The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-19 00:00:00

MR. BRIGHT ON THE CURRENCY.

A number of the inhabitants of Birmingham,
under the auspices of Mr. Edmund Taunton, having
addressed a memorial to Mr. Bright, soliciting his
" advocacy in Parliament, on behalf of the interest
of labour against that of money," Mr. Bright ad-
dressed to them the following reply :
" Rochdale, lan. 12, 1859.
" Sir,—l have received a memorial with many
signatures, of which yours is the first, requesting
me to endeavour to procure the abolition of the
monopoly in money.' It might be deemed a suffi-
cient answer to say that my time and thoughts are
just now so fully occupied with a great public ques-
tion that I cannot undertake anything further;
that is certainly the position in which I am placed,
but I will not confine myself to such a reply ; to
tell you the truth, I do not comprehend what you
complain of, or what you wish to be done, for in
the many conversations I have had with persons
who thought themselves well informed on what is
called Our monetary system,' I have never had
the good fortune to find any two of them agreeing
upon the exact grievance or the precise remedy.
I have always thought this a great misfortune, be-
cause until could see clearly where the wrong
was, or is, I could have small hope of discovering a
remedy. Ido not defend what exists in connexion
with the Bank of England—much of it seems to be at
variance with the laws of political economy, but I
find many of the propositions made by those who wish
for a chimge are even less in accordance with that
science, and long discussion with those who most
loudly denounce the present system only leaves me
more puzzled than before; I confess, therefore, that
I am not the most suitable person to undertake the
great change which I presume you are looking for.
I will willingly support any inquiry by Parliament
in the hope that the truth may at last be discovered ;
but I do not feel competent to teach Parliament and
the country on the abstruse question to which you
have drawn my attention. When it comes before
the House of Commons I will giVe it all the con-
sideration in my power. I wish I could send you
a more satisfactory reply.—l am, very respectfully
yours, " JOHN BRIGHT."

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE

WEEK.

(Front the Registrar-General's Report.)
From the return of births and deaths in London,
issued by authority of the Registrar-General for
the week ending Saturday, Jan. 15, it appears that
the London returns again exhibit a high rate of
mortality. In the second week of the year (ending
last Saturday) the deaths from all causes rose to
1,429, having been 1,338 in the first week of the
year. In the tea years 1849-58 the average num-
ber of deaths in the weeks corresponding with last
week was 1,215 ; but as the number in the present
return occurred in a population which has increased,
it can only be compared with the average raised in
proportion to the increase, namely, 1,337. Hence
it appears that the deaths of last week exceed by
nearly 100 the number which would have
occurred if a rate of mortality equal to the calcu-
lated average had prevailed.
Though scarlatina continues to show a decrease,
the deaths from it in the last two weeks having
been respectively 119 and 102, the fatal cases of
zymotic diseases taken in the aggregate have
increased. These rose from 317 to 348 ; and,under
this head measles increased from 43 to 49, hooping-
cough from 45 to 67, typhus from 31 to 41, diarrhoea
from 6 to 11, rheumatism from sto 14. In the
class of " local diseases" the deaths rose from 585
in the previous week to 626 last week ; but those
from pulmonary diseases in this class were sta-
tionary (323 and 322), and the increase was derived
from apoplexy, which was fatal in 19 and 33 cases,
and paralysis, which was fatal in 18 and 28. Part
of the increase in the "local" class was also from
diseases of the digestive organs, the deaths from
which in the two weeks were respectively 41 and
56. In the present return 7 deaths are referred to
gastritis ; 24 to diphtheria. Many persons at an
advanced stage of life have succumbed to fate;
319 are recorded who had attained the age of 60
years and upwards, and of these one female was 90
years old, and four widows were 96, 99, 99., and
101 years. The centenarian died in the Strand
workhouse, but no evidence of her age could be pro-
cured except her own statement at the time she
was admitted. A woman aged 53 years died from
intemperance : she is stated to have been " a con-
firmed opium eater." The widow of a weaver, aged
70 years, died at 44, Sebright-street, Bethnal-green,
from " the want of proper nourishment."
Last week the births of 933 boys and 897 girls,
in all 1,830 children, were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years
1849-58 the average number 1,604.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the
mean height of the barometer in the week was
30.384 in. The barometrical readings varied from
30.64 in. on Sunday to 30.14 in. on Saturday.
The mean, daily reading was above 30 in. on every
day from December 31st to January 15th, both days
included. The mean temperature of the air in the
week was 39.1 deg., which is 3.5 deg.above the ave-
rage of the same week in 43 years (as determined
by Mr. Glaisher). On Tuesday and Wednesday
the mean temperature was about 9 deg. above the
average. The thermometer in the shade fell to its
lowest point, 28.5 deg., on Sunday, and rose to its
highest, 49.8 deg., on Tuesday. The range of the
week was therefore 21.3 deg. The mean daily
range was 9'B deg. The difference between the
mean dew-point temperature and air temperature
was 4 deg. The mean degree of humidity of the
air was 86. The mean temperature of the water of
the Thames was 39.7 deg. The wind blew gene-
rally from the south-west. There was no rain.