The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-25 00:00:00

TY E PUBLIC HEALTR.

Mom the Quarterly Return of the Registrar-General•)
Thin return comprises the births and deaths re-
gist.red by 2,197 registrars in all the districts of
England during the autumn quarter that ended on
March 31, 1859 ; and the marriages in 12,350
churches or chapels, about 4,072 registered places
of worship unconnected with the Established
Church, and 630 superintendent registrars' offices
in the quarter that ended on Dec. 31, 1858.
The returns present an unfavourable view of
the public health; the people have suffered and have
died in unusual numbers in many districts. Dipthe-
ria has prevailed extensively. The marriages indi-
cated some improvement in the prospects of the
people at the end of last year; and in the first three
months of the present year the births have not only
exceeded the average, but have exceeded the num-
bers registered in any previous winter quarter.
MARRIAGES.

47,726 weddings were celebrated in the three
months that ended Dec. 31, and consequently
95,452 persons were married. The marriage rate
in the quarter was 1.932 per cent. per annum ; so
if the rate prevailed a year, more than 19 persons
itould marry to every 1,000 living. The increase
oti the marriages in the- corresponding quarter of
1857 is observable in every division except in the
northern counties and in Wales.

BIRTHS.
The births of 175,429 children were registered in
the quarter that ended March 31 last; and the
birth rate was 3.621 per cent. per annum, or rather
more than 36 in 1,000.
INCREASE OF POPULATION.
As the births amounted to 175,429, the deaths to
121,682, the natural increase of the population was
53,747 ; or, on an average, 597 daily.
The probable increase in the population of the
United Kingdom was at the rate of 896 daily.
17,314 persons emigrated from the ports of the
United Kingdom at which there are Government
emigration agents. 5,565—or, after correcting for
those of undistinguished origin, 6,452—0 f the emi-
grants were of English birth; of whom 3,719 sailed
to the Australian colonies, and 2,263 to the United
States. About 72 English, 16 Scotch, and 94 Irish
emigrants, on an average, left the country daily.*

PRICES, THE WEATHER, AND PAUPERISM.

The price of wheat during the 13 weeks was 40s.
Bd. a qr. ; the prices in the first la weeks of 1857
and 1858 having been 565. 10d. and 465. sd. The

price is less by 12 per cent. than it was 12 months
ago. It is remarkable that after due corrections
have been made for measure and for quality in the
Eton returns the average prices of wheat were 40s.
7d. and 40s. 6d a qr. in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The price of potatoes also fell considerably ; in the
first 13 corresponding weeks of 1857-8-9 York
Regents sold at 110 s., 1525. 6d., and 90s. a ton at
the waterside market, Southwark. At Leadenhall
and Newgate markets the price of beef of the lo west
and of the highest quality is more by 1-d. a pound
than it was in the winter of last year; mutton is at
the same price. The mean prices per lb. in the
three winters 1857.8-9 were—beef, qd., sid., and
51d. ; mutton, 6 2-Bd., Sid., and 50.
The meteorology is ably described by Mr.
Glaisher (p. 18). The mean temperature of the
quarter that ended on March 31, at Greenwich, was
43.3 deg., or 5.5 deg. and 4.1 deg. higher than the
temperature of the two corresponding quarters of
1857-8 ; and 4.9 deg. above the mean temperature
of 88 years. There are only two instances (1832
and 1846) since 1771 when the winter temperature
was higher. The excess of temperature was observed
in each of the three months. The air contained
more than the average amount of water, but the
humidity was less than usual, being 83 (saturation
being 100). The fall of rain was 31 inch at
Greenwich ; so it was 1.6 inch below the average.
The rain fall was deficient in all the southern
counties, excepting Cornwall and Devon. The
deficiency was less in the northern stations.
At Stonyhnrst the Rev. A. Weld says, " The wea-
ther has been so wet that scarcely anything can be
done on the ground ; no one remembers so wet a
season." At Bristol 3.29 inches fell in three days
(March 11th, 12th, and 13th.) The Rev. J. Slatter,
of Rose-hill, near Oxford, says, " The great absence
of rain has produced much low fever." The people
are often driven in droughts to the use of impure
water, which is a common cause of disease in men
and animals. Altogether the meteorology of the
season has been exceptional.
The returns with which the Registrar-General has
been favoured by the Poor-law Board exhibit the
improvement in the circumstances of the people
which the marriages indicated. The average num-
ber of paupers in the receipt of relief (865,818) was
less by 108,199 than the numbers (974,107) receiving
relief in the first 13 weeks of 1858, and 46,729 less
than the numbers in the corresponding quarter of
1857. A part of the improvement is fairly referable
to the mildness of the weather; but a part is un-
doubtedly due to the improvement in the circum-
stances of the people which was perceptible in the
latter part of last year.