The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-30 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 3'6, .1858.

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THB
WEEK.

(Prom the Report of the Registrar enteral.)

The deaths in London in the week ending Satur-
day, June 26, were 1,092. In the ten years 1848-57
the average number of deaths was 984; but as the
deaths of last week occurred in an increased popu-
lation, the average should be raised in-proportion
to the increase, when ihrs comparison will show
that the mortality of last week approximated very
closely to ani calculated amount.
Diarrhoet was fatal last week in 54 cases, which
is double the average for corresponding weeks ; for
recent increase is evident, the numbers of the two
previous Weeks having been 18 and 31. There were
also 8 deaths from cholera or "choleraic diarrhoea.'

The actual rate of mortality in London during
the last ten years exceeded 24 (it was exactly 24.46)
in 1,000, which implies 1,275 weekly deaths, or
476 above the healthy average.
In the last week 1,092 persons died in London,
or 293 persons in' excess of the healthy average.
That 293 persons died unnatural deaths during the
week is the 0 findino'of this ()Teat inquezt.
0

, W hat were the causes of -these unnatural deaths ?
The people of London live as well as the people of
the sixty-three districts ; and they now suffer no-
thing from cold. Many drink spirits to excess.
Too many sleep in the same rooms ; and, as in our
barracks, this destroys large numbers. Crowding
in baii.emng, in theatres, in churches and chapels
to hear popular preachers, where no adequate yen-
.tilation is carried on, propagates zymotie diseases.
impure water is the cause several deaths ; bet
the ecxmpanies have of late years supplied tower
-infinitely superior in quality to the water which
they drew previously from the parts of the Thames
now admitted by everybody, even their retained
chemist 4, to be. offensive. The impurity of the
air was unquestionably the cause of a large number
of the 293 deaths. This impurity is most noxious
in the houses where the people sleep. The cesspools
are still numerous; half a million waterelosets and
sinks 'discharge large quantities of impure air into
the 353,326 inhabited houses. This incommodity
is lessened iu London by the system of drains, which
however are badly constructed, and emit their vola-
tile impui ities under the faces of the people. The
drains again pour their contents into the Thames,
from which in its course though London in ordi-
nary times more than four million gallons of water
are evaporated daily, carrying with the vapour, and
diffusing. all over the town, impurities which are
breathed by the whole population.
The mort.:lity of London' has bean already re-
duced by the purification of the Water ; cholera
will be less fatal than it has been ; and f the air
the people breath be cleansed the happy results will
soon appear, and the registers will less frequently
record the untimely deaths of husbands, wives,
children, and "youths intombed before their
father's eyes."
The deaths of two centenarians were registered
in the week.. Three children in it family in Glou-
cester-terrace, Belgrave sub-district, died within
tines days of typhoid diphtheria, all after six days'
illness. _ _

