The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-10 00:00:00

T II E

think that the parties who have been engaged either
in promoting or opposing any private Bill, and who
object to the charges of solicitors or agents,
.should
be at liberty within six months from the termination_
ato
map
of the session of Parliament in which such
next B
after they
have passed, or within si▪ x months
solicitorsartiea,t
oroy in writing
agentsappl shall
a v have been
to
de-
lßiviellrsedof sutotch the p
Speaker, who shall then gi▪
ve the requisite orders for
the taxation of aueh charges.
" Your committee also think that the parties should
have power to obtain from their agents and solicitors
the delivery of their bills of charges within a reason-
able time ; they recommend, therefore, that at the ex-
piration of six months from the close of any session of
Parliament, it should be open to any party who has
not received the bill of charges to be claimed from
him for service in respect of any private business
in that session, or of proceedings preliminary
thereto, to apply to Mr. Speaker ; that Mr.
Speaker should have power to give such directions
as he may think fit with respect to the time within which
such Bill shall he delivered ; that Mr. Speaker should
have power from time to time to alter such directions.
and to enlarge the time originally directed, or, under
special circumstances, altogether to relieve the agent
or solicitor from the operation of the rule, if he shall
see fit to do so ; and that, subject to such discretion of
Mr. Speaker, the original direction shall be conclu-
sive, and the agent or solicitor failing to comply with
the same shall have no power of recovering his charge
against the party.
" Your Committee is further of opinion that the
costs and expenses attendant upon Bills promoted
or opposed by corporations, and public bodies, how-
ever constituted, in trust for and on behalf of the
public, should in all cases be taxed.

the health and comfort of the public. The sum
at which the most adequate supply could Le
Provided was one of the most trifling amount in
comparison with the blessing it conferred ; and in the-
event of fire, the importance of having water in every-
way and in every place available, was a matter of the
highest moment, and one which demanded the prompt
attention of every member of society. The lecturer,
in conclusion, quoted the opinions of several writer.,
of eminence as to the vast importance of the matters
to which he had referred, in connexion with the
comforts, the health, and the well-being of society,
and trusted the facts which the narrow limits of a
lecture had permitted him to bring under their at-
tention, would not be without their effect in aiding
the great cause of sanatory reform, which was now
happily in progress.—(Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said, that after the able discourse
which had been delivered by Dr. Gavin, it might ap-
pear unnecessary that anything more should be added ;
but as the matter was of much importance, he should
be glad to hear any gentleman who had any infor-
mation to communicate, or who had any opinion to
offer for their consideration.—(Hear.)
Mr. GEORGE said that the object of their meeting
that evening was one of those on which the public
seemed to require a good deal of information, and
which was a vast deal too much neglected by them.
Any frivolous subject would find ready attention, and
yet what question so much concerned the well-being,
the health, and the happiness of them all, as the one
they had that evening under discussion ?—(Hear.)
He had listened with much interest to the excellent
lecture which had been delivered to them; but there
was one subject which had not been adverted to, and
to which he conceived the attention of the public
should be incessantly directed—he meant the exist-
ence of burying-places in the very heart of this
immense metropolis.—(Hear, hear.) Having been
himself the witness of scenes in those places of
so demoralising and so destructive a character,
he could not help, at the present moment, al-
luding to this horrible grievance, closely connected
as it was with the question of the public health.
He complained that Lord Morpeth had not in-
elided this frightful evil in the nuisances which he
proposed to remedy in the Bill he had recently intro-
duced, and he feared that the Noble Lord had allowed
himself to be deterred from effecting so great a gocd
by the influences which they all knew could be
brought to bear in such a case. With the people he
was referring to, vested interests were of much more
importance than the improvement of the public
health.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. George then referred to
the state of the grave-yard in the parish of St. Anne
(Soho, as we understood), and although he believed
that things were much worse in this respect in some
other parishes, yet he could not help saying that it
was frightful to contemplate the spectacle that was
almost daily presented to the eye.—(Hear, hear.)
He found upon inquiry that every spot of ground in
that grave-yard was turned over once in every three
years, and before it was possible the bodies that had
bsen interred could be in a state of decomposition.—
(Hear.) Within less than two months he had ascer-
tained that twenty-eight bodies had been interred,
and the coffins were sunk only a few inches under
ground. Before it was possible decomposition could
take place the bodies were removed and a pyramid
formed of them as a means of making room for fresh
interments.—(Hear, hear.) He declared it was hor-
rible to think of such things being permitted to
occur in this city, and he urged upon every man to
exert himself to the utmost to put an end to this
state of things so injurious to public health, and to
public morality, and so contrary to that respect which
should be paid to the dead.
The CHAIRMAN briefly expressed his acquiesence in
the sentiments which had been expressed by the last
speaker.

