The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-10-16 00:00:00

bled, mentally and bodily, from the polluted atmosphere
which they respire.
Dr. W. H. Duncan, of Liverpool, says, in reference to
this subject, "-I have compared the healthiness of one or
two streets, densely populated, which are notoriously un-
healthy, with that of others less densely populated, the in-
habitants of which are also of the working classes ; I have
mentioned Oriel-street, in which one-fifth of the whole
number of inhabitants were affected with fever in the year.
In Lace-street, another street 160 yards long, containing
1285 inhabitants, giving an average of more than 11 in each
house, there were 200 cases of fever in the year ; that is,
nearly one in six of the inhabitants. I would compare this
street with another, also entirely inhabited by the working
classes, but not so densely populated, Addison-street, which
is 220 yards long, containing 1190 inhabitants ; in that street
only 89 cases of fever occurred in the year, being less than
lin 13. In Primrose-hill to Cow-lane, 165 yards long, con-
taining 304 inhabitants, there were only eleven cases of fever
in the year, or 1 in 28."
It may be taken as an established fact, that fever, small-
pox, measles, scarlatina, cholera, diarrhoea, with the at-
tendant train of poverty, recklessness, immorality, and the
thousand ills that flesh is heir to, are rarely, if ever, absent
from the more populous districts of the metropolis and
other large towns. Much of this mischief would seem to
arise from want of ventilation and cleanliness. In popu-
lous neighbourhoods the tenements are crowded together
either in narrow streets or alleys, or in confined courts with
only one outlet. No sufficient purification of the atmo-
sphere can take place in such
i localities. They are, con-
sequently, damp, and the air s contaminated with the
exhalations arising from the dirt and filth which are ge-
nerally accumulated in some part of the court or street.
The light, also, is partially excluded from these abodes of
poverty and wretchedness, a circumstance to which, as ma-
terially tending to aggravate the evil, sufficient attention has
not hitherto been paid. Crowding of the population, im-
perfect ventilation, want of efficient drainage, and the con-
sequent accumulation of dirt and filth, and we are con-
strained to add, too often also the impoverished state and im-
moral habits of the inhabitants, would seem to be the chief
causes of the sickness and mortality of populous neighbour-
hoods. The crowding of the populace within a confined
space, must necessarily tend to contaminate the purity of the
atmosphere, not only, as stated in the report by the deteri-
oriation which the air undergoes in the respiration of so
many human beings, but also by its becoming charged with
numerous exhalations necessarily connected with the process
of animal and social life. The use of fuel, the decay of
animal and vegetable matters, the accumulation of dirt in the
houses, all tend to charge the atmosphere with various im-
purities, for which in confined situations there are no coun-
teracting forces in operation, no renewal of the atmosphere
by the fresh and invigorating breezes of the open country, no
purifying action of vegetation in the full light of the solar
rays. On the contrary, the contaminated air hovers over
the spot, pressing like an incubus throughout the damp and
darkness of the houses below, and exerts its depressing ef-
fects and throws its gloom alike on the physical and moral
system of the inhabitants. In many of our large towns it
would seem that a considerable portion of the inhabitants
undergo a kind of living sepulture. They inhabit under-
ground cellars, carrying on their occupations in these damp
and dismal abodes, shut out from the light of heaven, and
breathing an atmosphere little superior to that of the Grotto
del Cane.

From Dr. Duncan's evidence it appears that in Liverpool
there are at this time no less than 38,000 inhabitants of this
class. These cellars are stated to be dark, damp, confined,
ill-ventilated, and dirty. The working population of Liver-
pool is estimated at 175,000 individuals, of which number it
is calculated, upon statistical data, that no less than 38,000,
or between one-fourth and one-fifth of the whole number,
live in cellars. Frequently two, three, or more families in-
habit the same cellar, and in the worst district of the town,
Dr. Duncan states it as his opinion, that on an average there
is nearly one family and a half to each cellar. There is no
ventilation in the cellars, and very frequently, no window.
The top of the door, in many instances, is not above the level
of the street, and the descent is by very narrow steps, only so
wide as to admit one person ; so that there is neither light
nor air, and in general there is no floor. In some instances,
the cellar is divided into two, that is, there is a back room,
perfectly dark, in which the family sleep. In addition to this,
it is estimated that there are 2400 close courts in the same
town, few of which have more than one outlet, and the majo-
rity communicate with the street, through a narrow archway
of three feet wide, the upper part of which is generally built
up. The width of the courts usually varies from nine to fif-
teen feet ; many are only six feet wide. At the end of the
court there are usually one or two privies, with an open ash-
pit, which are kept in a very disgusting state. It is com-
puted that 86,400 of the inhabitants of Liverpool reside in
these courts, in addition to the 38,000 which live in under-
ground cellars. Dr. Duncan does not know of any court in
Liverpool in which there is a sewer or an underground
drain. "Is there any communication by drains to the com-
mon sewer ? "—None •, I do not know of any court in which
there is an underground drain ; I frequently made the inquiry
from having been led to notice the state of filth in which most
of the courts were ; in fact, in the main streets, in the greater
number of those inhabited by the working classes, there are
no sewers."