Last week the births of 823 boys and 839 girls,
in all 1,662 children, were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1848-57
the average number was 1,525.
At the Royal Observatory; Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer iu the week was 30'91
inches. The highest reading was 30'21 inches, and
occurred on Wednesday. The mean temperature
of the week was 64 eleg. 50 min., which is 4.3 deg.
above the average of the same week in 43 years (as
determined by Mr. Glaisher). The thermometers
in-the sun aad the shade attained their highest
points on Tuesday, which wore 112 4 deg. and 86
deg. respestively. The lowest temperature was
48:9 deg. on Friday. the mean daily range was
2'7.2. The difference between the mean due-point
temperature and a:r temperature, showing the dry-
ness of the air, was so much as 11.5 deg. Tue mean
degree of humidity was oily 65.. The mean tem-
perature of the water of the Tham, s was 69.7 deg.
The 'rain measured was only 0-',16 inch.
cistern of bar. 159 fr. above mean level of see.
Readings coincident witl those of R.S.'s flint-glass
standard bar. O,bs.. takon at Oh. ; noon ; 3h.
P.m. ; Oh. P.m. The, moans of readings iu
8,9, observed At these times, stand as cor I ected by
Mr. Glaisher from elm. of 5 yrs. 4111,1111 g D. 4., C.: 31,
.184 a Traritr., 11:- .1.. 1848). Srbill%kr*4
0113 obtained, Cols. 14 and 18 are derived. Col.
8 includes results deduced front max. and min.
(self-registering) thermorn. with corrections. Read-
ings in Cols. 10, 11, 12, 13 are placed opposite the
day which, preceds that on which the thermometers
are read. The numbers in Cols. 15 and 16 are de-
termined by the use of maximum and minimum
thermometers with wetteued bulbs. Cul. •17 is
determined by Mr. Glaisher from all the thermo-
metrical observations made at the Royal Observa-
tory, Greenwich, iu the 43 years ending 1856.
In Col. 17, + means higher, lower than average
Whewell's anemometer (Col. 24) is read at 101 r.
A.m. The result is for 24 hours previous, aad is
placed opposite the day preceding that on which
the reading is 'aken.
The temperature of the water of the Thames is
ascertained 137 the use of belf-registering thermo-
meters, suspended from the side of the Dread-
nought Hospiial Ship, at the depth of about 2 fr.
below the surface. The readings of these instru-
ments are registered under the superintendetce of
the medical officers of the ship.
The reading of the barometer increased from
29'99 in. at the beginning of the week to 30.21 in.
on the 23d tt 9h. A. M. with the exception of a
slight check on the 221, between the hours of 9h.
and 3h. P.M., during which interval the read-
ings decreased slightly ; d,,:r.a3ud to 30.04 in. by
outue 24th ; increased to 30'18 is. by
Oh. P.M. on the same day ; remained nearly sta-
tionary for tome hours ; and decreased to 29.85
in. by the end of the week.

GREAT FIRE IN THE LONDON DOCKS.

DESTRUCTION OF THREE WAREHOUSES.
About noon yesterday a terrific fire took place
in the London Dook, and following soe4mely upon
the remarkable outbreak at the St. Katherine Dock
and Fresh Nyharf, created great consternation
throughout the shipping and mercantile interest of
the nittrOnolis. The fire raged for several hours,
accompanied by tremendous explosions, and fears
are entertiined that there has been. some serious
loss of life. •

This London Dock, as probably most of our
readers are aware, is ono of the largest on the
banks of the river. It almost adjoins:St. ,Kathe-
' tine's, and extends through Wapping, Shadwell,
to Rataliff. On the south side of the principal
basin, between the Hermitage and Wapping river
entrances, stands what are known .as the South
Stack Warehouses, a range of brick buildings, of
considerable length and depth, five stories high.
Although termed one warehouse, it has numerous
divisions, :each being separated by 31t.
with a communicAionthrough everyfloor, by door-
ways protected by iron gates. The whole of them
weie crammed with merchandise of Various de-
scriptions to the value of between two and three
millions, and the property of various brokers and
merchants.
It was about ten minutes to twelve when the dis-
covery was made, just at a time when probably the
largest amount of business is done in the dock.
The warelimbes and loepholes were open, and
gangs of labourers were busily employed on this
different floors, when a cry was raised that the top
floor of the division-warehouse, between what were
called the 36 and 32100p-hotes, in 'the- centre of
the south stack, was on lire. On looking up some
smoke was seen faintly issuing from the windows,.
and a numbsr of labourers ran up with buckets
of water, conceiving that they would have little
difficulty in quenching it. On reaching the fourih
they found to their astonishment that
the floor above them was completely in flames,
and the fire rapidly descending. Intelligence
of the fact instantly spread through the docks,
and the dock police and fire brigade immediately
repaired to the spot with their land and two float-
ing enables, but some delay was occasioned by the
crowded state of the quay and roadway between the
warehouse and basin and the shipping that were
lying alongside the south quay. Seven lengths of
hose and branches were laid on to different fire- ,
cocks, and the firemen and labourers, .of whom
there were a vast number, exerted themselves to
their utmost in endeavonring to check the progress
of the conflagration. In the meant ime it had gained
most prodigiously. Descending to the lower floors
(each of which were 120 by 51 feet), and where
were st red hundreds of tons of jute' hemp, oil,
tallow, rice, sugar in bags, chests, and hogsheads ;
spices, dyes, saltpetre, and many other articles.
Its progress was fierce and terrific, and the heavy
elands of black smoke which rose from all parts,
completely dal kened the river and neighbourhood.
Mr. Braid wood, the director of the London Fire
Brigade, reached the dock very promptly, with his
powerful force of men and laud engines, his chief
officers Fogo, Henderson, and Bridges, accompany-;
ing On reaching the scene( they experienced
almost the same difficulty as the dock people in
approaching the warehouse. The powerful.steam
floating engines of the brigade, stationed iu the
Thames, now very opportunely arrived. They were
hauled into the Wapping Basin and brought to the
edge of the South Quay, along which the hose was •
laid, and by means of connecting joints additional
hose were added—some taken on to the roof of the
adjoining divisions, others on to the floor, while
the main jets were directed into the burning
division. Although an immense mass of water was
being thrown from some 20 branches—those of the
dock and brigade floating engines alone throwing
from 15 to 16 tons per minute—the flames ad-
vanced and spread. By one o'clock the whole of
the floors of tho division were involved in one
general blaze, each window and loophole emitting
clouds of the densest black smoke. Slight rumbling
explosions within the building were now heard.
As already stated, among the goods in the build-
ing was saltpetre,' said to be in bags, the exact
quantity, however, no one seemed to know, or the
exact place where it was stowed. That there must
have been a large stock was evideut to have pro-
duced such a featfal result.

