The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-09 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9, 18b7.

PROCLAMATION OF THE FEDERAL COUNCIL
OF SWITZERLAND TO THE striss PEOPLE.

Dear and faithful Confederates, on the morning of
September 3, last year, Switzerland was surprised in the
midst of peace by the news, equally strange and unex-
pected, that a royalist conspiracy had broken out in the
canton of Neuchatel. However incredible this news
might appear, it nevertheless was only too true.
A band of partisans of the old order of things had,
during the night, taken possession of the city, and the
edifice in which the Government gi Neuchatel holds its
sittings. The members of the State Conned had them-
selves been arrested, and the re-establishment of the old
order of things, set aside for the last nine years, was an-
nounced by a proclamation.
As might have been foreseen, this insurrection, which
had not the slightest chance of success, was stifled in its
birth. When the great majority of the inhabitants of the
canton of Neuchatel had recovered from their surprise,
the citizens of ali parties in the canton collected under
the republica❑ banner ; and even before the Confedera-
tion could interfere the phantom of a restoration o
the principality of Neuchatel and Valangin had dis-
appeared, and the constitutional state of things was
re-established. •

The Federal Assembly of the Confederation, duly ap-
preciating the hig►.t significance of this manifestation,
and making it-elf the organ of popular-opinion, resolved,
by an unanimoas vote, on the 26th of September,
that the republicans of the canton of Neuchatel had
deserved well, not only of their own canton, but of all
Switzerland.

The vict.my obtained on the 4th of September over
the royalists was characterised by clemency and mode-
ration. The greater portion of the prisoners were set
at libf_irty very shortly after the commencement of the
inquiry, and the leaders of the insurrection, who are now
in a state of confinement, were treated with all possible
humanity.
Switzerland, however, soon found herself exposed to
demands, made upon her with no other motive than
that of nullifying the judicial inquiry and preventing the
punishment of theguilty. Asa recognition of the King of
Prussia's rights over Neuchatel, was demanded the im-
mediate and unconditional liberation of all the prisoners.
We considered that it was out of our power to accede
to these demands, without at the same time renouncing
the nation's rights of sovereignty, and without sanction
ing the principle that it is lawful for a party to disturb
the public peace with impunity, and to overthrow in any
one canton the constitution and constitutional order
guar,nteed by all the other cantons, as well as by the
Federal Charter.

For the due understanding of the peculiar and com-
plicated relations in which the country of Neuchatel ex-
isted during a number of years, it is necessary to give a
rapid glance at the recent hi-tory of this country.
By the treaty of May 19, 1815, the canton of Neu-
chatel was, in the capacity of a sovereign state, incor-
porated with Swi!z,rland and its rights'and duties were
to be identical with those of the remaining cantons. In
return certain rights over that country, reserved by other
European treaties, remained with the King of Prussia,
who had been, in 1707, elected Prince of Neuchatel.
The unnatural state of things created by this double
position of canton and principality was manifested before
long i❑ several instances; and on more than one occasion
attempts were made to bring under relations to the
Confederation more rational, a canton, the development
of which was constantly impeded by the inconvenience
attending this double position.
These attempts met with the desired result only in
1848. The people at that time knew how to make use
of their right to constitute themselves freely, by adopting
the form, and giving themselves the republican constitu.
tion, which was fully guaranteed by all the states of the
Confederation.

