Star.
London, England, 1824-07-28 00:00:00

IMPROTEMBN7i IN THE IifETROPOLIS.

THE Buttnisto Act.—The increase of buildings,,
taking place .11 round the Metropolis, is -a matter of
•ery considerable moment to its inhabitants. When we
consider the pestilential diseases to which London was
formerly subject, and congratulate ourselves that it is,
to a better description of building, and to a greater de-
gree of cleanliness, both personal and general, that we
owe our exemption from similar calamities, it must
strike every one as most essential, that nothing should
be done to defeat 'such obvious improvements. We fear,
however, that individual cupidity may do this, unless
some means are iaken to prevent it. If, for instance,
the metropolis, in its present immense size, were to he
hedged in with narrow streets, composed of small ill-
drained houses, such a circumstance would effect the
general health of the inhabitants, in the same way that
the human body would be affected if the free action of
the lungs were impeded, and respiration poisoned by
noisome, pestilential vapours. The Building Act of the
late Sir Robert Taylor has been of infinite use ; but that
Act, we believe, is circumscribed in its limits, and as
great part of London may now be said to have gone out
of town, many of the streets which are erecting in the
environs are out of the reach of its salutary provisions.
As it is well understood that no man can be allowed to
use his property so as to annoy his neighbours, still
more essential is it that he should be prevented from
doing that with it which may ultimately produce a
great public injury.. Without wishing their to intcench
unnecessarily upon the freedom with which every man
should use and enjoy his estate, we cannot help think-
ing that it would be well if Government were to inquire
how far the provisions of the Building Act do extend;
and if it should be found (as we are assured is the case)_
that many of the new buildings around the metropolis
are beyond its reach, that they should also ascertain
whether there is any reason to apprehend that such
buildings are so constructed as in any way to endanger
the health and well being of the whole community. We
wish, for instance, some defined width were assigned to
all new streets ; and we apprehend it would not be any
hardship upon the owners to say that no street, square,
itc. consisting of a given number of houses, shall be
erected, or allowed to be inhabited, without proper
sewers being constructed and water laid on. Nothing
ensures health in large places like space and cleanli-
ness ; and people have only to look at the state of the
present confined streets, both in the heart and outskirts
of London, to be convinced of the necessity and import-
ance of what we are suggesting. It would be well if
Government, during the Nees., were to appoint compe-
tent persons to inquire and report to them upon the
subject, that, should any legislative measures be found
necessary, they may be provided as speedily after the
next assembling of Parliament as may be.—Morn. Her.

Mr. Wesroti, Inspector-General, arrived at Limerick
on Monday, from Sligo and Galway, and immediately
proceeded into an inquiry, to ascertain if any reductions
are practicable in the Customs department of that city.
The general proposed plan of reduction in Ireland will
be carried into effect on the 10th of October.
Saturday, Jeha lif.Audand, carter, was tried before
the Justice, of Glasgow, and convicted of fighting near
the West Church, upon Sunday, tke 27th ultimo, for
which he wa, ordained to pay thirty shillings, in name'
of fine and expenses. 1
Yesterday an Inquest was held at the Coach and
Horses, Carnaby-street, on the body of H. E. Barmcoat,
ten months old. The deceased was left in a room alone
during the temporary absence of the mother, and falling
into a pan of water, was drowned.—AuoLier Inquest
was held at the White Horse, Knightsbridge, on the'
body of Elizabeth Wise, a girl aged 14 years, servant'
to Mr. Aldersey, a green-grocer, of No. 1, Caroline-
place. The deceased was lighting the copper fire, when
the flame caught her clothes, and she was burnt.--Ver-
dicts, in both cases—AeOlental Death.
Upwards of fifty dogs, Which were going at large,
unmuzzled, in the town of Sunderland, have been de-
stroyed, by order of the Magistrates.
Saturday last, an Inquest was taken by Mr. Arm-
sox, Coroner for the Hundred of Normancross, at
Stilton, on view of the body of a child about two years
old, who fell into a privy, and was suffocated.
Saturday night a robbery, which for its audacity
stands unparalleled, was practised in the house of a re-
spectable trader, named Gulston, who is the proprietor
of the Flower-pot public-house, Brick-lane, Bethnal-
green, and which took place between the hours of nine
and twelve o'clock, at the time a society were sitting in
the front room. The robbers, under pretence of belong-
ing to the society, went up stairs, and instead of going
1 into th roam where the society were sitting, had in-
strume is about them that forced their admission into
Mr. Gu ston's bed-room, from which they took 751. in
sovereigns, 151. in silver, and 71. in copper, besides a
benefit society's club box, containing money, books, and
other articles of property to a considerable amount, as
well as various articles, consisting of wearing apparel,
cut cruet-stands, decanters, necklaces, beads, &c. _

An official list lately published, gives the following
particulars of the increase of the population in the
whole Kingdom of Sweden and Norway in two years:
In 1821, 95,072 Births. 66,416 Deaths.
1882, 94,509 89,390

TOW - 186,381 125,306
so that the increase in two years is above 6Q,000 persons,
An Irishman, named COLLINS, died lately in Halifax.
and has left £120,000 to a cousin of his, named Joint Commas,
who is a tutor in the county of Cork.
In the beginning of the seventeenth century, £2O
would purchase chambers in an Inn of Court, and £2O
per annum were adequate to the yearly expenses of a
sober student.
TURNPIKE ROADS.—It appears that in England there
are 18,329 miles of turnpike roads, in Wales 2,591, in Scotland
2,6 ll—total 24,531. The annual income on the average of 1818,
1819, and 1888, was, Ragland £970,618. Wales £37,672, Scot-
land 4129,635. But this income, besides the necessary expenses
of continual repairs, was burthened, in the year 1821, with the fol.
loifing debt :—England 43,874,255, Wales 4201,962, Scotland
41,124,1173—total "200,490. la Norfolk the number of miles
of roads is 271, the income per mile £3B, the expenditure £26, ex-
cess 812. In Suffolk the number of miles is 279, income per mile
AM, expenditure ditto 431, excess 43 per Mile.
CHERRII3.—Such is the abundance of cherries in the
orchards this year that a single individual, residing near Selby, in
Yorkshire, has sold no less than 3,0001b5. weight at td. per lb. to be
taken to Leeds market, and there sold again.
In 1616. Canary wine sold for tenpence a quart. At
the same period, Dealing wax could may be obtained is London
and treacle was an article of equal rarity.
An American Paper, with the usual veracity of those
Journals, publishes the following :
" A trotting match for a ruse of 16000 dollars took place Tester-
day, on the Jamaica spike, between young Mr. Coster's mare
and a Philadelphia berse Itis match was won by the latter, which
we understood trotted three miles in three oboteoled ffittl4w*i
secoadswill—awricen ihropigima