" Your Committee, therefore, have requested their
chairman to ask leave of the House to bring in a Bill
to carry those purposes into effect.
" FORMATION OF COMMITTEES ON PRIVATE BILLS.
—Your Committee having taken evidence as to the
present working of Committees on Railway Bills,
and finding a general approval of their efficiency, are
of opinion that all Committees upon opposed Private
Bills should be appointed and constituted in the same
manner as Committees upon Railway Bills.
" Your Committee having had before them the
Bill intituled ' A Bill for consolidating in one Act
certain Provisions usually contained in Acts for
Paving, Draining, Cleansing, Lighting, and Improv-
ing Towns,' referred to them by the House, are of
opinion that the measure is not of a character to be
satisfactorily considered by them, and they have,
therefore, requested the Chairman to submit to the
House, whether the order of reference may not be
discharged."

ENCOUNTER BETWEEN SET-
TLERS AND BLACKS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
On the 19th August we were enabled to furnish a brief
account of a collision between a small overland party
and a tribe of blacks on the banks of the River Murray,
in which rencontre a man belonging to the overland party
was slain. We are enabled more fully to state the par.-
t:culars. Mr. Thomas Johnson, the "one armed man"
formerly mentioned, long resident at Yass in New South
Wales, and to whom 14 horses and 51 head of cattle of
the overland herd belonged, has been kind enough to
furnish u; with the following interesting recital. The
party of six, including the narrator, Henry Jervis,
George Jervis, Juhn Jones, George Bridges, and Herbert
Elder, were travelling in charge of cattle, horses, and a
provision dray, belonging to himself and Elder, and
bound to Adelaide, when on the morning of the 27th of
June, 11. Jervis and G. Jervis rode away from the party,
and were expected to return in vain all that day and
night. On the 28th the reduced party encamped at a
Wee i called Mount Dispersion, whence they could hear
the sound of an encampment of blacks at some distance
off, on their line of march. On the following morning
Johnson intimated his desire to George Bridges that
they should not proceed until his father-in-law, Henry
Jervis, and his brother-in-law, George Jervis, had re•
joined them. Bridges said he would not wait, and
" hoped they would get a good starving, as they had no
business away. They started accordingly, and seen
arrived at the blacks encampment. Four or five natives
only were perceptible, and these they passed without
speaking to. They travelled three or four miles along
the bank of the Murray, followed by the blacks, the
river being on one hand, and a thick scrub on the other.
On crossing a creek, they stopped for a few minutes to
see what the blacks were following them for. In a little
time they started again, when the blacks cooeyed, and
there arose forty or fifty more from the bank of the
river and the creek, making a terrifying roar or shout. 1
Upon this Elder, Bridges, and Jones took their arms, and
stood alongside the dray; Mr. Johnson was with the
cattle in advance, and all he could see, on looking
round, was, that the blacks with their spears and war
implements had advanced to within about ten rads of
the dray, where they maintained their terrifying
roar without advancing nearer. Mr. Johnson walked
from the cattle towards the dray ; but before he could
reach it Jones had fired a shot, which, however, he said
was an :accidental one. Bridges having expressed his
determination to proceed, Mr. Johnson returned to the
cattle, and caught his horse, which was the only one
saddled. By this time Elder had joined him alongside
the cattle, which some dogs belorging to the blacks were
attacking ; but they were not got rid of without scat-
tering the cattle. On looking round towards the dray,
Mr. Johnson saw Bridges handing some beef to the
blacks, and observed that as he turned from them they
speared him in the back and under the right arm, and he
fell to the ground. Elder and Jones were no longer
visible, and he concluded they had been speared too.
Mr. Johnson rode a little way to the right, and could
then see the blacks had full possession of the dray. He
now saw an unarmed black coming towards him, but
seeing he was followed by two others with a spear each,
he turned his horse's head to cross a creek ; but before he
had accomplished the passage, a spear passed over his head
