The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-19 00:00:00

ME LOSS OF Till? COSEAUGB7

STEAMER.

The following letter, acknowledging the receipt
of Mr. Train's report relative to the loss of this
vessel, has been received from the office of the
Board of Trade :--
Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade,
Ararine II pari merit, Whitehall, Dee. 17.
Sir,--T am directed by the Lardy of the Com-
mittee of Pi.lvy Council for Trude to veknow ledge
the receipt of the report of investigation and
minutes of evidence in the matter of the inquiry
held by you, with the assistance of Captain Harri,,
torching the loss of the steam-ship Connaught, and
I am to convey to you their lordships' thanks for
your laborious and valuable report. With regard
to the suggestions in your report
1. That steamships should be inspected by Go-
vernment surveyors whilst building;
2. That captains of merchant steadiers should be
examine' in steam;
• 3. That engineers should be examined and have
certificates of competency.

1 lam directed to offer the following observations
1. My lords are of opinion that it would he in-
expedient to establish any supervision by govern-
ment officers of steamers during their construction,
as such a course would tend to remove responsibility
from the builders and the owners. The special
survey of mail steamers under contracts with tho
Government is not, as you are probably aware, now
in the hands of the Board of Trade.

2. As regards the examination of masters and
mates in matters connected with the steam engine,
I am to point out that such examination could not
be made compulsory 'without the interference of
the legislature. But's'sYstem of voluntary exami-
nation in steam has beentor some time in operation.
These examinations are conducted under the
superintendence of the various local marine boards,
and any master or any first mate or only mate, is
at liberty to present himself for examination as to
his practical knowledge of the use and working of
the steam engine. If any master or mate holding
a Board of Trade certificate passes this examina-
tion, the words " passed in steam" are endorsed on
his certificate. The value of this endorsement
would be greatly enhanced if steam shipowners
were to require their officers to pass in steam.
3. The question whether engineers should be
compelled to pass an examination, and to obtain
certificates From the Board of Trade,
is very im-
portant. But it is a question for the legislature,
and my Lords are not in a position to offer any
opinion upon it.—l am, &e.,

T H. James Traill, Esq., Police CourPARRE.
t, Greenwich. R

HEALTH OF LONDON" LURING THE irEEZ.

(From the Registrar-General's Weekly Return.)
The London returns of deaths for the two weeks
of December exhibit a decrease on that for the
last week of November. In three successive weeks
the numbers were 1,275, 1,240, and last week,
1,208. The average number of deaths, as derived
from returns of weeks corresponding with last
week in the ten years 1850 9, and corrected for
increase of population, is 1,371. The present
return is therefore less than the result obtained by
calculation by 163 ; and the population, it may be
inferred, is comparatively free from fatal illness.
The deaths from pulmonary diseases, exclusive
of phthisis, have declined from 291 is the previous
eek to 261 last week. The corrected average of
corresponding weeks is 315. Bronchitis has de-
clined in the two weeks from 172 to 139 ; pneu-
monia was fatal in the same periods in 95 and 97
cases. Phthisis decreased from 150 to 119 deaths,
about half of which latter occurred in the period of
life, 20 to 40 years.
Three deaths occurred from small-pox in the
week, 55 from measles, 52 from scarlatina, 14 from
diphtheria, 43 from whooping-cough, and 31 from
typhus. Five children died from whooping-cough
in the East sub district of Islington. Four died
from measles in the Haggerstone West sub -district ;
in Bethnal-green. Six deaths from scarlatina
were recorded in Bow.

Five persons were the victims of intemperance.
Four infants were murdered; 5 died from suffoca-
tion in bed. The widow of a labourer aged 66
years, and the daughter of a tailor, aged one year,
died by their clothes taking fire. A girl, a domes-
tic servant, aged 17 years, was scalded to death by
falling into a copper of hot water. A boy, aged 3
years, died at 133, Goswell-street, from diphtheria,
which was considered as unquestionably due to a
foul smell arising from a pipe that communicated
with the sewer. A Chinese mendicant died from
starvation.

Last week the births .of 1,052 boys and 918 girls,
in all 1,970 children, were registered in London.
In the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 1850.59
the average number was 1,650.

thankful heart, and I cannot but feel how feebly I
have expressed on this occasion all that I could
really desire to testify towards him. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next proposed " her Mujesty's
Judges," which was briefly acknowledged by Mr.
Justice Wightman.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE then gave " The
Mg.ster and Wardens of this Ancient Corporation,"
which was followed by " Prosperity to the Mer-
chant Taylors' School ;" and a few more complimen-
tary toasts wound up the proceedin4.s.