More than once since that period the federal authority
has endeavoured to come to an understanding through
the medium of friendly negotiations with his Majesty the
King of Prussia, but all these efforts failed owing to the
pretension set up that the old order of things should
before everything be re-established, a requirement that
we could not countenance in any event without repudi-
ating the canton of Neuchatel from our union, and
repudiating also the principles of the new federal con-
stitution.
Such was the state of things when a solution of the
difficulty, which could not be obtained in a friendly man-
ner, was on the 31 of September attempted by violence.
However disposed one might be to regret the fate of
men who by rash zeal and chimerical hopes had suffered
themselves to be led on to commit such an ae,t of vio-
lence, it was not possible to interfere with the course of
judicial proceedings, and as it were to sanction for a cer-
tain party, by the unconditional liberation of the insur-
gents, a privileged right to insurrection.
Although the rights of sovereignty possessed by the
Confederation and the Canton of Neuchatel did not al
low us to take into consideration the pretensions that
had been raised, nevertheless we manifested our serious
intention of setting the prisoners at liberty, provided a
single condition was fulfilled towards Switzerland. We
declared ourselves ready to grant the liberty of the pri-
soners, in case the liberation of the Canton of Neuchatel
from every foreign tie should be acknowledged, thus
putting an end to a state of things which had every day
showed itself to be more and more untenable.

We declared ourselves ready to meet half way any ne-
gotiation that should be calculated to bring about the
independence of Neuchatel. That we might not wound,
even in the slightest decree, the susceptibilities of the
adverse party, we declared, besides, our readiness to take
into consideration the proposals of mediation made by
other powers. The course taken in these long negotia-
tions has been correctly and fully explained in our mes-
sage to the Federal Assembly ; and the Swiss people
will, as impartial history likewise will do hereafter, give
us their testimony that we have refused no means in our
endeavours to bring the dispute to an advantageous and
pacific result.
All these efforts which evince our good-will and
loyalty have hitherto failed, owing to the demand made
for the preliminary and unconditional liberation of the
prisoners—a demand to which we could not submit
without humiliating Switzerland and impairing her
honour.

When our situation became more difficult, and our ad
versary prepared to supporthispretensions by force of arms
it appeared to us that it was time to appeal to the repre-
sentatives of the nation, and learn from them whether
the Federal Council had or had not acted in accordance
with the national opinion.
On the 30th December the Federal Assembly unani-
mously passed the following resolutions—
" Art. 1. In order to effect a pacific solution of the
Neuchatel question, the Federal Council will continue to
do its part, as it has hitherto done, for for the adoption of
all or any means compatible with the honour and dignity
of Switzerland, and, such as may be fitting for procuring
the recognition of the independence of Neuchatel from
every foreign tie.
"Art. 2. The military levies ordered by the Federal
Council, and likewise the other measures it has taken,
are approved.
"The Federal Council is empowered to provide for all
ulterior arrangements deemed necessary for the defence oi
the country to the last extremity in case an honourable
and pacific solution cannot be obtained.
" An unlimited credit is opened to defray the expenses.
" Art. 3. The Federal Council is authorised to nego-
tiate and conclude definitively, on account of the Con.
federation, the necessary loans.
" Art. 4. The Federal Council is commissioned to
make these propositions known through the proper chan-
nels to the cantons and the Swiss people."
In order to be ready for all contingencies a comma's-
der-in-chief of all the forces has been appointed this very
day, in the person of Gen. Wm. Henry Dufour, and the
duties of chief of the staff have been confided to Colonel
Henry Freiheroze, a member of the Federal Council.
It is thus that we find ourselves, perhaps, on the eve
of most important events, on the threshold of most serious
trials, which may befal our country. All hope of a paci.
fib solution, indeed, has not disappeared ; we shall en_
deavour even now to do our part for the maintenance of
peace whenever there shall be found for the attainment
of that object a course not prejudicial to our honour. In
this solemn moment we give assurance to the Swiss peo-
ple, to the whole universe, to the Supreme Being, that we
are disposed even now, in all loyalty, to concur in any-
thing that can insure peace ; and that we shall not have
recourse to extreme measures, unless the hand of conci-
liation that we offer should be unceremoniouslyrepelled.
If, which God forbid, this case should occur, we ap-
peal to you, faithful, dear, and generous Swiss people.
We have received from our fathers, who rest in God, as
an inviolable inheritance, a free and happy fatherland.
It is a sacred duty for us to transmit to our descendants
this glorious inheritance intact, and in all its primitive
purity. It is in the days of trial that one learns most
intimately to know the value of these possessions which
they are trying to wrest from us. It has been given to
our dear country to enjoy both peace and happiness for a
long series of years without alteration. May God not
permit this season of trial to find us off our guard, but
find us, on the contrary, watchful as a people worthy of
those great blessings !
And hero it is with lively joy that we acknowledge
that the Swiss people has worthily endured tbis time of
ti Mt Those days appear to have come back which form
the most brilliant part of our great history, when every
on" eau with his whole soul congratulate himself that he
belongs to the Swiss nation. It is with an unanimity
never before, in such a degree, experienced, that the Go-
vernments and the citizens aro depositing on the sacred
altar of their country the whole of their property. No
sacrifice appears too onerous now that the cause is to
uphold the national independer•co and preserve from ruin
the soil of our native land. No age, no slash, no family
wishes to lag behind. The youth desires to share the
dangers of the full-grown man ; the old man to serve as
k.ai example to youth. All, all show their willingness
joyfully to make the sacrifices which circumstances re-
(Piro. All parties vanish, all dissensions disappear. The
looks of all are turned towards that noble and elevated
object of which we have spoken. Well, let us hold fast
the belief that the days of our worthy Swiss Confedera'
stanch rop in the be
tions are not yet numbered. Let us continue
a
1
fathers, if we have confidence in him, will not
abandon us. Let us be steadfast in the faith, that
the Almighty, who has placed our country in the centre
Europe bethelief that
fortress
etafrteecitolsme,
wGillokdnowofhowoutro
of