and lodged in the opposite bank. Thence he looked again,
and saw the former contents of the dray upon the ground,
also the speared man, whose dying groans were audible,
but could see nothing of Elder or Jones. Mr. Johnson,
being utterly at a loss to determine what he could du,
remained where he stood for some time ; and having
prayed to God to direct him, he resolved to retreat to a
station forming by Mr. Ross, fifty or sixty miles further
back than where he and his companions had encamped on
the previous night. He was proceeding on his journey in
that direction, when he heard a noise behind, which
alarmed him much ; but he was agreeably surprised at
being overtaken by Elder and Jones, whom he had
given up for lust ; but who had succeeded in catch-
ing two of his (Johnson's) horses, and had taken a
like determination with himself, to retreat towards
Mr. Ross's. They, too, had given up Mr. Johnson for
bat ; but meeting with the track of the mare he was
riling, rightly concluded he had escaped, and that
they might overtake him. Having agreed to go back
to Mr. ROS3'S station, they had ridden only two or three
miles in that direction when they met 11. and G. Jer-
vis, who said they had lost themselves ; which was
almost impossible, as they had the river on one hand,
and a beaten track on the other. On bring told that
their relative (Bridges) had been killed, they wanted Mr.
Johnson and the others to turn back ; but as they had
only one gun between them, in the hand of Jones, the
proposal was declined, and they all agreed to go back to
Mr. Ross's together. That night they passed in the
bush, on the bank of the Murray, without food or shel-
ter, and on the following morning, having caught their
horses, they mounted and rode as hard as they could
towards the station of Mr. Ross. Most fortunately, on
their way they fell in with a Mr. Maury and a Mr. Cart-
wright, with their party, provision dray, and cattle, and
got a present supply for their wants. Having learned
that Mr. Tooth's party was coming behind, Johnson and
Elder went to me et them, and upon asking the assistance
of Mr. Tooth's superintendent, Mr. Newman, the ser-
vices of an armed and well-mounted man was granted,
and Elder was Isft with Mr. Newman. The armed man,
who had served in the British cavalry, and was very
properly called " the trooper," carried his musket in
" a boot," and had plenty of ammunition. John-
son, too, was furnished with a brace of pis-
tols. When they got back to the encampment
of Messrs. Maury and Cartwright, they found George
Jervis, and learned from him that his father, ac•
companied by Mr. Maury, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Ross, a
Mr. Walker, and two or three other gentlemen, accom•
panied by two blacks, and all well armed, had just gone
off for the scene of the murder and dispersion. Mr John-
son and the trooper determined to overtake them, and
did so after about four miles' travelling. They journeyed
together all that day, and encamped on the bank of the
river at night. Next morning they set out again, and
reached the place where Bridges was murdered about
half an hour before'sunset. One of the dogs left with the
dray was still there; the two leading bullocks were missing-
but the other four were found entangled in the scrub;
and it was now time to encamp for the night. In the
morning (July 3) all the party went to look for the
remains of poor Bridges, except Jervis, who rode out
in search of the dispersed cattle. After some time they
found a clay mound, which was removed, and a little
below was discovered the naked body of the murdered
man, covered first with long grass, and then with pieces
of wood, the clay being put over all. On taking up
the body it was found to have been speared through and
through. After giving H. Jarvis an opportunity of
seeing the body of his son-in-law, it was again interred
in another grave. After this, the kind gentlemen as-
sisted in recovering the dispersed cattle, and succeeded
so well, that Mr. Johnson recovered all his horses (14).
Next morning he returned with the party to Mr. New-
man, who kindly undertook to supply him with provi-
sainbee:tiete;tratyimzlpt the recovery of his remaining cattle,
conduct him to Adelaide with his own party.
Tt?.t,ll:l:4entleomf atune'sitkivinedt. assistance he was indebted for
all his cattle, except five, and for the
"n this aide e e"neey as far as the settled districts
gister. Rufus.—South Australian Re-

