The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-17 00:00:00

THE WESTERN BANK.

A meeting to consider the best mode of relieving
the sufferers by the recent bank failures was held
yesterday in the Lord Provost's Chambers, Ediit-
burgh. Mr. Charles Cowan, M.P., and afterwards
the Lord Provost, presided. Mr. Kenneth Mac-
kenzie reported that after considerable discussion
as to the propriety of calling a meeting for the
purpose of augmenting the subscriptions, it had
been resolved that two gentlemen should proceed
to Glasgow to get the opinions of the committee
there. Mr. Bryson and himself thereupon
waited upon the Glasgow committee, and that
committee strongly advised them to take means to
get up a public meeting in Edinburgh, as they
believed it would have a better effect than if it was
to take place in Glasgow. He thought a public
meeting would bring a much larger, subscription
than they could otherwise obtain.—Dean Ramsay
said that he knew there were certain parties who
objected to subscribing for purposes of this kind.
An idea had got into people's minds that all the
subscriptions would go to law expenses, and there
were others who objected to subscribe to such an
object because the shareholders had invested their
money in the Western Bank for the purpose
of increasing their own incomes ; but he could
not agree with any of these objections.—
Mr. Cowan said he had occasion to hear a good
deal stated in the way of objections—for instance,
that this was a commercial calamity which people
had brought on themselves by desiring to obtain a
high rate of dividend. He had no sympathy with
those feelings. He thought that every one who
had been preserved from being involved in such a
loss should be called upon to some extent to miti-
gate that loss. However large a sum might be
raised by the benevolence of the public, it would go
but a very small way to mitigate the distress that
befallen a large number of the unfortunate share-
holders. After considerable discussion as to the
desirability of calling a public meeting, a committee
was appointed to consider the subject, and to report
to a future meeting. The proceedings closed with
a vote of thanks to the Lord Provost.—Scotsman.

CITY SEWERS.

Yesterday the commissioners assembled at Guild-
hall, for the despatch of business—Deputy Christie
in the chair.

ILLUMINATING POWER AND CHEMICAL QUALITY OF

THE GREAT CENTRAL GAS.
Dr. Letheby, the medical officer of health for the
City of London, presented his report on the illumi-
nating power and chemical quality of the gas sup-
plied by the Great Central Gas Company during
the last three months, and, as the result of 130
experiments made in accordance with the
instructions of the act of parliament, the illu-
minating power has been equal to that of 13.25
sperm candles, or 15.16 wax of 120 grains con-
sumption. This is a satisfactory result, for it shows
that the illuminating power has been a little more
than 26 per cent. over the standard of the act of
parliament. The chemical quality has also been
good, for the gas has been remarkably free from
ammonia and sulphuretted hydrogen.

SANITARY STATE OF THE CITY.

Dr. Lethebv handed in the following report :--
" The inspector's returns, which are before you,
relate to 282 houses that have been inspected since
the last meeting of the court, and I submit a list of
29 places that require your orders for sanitary
improvement in various particulars of cleansing,
draining, and water supply. I also submit a cer-
tificate for the registration of a house (No. 8) in
Golden-lane, as a common nightly lodging-house.
The mortality returns for the last fortnight are
much in excess of those for the preceding weekF,
and of the average for this season of the year. Th 3
total number of deaths 'is 132, the average for the
corresponding periods of the last two years being
121. The excess in the mortality has chiefly been
among infants, for there were 69 deaths among
children of less than five years of age, and the dis-
eases which have been unusually fatal to them are
whooping-cough, measles, and scarlet fever. The
cold weather has also produced a high mortality
from affections of the respiratory system. In the
course of the fortnight there have been 21 deaths
from• bronchitis, 13 from pneumonia, and 12 from
phthisis. There have also been seven deaths from
fever. seven from scarlatina, two from smallpox,
eight from whooping-cough, ten from measles, and
five from croup and diphtheria.
"The number of births in the fortnight was 141,
of which 66 were males, and 75 were females.