keep it inviolate. Let us keep firm in our belief that the
Almighty will show himself strong in behalf of the weak,
and that he will bring us forth from the present dark-
ness and lead us into light.
May the general enthusiasm and devotedness, which
are increasing and have taken hold of the entire nation,
prove to be of good augury. May we see therein a pledge
that our efforts to save the country will be crowned with
a blessing from Heaven,
Federal soldiers We have already found ourselves
under the necessity of calling ou',, under arms, a part of
the army, for the protection of our menaced frontiers, and
the men whom we summoned have hastened with the
greatest eagerness to place themselves at the disposal of
the country and its authorities. No mortal yet knows
whether the decisive hoer has struck, at the sound of
which the country will have to collect all her children
around the stainless banner, under the white cross on a
red ground; but what we know is, that the whole army
will answer as one man the call of their country. Hasten
then, federal soldiers, with firm confidence in God, and
with glad courage. Hasten hither !
May God and his angels escort ru! Observe strict
discipline everywhere; cheerfully obey yourchiefs ; never
forget that obedience is the guarantee of victory ! Be
humane, even when you find yourselves, confronting the
enemy ; observe in all times and places that conduct
which is becoming in a free and Christian army. In ful•
filling your duty be not uneasy about the future welfare
of yourselves or families; your grateful country will take
care of that; she looks upon' it as a debt of honour,
which, under any circumstances, she will be sure to pay.
Federal soldiers! Your country, the world, has its eyes
fixed upon you. You will take care to realise the hope
that is placed in you ; you will show by your acts that
you deserve well to be called the sons of your great an-
cestors ; you will strive to enrich our national history
with another of its most glorious pages. Bess the Fede-
ral army ! Bless thee, also, our beloved fatherland, and
ma; eat thou si ill be, as thou haft been for ages, the asy-
lum of a free and happy people
Swiss peop'e, faithful and dear, may God be with you
all. In the name of the Swiss Federal Council,
The President of the Confederation, FORNEROD.
The Chancellor of the Confederation, SCFUESS.
Berne, Jan. 3, 1857.

FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND.

