The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-25 00:00:00

REIGATE ELECTION.

A great deal of excitement prevails in this borough upon
the subject of the approaching election. The reappearance
of Mr. Wilkinson on Saturday last, after having formally
retired, and thus dividing the Liberal interest, has given
much dissatisfaction. A very crowded meeting was held at
the Town-hall on Monday night, convened by the requisi-
tion of Mr. Wilkinson, in order that he might give some
explanation as to the reasons which induced him to come
forward as a candidate.
Mr. Campion was called to the chair.

Mr. WILKINSON in his speech said that when the vacancy
in the representation of the borough was first made known,
he bad not the slightest notion of presenting himself to the
notice of the electors, but from the position in which he
stood at the last election it was not unnatural that an appli-
cation should be made to him to come forward as a candi-
date, and such an application was subsequently made to
him. He at first hesitated to comply, but having been
assured by a large body of the Liberal electors that he was
the fittest man to represent the borough and to fight the
contest successfully on their behalf, he did at length consent
to come forward. He then alluded to what took place at
the former election, and said he believed that if a struggle
were not made on this occasion, the borough would again
fall into the hands of the old territorial and Conservative
party, and that he was the most likely man to succeed, and
to prevent such a result from taking place. The honourable
candidate concluded by stating that he should not upon that
occasion enter into any statement of his political opinions,
as he had so recently canvassed the borough, but he was
ready to answer any questions that might be put to him.
Mr. EDWIN JAMES, who had entered the Town-hall
during the speech of Mr. Wilkinson, and who was received
in the most enthusiastic manner, when he had concluded,
addressed the electors at considerable length. He said that
a good deal had been stated by Mr. Wilkinson upon the
subject of the last election which they bad nothing to do
with except that he believed some bitter feuds and animo-
sities had been created by it between certain sections of the
Liberal party, which he had hoped in coming forward to
have heated for ever. He threw himself candidly and un-
reservedly upon the electors. Mr. Wilkinson at this time
had resigned, and he said he now came forward again
solely, as he believed, because he knew that he (Mr. James)
would have been the successful candidate.
The CHAIRMAN at length put a resolution to the meet-
ing to the effect that Mr. Wilkinson was a fit and proper
person to represent the borough of Reigate in Parliament,
to which an amendment was proposed that Mr. Edwin
James was the more fit and proper person, and the amend-
ment was carried by an overwhelming majority, scarcely
more than a dozen bands being held up for Mr. Wilkinson.

HEALTH of LONDON during the WEEK.

(From the Official Report.)

The returns of the metropolitan registrars are still of a
satisfactory character. In the week that ended last Satur-
day (August 21st) the deaths registered were 1,112, of which
569 were those of males, and 543 those of females. In the
corresponding weeks of 1849 and 1854, when so many lives
were destroyed by cholera and diarrhoea, the deaths rose to
2,230 in the former year, and to 1833 in the latter. In the
corresponding weeks of the 10 years 1848-57 the average
mortality was 1,259. The deaths of last week occurred in
an increased population ; and the present rate of mortality
is therefore comparatively low, being 273 below the cor-
rected average deaths in London. Of the 1,112 persons who
died, 614 were under 20 years of age ; 136 were 20 and under
40; 148 were 40 to 60; 161 were GO to 80; and 40 were 80
years of age and upwards.
The births registered exceeded the deaths by 446.
The zymotic class of diseases caused 379 deaths, or about
one-third of the total mortality, including ✓2 by measles,
105 by scarlatina, 28 by whooping-cough, 43 by typhus and
other continued fevers, 113 by diarrhoea, 10 by cholera, &c.
To the constitutional class of diseases 215 deaths were
registered ; of this number phthisis or consumption was
fatal to 116, 96 of whom were between the ages of 20 and GO.
In the local class of diseases 294 deaths occurred ; in the
developmental class of diseases 145 deaths ; in violent
causes 54; and in 15 deaths the cau3c was not specified or

Scarlatina (diphtheria) is much above the average. The
deaths during the last six weeks were 73, 58, 78, 86, 85, and
105 respectively ; last week, with the exception of 7 persons,
all the deaths from this disease occurred among children
under 10 years of age. At 25, High-street, St. Giles, the
two children of a printer, aged one and two years, died of
scarlat;na maligns. Mr. Faulkner, the medical attendant,
describes this house as inhabited by 33 or 34 persons, 18 of
whom are children all more or less bearing traces of illnese
in their features. For the last two years there has been no
stink trap in the sink in the basement floor, the tenants of
this house have bee❑ inhaling the poisonous gases evolved
from the sewers, and four persons have died within the last
three weeks.

At 9, Kenning's-buildings, Rotherhithe, the son of a
labourer, aged two years, died from cholera (12 hours).
Mr. Bayley, the registrar, adds :—" Complaint was made
of an obnoxious smell aridng from a gully in front of this
house, and several persons in its vicinity have been attacked
with illness."

Three persons whose deaths were registered attained the
advanced age of 90 years and upwards.
Last week the births of 812 boys and 746 girls, in all
1,558 children, were registered in London. In the ten
corresponding weeks of the years 1848-57 the average
number was 1,518.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean readings
of the barometer in the week was 29.689 in. The daily mean
temperature was 63.3 deg., or 2.2 deg. abave the average,
but ranged from 83.0 deg. to 47'8 deg. On Saturday the
_ .

thermometer on the grass indicated 32.2 deg. ; the highes

reading in the sun was 104.6 deg. on Thursday. The differ-
ence between the mean dew-point and the air 9.7 deg.

The wind veered south, and changed from south-west to
north-west. The sky for the most part was cloudy through-
out the week. Rain fell on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.;
and on Saturday, rain fell genera?ly till evening.