The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-06 00:00:00

EVENING, DECEMBER 6, 1865.

HEALTH OF LONDON.

(Front the Registrar-General's Weekly Report.)

In the week that ended on Saturday, December
2, the births registered in London and ten other
large towns of the United Kingdom were 4,079 ;
the deaths registered, 3,050. The annual rate of
mortality was 28 per 1,000 persons living.

In London the births of 1,058 boys, and 1,013
girls, in all 2,071 children, were registered in the
week. In the corresponding weeks of ten years,
1855-64, the average number, corrected for increase
of population, was 1,968.
The deaths registered in London during the week
were 1,368. It was the 48th week of the year ; and
the average number of deaths for the week is, with
a correction for increase of population, 1,569. A
comparison of the two result: is satisfactory ; for it
shows that the actual mortality was less by 200
deaths than the amount obtained by computation
for the last week of November.

The deaths from diarrhoea are 24, and exhibit a
slight decrease on those of the two previous weeks.
The corrected average for ten corresponding weeks
(in the year 1855-64) is 18. The deaths referred
to typhus are numerous : they are 88 against a
corrected average of 57. There were 53 from scar-
latina and 11 from diphtheria. Bronchitis numbered
151 cases, being a less number than was recorded in
any of the three previous weeks.
The two following cases are referred to cholera in
the Table of Causes of Death :—at 60, Wentworth-
street, Spitalfields, on November 17, a skin dyer,
aged 54 years, "sudden ; choleraic diarrhoea ;" and
at 5, Little Weymouth-street, Marylebone, on
November 30, the wife of a journeyman carpenter,
aged 21 years, " choleraic diarrhoea during child-
birth."

On the 24th and 22d of November respectively,
at 27, Grey Eagle-street, Spitalfields, a furniture
packer and his wife died of " typhoid fever, engen-
dered by overcrowding and the filthy condition of
the house and neighbourhood." (Inquests.)
Eight deaths from typhus occurred in the Hack-
ney sub-district. Out of 38 from measles, five were
in the south sub-district of Chelsea ; four in Somers-
town.

In Shoreditch Workhouse, on the 31st October,
a shoemaker, aged 34 years, died of " inflammation
and ulceration of the bowels, accelerated by want
of proper and nourishing food, and the want of
medical attention." (Inquest.)
The four following deaths by horses and carriages
were registered in the week :—At Highbury-vrove
a greengrocer, aged 47 years, fell from a cart. Died
on the 27th of November in St. Bartholomew's
Hospital. At Merton, Surrey, a labourer, aged 32
years, fell out of a cart. Died on the 20th of
November in St. Thomas's Hospital. The daughter
of a painter, aged two years, run over by, a cab.
Died on the 25th of November, at Crockett's-court,
Hampstead. A dealer in fruit, aged 75 years, run
over. Died on the 24th of November in the Lon-
don Hospital.
The annual rate of mortality last week was 24
per 1,000 in London, 31 in Edinburgh, and 24 in
Dublin ; 39 in Liverpool, 37 in Manchester, 34 in
Salford, 26 in Birmingham, 34 in Leeds, 29 in
Bristol, 30 in Hull, and 36 in Glasgow. The rate
in Vienna was 24 per 1,000 during the week ending
the 25th ult., when the temperature was 11.9 deg.
Fahrenheit lower than in the same week in London,
where the rate was 25 per 1,000.

In Liverpool the births in the week were 385, the
deaths 353 ; in Manchester the births 257, the
deaths 254 ; in Salford the births 114, the deaths
73 ; in Birmingham the births 266, the deaths 161 ;
in Leeds the births 169, the deaths 146 ; in Bristol
tha births 109, the deaths 91. ; in Hull the births 69,
the deaths 60 ; in Edinburgh the births 113, the
deaths 101; in Glasgow the births 357, the deaths
293 ; and in Dublin the births 169, the deaths 144.
There were 256 deaths in Vienna during the week
ending the 25th ult.
Southampton.--Among the population of this
borough (estimated in the middle of the present
year at 53,001) 15 deaths were registered during
the week ending last Saturday ; of these 4 were
again referred to scarlatina ; no death resulted from
cholera. The annual rate of mortality during the
week was 14 per 1,000 persons living.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean

height of the barometer in the week was 29.510 in.
The barometrical pressure was 28.93 in. on Sunday ;

it rose to 29.91 in. on Friday. The mean tempera-
ture of the air in the week was 43.7 deg., which is
2.3 deg. above the average of the same week in 50
years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). The mean
daily temperature was always above the average,
except on Monday. The highest day temperature
was 51 deg. on Sunday ; the lowest night tempera-
ture was 32.6 deg. on Monday. The mean daily
range of the thermometer was 9.2 deg. The dif-
ference between the mean dew-point temperature
and air temperature was 3 deg. The mean degree
of humidity of the air was 89, complete saturation
being represented by 100. Rain fell on five days,
chiefly on Sunday and Tuesday ; and the amount
was 0.72 in. On the evening of Saturday Mr.
Glaisher ascended in a balloon, and found the wind
changed from S.E. to S.S.W. at the height of 3,000
feet, and again fell in with south-east wind on de-
scending to the same height.