(Front the Morning Post.)
The Emperor of the French is a man not deficient in
shrewdness. He knows a great deal about Switzerland,
and something about Prussia, and we believe he is tho-
roughly convinced that it would mightily offend the
French people to side with the slippery King of Prussia,
and to turn a cold shoulder to the Swiss Government.
If there be a people on earth whom the French hate with
intense cordiality it is the army and people of Prussia.
There are thousands of Frenchmen now living in all
ranks, and not by any means old men either, who re-
member the horrible behaviour of the Prussian army in
1814 and 1815, when, by their heartlessness, harshness,
and cruelty, they so entirely lost character, surpassing
even the Russians and the Cossacks of the Don in the
indiscriminate pillage and plunder which they inflicted
on the French provinces through which they passed.
These deeds of wanton destruction, rapine, and violence
of the French people, have been recounted by French-
men, of from 55 to 80, to sons, to grandsons, to nephews,
and to other collaterals, and thus a traditionary horror
and hatred has been preserved in France which has sur-
vived more than 40 years of the most cheerful vicissi•
tudee, social, moral, and political. The first Napoleon
hinaself, when an exile at St. Helena, equally removed
from everything like hope and fear, and completely in -
diferent and passionless in other respects, partook
of this vivacious sympathy of the army and people
of France, and spoke of the insolent brutality
of the Prussians with contemptuous scorn, and of
their plundering of the Hospital of the Invalids
with burning indignation. He ridiculed their
dress and man-millinery—their tailoring and mili-
tary frippery—their shell coats and small skirts—and
their minute attention to small external forms. But that
which most aroused his choler against Prussia was the
harshness and insolence of men over whose heads he
walked to their own capital. These facts and circum-
stances are still remembered by the French people and
by the French army, and it would never do for the
nephew of the conqueror at Jena and Eylau to become
a partisan of the Prussians at the expense of the Swiss.
Whatever certain French writers may say or suggest at
random, we feel quite convinced that the head of the
Government in France will, if he does not protect or
cover the Swiss, at least hold the balance fairly between
them and the King of Prussia; or, at the twelfth hour,
offer his mediation in conjunc ion with England. This
would be the best course for all parties—for the King of
Prussia, for Switzerland, and for France herself. As to.
the King of Prussia, he is mani'estly endangering the
peace of Europe by proceedings which would be consi-
dered crazy in any ordinary man. Supposing Frederick
William IV, to be a discrowned Prince, or a wandering
legitimist, seeking to re-enter Neuchatel on any such
title as he puts forth, atter nine years' acquiescence in
facts as th,„7,,exlobi -.voted, ha .not be considered a
disturber and a general perturbator.., whom it
was
necessary to bind in heavy recognisances to keep the
peace to all his neighbours ? Is his •conduct the less dan-
gerous, the less mischievous, the less criminal, because
be happens to be the actual Sovereign of Prussia The
writers is the Kreutz Zeitung msy hold contrary
doctrine ; but we would sugsest to the livelier Berlinese
who write in the .Klatteradasch —the Punch and Mari-
vari of Prussia—to turn their pungent pens against the
Quixotism of their own Monarch, and to spare England
and France their jeers and their jibes. If England
and France went to war in 1854,
it was for some
better cause than for a few square yards of Swiss terri-
tory. Eoglaul might well have avoided the war with
Russia had she been base, unprincipled, and sordid, for
Candia and Egypt, tempting baits, were offered her by
the deceased friend of Frederick William IV., who
wanted, a la Russe, to strangle and spoliate " the sick
man." But England would not connive at the robbery
or share in the plunder, and hence Alma, Inkerman, the
Traktir, and the siege, storming'~*, and capture of Sebas.
topol. When Prussia or her King act, so honest, or so
manly a part, the English people maY bedisoos d to
consider him a better Christian and a better King than
they think him now, and to make an effort in his behalf
even for a right which he has lost•-:-to use a word of
