The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-31 00:00:00

THE SUN,

STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

The mortality is much below the average ; and the
public health has never been so good since 1845 as in
the present quarter. The rate of mortality is 1,901
per cent. per annum. At this rate lin 211 persons
living died in three months. The chances of living
through this quarter were 210 to 1; the average
chances of living through three summer months
(1839-50), for persons of all ages being 192 to 1.
The rate of mortality in 506 districts, comprising
chiefly small towns and country parishes, was 1.693
per cent. per annum in the quarter ; the average
summer rate (1840.50) being 1.832 per cent.
The rate of mortality in 117 districts, comprising
the large towns, was 2.206 per cent. per annum, the
average rate (1840-50) being 2.517 per cent.
The juxta-position of the figures in the table sug-
gests the melancholy reflection that more than seven
millions of people, inhabiting the metropolis and all
the cities and great centres of industry, are still ex-
posed to a mortality which is not inherent in their
nature, but is due to the artificial circumstances in
which they are placed. The waters, the sewers, the
soils, the churchyards, the houses emit poisons. To
every 10 natural deaths, 4 violent deaths—deaths from
these poisonous exhalations, are superadded.
Still, after the scarcity—after the great epidemics
of influenza—and after the catastrophe of last year—
the return even to the wonted degree of health is a
relief to the nation ; and health above the average,
not only in places scourged by cholera, but in nearly
all the towns of the country, is cheering, as it seems
to show at once that the imperfect sanitary measures
in progress are already beneficial, that the country is
recovering from its loss, and that the wants of the
people are now more abundantly supplied than they
have been of late years.
The deaths in London during the thirteen weeks
ending September, 1846,-7,-8,-9,-50, were 12,409,
13,187, 13,503, 27,109, and 11,578. The zymotic
diseases were fatal to 3,011 persons in the last quar-
ter, and it is chiefly, if nozi exclusively, to the dimi-
nished intensity of these maladies that the improve-
ments in the health of the inhabitants of London is
ascribable. Small-pox destroyed 109 lives, measles
178, scarlatina 316, hooping cough 300, croup 57,
thrush 59, diarrhoea 1,161, dysentery 73, and cholera
87. The deaths from diarrhasa in the same time last
year were 2,457 ; the deaths from cholera in the five
summer quarters of 1846-50 were 197, 98, 153,
12,857, and 87 ; so that fewer persons died of the dis-
ease in summer 1850 than in the summer quarters of
1846,-7,-8. Nine deaths from purpura and scurvy
were returned, or less than half the number returned
in the summer quarter of 1847. The decrease of
scurvy is a favourable symptom; it always demands
attention, as nothing is more threatening to the
health of large bodies of people than a disease which
involves the whole fluids of the body, and is the pre-
cursor of the most fatal epidemics.
Thirty-six deaths from poison, 26 from burns and
scalds, 53 from hanging and suffocation, 94 from
drowning, 137 from fractures and contusions, 19
from wounds, and 19 from other violence, were re-
gistered. The increase of the deaths from hanging,
strangling, and suffocation is considerable. The
increase in the deaths from poison also deserves at-
tention. Some alteration of the law to regulate the
sale of poisons seems to be required. Arsenic is taste-
less in food ; it is inevitably fatal ; it can be detected
in the body after death ; and it can be procured by
any person in shops almost as readily as sugar. The
placing of the sale of a commodity under restrictions
is attended with difficulties ; but to nip in iti bud the
practice of domestic murder by the administration of
a tasteless poison is worth the effort, and will count
against such inconvenience.
The deaths in the workhouses, hospitals, and other
public institutions were 2,407, L 953, and 1,719, in
the three quarters of the year 1850 ; and of the 6 079,
3,498 were males, 2 581 females. One in six deaths
of the inhabitants of London took place in public in-
stitutions during the three quarters.
The mortality was generally low in the south-
eastern and midland counties. Southampton suffered
severely from scarlatina. Essex was visited by
diarrhoea, and a few cases of cholera ; Norwich suf-
fered from a severe epidemic of scarlatina. The poor,
whose dwellings were in unhealthy places, suffered
most. Scarlatina prevailed in other parts of Norfolk,
and raised the mortality. In Wilts, Dorset, Devon,
Cornwall, and Somerset, where cholera was very fatal
in 1849, the mortality returned to its normal state.
Small-pox and scarlatina are also noticed in the
west midland counties. In Hereford small-pox pre-
vails to a considerable extent.

