Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-06-14


London, with relation to sanitOry matters.
particularly as regards sewerage, plentiful
supply of good water, due ventilation OF
crowded locations, and regulations against
too many persons inhabiting the same apart
ments This latter item is evidently in a
state of progress. In 1901 the number OF
individuals to house was 5'67; in 1871 1t
had fallen to 5.44; and the census will, we
have no doubt, show a further dminution.
We must not close this selfgratulatory
survey of our advancement, without saying
a word or two about the progress of arts and
sciences, and the higher elements Of ma
tion's glory and peoples happiness. Pre-
vious to the eighteenth century, there was
only one learned society in London-the
Royal Society-chartered in 1862. During
the eighteenth century four others were es-
tablished-the Society of Antiquaries, the
Society of Arts, the Medical Society, and the
Linean Society. Between 1900 and 1851,
thirty societies for the promotion of different
subjects connected with literature, science,
and the fine arts, have been Incorporated, in
the metropolis In 1900, the only provincial
society in the kingdom was the Literary and
Philosophical Society of Manchester; 25
provincial societies have been since estab-
lished. In Scotland six metropolitan and
eight provincial societies, and in Ireland Is
leading societies have been established since
1900.
That wealth has been accumulated, during
the last fifty years, faster than population has
increased: that it has sought investments,
not merely in undertakings promising profit.
but also, to considerable extent, in works
of science or humanity, bringing their own
peculiar reward and that it has displayed
itself in the substantial form Of metropolitan
and provincial Improvement, we hold to be a
fair inference, from the facts and figures
which we have adduced. In almost every
seaport docks have been constructed and
enlarged; the coast is becoming studded with
forts; new towns have come into existence !;
and public buildings, rivalling the best struc-
lures Of the metropolis, have been erected in
our busy seats of manufacture and commerce.
In the smaller provincial towns literary insti-
tutions and mechanics institutes, museums
and libraries, schools and churches, vindi-
cate the claims of the country to share with
the capital in charitable impulses, and in zeal
for education and Inc spread Of religion. At
the same time we fiatter ourselves that we
perceive many signs Of Improvement in the
tastes and habits of men of wealth and station.
A check has been given to lavish profusion /;
riches, earned in trade, are now more ration
ally expended, and their possessors directed
by much sounder feeling, than at any for
mer period Of our history. Whilst the habits
and the tastes Of the higher and middle or
ders have been, we think, materially mn
proved, we have reason to believe that the
artisans, in our large towns. and the labor
ers, in our rural districts, are making slow
but sure advances towards that civilization,
of which the humbIest and poorest are sus-
ceptible.
The Economist thus sums up the melan-
choIy picture Of English affairs, at the coln-
mencemeut Of the late half century -" The
liberty of the subject was at its lowest ebb
freedom Of discussion and writing, always ~
Gear and frequently in jeopardy religious
rights ,rampled under foot; Catholics. slaves,
not citizens Dissenters, still disabled and
despised; Parliament was unreformed Puo-
lie jobbing fragrant and shameless; gentle
men drank bottle where they now drink
glass, and measured their capacity BY theil
cups, and the temperance medal was thing