The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-04 00:00:00

1856.

GRAND BAZAAR IN BEHALF OF TILE
HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION.

The grounds of the Toxophilite Society in Regent's-
park were, yesterday, crowded with the elite of the rank
and fashion at present resident in London. The occa-
sion of the assemblage was a bazaar, the profits of the
sale of goods being intended to be appropriated for the
benefit of the Hospital for Consumption. If the "cha-
rity" which is said to cover a multitude of sins, could
always be exercised in a manner so calculated to give
pleasure to the charitable, it might be affirmed that
charity is the most pleasant and profitable of a'l the
virtues. The ladies who undertook the onerous duty of
disposing of the mysterious manufactures prepared for
sale, were attired in costumes which might have been
considered as too magnificent, had it not been for the
fact that all this "gorgeous array" was for the good of
the sick and poor. Cynics, particularly old ones,
might :have thought some of the young and beautiful
of the ladies were venturing rather closely on the
bounds of flirtation in their endeavours to sell their
wares, but the magical word " Charity" was suffi-
cient to put an end to such disagreeable criti-
cisms. Thus there was nothing: to mar the pleasure
that could be derived from the exceeding beauty of
' the scene. The ladies were justified in indulging their
taste in costume and in giving vent to all that exuber-
ance of spirits which is natural to them, but which is too
often kept down by the frigid rules of society. Bashful
young gentlemen, who would have died a thousand meta-
phorical deaths to be permitted to breathe one word in
the ears of the objects of their admiration and aspira-
tion, found themselves all of a sudden besieged, flattered
—we had almost said flirted away with—by beings who
hut a day before seemed to belong to another world.
What wonder that numbers of these gentle youths were
to be sees recklessly dispensing showers of gold, as a re-
turn for pincushions, table-mats, watch-pockets, and simi-
lar treasures, which will, in future, have no value, except
that derived from association ? The day was beautiful,
the dresses of the ladies were only exceeded by the love-
liness of the wearers, the band of the Royal Horse Guards
scarcely ceased for an instant in its endeavours to delight
the ears of the company ; there was a perfect crush of
distinguished persons. What more could the most worn-
out member of London society desire ?
The general arrangements within the grounds, as well
as in the approaches to thee, were effectively carried
out by the direction of the committee, with the aid of a
body of the D division of police, under Inspector Brima-
combs. The stalls were ranged within a tent, of about
170 feet by 90 feet, ornamented with scarlet hangings
relieved with amber fringe, and furnished with numerous
flags grouped in trophies, while above the roof outside
floated a large standard, bearing the national insignia of
the allied powers. The stalls were most tastefully deco-
rated with coloured draperies, and they displayed a pro-
fusion of elegant fancy needlework, drawings, paintings,
a variety of ornamental works, books, prints, and various
pretty trifles, with specimens of the work of some of the
patients of the hospital.
We may name, of the ladies patronesses who presided
at the stalls, the Marchioness of Hastings, the Countess
of Harrington, Countess Fortescue, Lady J. Somerset,
Lady Charlotte Egerton, Viscountess Combermere,
Lady Theresa Lewis, Lady Southampton, Lady Den-
man, Baroness Rothschild, Hon. Mrs. Ives, Lady Pear-
son, Lady Middleton, the Hon. Mrs. G. Repton, Lady
Cust, Lady Shelley, Lady Not, Lady Howard, Lady
Holland, Lady Harding, Mrs. P. Rose, Mrs. Harrington,
Mrs. P. Waugh, and others.
The amusing General Post-office was ablycondueted by
the Hon. Mrs. C. E. Petrie, from whom the "Latest In-
telligence" was obtained with the greatest facility.
Among the most remarkable of the stalls and the most
distinguished for its crowd of purchasers we may men-
tion that of the Baroness de Rothschild. When it was
possible to catch a glimpse through the'mob of specta-
tors, eager either to buy or to compare one of the
fascinating vendors with their recollections of her pic-
ture by Sant in the Royal Academy, it was impossible
not to be struck by the artistic arrangements of the
stall. Lady Theresa Lewis offered a large number of
attractive articles for sale. If this is her first acquaint.
ance with practical commerce she must surely be sur-
prised at the anxiety of the Chancellor on matters con-
nected with trade. The simple process of multiplying the
profits of her stall by the few millions of trades-
men who represent the commercial activity of England
would indicate an amount of prosperity which would
almost dispense with the services of a Chancellor of the
Exchequer. Never was the business of buying and sel-
ling so completely deprived of commonplace attributes.
Elegant young ladies outside of the stalls acted the part
of touters, and discoursed on the value of their wares so
eloquently that the most rigid economists were occa-
sionally melted. Outside of the booth beautiful children
solicited the spectators to buy articles with which they
were entrusted. It was a scene which will live in the
memories of all who witnessed it, and which could be
paralleled i❑ no other country in Europe.
By the kind permission of Col. the Hon. C. W. For-
rester, the band of the Royal Horse Guards Blue was in
attendance, and played several favourite pieces, conclud-
ing with the National Anthem.
The proceedings of the day were highly satisfactory to
the thousands who attended, and the pecuniary result,
if the bazaar should be equally successful this day and
to-morrow, will greatly benefit the charity.