The registrar of Burslem' in the Potteries, ascribes
" the increase of births and decrease of mortality to
improved sanitary arrangements, abundance of em-
ployment, and cheap food."
Bilston, which suffered last year so much by cho-
lera, from the neglect of sanitary measures, is now
losing lives from the neglect of vaccination.
Diarrhoea prevailed in Birmingham ; cholera was
fatal in a few towns in different parts of the country,
but was nowhere epidemic. The mortality of Liver-
pool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and Hull was below
the average.

Criekhowell presents an exception to the generally
prosperous state of the country.
At Tynemouth (North Shields) the police arrange-
ments to prevent the influx of vagrants have tended to
promote the health of the population, as most of the
infectious diseases have been traced to this source. In
fact, in one locality, Pumpwell-lane, in the township
of North Shields, which is the resort of these persons,
it is said that the Poor-law Union had better pay rent
for the whole property and shut it up than incur the
great expense which it entails on the union.

THE COASTS OF OREGON AND

CALIFORNIA.

The joint commission of the army and navy officers,
detached by Government to explore the whole coast of
the United States lying on the Pacific Ocean, with
reference to its permanent defence, adaptation to naval
establishments, and other important specified particu-
lars, returned to this place a few days since, having
nearly completed their labours. The commission is
made up of three from the navy and three from the
army. Captain L. M. Goldsborough, Captain Tan
Brent, and Lieutenant Linsa Lunt are of the navy.
Colonel J. L. Smith, Major Cornelius Ogden, and
Lieutenant D. Leadbetter belong to the army. The
coast of California, north of San Francisco, includ-
ing the whole of Oregon, to 49 degrees, has been
thoroughly examined, and valuable information ob-
tained. In the course of this examination, and after
visiting our possessions lying along the Straits of
Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, Puget's Sound, &c., up to
our boundary line at the 49th parallel of latitude, it
became necessary to proceed to Beaver Harbour, on
the north-east part of Vancouver's Island, in order
to obtain a fresh supply of coals for the propeller
Massachusetts. This vessel was transferred to the naval
service for the special purpose of accommodating the
commission, and for conveying its members to the
places connected with their prescribed duties. At
that place an abundant supply of bituminous coal, of
an excellent quality for steaming purposes, was
readily procured, but as Beaver Harbour was reached
via the Gulf of Georgia, and thus by what is termed
the inside passage, and the north-about route was the
one pursued in returning, it seems that Vancouver's
Island was completely circumnavigated, and that the
party in question went as far north as 51i deg. Coal
was found to exist ie immense quantities all round
and about Beaver Harbour, and also on the seaward
side of Vancouver, opposite that harbour, and on the
mainland, obliquely opposite and still to the north-
ward. The beautiful harbours of Victoria and lisqui-
malt, the former a settlement of the Hudson Bay
Company, were visited by the commission. Dqui-
malt is described as one of the very best anchorages
that can be conceived for ships of any draught or size
whatever. Both these places, it must be remembered,
are on Vancouver's Island, and lie along the Straits
of Fuca. After accomplishing all that was re-
quired in the quarters mentioned, the commission
next directed its attention to that part of our coast
running from the southern cape of the straits of Fuca
to Columbia River, and then to that river itself, to-
gether with its tributaries. In the course of these
examinations we learn that a party was dispatched to
visit carefully a large and well•sheltered harbour,
known thereabouts as Shoal-water Bay, and having
its entrance some 30 miles north of Cape Disappoint-
ment, or in the neighbourhood of midway from that
cape to Gray's Harbour. The prosecution of this
service confirmed the fact that the waters of the har-
bour and those of the mouth of the Columbia ap-
proach each other within a very short distance—a
distance involving a portage at present almost im-
practicable for waggons. A whaleboat was hauled
over it by a dozen or so of Indians without any great
difficulty. It is thought that Shoalwater Bay is
destined to become a point of material consequence
in many respects. Its average length, that is, of the
bay proper, is some twenty miles, and its breadth
some six or eight. The bar, too, at its entrance
is understood to present no serious obstacle
to the admission of ships of the largest class
at all sMsons of the year. But one of the most
remarkable features of this place is, that a ship may
probably approach Baker's Bay, or CapeDeiigsahpt miles.
It rid its entrance, within some six or
It abounds, however, with sandbanks, but there are
good channel ways between them, and the whole
sheet of water is as placid as a summer's lake. On
leaving the Columbia and coasting along to the south-
ward, the commission touched off the Umpqua, and
ascertained that its bar-water was practicable for
commercial purposes under certain circumstances.
Indeed, an American schooner was at the time lying
at anchor in the river, and had reached her position
without difficulty. The lands of the Umpqua Valley
are described as being even more fertile than those of
the Willamette, and the proximity of these valleys is
a matter of singular importance. Upon the whole,
we learn that the examinations of the commissions
hare proved highly interesting, and we are certainly
happy to observe that our Government is already en,

gaged in the preliminary steps towards fortifying our
Pacific possessions and availing itself of their admitted
advantages for naval establishments.—California
Courier.

