The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-01 00:00:00

THE BALLOT SOCIETY.

Yesterday morning a deputation from the execu-
tive committee of the Ballot Society, comprising
General Thompson, M.P., Mr. Deputy Whiteside,
Mr. Whitehurst (vice chairman), Mr. Gilbert
Pouncy, Mr. Bontems, Mr. Elt, Mr. Lemaitre, Mr.
Dawe 3, Mr. Staveley, Mr. Nodes, Mr. Richardson,
and Mr. James Campbell, • waited on the Lord
Mayor at the Mansion-home where they were in-
troduced to his lordship by Mr. Deputy Whiteside.
Mr. WHITEHURST, on the part of the deputation,
briefly expressed their congratulations at seeing
in the chair of the City a gentleman so highly
respected by all who knew him, and one whom
they were proud to call their colleague in the
council of the Ballot Society. He concluded by
asking his lordship to head a petition of the electors
of London to the House of Commons in favour of
the ballot.

His LORDSHIP expressed his determination to
adhere to the rule observed by his predecessors, not
actively to take anypart in political matters during
his mayoralty, but would cheerfully comply with
the request to sign the petition. His lordship then
affixed his name to the petition, and also gave a
donation of £5 to to the society's funds, remarking
that the extent of his interest in the question must
not be measured by the amount of his donation.
The deputation then waited on Baron Roths-
child, M.P., and had an interview with the hon.
member, who added his naine to the subscription
list for £5O. Mr. J. Ingram Travers also received
the deputation, and subscribed 10 guineas to the
fund.

In the course of the day the petition also re-
ceived the signatures of the following City
electors. The Hon. Henry Berkeley, M.P., Mr.
C. Gilpin, M.P., Mr. Richd. Cobden, Mr. J. Ingram
Travers, Mr. W. J. Hall, Mr. T. S. Hall, Mr. S.
Morley, and other gentlemen. Later in the day
the committee re-assembled at the offices in Guild-
hall-chambers, where they were joined by Mr.
Berkeley, M.P., and Mr. R. A. Marsden. The
above subscriptions, with £5 from Mr. Jas. Wyld,
M.P. for Bodmin, £2 2s. from Mr. W. Campbell
Sleigh, £1 ls. from Mr. Deputy Whiteside; and
others of smaller amounts were announced.

The committee were mainly engaged in delibe-
rating on the manner in which the Ballot should
be brought before the House of Commons in the
next session.

?-z_r_d_tozr-OF L-01VDO2v. Dt7.ZZ lIPU THE
WEEK.

(Front the Registrar-General's Report.)

The weekly return of births and deaths in Lon-
don issued by authority of the Registrar-General,
for the week ending Saturday, Nov. 27, shows the
rates of mortality to be unusually heavy. In the
first week of this month the deaths were 1,217, in
the two following weeks they were 1,349 and 1,487,
and in the week ending last Saturday they rose to
1,802. The mean temperature of the air in the first
week of November was 43.3 deg. ; in the last three
weeks it was successively 39 deg., 35.5 deg., and
37.4 deg. Without attempting at present an exact
appreciation of recent meteorological conditions in
relation to health, it is sufficient to state that the
mortality of the month attained its highest point,
which was far above the average, in a week in
which the thermometer fell 12 deg. below the
freezing point of water, and frost was then sud-
denly exchanged for beat and moisture.
In the ten years 1848-57 the average number
of deaths in the week corresponding with last week
was 1,150 ; but as the 1,802 deaths now returned
occurred in an increased population they should be
compared with the averpge when the latter
,has
been raised in proportion to the increase, a correc-
tion which will make it 1,265. Hence it appears
that 537 persons died last week in excess of the
number that would have died if only:the average
rate of mortality for the end of Nov. had prevailed.
A comparison of the results of the last two weeks
exhibits an increase, more or less important, in all
the classes in which the cases of death are distributed.
Deaths Irani zymotic diseases increased from 356 in
the previous week to 413 last week; constitutional
diseases from 253 to 288 ; local (which include those
of the respiratory organs) from 695 to 859 ; deve-
lopmental from 131 to 174, and violent deaths from
35 to 42. To take some special diseases : scarlatina
increased in the two weeks from from 133 to 163 ;
phthisis from 166 to 190 ; bronchitis from 211 to
310 ; pneumonia from 166 to only 169 ; asthma
from 20 to 28.
The deaths of three men and women are recorded
' who had attained the age of 90 years or upwards.
The two oldest were women, who died at the age
of 97 years.
Last week the births of 840 boys and 921 girls,
in all 1,761 children, were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years
1848-57 the average number was 1,508.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.563 in.
The barometrical readings varied from 28.84 in. to
30.06 in. The mean temperature of the week was
37.4 deg., which is 3.9 deg. below the average of
the same week in 43 years (as deter mined by Mr.
Glaisher). On the first four days the mean daily
temperature was below, on the last three above the
average ; the depression on Tuesday and Wednes-
day was equal to 15 deg. ; on Friday the excess
was 11 deg. The lowest point attained by the
thermometer was 20.5 deg., on Wednesday • the
highest, 58 deg., on Friday. The entire range of the
week was therefore 37.5 deg. ; the mean daily range
was 42.30 deg. •The range on Saturday was only
5.2 deg. Tuesday was the coldest day in November
since Nov. 23, 1827 ; and the mean temperature of
Tuesday and Wednesday was lower than that of
any two consecutive days in November as far back
as authentic records extend. The mean tempera-
ture of Friday was higher than that of Tuesday
and Wednesday by 25 deg. The difference between
the mean dew-point temperature and air tempera-
ture was 2.3 deg. The mean degree of humidity
of the air was 92. The mean temperature of the
water of the Thames was 38.9 deg. The wind blew
from the east, afterwards from the south-east. Rain
fell to the amount of 0.22 inches.

HUGH MILLER'S MONUMENT AT CROMARTY.—
The Inverness Courier says everything was done on the
occasion of layint, down the foundation-stone of the monu-
ment by the inhabitants that could render the ceremony
impressive, and to exhibit the sincere pride which they feel
in being able to refer to our distinguished countryman as
a native of their town, born and brought up among them-
selves. Probably not less than 500 or 600 persons were
present. The monument will consist of a pillar about 50
feet high, surmounted by a statue of Hugh Miller, to be
sculptured lay Mr. Handyside Ritchie. The base is of old
red sandstone, taken from the shore quarry, the first scene
of Mr. Miller's labours and of his geological researches. Tho
rest of the work will be completed in a more 'durable stone,
of a yellowish colour, obtained from the quarry of David-
ston. The following inscription is to be engraved upon the
base :—" In commemoration of the genius and the literary
and scientific eminence of Hugh Miller, this monument is
erected by his countrymen. He was born at Cromarty 10th
October, 1802, and died 24th December, 1856."
METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPITAL.---The azgr-
gate number of patients relieved during the week Ongg
Nov. 27 was—Medical, 660 ; surgical, 335 ; tow, 995 ; of
which 305 were new cum