The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-04 00:00:00

THE ROMANCIST.

A collection, in quarto, of some of the most striking
romances of the last half century and upwards, got up
with remarkable neatness, handsomely bound in blue
cloth, and cheap to a degree almost approaching the
miraculous.

QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE STATIS-

TICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

The Journal for th►a month contains some papers
of considerable interest to those who are fond of sta-

tistical inquiries. There are also two of general inte-
rest, from which we have already given some extracts,
but which will repay the trouble of perusing at length
—on the sickness and mortality among the Metropolitan
Police Force, 1830-38 ; and among the troops in the
United Kingdom. In the latter report some singular
and new facts are stated" Much has been said about
the unhealthy state of the troops in the West Indies,
yet it appears that disease there is not so fatal as among
a portion of the troops at home—the Foot Guards. The
average annual mean strength of the depots in the
West Indies is 3,246--the annual deaths 60—
the ratio of deaths consequently is 18.5 per 1,000,
while that of the Foot Guards is 21.6, and the mortality
among this body of men, is nearly one half higher
than it is among the Dragoon Guards and Dragoons,
being in the proportion of 21.6 to 14.5. We do not
observe that this great difference is accounted for ; but
the fact, that nearly twice the number of the Foot
Guards, as compared with that of the Cavalry, die of
diseases of the lungs, may lead to some discovery of the
cause. There are also two useful statistical notices on the
Population of Norway and Denmark, furnished by two
Professors, natives of these countries. The following
extract, relative to the working of the Marriage Act,
is from the first Report of the Registrar-General on
Births, Deaths, and Marri.-iges in England, in 1837-8 :
" In the year ending Jo ne 30, 1838, it appears that
111,481 marriages were registered • 107,201 according to
the rites of the Established 'Church—namely, 9 by special
license, 13,677 by license, 6 8,410 by bans, and 493 by a
certificate from a Superintondent-Registrar ; while in
21,612 instances it was not sti led in which of the foregoing
forms the marriage was performed: 4,280 marriages took
place not according to the rites of the Established Church
—namely, 2,976 in registered places of worship, 1,093 in
the offices of Superintend ent-Registrars, 76 between
Quakers, and 135 between Jews. In the first quarter
24,030 marriages were registered, in the second 34,449, in
the third 23,201, in the fourth 29,801. The mean of the
three last quarters was 29,150 ; and this would make the
annual number 116,600, while, according to former esti-
mates, the number should have been 116,000."

THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE.
Wylde, Chairing Cross.
__

Among the original papers in the present Number we
find a description, accompanied with a diagram by G.
Rennie, Esq., of the Turbinie, a new species of horizon-
tal water-wheel, which has excited much attention on
the Continent, and seems well worthy of being adopted
in this country. It is strongly recommended by its sim-
plicity, its effectiveness, its adaptation to situations in
which, a vertical wheel cannot be employed, and by its
occupation of a small spac,t:. The Editor's " Observa-
tions on raising additional Capital and Loans," are valu-
able, and deserve the serious consideration of railway
proprietors. "An Account of Nautical and Hydraulic
Experiments, by the late Colonel Beaufoy," will not fail
to interest the scientific reader.
This number contains several other useful articles erg
communications which will be found interesting, not to
scientific readers only, but to the public, who are every
day becoming more dependent on steam-boats and
railroads. In the course of the last month and a few
days of the end of May, not fewer than eleven rail-
roads have been opened, or the original lines continued
from ten to sixteen miles, in different parts of England.
One feature of this Number affords much gratification,