..—At about 2a _ ukinua _lit -one a very loud -ex-
plosion took place, succeeded by another, it a•iy-
thing, of a heavier character. It was apparent
from the excited state of the dock workpeople, that
a greater explosion was dreaded. A cry was raised,
" Run, it's the saltpetre." The sudden expansion
of a vivid white flame from the division which pre-
ceded the shock confirmed in a measure their fears.
A general movement of all near the quays had just
carnmenced, when three tremendous explosions
occurred. The effect was appalling. Au immense
sheet of fire shot almost half way across the basin,
and the heavy concus4iou that shook the esrth led
to a belief that the whole range of the south stack
was coining down. The centre'diVision was blown
to atoms. The front •and baCk Walls, of great
thickue=s, wire thrown outwards and fell, that at
the rear on to some shed stores near the \Yapping
basin. Every one was panic-stricken for the mo-
ment, and the rush to escape was almost beyond
description. Considering the hundreds of persons
who were assembled on the south quay and at the
rear, and 'the desperate struggle to get out of dan-
ger, ails marvellous.that there was not a sad loss
of life. It is asserted that one or more labourers
perished beneath the walls as they were blown on.,
the truth of wh;ch is yet to he elicitrai, fo'
be impossible to make a cafe!' for some time. A
riimber of 11.1111 were injured by falling bricks, but
none, we are happy to say, seriously. The conster-
nation amongst the shipping on the explosions
taking place was almost as great as on land. Those
alongside the quay were hauled into the basin, and
wa did not hear of any of them sustaining material
darnag..,.
As soun as the excitement consequent on the ex-
plosion had somewhat subsided, and the men were
reassured that no further danger was to be appre-
hended, they resumed working at the engines. It.
was thought that the shock might have had some
effect in aiding them in checking the fire, at least
in decreasing it ; it however had a contrary ten-
dency, fir the explosion had forced in the division
walls, and th 3 goods on the different floors of the
adjoininiug warehouses were quickly in flames.
Fur hours the firemen worked with unfiAgging
energy, ably directed by their superintendent, Mr.
Braidtvwd, Mr. Chandler, the Secretary of the
London Dock Company ; Mr. Rinda.ll, the sup'er-
intendent • Mr. Pace, at pt. Maitland, dockmaster ;
and Mr. Clements, superintendent of police ; all
being present, and tendering their best advice and
services. _ _