From the evidence of Mr. Cobden, it appears that the same
practice of crowding the inhabitants into cellars prevails in
Manchester, though not to the same extent as in Liverpool.
In the report of the Manchester Statistical Society, it is stated,
that there are 14,960 occupants of cellars in Manchester, and
3335 in Salford. Similar abuses, though possibly in a minor
degree, are found to exist in many other towns. The state
of Glasgow would seem, however, to surpass in wretchedness
even that of many parts of London, Liverpool, and Man-
chester. A highly intelligent gentleman, Mr. J. C. Symons,
author of a work called " Arts and Artizans at Home and
Abroad," and who has had ample means of forming an
opinion, states it as his conviction, that " penury, dirt,
misery, drunkenness, disease; and crime, culminate in
Glasgow to a pitch unparalleled in Great Britain ;" and
again, " I have seen human degradation in some of its worst
pliases, both in England and abroad, but I can advisedly say,
that I did not believe, until I visited the wynds of Glasgow.
that so large an amount of filth, crime, misery, and disease,
existed in one spot in any civilized country." It is in evi-
dence from the same witness, that in the lower lodging-
houses in these miserable and confined situations—places,
as regards dirt, damp, and decay, such as no person of com-
mon humanity would stable his horse in—ten, twelve, and
sometimes twenty persons, of both sexes, and of all ages,
sleep promiscuously on the floor in different degrees of naked-
ness. We have reason to know, from other sources of
information, that this statement is not overcharged ; that,
in fact, such is the crowded and destitute state of the popu-
lation, that many families—men, women, and children—
inhabit the same room, sleep in the same bed ; the occupants
during the night giving place to the no less wretched occupants
during the day. Can it then be a matter of surprise, that
fever, cholera, and dysentery, with scrofula in all its forms,
swell up the amount of human misery in such dens as these ;
that to wretchedness and destitution is added every species of
vice and moral degradation of which human beings are
capable ?
The population of Glasgow amounts to about 250,000 ; the
number that died last year (1839) was 10,270. or one in 24.63
of the whole population ; 2180 of the deaths were from typhus
fever ; whereas, according to Mr. Farr's tables, the mean
annual mortality of the same number of individuals through-
out England and Wales is 5062, and from typhus fever 323.
The mortality of Liverpool. though very high. according to
the evidence of Dr. Duncan, does not come near that of
Glasgow. The deaths in Liverpool were in 1838, lin37 ; in
1839, lin 33k. But the sickening detail of reckless and fear,.
ful neglect does not stop short here. To a greater or less
extent it prevails in every town in the kingdom. Edinburgh
and Dublin, no less than London and Glasgow ; Bristol,
Birmingham, and Leeds, no less than Liverpool and Man-
chester, are subject to the same evils. It may be fearlessly
asserted, that not even small-pox, before its horrors were
mitigated by the discovery of vaccination, swept away more
victims than now fall a sacrifice to the neglect of the simplest
and most practicable rules of medical police. An efficient sys-
tem of medical police would do much to lessen these evils, and
more in preventing their occurrence in future. But if such
a system is to be efficient, it must be devised, regulated, and,
in part at least, carried into effect by those who are compe-
tent to the task ; by
,those who are practically acquainted
with the sources of the evils ; by those who know the methods
to be followed in their removal. In short, such a system
must be presided over not by poor law commissioners and
boards of guardians, but by intelligent and experienced medi-
cal practitioners, whose attention has been devoted to the
subject, and who shall receive such a compensation as shall
enable them to devote the requisite time to the carrying out
the important objects which may be entrusted to them. What
these are we shall have to point out on some future occasion,
when we come to consider the remedies indicated in the re-
port.