English lawyers—by non-user. But for the King who
set all Germany in commotion in 1848 to gain his own
private ends—for the King who made an attack on the
provinces of Denmark to subserve his own ambition--
for the King who stood with his arms folded during the
Crimean struggle, and who, since that struggle is over,
has abetted the Russian in all his evasions and dishonest
delays in the fulfilment of a treaty, the English people
have no sympathies. • We believe the French people as
little respect or admire the Prussian King as the English
people, and sure we are they much less respect or ad
mire, the Prussian army. Under these circumstances
it would be difficult for the Governments of England or
France to render any services to the King of Prussial
even though he had a good cause which he had wel-
managed. But when his cause is questionable, and ill-
managed and ill-conducted, all that. any Governments,
however well disposed, can do for him is to offer to me,
diate on certain preliminary conditions. Let him hold
his private property in Neuchatel perfectly intact, and
the title of Prince of Neuchatel without the territory,
as the King of Sardinia holds the title of King of
Cyprus and Jerusalem, and England and France
may consent to use their good offices in his behalf.
But this is, indeed, inane munus: Prince of Neu-
chatel, without the territory, is a mere lackland
title, full of sound and signifying nothing. It is the mere
shell of the oyster, while Switzerland would have the
substance and the pearl.
That this or some similar arrangement is the only one
that can be sanctioned by the two Great Western Pewers
seems exceedingly probable, and if the King of Prussia
would treat or mediate on this basis, Switzerland would
probably release her prisoners, having substantially
gained her point.
We have ourselves at present hopes of a pacifiesolution,
since the Swiss Charge d'Affaires at Paris, after first hav-
ing had a long interview with the Emperor, has left for
Berne and again returned to Paris. Col. Barmann, the
author of the Swiss manifesto and State paper, to which
we made allusion a fortnight ago, is not only a publicist
of great ,ability, but a man of sound moderate views.
If we mistake not, he is one of the brothers, Maurice
and Joseph Barmann, who played so conspicuous and
creditable a part in the Valais from. 1840 to 1844, and
who, though Roman Catholics in religion like Augustin
Keller (a distinguished Roman Catholic, and director of
the Roman Catholic seminary in Argau) were all three
vigorous opponents of the Jesuits and the Sander-
bund. The brothers Barmann are among the most
instructed, moderskte, and enlightened of Swiss public
men—patriotic, yet practical and moderate in tone, with
a strict respect for legal forms, and not wishing to
I wound the prejudices or susceptibilities of those opposed
Ito them. A Swiss diplomatist of this stamp is at this
juncture invaluable, and it may be inferred that so tem
perate and calm a person will have great weight, not
merely with the Federal Council, but with England and
France. Should the efforts of the able diplomatist and
mediators prove unavailing, Switzerland, we believe,
will be prepared to take her stand boldly, and to main-
tain it too. The various Swiss Councils have given
unlimited credit to the Federal Government ; and inde-
pendently of this, the Swiss bankers in Paris, and some
ilonerieln bankers and capitalists, have come forward
sesis offers of credit to a lerge amount. Geneva and
BFrne—otie the least warlike, the other the most aristo-
critic of the Cautons—have also come for ward with offers
of inen and money ; and the Canton de Vend, the most
French in its sympathies!, has tendered the one-sixth of
its population—thirty thousand troops for the servica of
the Confideration. The students in the Swiss colleges are
also fermieg themselves into battalions, so that the
country is in all respects prepared.
Germany, on the other band, shows a repugnance and
horror of the war into which Frederick William IV.
would madly rush. Ten deputies of Wurtemberg have
protested against the concentration or
passage of Prus-
sian troops, truly maintaining that the pretensions of
the douse of Hohenzollern have nothing to do with the
German Confederation, with Southern Germany, or
even with Prussia herself. Switzerland, they main-
tain: is the best and most inoffensive neighbour of