It was not till near six o'clock that the fire could
be said to have been arrested. The Irigade had
succeeded in preventing it penetrating to the re-
maining divisions of the warehouser. The fire bad
got hold of a fourth division, and the upper floors
and roof were destroyed, hilt hopes were entertained
that the lower part might be saved. The holy of
lire that still remained was very great, the smoko
that poured-forth from the division on the other
side of the gap leading to an impression that the
flames had reached that purlieu of the range. Thw.,
however,' was erroneous.
As regards the extent of the fire, it is far greater
than that which recently took place at St. Kathe-
rine's. We were informed by Mr. Chandler, the
stcretiry, that three divisions of the warehouses
were destroyed. In addition to that there was
damage to. the fourth, and considerable injury by'
water to the contents of the floors of the adjoining
division. The company's officers took every precau-
tion to lessen the destruction of property, and
numerous gangs of labourers were employed in re•
moving hundreds of tons of merchandise from the
floors of warehouies near, and which at one period
had every appearance of being destroyed. The
total loss must, however, be very great, some
accounts computing it at 150,0001. The warehouses
are covered by several large insurances effected in
almost every fire-office in the kingdom, and the
merchandise lost was protected by floating policies.
The origin of this disastrous outbreak has occa•
sioned considerable curiosity. Many reports are
current. Amongst other surmise it is thought
that it might have arisen from labourers smoking,
although this is strictly forbiddee, or from buffers,
which it is known they carry about them, falling
out of their pockets and igniting through being
trod on. The whole affair, however, will undergo
the strictest investigation by the Board of Directors.
An immense concourse of persons was attracted
to the vicinity of the dock by the fire. The gates,
ho-,vever, were prudently closed, and every possible
(lave taken to protect the goods in the establish-
, ment.

The readers of the "Life of Charlotte Broute" will be
glad to learn that the Rey. P. Bronte is still living at
Haworth. The rev, gentleman is in his 82d year, and
()leaches once every Sunday. Mr. Nicholls (Charlotte's
husband) resides with him as his curate. The servant,
Martha, who is often mentioned in the work, still lives
at the parsonage, and is a comfort to her aged and vene-
rated master.

[Pluck 4D. STAMPED s'l.]

THE O_4BE OF MR. W. H. BARB ►:'R.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE.

