The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-21 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

The following is the weekly return by the Registrar-
General of births and deaths in London and in 13 other
large towns of the United Kingdom:—ln the week that
ended on Saturday, October 17, 4,431 births and 3,117
deaths were registered in London and in 13 other
large towns of the United Kingdom. The annual
rate of mortality was 25 per 1,000 persons living. The
annual rate of mortality last week was 23 per 1,000
in London, 32 in Edinburgh, and 21 in Dublin ; 16 in
Bristol, 21 in Birmingham, 29 in Liverpool, 34 in Man-
chester, 35 in Salford, 24 in Sheffield, 25 in Bradford, 31
in Leeds, 23 in Hull, 24 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and 31
in Glasgow. The rate in Vienna was 21 per 1,000 during
the week ending the 3rd instant, and in Berlin 32 per 1,000
during the seven days ending the 15th instant. In London
the births of 1,124 boys and 1,063 girls, in all 2,187 chil-
dren, were registered in the week. In the corresponding
weeks of ten years, 1858-67, the average number, corrected
for increase of population, is 2,088. The deaths registered
in London during the week were 1,395. It was the 42nd
week of the year, and the average number of deaths for
that week is, with a correction for increase of popu-
lation, 1,318. The deaths in the present return
exceed by 77 the estimated amount, but are less by
43 than the number recorded in the preceding week.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height
of the barometer in the week was 29.792 in. The baro-
metrical reading decreased from 30 'lin. on Wednesday, Oct.
14, to 29'43in. on Friday, Oct. IG. The mean tempera-
ture of the air in the week was 497 deg., which is o'9 deg.
below the average of the same week in 50 years (as deter-
mined by Mr. Glaisher). The highest day temperature
was 66'6 deg., on Monday, Oct. 12. The lowest night
temperature was 35'4 deg., on Sunday, Oct. 11. The
entire range of temperature in the week was, therefore,
31'2 deg.

DISCOVERY OF SUBTERRANEAN
PASSAGES IN BRISTOL.

The excavations for the branch line of railway which
is being constructed by the Great Western, Midland,
and Bristol and Exeter, from their terminus at Temple
Mead to the Floating Harbour, have disclosed the
existence of a complete network of subterraneous pas-
sages underneath Redcliffe parish, and branching out
in various other directions. The men at work discovered
the narrow entrance to a huge cavern. Further
examination shewed that this portion of the subterranean
passage had been severed by the railway cutting, but
unfortunately the entrance to the left-hand passage is now
blocked up by a fall of rock in blasting. On Monday
night a party, consisting of half a dozen gentlemen,
explored a portion of the underground network. Mr.
J. H. F. Roberts, C.E., pioneered the party, and
Mr. W. Rice, architect, took a plan of the passages.
Before entering the place a line was fastened
to one of the opposite supports, and each of the party
carried either a torch or a candle. After creeping through
a narrow low passage, some twenty yards in length, the
party came to a row of three arches, each of which led in
an opposite direction. Taking the centre one, the party
had to crawl on their hands and knees for about ten
yards under a great rock, and then they emerged into
a spacious and lofty cavern, whence there were other
branches. A journey of some 200 or 300 feet further,
chiefly through low narrow corridors, brought the party
to what appeared to be the grand saloon, or chief
cave. It was perfectly circular in form, the roof
being supported on eight colums, besides a very
strong column in the centre. The cavern was some
forty or fifty feet in diameter, and from six to
eight feet high, the roof sloping to within a few feet
of the ground. The spaces between the pillars, with
the exception of the route the explorers had come,
and one in a straight line with it, had been walled up all
round ; and this was the first piece of masonry that had
been seen, the whole having been excavated from the solid
rocks. There can be no doubt that the place has been
excavated, and that a good deal of skilled labour has been
used in the work. Passing from this large cavern, the
party proceeded along a wide corridor, beautifully arched
overhead, and supported on each side on strong columns,
the spaces between them being walled up. This had
evidently been a chief entrance to the cavern, but, unfor-
tunately, the party could not explore it to the end on
account of its being walled up. Two or three
branches in the same locality were tried, and found
to be walled up. Altogether the party explored some
six or seven branches, and most of them were either
walled up or filled up with rubbish. In two or three
places the further progress was stopped by huge masses of
rock, which had fallen and blocked up the way. One of
the passages was traced in a direction which must have
brought the party very near the Floating Harbour,
formerly the River Avon, and it is conjectured
that the caverns might have been used at the time
when Bristol carried on an extensive slave trade, or
that they may have been used for smuggling purposes.
According to a map of Bristol in Barrett's history, the
Hermitage of St. John occupied this site in 1250. The dis-
covery has awakened a good deal of antiquarian interest,
and it is intended to take down the masonry and explore
some of the passages further, when doubtless some more
satisfactory clue may be gained respecting the original us'
of this extensive work.

The young woman who was scalded by the boiler
explosion of the United Hotel is d 3 ing. The two other
sufferers are progressing somewhat favourably.
The Earl of Lichfield opened the business of the
Staffordshire Quarter Setsions with the announce-
ment that he should at the close of the session retire from
the chairmanship, which be has held for ten years.

While workmen were engaged on Tuesday in ex-
cavating the ground for the new foundation of Temple
Hall, they discovered a portion of a door, richly gilt, of
the sixteenth century, and in a state of excellent preser-
vation.

Her Majesty the Queen of Holland is expected to
arrive at Dover by special steamer on Thursday morning.
Her Majesty will leave Dover at noon by South-
Eastern Railway, and will pass through London on her way
to Torquay.

Mrs. William Salt has presented to the county of
Stafford the whole of the magnificent library left by her
late husband. The books are valued at £B,OOO, and Lord
Lichfield has Leon requested to arrange how they shall be
distributed.

It is stated in some of the Church papers that it is
not intended for the present to fill up the ecclesiastical va-
cancies. What the precise meaning of the announcement is
it is difficulty to guess. The bishoprics of Mauritius and
Labuan have been vacant several months, and in England
there are vacant canonries at Christ Church, Oxford, and
Westminster, and the regius professorship of ecclesiastical
history at Oxford.

The Maidstone Journal regrets to learn that the
Archbishop of Canterbury is confined to his room by a
severe attack of bronchitis. It is state] that as soon as
his grace shall have sufficiently recovered to enable him
to endure the journey be will proceed to Devonshire, in
order to recruit his health, which is in a very unsatisfac-
tory condition.

A meeting of the shareholders in the late Poyal
Bank, Liverpool, was called for Tuesday, to receive the
report of the committee of investigation. The attendance
of shareholders was not numerous, and reporters were ex-
cluded. The exclusion of the representatives of the press
is necessarily regarded as te117n,,,7 against the parties who
desire to keep the affaire cf !I;•. 17ank as quiet as
poNil,4e,