Germany,teni natenrdes u n its. stiendee with h epr
riontesrte ciopfr o
the com-
mercial
deputies, the Committee of the States of Stuttgardt,
composed chiefly of Conservatives, has also resolved
to request the Government not to permit the Prussian
troops to march through the kingdom, feeling that a
commercial crisis must be the result of any such measure.
In Tipper Bavaria the news that permission had been
granted to the Prussians to pass through the country
had caused the greatest discontent among the farmers,
who find in the Swiss the best customers for their corn.
Even in passive and lemost immovable Austria the con-
duct of the King of Pru-sia, had excited more astonish-
ment than usual, and it is now well known that Austrian
statesmen—more especially Barons de Bach and de
Bruck —consider the proceedings of Frederick William
IV. most impolitic and unwise, The economical inte-
rests of Southern Germany are, indeed, quite in union
with those of Switzerland, and any passage of Prussian
troops, even without actual hostilities, must impede
commerce and increase expenditure. Debts and loans
in Germany would lead to increased taxation, to dimi-
nished trade, and to consequent discontent and incal-
culable dangers ; and therefore it is that more wise and
tt 0 ightful men than the King of Prussia deprecate
tie course that Monarch is pursuing.

Let the quarrel end as it may—and we trust it may
peacefully end—we have no fears for Switzerland.
The independent and martial spirit that made 'her
world-renowned of old, again animate her, for she is
doing battle for the freedom and independence of her
mountains. Her sharpshooters have ever been famous
whether with bow or rifle, and with the Minie in hand
they will maintain their rights of old.

[PRICE 4D. STAMPED sis

ii OTA L INSTITUTION.

Yesterday afternoon, Professor Faraday delivered the
last lecture of his Christmas course, which was, as on
the former occasions, attended by the Prince of Wales.
In the preceding lectures, the attractions of gravitation,
of cohesion, of chemical affinity, of electricity, and of
magnetism, formed separately the subjects of considera
tion ; and in this lecture the relation of these several
attractions to each other was exemplified, and they were
shown to be the same force differently modified. The
simila:ity of gravitation and cohesion had been previously
noticed, and it was to exhibit the identity of chemical
affinity„ electricity, and magnetism, that Professor Fara-
day on this'occa;ion had particularly in view. He com-
menced by giving illustrations of the actions of chemical
force by the combustion of iron in oxygen gas, and by
the ignition of zincfoil when held in the flame of a spirit
lamp, in which phenomena the action of the chemical
attractions subsisting between the metals and the oxy-
gen produced not only new bodies, but caused the evo-
lution of light and heat. Another instance of chemical
affinity was the coating of a piece of clean steel with
copper, by immersing it into a solution of that metal.
Tee same solution, when poured into a silver bowl, at
first produced no change, but when a piece of zinc was
introduced into, the liquid and touched the silver, an
immediate deposition of copper ensued. This increase of
chemical affinity, occasions I by contact with a dissimilar
metal, Professor Faraday observed, was the door into
most important phenomena which present chemical affi-
nity actively exerted in one case arid quite inert In
another, and as transferred from body to body. The
elementary combinaion of a voltaic battery was then
ho wn_ by_ a plate of zinc placed between two plates of
copper—the latter being kept apart from the zinc by
pieces of wood. This simple arrange cent, which brought
chemical affinity into action when the separated zinc and
copperplates were immersed in acidulated water, was
shown to be sufficient to make a piece of platinum wire,
that connected the two metals, red hot. Another pecu-
culiarity of the force thus generated by the contact of
metals having different chernicilaffinities to oxygen, was
shown by placing a flounder on a plate of silver, then
putting a small piece of zinc on its back, and making
communication between the two metals. The flounder
jumped and opened its mouth each time that the con-
tact was made. The effi cts thus produced by a single
pair of plates were repeated with a Grove's voltaic battery,
consisting of 40 pairs, with greatly increased energy,
The brilliant ignition of charcoal, of platinum, and of sil-
ver, wit- exhibited, and an eel in a tub of water jumped out
on to the floor. These phenomena, Professor Faraday
Paid, were the effects of electricity ; and, to show this
more distinctly, he made use of a Zarnboni's pile, con-
sisting of a great number of alternations of metal leaves,
by which instrument the gold leaf electrometer was de-
flected in the same mariner as by an excited glass rod.
After thus exhibiting the conversion of chemical force
into electricity the process was reversed, and electricity
WAS converted into chemical force. A. solution of Glen.
her's salt was decomposed by the voltaic battery, and
the opposite actions of the two poles of the apparatus
was shown by litimus paper being turned red when
.connected with one pole of the battery, and restored to
its original blue colour when the poles were reversed.
Having by this and by other experiments illustrated the
convertibility of electricity into chemical force, Professor
Faraday next proceeded•to show that the current of the
voltaic hittery can produce magnetism. This was
done by first exhibiting the deflections of a balanced
needle by a single wire connecting the poles of a voltaic
battery ; and afterwards increasing the power by coiling
the wire, au electro magnet was made of sufficient at-
tractive force to hold large masses of iron. Lastly,
magnetism cv,,s shown to be convertibTe into electricity ;
and the original magneto-electric machine, made by Mr.
Saxton, was exhibited in action, exciting brilliant elec-
tric sparks by the rotation of a piece of soft iron co-
vered with wire in the front of a powerful permanent
steel magnet. The seemingly different attractive
powers were thus proved to be one and the same force
differently modified ; and Professor Faraday observed
that the problem now remaining to be solved is the tie-
termination of the nature of the force which, under. dif-
ferent conditions, produces the varied phenomena which
on a first view seem to result from the operation of dis-
tinct forces. At the conclusion orthe lecture there was
a loud burst of applause. The Prince of Wales remained
for some time examining the apparatus on the lecture
table.