The Resurrection of South Carolina.

The ratification of the great constitutional amendment
by the reconstructed loyal Legislature of South Carolina is
a feather in the cap of the Palmetto State. It is something
more than reconstruction or restoration in her case. It is
a resurrection. She was dead, but she is alive again ; she
was buried by Sherman's terrible army, but she has risen
from the grave. The contriver, the instigator, and the
pioneer in secession and rebellion fpr slavery and a South-
ern Confederacy, it is eminently proper that she should
set the example to her hesitating confederates in the good
work of establishing liberty and union for evermore. This
has been done by South Carolina in the ratification of the
great constitutional amendment, which puts it beyond the
power of any State, or any ten or twenty States, hereafter
to re-establish slavery.

It appears, however, that the constitutional hair-splitters
of the South Carolina Legislature required all the argu-
mentative powers of President Johnson and Secretary
Seward to bring them to the work. They were about to
appeal to the President that they had done enough. They
were anxious to be reinstated as a State in full communion.
Their cities, manufactories, mills, ginhouses, barns, and
thousands of homes burned ; their plantations devaskta e.
,
t
their stocks destroyed, their slaves set free, their ban n-
solvent, their millions of investments in rebel securitiesrin
collapsed into worthless paper—all this and much more
ctiv
the way of the war's disasters calls for immediate an e
exertions from the whole population and the earliest
possible restoration of the State to established law and
order. But still their Legislature hesitated upon this con-
stitutional amendment. What was the difficulty ? The
amendment, second section, reads ;—" Congress shall have
power
to enforce this article (abolition of slavery) by ap-
propria • to legislation.". The difficulty with the South
Carolinians lay in " the apprehension that Congress
might under this second section claim the right to legislate
for the negro after slavery was abolished."
This was the hitch, as confessed by Governor Perry to
the President. But in reply Mr. Seward made it all right
by saying that the objectionable clause "is really restrain-
ing in its effects instead of enlarging the power of Con-
gress." Furthermore, says Governor Perry, to his Legis-
lature, "I am happy to find that the Secretary of State
does not regard these objections as well founded, but con-
siders them querulous and unreasonable.' " What more
could be asked ? The Legislature dismisses its objections,
ratifies the amendment, andltsks, Have you anything more?
The Governor intimates that there is something more still
to be done touching the nullity of secession and those rebel
debts, and that this business will next be finished we have
no doubt.

Thus the President's requisitions, South Carolina leading
off, will, we dare say, be still fulfilled by all, or nearly all,
the late rebellious States, from Virginia to Texas, by the
first Monday in December, the day of the meeting of Con-
gress. We are satisfied, too, that if those States shall
come before the two houses with a record declaring seces
sion a nullity, and the State debts under the rebellion
void, and the constitutional amendment ratified, they will
be speedily admitted. All hail! New Jersey ! All hail !
South Carolina !—A'eta York ,Iferald.

PRICE 4d.,
STAMPED sd:

Railway and Other Companies.

BOMBAY, BABODA, AND CENTRAL INDIA.

The report of the directors states that the total
receipts up to the 30th of June on stock, shares, and
debentures were £5,397,406, of which the sum of
£253,449 was received in the past half-year. The
total amount of audited expenditure in England and
India to the same date, including stores, materials,
&c., was £5,077,010. The expenditure brought to
account during the past half year amounted to
£533,251. In addition to this there had been a
further outlay in India to the same period of
£414,080, which was awaiting the audit of the
Bombay Government. Beyond the expenditure re-
quired to complete the more recently-opened por-
tion of the line from Bulsar to Bombay, including
the Grant-road temporary terminus and the work-
shops at Parell, further and considerable additions
had to be made for the accommodation of the traffic
at most of the stations on the northern division of
the railway between Bulsar Ahmedabad. The mea-
sures proposed by the company, and sanctioned by
the Government, for the strengthening of the larger
bridges had been, and were being, carried out
with all possible despatch, including the doub-
ling of the superstructure for the second
line of rails. To meet the rapidly-increas-
ing demands of the traffic ten new and powerful
engines and 1,000 waggons were ordered some
months since, and further provision would, no doubt,
shortly have to be made. There were two most
material drawbacks especially affecting -the goods
traffic—namely, the break in the Nerbudda-bridge,
and the delayed opening for goods south of Bulsar.
Making allowance for those and the necessarily in-
complete arrangements on the opening of a new
length of railway for passenger traffic the directors
thought that the results were encouraging. The
receipts from passengers, parcels, &c., had increased
from £45,683 in the June half year of 1864 to
£107,472 in the corresponding half year of 1865,
being an addition of £61,789. The receipts from
the same sources per railway mile had increased in
the same period from £246 to £351, being an addi-
tion of £lO5 over the whole line, although the mile-
age had been so recently and largely extended. The
gross receipts for the half year amounted, on 306
miles, to £133,044, against £79,248, on 185.1 miles,
in the same period of 1864, showing an increase
of 1204 miles, and of £53,796 in the receipts, the
receipts per train mile being 14s. 61d., against 11s.
Id. in the corresponding period, showing an increase
of 3s. 51d. per train mile. The number of passen-
gers carried was 769,030, against 505,732 for the
corresponding half of last year. The several offices
of the company were now concentrated at Bombay,
near the Grant-road station. From July 10 last
considerably improved accommodation to the public
had been afforded by the running of an additional
through train each way daily over the whole line at
an increased speed, and stopping only at the princi-
pal stations. Other alterations were also made at
the same time to adapt the working of the railway
more fully to the requirements of the traffic. The
opening for goods traffic to Bombay (Grant-
road) would take place on the Ist of November,
when the revised scale of rates throughout the line
would come into operation. The Board looked
forward with interest to the result of this open-
ing upon the receipts of the railway, believing
that, as in the case of the other trunk lines in India,
the receipts from goods traffic would largely exceed
those derived from passengers and parcels. An ap-
plication had been made to the local Government in
connection with short extensions (with unguaranteed
capital) into the fruitful district of Kattiawar—viz.,
from Ahmedabad to Veerumgaum and Wudwaun,
73 miles in length. The estimated cost was mode-
rate, and so favourably had the project been re-
ceived upon the spot that a large subscription to-
wards it had been promised by the neighbouring
native chiefs, and a further large amount it was an-
ticipated would be subscribedin Bombay should the
proposal receive the favourable consideration of the
Government.

PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAM
NAVIGATION.

The 25th annual general meeting of this company
was held yesterday at the offices, Leadenhall-street
—Mr. A. Anderson, the chairman, presided.

Mr. Howell, the secretary, read the report, which
stated that the total assets of the company in ships,
in freehold and leasehold property in England and
abroad, in stores, cash at bankers, investments, and
debts dna to the company, amounted to £3,706,987.
The total capital received from the proprietors
amounted to £2,200,000, and on debentures to
£642,500, and the liabilities of the company in bills
payable and otherwise to £405,836, making the
total capital and liabilities £3,248,336, showing a
surplus of £458,651. This surplus was represented
by the balance at the credit of the general reserve
fund. The gross revenue of the company from
all sources amounted for the 12 months ending the
30th of September last to £2,136,076 ; and the ex-
penditure, including reserves for insurance, wear
and tear, and depreciation for the same period, to
£1,976,999—1eaving a net profit of £159,077.
From this wasideducted the dividend of 31 per cent.
for the half-year ending the 31st of March last
(£75,250), and the half-year's dividend of 31 per
cent. now recommended (£77,000), leaving a balance
of £6,827. The proprietors' underwriting ac-
count showed that the annual premium of 5 per
cent. on the estimated value of the floating property
of the company amounted to £llO,OOO ; from which
was deducted the value of the steamship Corea, lost
in the China Seas in June last (less depreciation),
£26,000 ; and damage to company's property at
Calcutta by the cyclone in October, as far as ascer-
tained, £17,075, leaving a balance of £66,925, out
of which it was proposed to pay to the proprietors
£66,000, being at the rate of 3 per cent., leaving
£925 to be carried to the general reserve fund, which
would then amount to £458,651. In the last half-
yearly report the Mongolia and Tanjore stood under
the head of ships building ; both these vessels had
been since completed, and had made very satisfactory
voyages on the Southampton and Mediterranean
lines. The China and Nubia were still under repair,
the former in London and the latter in Bombay, but
those two vessels would very shortly be ready for
active service. The Ceylon was also und •
ergoing a
complete refit and receiving new engines in London.
The Vectis and Valetta no longer appeared on the
list, having been purchased by the Egyptian Govern-
ment. Two new ships had been recently purchased
—the Niphon, of 694 tons and 140-horse power, and
the Geelong,
of 1,500 tons and 20-
The former was destined for the Japansh 250-horse rs e
service,poand
.
the latter for employment on the Australian or In-
dian and China lines, as might be required. The
total number of persons on board the Corea, sup-
posed to have foundered in a typhoon which visited
the neighbourhood of Hongkong during the night
of the 29th of June, was 103. There were only
three European passengers, and the European crew
consisted of 17 persons, the remainder being natives
and Chinese deck passengers. This unfortunate
casualty had involved far greater sacrifice of life
than had taken place during the 25 years the com-
pany had been at work. The directors finding that
the Mauritius line was being worked at a loss, not-
withstanding the increase of £6,000 per annum in
the subsidy, had exercised the right of giving 12
months' notice of their intention to terminate it.
The receipts for the conveyance of specie alone
for the 12 months ending the 30th September,
1865, as compared with those for each of the two
preceding years, exhibited a deficiency of about
£lOO,OOO. It was satisfactory, on the other
hand, to state that an increase had taken place in
the passenger traffic, although, in consequence of
the present high price of provisions and the opera-
tion of the reduced fares adopted by the company,
the balance of the profit and loss account had not
yet been advantageously affected by that increase.
The available balance, however, enabled the direc-