INEFFICIENCY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE.—A few days
since there were only 57 privates and marines, effective men,
at this port. Nearly all the pieces of ordnance at the port.
and garrison of Southampton have been long dismounted, and
a short time since when the fears of a chartist insurrection
induced an examination of our defences, it was found that
there were no gun carriages on which to mount the guns. Is
not the servant who leaves the street door unfastened that a
robber may enter as guilty as the robber ? And is not the
ministry who leaves the country defenceless as guilty as the
traitors who introduce an enemy ?—Hampshire Advertiser.
CONFLICT BETWEEN A STEAM ENGINE AND A DONKEY !
—On Monday last, an unfortunate donkey, heeding not the
notice to trespassers, had strayed on to the railway, near to
Hob Moor, at the time of the approach of a train ; the en-
gineer of which, perceiving his critical position, gave him
ample notice of their approach by the shrill whistle ; but
Neddy, being inclined to set at defiance his approaching foe,
maintained his position until the engine neared him, when he
turned round, and fired a volley with his heels at his iron-
hearted antagonist, in doing which he was slain on the spot,
the wheels running over his hind quarters.—Yorkshireman.

HAMMERSLEY'S BANK.—We understand that the affairs
of Hammersley's bank will be so far wound up by Christmas
as to allow a dividebrid of 10s. in the pcund, which will be fol-
lowed by a second and ultimate dividend of ss. more, making
together 15s. in the pound. It is understood that the expe-
dition with which .the suit at present pending in Chancery,
in relation to the affairs of the bank, will be brought, will be
unexampled in the history of Chancery proceedings. The
moment the necessity of filing a bill was found unavoidable,
the vice-chancellor came to town expressly to put matters in
such a train that no time should be lost, and the affairs of
the banking-house are already before the master. The cre-
ditors of the estate amount to nearly 12,000, and the stop-
page of the bank has been severely felt by many of the west..
end tradesmen, of whom a large portion of that number con-
sists.—Globe.

SUIT IN CHANCERY.—We are informed that a bill of dis-
covery has been filed in the High Court of Chancery, against
the Rev. Thomas Sherbourne, a Roman Catholic clergyman,
of the Willows, Kirkham, ex-vicar-general of the Lancashire
District. Also against the Right Rev. Dr. Briggs, the Ro-
man Catholic Bishop of Yorkshire. Also against the Very
Rev. Richard Thompson, of Weld Bank, Chorley, vicar-
general of Lancashire. Also against the Rev. Dr. Youens,
senior priest of Copperas-hill chapel, Liverpool. Also
against Mr. James Teebay, land agent, Ingl, Preston. Our
readers will perhaps remember that a few weeks ago there
appeared a paragraph, copied from the Lancaster Guardian,
stating that the Rev. Thomas Sherbourne, confessor to the
late Mr. Heatley, of Brindle Lodge, had fallen heir to that
gentleman's large fortune, and that the said confessor was
his sole executor and residuary legatee. It also intimated,
that it was the intention of the heiress-at-law to contest the
validity of their uncle's will. We are further informed, that
similar bills to the one mentioned above are in preparation
against other reverend gentlemen ; and that most of the
secular priests in Lancashire, among whom is Dr. Lingard,
will receive subpoenas for the trial, which is to be brought on
at the next spring assizes for the county of Lancaster. The
sensation which this will has occasioned in Lancashire and
the neighbouring counties, where all the parties are well
known, is very great, and the trial is looked forward to with
the utmost anxiety.

TUE LATE DUEL.—Should an indictment be preferred at
the next sessions of the Central Criminal Court,
and a true
bill be found, the case, as far as the Earl of Cardigan is con-
cerned, will, on the parties being called on to plead, be :e-
-moved by writ of certiorari to what is called the court of the
Lord High Steward, who will summon a jury of peers, it is
in
dividuals.
At not consisting of more than twenty-three
At present, we believe, there is no peer holding the office of
Lord High Steward ; but it is expected her Majesty will ap-
point one. No case has occurred of a peer being charged
with felony since that of Earl Ferrars, in the. year 1760,
eighty years since. It is, therefore, not surprising that the
local magistrates of Wandsworth should have been necessi-
tated to apply to the Home Office for advice, Blackstone's
work, which is the
been published in 1760.
principal guide of county justices, haying