11EALTI3 OF LONDON DURING THE
WEEK.

(from the .Report of the Registrar• General.)

In the week that ended on Saturday, the deaths of 1,497
persons, viz., 761 males and 735 females, were registered
in London. In the first week of the year, during the period
IS4I-56, the average number of deaths was 1,321 ; and if
this is raised in proportion to increase of population, for
comparason with the number in the present return, it be-
ceunes 1,453. The deaths now recorded exhibit an excess
of 41 over the corrected average.
The number of deaths registered last week is augmented
to a very considerable extent by deaths, in reference to
which inquests have been held, having been entered in the
register books in more than their just weekly proportion.
Many of such cases were not registered till the end of the
quarter, though they had occurred and_betm ,investigated
by the coroner at earlier dates ; for 25 deaths were refer-
red last week to burns and scalds, 16 to hanging and suf-
focation, 29 to drowning, 48 to fractures, 7 to wounds; 45
deaths were returned of persons found dead, or who died
suddenly from an unknown or unstated cause. Under
these heads and a few others the excess will chiefly be
found.

Hooping-cough appears to have been more fatal last
week than any other disease in the zymotic class ; 51 chil-
dren died of it. Measles was fatal in 38 cases, typhus and
common fever in 37, scarlatina in 29, small pox in 5.
Measles prevail chiefly in the north districts, Marylebone,
Camden-town, Islington. Six children died of it in the
sub-district of Islington West. A family is mentioned by
the registrar of Hackney-road, in which four children
have ben attacked by scarlatina maligna, and two have
died. A seaman died on the 20th December from " want
of sufficient nourishment," and a widow on the 28th, " ap-
parently from destitution."
The deaths of 8 persons were registered last week who
had attained the age of 99 years or upwards. A man who
had been a butler was the oldest, and died at the age of
91 years.
Last week tko births of 1,025 boys and 948 girls, in all
1,913 children, were registered in London. In the ten cor-
responding weeks of the years 1847.55 the average number
was 1,598
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height
of the barometer in the week was 29.746 in. The mean
daily reading was above 30 in. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The highest reading was 30.13 in. on Wednesday, and the
lowest 28.97 in. on Saturday. The mean temperature of
the week was 40.6 deg., which is 3.7 deg. above the average
of the same week in 43 years (as determined by Mr.
Glaisher). . The mean temperature was 11.3 deg. below the
average on Sunday, and was as much above it on Thursday.
The lowest temperature on Sunday was 18.5 deg., and on
the following Thursday it was 44.5 deg. The highest tem-
perature occurred on Friday, and was 52.7 deg., and the
range of the week was 34.2 deg. The mean dew-point
temperature was 37.1 deg., and the difference between this
and the mean air temperature was 3.5 deg. The mean tem-
perature of the water of the Thames was 39 deg. The tem-
perature of the river ranged from 36.9 deg. to 41.5 deg.
The direction of the wind was generally west-south-west.
The horizontal movement of the air on Saturday was 410
miles. A very heavy gale of wind blew on the evening of
that day, accompanied with frequent showers. Between
7 and 10 o'clock p.m. the pressure of wind on the square
foot varied from 10 to 12 lbs. The amount of rain in the
week was 0.23 in. which fell on three days.