The select committee of the House of Ca'stnmons
appointed to "inquire into the allegations con-
tained in the petition of \Villiam Henry Barber,
solicitor, and to consider and report whether any
and what steps should be taken in reference to the
matters alleged therein," met for the first time
yesterday. The comtnittee consists of Lord Hot-
bam (e:sairmau), Lord Godericb, Mr. Brady, Mr.
Bright, Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Cebbett, Mr.
Collier, Mr. Eliot Yorke, Mr. Massey, Mr. James
Wilson, Mr. Arthur Mills, Mr. Hardy, Mr.
Adams, Mr. F. Crossley, and Sir John Trollop..
Mr. Barber was called and examined by Mr.
Collier. After giving a detailed account of his trial
and sentence to transportation for life, and subse-
quent free pardon, he said—After my conviction I
was sent, chained heavily by the leg, to Millbank,
and after being there for .four months, I was,
250 others, put on board the Agincourt ship, still
heavily chained. I had to sleep in my chains for
four nights, and then when; we had got well out to
sea the chains were taken off all the prisoners. I
had nothing to complain of on the part of the offi-
cers of the ship while I was on board the ship. On
my being landed iu Norfolk Island I was, with
about 220 other pr;soners, taken to the barracks,
but in consequence of the great heat of the island
and the change of diet, 50 of us were seen by the
medical ram, and invalided and ordered net to go
to work. We were then desired to go to the lumber
yard. Soon afasiwarde• the commandant of the
island, Major Child, said lie wanted to see the pri-
soners who had come over ley the Agincourt, anel -
hearing that a good many of the men who had ar-
rived bad not gone to work, he stood in the bar-
rack-yard, and requested the 40 or 50 of us who
bad been iuvelid.ed by the medical man to pass be-
fore him in single file. About 10 men passed by
him unnoticed, but whets I approached him, know-
ing that Major Child was the Commandant of the
island, I raised my cap to him, upon which he called
out, " Let that man's hair' be cut," although 'my
hair had only been cut close the previous day. He
then said in a very austere manner, "How is it
that you have not gone to work ?' I replied that I
had teen ordered not to go to work by the met:t-
eal man. Upon that, Major Child, who had a large j
key in his hand, shook his list at me, and said, "I
will see to you, Mr. Ba bar.' Major Child is now-
in this country, and has been so since my return.
Saveral applications were made by persons in the
island to obtain my services as a clerk, and in the
case of several other persons the application was
granted. I was applied for by Lieut. Lloyd, who
wished to.take we asclerk, but his application was re-.
fused. Lieut. Lloyd wasan officer in the ship in whch
I went out to Norfolk Island, and he had seen me
during the voyage, where he said I had been very
usefut as I had prevented a mutiny taking place
during the voyage. Two other gentlemen applied
to obtain my assistance as clerk ; but in every in-
stance the application was refused. The gentlemen
told me that they had been refused when they had
applied for me. 1 was so ill that I had to go into
hospital, and although I was still in a very weakly
condition, and though the doctor reported me as
unfit for sevete physical labour, and it was cus-
tomary to allow the superintendents of different
divisions of convicts the services, as writers, of such
of them as had been well educated—and two or
three of our party had been so employed—l reco-
vered, and found that several applications were
made for my service,. For reasons not then known
to me these applications a ere refused, and I had
the misfortune to be appointed " wardsinan,"
which was by far the most loathsome, perilous,
and unhealthy occupation upon the island. My
duties were to preserve order in a dormitory of 200
criminals, amongst whom were .murderers. I was
locked up with these ruffians from seven in the
evening until six o'clock in the morning. My task
was then to cleanse and purify their dormitory and
accommodations the next night. I had, amongst
other things, to take the tubs which were provided
for their accommodation in the dormitory down
stairs, through the barrack-yard and the offi.:es,
and then take them down to the sea, empty them,
and thoroughly clean them out. I had also to clean
their htmwocksand adjust their beds for the night,
and was, subjected to the worst language if a ham-
mock :yeas not aclju=ied t please his particular
_Laski._ _There are nn at'a
Norfolk Island. One of them now there ie Augus-
tus Dalmas, who murdered his sweetheart on Bat-
tersea-bridge • and, althongta they did not plead
insanity on the trial, after his conviction his friends
set up some plea of insanity, and he was sent to
Norfolk Island, where he was pelted by. Major
Could and treated with every luxury. I had
to make the beds of murderers, and -I was amongst
200 convicts every night without any arms or
any defence whatever. I had to make the beds
of all these 230 men and to clean their ham-
mocks. I was employed from 5 o'clock in th 2
morning, and.tbe only sleep I got was from about
three iu the afternoon until ab )ut five in the even-
ing. I was, after 16 months' employment in this
way, put into a field to bleak stones, under an
overseer named Lane ; and as it was known that
the commandant was what was called "down upon
me," the subordinates took their cue from him, an I
treated me accordiug!y. I had to remain in the
field for hours toge her in a sic) ping position, and
if I sto )d upright for a moment to relieve my back,
this overseer Lane immediately called out, "No
straight backs," and I was en'nro'lt I t.) re,ualo
my stnopinry p 1 was breaking
.nos Maj,z Ceild asked me what objection I had
to clean the wards ? I said I had no oljectiou to
do so, but the exhalations were mo-t destructive to
my health, and I also said that I got wet in my
feet, when lie told me to put my shoes on; when I
said it would be no use to put my shoes on, as I
had to stand in water. He then t• 11 me to take
my shoes off, and went laughing away. The over-
seer of this gang was a man who had been twice
transported—a man noted for his severity. Con-
victs of the worst character were employed as
schoolmasters and clerks, and many of them had
been convicted of serious crimes iu the island while
undergoing their sentences. I was afterwards *eat
to Cascades, and while I-wae there Lieut. Butler ap•
plied to be allowed to take me as clerk, amid the
answer to that application by Major Child was to
send me back to Longridge, the worst penal se tle-
ment. I was sent to that place because it was a
place which I most disliked to go to.
After further evidenCe cf the same kind, Mr.
Barber describid the process by which the proofs of
his innocence had been arrived at, and concluded
his statement as follows :---Conscious of my inuo-
.cence, I made no disposal of my property, but after
my conviction it was all seized, and every vestige of
property belonging to me has been swept away, to-
gether with debts due to me, which have been
lost through the operation of the Statute of
Limitations. I have received a pardon ou the
ground of my innocence, but have returned to this
country destitute, having lost several thousands of
pounds, my profession almost lost to me, and per-
manently injured by the cruelties exercised towards
me.

At 4 u'clo'l the committee adjourned.