ROBBERY AT THE SOUTH WALES RAIL-
WAY STATION, NE TYPORT.

NEWPORT, MONDAY.—Last night, or early this
morning, the South Wales Railway station was
broken into, and a considerable robbery effected, evi-
dently by some one who had a thorough acquaintance
with the private business of the office. The latest
train up from Swansea through Newport comes in at
about half-past nine at night ; and the earliest, or
mail train, down from Gloucester in the morning,
comes into Newport at half-past five, so that the
robbery must have been effected in the in-
terval. When the clerk and porters came
into the office to receive the mail train this
morning they found that one of the octagonal win-
dows, looking out on the platform, had the top and
bottom squares of glass broken in the corners next the
slides (which were let into the sash, and were not
easily discernible). The slides were open, and the
windows slightly ajar. This of course awakened in-
stant suspicion, and on looking round it was dis-
coverel that a drawer, in which the clerks kept the keys
of the iron safe, had been forced open, and the keys
were gone. This led the way to the room in which the
safe was deposited—a small private room on the plat-
form side of the station. Here they found the office door
unlocked and open, and within the safe was disco-
vered to have been opened in the ordinary way by
keys, and rifled of its contents, which amounted to
about 451. The usual practice was to make up the
receipts of each day, and send them to the terminus
at Chepstow every succeeding morning ; but this was
never done on Sunday mornings ; and this the men,
therefore, who effected the robbery must have been
perfectly cognizant of. There are other circum-
stances which sanction suspicion, among which
is the fact that the thief, or an assistant, placed
a detonating signal on the line some miles up to-
wards Chepstow, so that any special train which might
by some possibility be coming down at the time the
robbery was being effected might thereby be stopped.
The guard of the mail train, hearing this signal ex-
plode, immediately caused the train to be stopped, and
had to walk down to the Newport station to ascertain
the cause. There, of course, he was speedily ac-
quainted with the reason of the delay. All the facts
of the case point to some one who had a thorough
knowledge of the premises and the routine of business
at the station ; and the active police force of the
borough are on a train of suspicion which will
probably lead to the capture of the robbers.
The superintendent of the borough force, in
the course of his investigation, found the leathern
bag, marked in brass " S. W. R.," ripped open and the
contents gone, in a field called Baneswell-field,
through which a pathway leads through the station
as a public road. Great blame is attributable to
the company in not keeping one of their policemen
on duty at the station all night, as the police of the
borough are not permitted to go on the premises as
a portion of their town beat. Had they been, in this
case, or had a railway policeman been there on duty,
the robbery could not easily have been effected.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MARYLEBONE.

On Tuesday afternoon, immediately after the dis-
posal of the important charge relative to the burglary
at Mr. Holford's, in the Regent's-park, an unusual
bustle was observable in the neighbourhood of this
court,:it being known that a warrant had been granted
by Mr. Broughton, on the part of Mr John Wilson,
a member of that important body the Marylebone
Vestry, against Mr. Samuel Steele, also a vestryman,
for an assault committed by the latter upon the former
gentleman. _ _

- Mr. Hogging appeared for the complainant, and Mr.
Ballantine for the defendant.