HEALTH OF LOND')N DURING THE
QUAI.TAR.

(From the Official Report.)
The number of deaths registered in London during the
quarter ending Deemleer 27, 1856, was 14,118. On com-
paring this result with the number returned in the last
quarters of 18 )2.55, and taking the growth of the popula-
tion into account, it will be seen that the public health was
tolerably good ; and, as_ regards children, the reduction
of mortality from some of those diseases which waste infant
life appears to show that it was rather better than usual.
But the comparison now made shows only an improvement
which may be temporary, not that superior and permanent
condition of health which only measures that promote the
moral and physical well-being of a populous community
can effect. _

The deaths from zymotic diseases in the quarter were
altogether 2,902, being little more than a fifth part of the
total number. 74 persons died of small pox ; the numbers
in the two previous corresponding quarters were 289 and
177. Scarlatina was fatal in 1,297 cases in the last three
months of 1851 ; in the same period of 1855 it was fatal in
774 cases ; last quarter the number was 556. Measles was
rather prevalent in the quarter, and carried off 372 child-
ren. The number of persons who died of typhus and com-
mon fever was 611, which is less than usual in the autumn
months. Of th se cases 194 occurred in the east division—
Shoreditch, Bethnal-green, Mile-end, St.c. Although the
elation than the
east division contains a much less pop
south, the deaths from fever were considerably more in the
former than in the latter. But the deaths from measles
on the south side of the river were 102, beinghdicoh appear
number that occurred in the east districts,
w
to have enjoyed also greater exemption from small-pox
than the other parts of London.
.The mortality from
diarrhoea was not great : th s complaint was fatal in 316
cases, and was not, apparently, more common in one part
than in another.
Phthisis carried off 1,785 persons in the quarter, bronchitis
1,432, imentuonia 1,179, asthma 174.
Pulmonary diseases
were wore fatal than in the same quarter of 18.6 ; and this
was due, at least in part, to those rapid atmospheric tran-
sitions which marked the beginning of December. In six
weeks of the quarter the mean temperature was above the
average ;in seven below it. In oue week it fell to 35 deg.,
and in the next it rose to 51 deg.; and by the end of the
year the mean weekly temperature was again 35 (leg.
Of the 14,118 deaths, 2,285, or about a sixth part, oc-
curred in public institutions—namely, 1,271 in workhouses,
20 in pi isons, 6i in military awl naval asylums, 72 in luna-
tic asylums, 17 in hospitals for foreigners, 58 in military
and naval hospitals, and 782 in general and special hospi-
tals for the sick.

From January to Novembe the value of plate glass
exported as an arsicle of British manufacture was,
57,8511.
THE CONVICT MANSELL,—Yesterday, upon the fiat
of the Attern,:y-General, the writ of error against the
judgment and sentence of this prisoner, who is now
under respite of sentence of death for the murder of
MS superior officer, was issued from the Petty Bag
Office,