A vote of thanks was then passed to Dr. Gavin,
for the able lecture he had that evening delivered ;
for which honour the Doctor briefly returned thanks,
And a similar vote was also passed to the Com-
mittee of the Western Institution, for giving the
gratuitous use of the lecture-nom.
Thanks were next voted to the Chairman for his
excellent conduct in the chair, and the meeting
broke up.

MORTALITY IN EDINBURGH
ANI) LEITH.
Dr. Stark's report, which we have just received,
contains the return of the mortality in this city and
Leith for 1846, and also for the first two months of
the current year. Last year the number of deaths
in Edinburgh amounted to 4,887, of which 2,252
were males, 2,342 females, and 293 still-born, being
an increase of 865, or 22 per cent. over 1845. During
the same period the returns from Leith represent 412
males, 389 females, and 64 still-born. Total 865.
This is an increase of 319, or 58 per cent. above
1845. The reason of the great increase of mortality
during the past year is ascribed, by the report, prin-
cipally to atmospheric influences, and which is evident
from the fact that all the towns where returns are
kept show a similar increase.

IThe mean monthly alternations of temperature
were seven degrees more during 1846 than 1845, the
sultry days of June and frosts of December (neither
of which extremes were known in 1845), making
this palpable increase. The great evaporation caused
by the heat occasioned more rain, while the humi-
dity of the atmosphere increased the virulence of the
fulsome vapour emanating from sewers, stagnant
waters, &c.; and these, by weakening the human
system, tended to increase disease, and consequently
mortality. These causes did not result in any epi-
demic disease which might account for the great
mortality, but acted nearly in a ratio in all dis-
tempers, exceptingintestinal complaints, which in-
creased in fatality, especially about the middle of
August. That the favourable sanatory state of
Edinburgh had a marked influence on its compa-
rat.ve healthinessis
.shown from the per centage
of increase in
inmortalq in Leith being so much
greater than
this city, which is high situated,
clean and well drained, while Leith is notoriously
otherwise. Thus, while Edinburgh showed only an
increase of 22 per cent., Glasgow was 40, and Leith
58 per cent. more than in 1845. The average life of
males last year was 28 years ; females, 32 2-3
showing a mean age of 30i years. The average life
of married persons proved to he 65i years, but of
unmarried persons above 22 years, the average was
43 years—showing a difference in favour of married
.1-3; females, 57 2-3. Unmarried
males
gaebb,yo remaining
persons of 141 yearn. Married male persons, on the
di at the mean age of 38 2-3, thus
o
unmarried on an average 18 2-3
losing
e 252
years. "Unmarried females above 22 died at the
mean age of 473, thus, by remaining unmarried,
losing about ten years of life. Thus, as the report
adds, " married life, therefore, so far from tending
to shorten life by the superadded dangers of child-
birth, &c., tends undoubtedly to prolong it."
average at 44 years ;
Of the different classes of society, gentry and pro-
fessionaland clerks, at 36.1 ;
aneatl paupers, at 27i years.
a rt
Ti merchants,shienrePo rrmsto
servants,atnhsstee ndrl
al
bert dero 1
naudoraenersrkms ,
that by proper precau-
tions the excess of mortality in the lower classes might
be diminished at least to that of the merchant class.
It also states, that the reason the public are burdened
with the maintenance of so many destitute children,
is because of the premature death of their parents.
Statistical accounts of the comparative mortality of
other towns are then cited to show that Edinburgh is
one of the healthiest, if not the very healthiest town
in Great Britain, and that the proportion of deaths of
children is less in this city than in London, Liver-
pool, Glasgow, &c., while the proportion of deaths
above 60 exhibit a corresponding increase over these
towns. These facts are of course the clearest demon-
strations of a healthy locality, and although a marked
increase has taken place in the mortality of the past
year, the per centage has been much less here than
elsewhere.