Mr. Hoggins said that, in this case, it had been the
most anxious wish of his client that the defendant
should have made the amende honorable to him, whieh
he assuredly would have done, and for doing which
ample time and opportunity had been afforded him,
but such not having been the case, it was not to be
supposed that Mr. Wilson would tamely submit to the
infliction of a most wanton and cowardly assault ; he
should brefly relate the circumstances connected with
this truly unpleasant transaction :—On the afternoon of
the 12th inst., as Mr. Wilson was quietly walking down
Marylebone-lane, he received a severe blow on the
back part of the head ' • and on turning round to ascer-
tain who had inflicted it, he found that Mr. Steele
was the aggressor. Fearing that the blow might be
repeated, Mr. Wilson, in his own defence, struck at
Mr. Steele. The parties were then separated, and
hostilities ceased. Mr. IVilson, though naturally
very much annoyed, as well as hurt, by the unpro •
yoked assault, sent a message to Mr. Steele, saying
that he would not take any ulterior proceedings if
that gentleman would make an apology for the
attack, and put a guinea into the poor-box. This,
however, Mr. Steele declined. The assault, it could
not be denied, was a most wanton and cowardly one,
and his (Hr. Heggins's) client now appeared to de-
mand such punishment for the outrage committed
upon him as his Worship might think fit to inflict.
It appears that the between the parties
originated in the following circumstance :—A number
of pigeons, the property of persons in the neighbour-
hood, had become great pets with the inmates of the
Marylebone workhouse. By these poor persons, who
were glad to have anything animated to exhibit kind-
ness towards, the birds were daily fed. But, lo ! a
ruthless bird kidnapper walked off with no less
than forty-three of them, to be sacrificed at a
shooting match. The paupers were exceedingly cha-
grined at such conduct, and many of the vestrymen
sympathised with them, amongst others Mr. Wilson,
who said it was a shameful thing that the birds
should have been taken away. Nay, more, " Ru-
mour, with her thousand tongues," had hinted that
their abstraction had not taken place without the cog-
nizance of same of the worthy vestrymen. Amongst
them the name of Mr. Steele had been mentioned,
as one who well knew what had become of the birds.
Mr. Wilson had upon oce occasion sketched a picture
of a bird, and had written under it " How about the
pigeons ?" but in reference thereto had not men-
tioned or used Mr. Steele's name in any way what-
ever. _ . . _ _

Mr. John Wilson (the complainant) examined—On
the 12th inst. he was walking away from the vestsy
meeting, when, on going down Mary lebone-lane he
received a blow on the back of his head. He turned
round, and was told by a gentleman that it was Mr.
Steele who had struck him. Having reason to be-
lieve that Mr. Steele was a pugilistic character, he
thought that the best method he could adopt would
he to place him hors de combat as soon as possible ;
and he confessed that he then pitched into him with
all his might and main. What became of Mr. Steele
afterwards he could not tell. Defendant had threat-
ened on a previous occasion, in the board-room of the
vestry, to knock his (complainant's) d— head off. At
the time when Mr. Steele struck him, be (complain-
ant) was surrounded by twenty or, thirty of his
friends, or rather party, who go by the name of the
" Alligators" in the parish.
By Mr. Ballantine—l have drawn two pigeons on
paper, but put no name under the drawings. I was
not aware at the time that any pigeons had been taken
away. At another meeting I drew another carica-
ture, and subscribed it " Sam Steele's pigeons." I
spelt the word " Steele's," and not "steals." Upon
another occasion I exhibited some caricatures about
Mr. Joseph Hume, M.P. His head had not been
much hurt, but his hand had ; he admitted that that
was caused by the severity of the blow which he gave
to the defendant. It was Mr. Matthew who pointed
out the caricature to Mr. Steele.

Mr. BROUGHTON—A most injudicious act indeed.
In reply to a question from the bench, complainant
stated that it was on the evening of the 2d instant that
defendant told him he would knock his d— head off.
The assault now complained of did not take place till
the 12th. He (complainant) had proposed an ar-
rangement through Air. Jones, his solicitor, to the
effect that defendant should make him an apology,
and pay his doctor's bill, as also bis law expenses,
amounting altogether to 41.

Mr. Richard Humphreys, 72, Wimpole-street, said
that he witnessed the assault ; the blow given by Mr.
Steele was rather a severe one, but had certainly been
repaid with interest by complainant. Witness was a
member of the vestry, and bad attended at the meet-
ing on the day alluded to, at the Court-house; he
heard no harsh language pass between the complainant
and defendant while there.

At this period of the proceedings Mr. Ballantine
addressed the Bench, and said that it was not his in-
tention to take up the public time any longer with
the particulars of this contemptible and most ridicu-
lous squabble; it was quite evident that Mr. Wilson
had been in the habit of drawing caricatures when his
time might be otherwise much better and most pro-
fitably employed both for himself and fellow parish-
ioners. The story of his client having taken away
the pigeons was a gross fabrication, and a slanderous
invention of a set of mischievous persons such as
were always found infesting every public institution.
The character of his client, however, stood too high
to have it for a moment thought that he would be
guilty of so mean and contemptible an act. In his
(the Learned Gentleman's)• opinion complainant had
placed himself in such a position that the bench mild
not entertain the least sympathy for him. His client,
however, offered to make an apology to the public
and the bench, having, as he must admit, committed
the first breach of the peace ; thus far he would go on
public grounds, but not at all on Mr. Wilson's ac-
count. He (the Learned Gentleman) said he believed
that Mr. Broughton knew something about the Mary-
lebone vestry.

Mr. BROUGHTON—Yes ;
I am a member of it.
Mr. Ballantine—l thought as much, and have
frequently laughed on reading reports of the vestry's
proceedings, which I suspect have been occasionally