The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-22 00:00:00

REMARKs.

Not much change has occurred in atmospherical pressure since
yesterday. In the south of England some diminution is shewn since
last evening, but readings at southern stations are generally high and
uniform. Temperature is higher in the N. and W. Winds are still
very light and variable, with a continuance of calm in the south-west
of England. Fog has prevailed on the west coast of Ireland, and
the weather is fine on the Channel coast,

Notwithstanding the result of the Wiirtemherg elections
the project of a South German Confederation does not find
general favour amongst the small States. The military
union, which might have led to a further amalgamation of
interests, has fallen through. Wiirtemberg and Bavaria
were both favourable to a conference for the purpose of
settling preliminaries, and would have commenced with
the joint work of foltifyil g Ulm, but neither Baden
nor Hessee would listen to the suggestions. The Baden
Government has, in fact, published an official disclaimer.
The inspiration of Prussia is not difficult to trace here.
To announce "no objection " in public and utterly to
frustrate the scheme in private is essentially Bismarekian.
There seems no hope for these South German States,
except under the wing of some powerful State with a
vigorous Government, which will permit no liberties. For
the last half century they have occupied a wretched posi-
tion in European politics—always too late, always joining
the wrong side, always a benefit to the foe and an injury
to the friend.

The great question of the day is not the Irish Church,
nor the Corrupt Practices Bill, nor the Cattle Bill, but the
thermometer. Each day sees a rise of the mercury. Each
day we say this is the hottest ever known, but to-morrow
brings a hotter. This morning before sunrise the ther-
mometer marked 72 degrees, and by 8 o'clock it was over
75. A minimum of 72 is, we should think, unparalleled in
English meteorology. Of course there are some very absurd
statements ; for instance, that of Mr. Steward, optician to
the National Rifle Association, who says that the maxi-
mum shade temperature yesterday was 101—a figure
manifestly incredible, and, as Mr. Allnatt points out,
would be insupportable even to sun-hardened Englishmen
in India. The truth is, there is no shade at Wimbledon,
and any reading there must be valueless.

The tropical heat is beginning to tell seriously upon the
public health. The Registrar• General's report shews a
considerable increase in the mortality of the large towns.
The mean rate for last week was 28 in London and thirteen
other large towns, Dublin standing lowest with 19 and
Manchester highest with 39 ; in London the rate
was 27. The mean rate for all the towns has
increased 5 since the beginning of June. The
excess of deaths in London over the estimated average
was 184. There were 37 deaths by choleraic diarrhoea,
or cholera, and 340 by diarrhoea, of which all but 19 were
those of children. The mean temperature of the air in
the week was 70.7 deg., which is B's deg. above the
average of the same week in 50 years (as determined by
Mr. Glaisher). The highest day temperature was 92'0
deg. on Thursday, July 16. The lowest night temperature
was 52'7 deg. on Tuesday, July 14. The entire range
of temperature in the week was, therefore, 39'3 deg.
The maximum temperature of the air observed on Thurs-
day, 16th July—viz., 92'0 deg.—is a higher value than has
been recorded since 18th July, 1859, when the maximum
temperature was 93'0 deg. ; and the mean temperature
(75'9 deg.) is higher than all other mean daily tempera.
tures as far back as 16th June, 1858, whoa V*9 df . xras
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