh Tempest, by Mr. Wilkinson;
and Elspeth (a Gipsy), by Miss Poole. From the above
"cast" it was expected that a "new" operetta was to be
performed, and certainly it was so, as far as the music,
but the plot was based upon an old but pretty story, viz.,
" L'Elisir d'Amour." The result of such an arrangement
is, that the composer of the music has had all the labour,
the author having only to re-name his characters, and
compress the story into the required limits : thus Adina
becomes Jessy Lea, Nemorina the rustic lover Ashford,
Sergeant Belcore Hugh Tempest, and Dr. Dulcamara for
the occasion is turned into the gipsy woman Elspeth.
With this announcement all that is rendered necessary to
say is that Miss Wynn, whose name must be familiar to
the musical public from her admirable singing during the
past concert season, sustained the part of Jessy very
prettily, and sang the music alloted to her part with great
taste and sweetness. Mr. Whiffin and Mr. Wilkinson
also acquitted themselves with remarkable credit,
arid our great favourite, Miss Poole, fairly enchanted
the audience with the spirit with which she sustained
the part of the gipsy, and the rare purity of her singing.
The music throughout was light, fanciful, and melodious,
indeed such as was to be expected from such a sound musi-
cian as Mr. Macfarren. The pianoforte accompaniments
were cleverly executed by Mrs. Macfarren, and the musical
trifle has been mounted in a style and completeness by Mr.
German Reed:that calls for the highest praise. If we mis-
take not, the Gallery of Illustration will become one of the
attractions of the metropolis during the winter season.

LORD CARLINGFORD AND M, NADAR,