The following abstracts from the report shows re •
spectively the mortality of the first two months
of 1847 :

SUICIDE. '-
at bit Bedford field an inquest
at the Griffin, Villier7 r.
William airker, age. 1 f,'-fa,""`:t. Strand, on
deceased
yseodf
crapl,,y of Mr. Newman, 'itSitt' Coaeofhcie(l,anetanbnece:ra,snadianrywthateos was se,zed with a fit on the a‘ig:rft-1 ta4en home and put •to bed. N.ext daasyt_he became raving
mud, and well so violent that it was
ha ,e two men to guard him,
while still in bed, he contrived, unseenarll7ria.aatfteter;daarnt,
to get a small awl by his bed-aide, d with his head
under the clothes, to bore a hole in his throat, and then work the instrument round until he had inflicted a large
circular wound. It was discovered almost immediately,
aad he was taken to Charing-cross Hospital, where he
died on Thursday last. Mr. Stiggall. the house-surgeon,
could n,,t say whether the fever under which he sank
was the result of the injuries or of natural causes, and
the inquest was adjourned for a port motion examination.

January the mortality of Edinburgh,
excluding 31 still births, amounted to 506; that of
January 1845, being 329 ; of January, 1846, being
382. The mortality of Leith during January, 1847,
excluding five still births, amounted to 96 ; that of
January, 1845, being 64 ; that of January, 1846,
being 62.

"During February, the mortality of Edinburgh,
excluding 38 still births, amounted to 426 ; that of
February, 1845, being 327 ; that of February, 1846,
being 327. The mortality of Leith during February,
excluding nine still births, amounted to 92; that of
February, 1845, being 34'. that of February, 1846,
being 46."

of
The report attributes the increase over the same
months of preceding years chiefly to the unusual pre-
valencegreatest sufferers. For example, the average monthly
easterly winds, aged people being the
deaths of persons above 60 was during last year 78,
but during January 1847, 130—February, 120. It
concludes by the following statement :
"It is apparent that the increased mortality of the
month of January and February of this year is not
owing to the prevalence of epidemic diseases, nor can
it be traced to any connexion with dearth of provi.
sions or general distress. The whole excess of deaths
is, on the other hand, satisfactorily accounted for by
the increased number of deaths from diseases of the
respiratory organs, and from old age—two classes
whose mortality is greatly regulated by the severity
of the weather: —rialedonian Mercury.

[ADVERTISEMENT.] -A CURE OF A DREADFUL
CASE OP ERYSIPELAS BY HOLLOWAY'S OINTMENT AND PILLS.—Mrs.
Gibbons, of Tivoli-place, Cheltenham, was for two years so dreadfully
affected with Erysipelas, that she became (however extraordinary it
may appear) both blind and deaf from the severity of the disease.
During the time she was attended by several of the most eminent
medical men in Cheltenham, but without receiving any benefit what-
ever, and as a last resource she tried Holloway's Pliii and Ointment,
which in two months perfectly cured the dreadfUl complaint, and re-
stored her to health. This remarkable case can be authenticated in
every particular, at the Bookseller's, No. 10, Arcade, Cheltenham.—
Sold by all Drugglsts, and at Protester Holloway's Establishment,
24.4, Strand, Unikim.

SUN, LONDON, SATURIDAY EVENING. APRIL 10, 1847.