The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-17 00:00:00

nary post, but without being restricted to the fixed
periods of its departure. In case of important
business these despatches will be sent by a special
Russian courier,
"During die sojourn of the Russian envoys at
Pekin, despatches of special importance may also
be forwarded by a Russian functionary expressly
appointed for such service.
" Russian couriers may not be stopped or de-
layed by any one whomsoever.
" A courier entrusted with such despatches must
be a Russian subject.
" The departure of a Russian courier must be
announced 24 hours beforehand at Kiakhta by the
Commissioner to the Dzargoutchei (pon-youen),
and at Pekin by the Russian Mission to the Mili-
tary Court (ping-pou.)"
Art. 14.—This article empowers the Russian
Governor of Eastern Siberia to conclude any
additional arrangements with the frontier autho-
rities of a nature to facilitate intercourse. At the
same time it confirms the 12th Article of the Treaty
of Tien-tsin.
Art. 15.—This article simply states that after the
exchange of ratifications the treaty will be in full
force.

Signed and sealed at Pekin on the 14th of
November, 1660.
(Signed) NICOLAS IGNATIEFF.
KUNG.

HEALTH OF LONDON DU.RING THE WEEK.

,From the Registrar-General's Weekly Return.)

The weekly return of births and deaths in Lon-
don, issued by authority of the Registrar-General,
shows, as did that of the previous week, a heavy
mortality—the effect of extreme cold. In the week
that ended last Saturday the deaths were 1,707.
The average number of deaths as obtained from
coresponding weeks of ten previous years 1851-60,
and corrected for increase of population, is 1,365 ;
and the actual number for last week therefore
exceeds the estimated amount by 342. The degree
of cold, under which 342 persons have sunk, and
from which many more have suffered, is shown in
the Greenwich table that accompanies the return
of births and deaths. The mean temperature of
the air last week was more than nine degrees below
the average for the same week of the year ; and.
since December 15 the mean temperature of each
week hardly exceeded, or, as in two instances, was
much below the freezing point of water.
It may be noticed as a rather curious coincidence
that the last two weekly returns exhibit the same
number of deaths-1,707. The numbers of deaths
in the two weeks in the period of life-20-40
years discover a striking approximation, for they
were 185 and 181 ; as likewise those in the period
40-60 years, which were 290 and 289; and those
at 80 years and upwards, which were 92 and 91.
Differences arise in the period from birth to 20
years, in which the numbers decreased from 753 to
727 ; and in the period from 60 to 80 years, in
which they increased from 383 to 419.
Last week the dcaths from pulmonary diseases,
exclusive of phthisis, were 547; the corrected average
is only 320. Bronchitis was fatal in 333 cases, the
average being 169 ; pneumonia, 140, the average
being 105 ; phthisis or consumption in 162, the
average 152. Of these three diseases bronchitis
alone exhibits an increase on the return of the pre-
vious week.

It was mentioned in last return that eight deaths
from measles had occurred in the sub-district of
Kensington-town. The present return records
nine in the same sub district, four of which
occurred in the wcfkhouse. In the Fulham sub-
district there were three from the same complaint,
all of which occurred in the workhouse.

Last week the births of 959 boys and 906 girls,
in all, 1,865 children were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1851.60
the average number was 1,702.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean,
height of the barometer in the week was 30.085 in.
The mean daily reading was about 30 in. on four
days of the week. The readings fell from 30.22 in.
on Thursday to 29.86 in. on Saturday. The mean
temperature of the air in the week was
26.4 deg., which is 9.3 deg. below the average of
the same week in 43 years (as determined by Mr.
Glaisher). On the first five days the mean daily
reading was from nearly 10 deg. to 14 deg. below
the average. The thermometer in the shade fell to
16 deg. on Tuesday, which was the lowest point in
the week; it rose to 37.7 deg. on Saturday, the
highest point in the week. The range of the
week was therefore 21.7 deg. The mean daily
range was 13.9 deg. On Wednesday a thermome-
ter on the grass fell as low as 4 deg. The difference
between the mean dew point temperature and air
temperature was 6 deg. The mean degree of
humidity of the air was 77, complete saturation
being represented by 100. On Wednesday the air
was very dry, the dryness being 121 deg., and the
humidity 52. The wind generally blew from the
north-east in the first part of the week ; it then
turned to south-east, and at the end to south-west.

A77E111131E1) MURDER BY AN EX-

31.4G1ST.RATE.

It will be in the recollection of our readers that
an action for false imprisonment was brought at
the last Northumberland spring assizes by a poor
hind, named Shiel, and his wife, against William
Bewicke, Esq., of Threepwood Hall, near Haydon
Bridge, when they obtained a verdict against him
for £5O and costs. The ease having been brought
under the notice of the Lord Chancellor the
defendant was removed from the commission
of the peace; and since that period he has
conducted himself with propriety until last
week, when a writ of fi. fa. was issued against
him, at the suit of his solicitor, Mr. Cram, of
Newcastle, for his costs. The writ was placed
in the hands of Mr. Wm. Stainthorpe, sheriff's
officer, of Hexham, and some of his men went to
execute the process on Thursday last. On going
to Mr. Bewicke's residence they found he had
strongly barricaded his house so as to prevent the
sheriff's officers from entering. In the evening, while
the two men, William Hutchinson and John
Daglish, were in Mr. Bewicke's cart-shed, waiting
to get into the house, Mr. Bewicke spoke out of a
window, and inquired if there was any person in his
shed. Hutchinson having replied in the affirma-
tive, Mr. Bewicke said, "Then, I am going to
shoot," and forthwith discharged a fowling-piece,
loaded with ball, at Hutchinson and Daglish, but
happily without effect, as the ball whizzed past
Hutchinson's ear, and struck against a pillar of the
shed. He then fired four or five successive shots,
in less than as many minutes, but still, most provi-
dentially, without injuring either of the men.
Information of this affair having been forwarded to
Mr. Superintendent Stephenson, of Hexham, that
officer, with an efficient staff, proceeded to Threep-
wood Hall, where he apprehended Mr. Bewicke,
who made a vigorous resistance, and conveyed
him to Hexham House of Correction. On Monday
morning he was brought before the sitting jus-
tices, John Errington, Esq., and the Rev.
George Bellamy, who, after a long and patient
investigation, committed the prisoner for
trial at the next Northumberland Assizes, for felo-
niously shooting at Hutchinson and Daglish with
a pistol loaded with powder and ball. Bail in the
sum of £l,OOO having been offered and aecepted
for the appearance of the accused at the assizes, he
was liberated from custody. The affair has
created a great sensation in the neighbourhood
where the accused is known. Mr. Taylor, of
Hexham, is retained for the prosecution, and Mr.
Stokoe for the defence. At the same time Mr.
tor
Bewicke was bound over in the sum of £5OO
keep the peace towards Mr. W. Stainthorpe _o
_
twelve months, as he had threatened to shoot .
Northern Daily Express.