IIEALTH OF LONDON DURING VIE
WEEK.

(Front the Report of the Registrar• General.)

In the first week of May the deaths registered in
London rose to 1,154 ; during the following weeks they
have shown a constant decrease, and in the last week of
the month, which ended on Saturday, they were 1,027.
lit the week preceding that on which the mortality rose
the mean weekly temperature had fallen to 41.3 deg. ;
in three subsequent weeks it rose to 44.3 deg., 51.2 deg.
and 53.1 deg., and last week it was 53.3 del.
In the corresponding weeks of the last 10 years, 1845-
55, the average number of deaths was 952, which, if
raised in proportion to increase of population, becomes
1,047. The numl;er, as shown by the present returns,
is therefore less than, but not materially different from,
the estimated amount.

The number of births registered in the week was
1,578; and there was an excess of 551 in the number of
persons born as compared with those who died. The
oldest person recorded in the return of deaths is a widow
who lived in Battersea, and had attained the age of 94
years.

The mortality of diseases in the zymotic class indicates,
on the whole, a satisfactory state of the public health.
The deaths referred to this class are 220, while the cor-
rected average for corresponding weeks in former years
is 233, though typhus still exhibits some degree of pro-
minence, the deaths from it being 59, while the average
is 46. Scarlatina carried off 40 children, measles 3d,
whooping•cough 33 ; there were only 5 deaths from
small-pox, and 12 from diarrhoea. While the western
division is comparatively exempt from scarlatina and
typhus, cases of hooping-cough appear to he more nume-
rous there than in other parts. A man died from
" typhoid fever and melancholia" in the Shoreditch
workhouse. Seven days before his death the police had
brought him and his wife to the house from Wellington-
street, Kingsland-road, both in a very emaciated state.
It appears that he had gone to the docks on the morning
of the 21st ult. in quest of employment, but arrived too
late to obtain it, and on returning home had attempted
to destroy himself by strangulation.
Last week the births of 787 boys and 791 girls—in all
1,573 children—were registered in London. In the 10
corresponding weeks of the years 1816-55 the average
number was 1,421.

At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.691. The
highest reading in the week was 30 in., which occurred
on Friday. The mean temperature of the week was 53.3
deg., which is 2.4 deg. below the average of the same
week in 33 years. The mean temperature fell on Fri-
day and Saturday so low as 8 deg. and 10 deg. below
the average. The highest temperature occurred on Tues-
day, and was 70 deg. ; the lowest on Friday, when it was
40.9 deg. The range of the week was therefore 29.1 deg.
The mean dew-point temperature was 47'4 deg., and the
difference between this and the mean temperature of the
air was 5.9 deg. The mean temperature of the water
of the Thames was 59.1 deg.; the temperature of the
river rose to 61.9 deg. on Wednesday. The wind blew
from the south-west on the first four days, and after-
wards from the north-east. Rain fell to the amount
of 97 in., of which 59 in. fell on 'Wednesday. Hail 1.11
on Sunday. The weather on Friday and Saturday is
described as cold and " very unseasonable."

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED

IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MAY 31.
Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat
Tubercular Diseases
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses
Diseases of the Heart and Biood•vessels 59
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of
Respiration
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c.
Malformations 2
Premature Birth and Debility 22
Atrophy 35
Old Age
Sudden 4
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 47
Causes not specified

DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES
Population Deaths in corre- Deaths
Enumerated. spending week in the
1851. of 1855. 'Week.
West Districts
North Districts 490,396
Central Districts 393,256
East Districts 485,522
South Districts

1,073 1,027
518
509

Totals
Males
Females
BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males
Females

787
791

Total •••••» 1,578

Somerset-house illumination has been taken down,
having never been lighted. Who is to pay for it will be
now the queation,