diminution in the causes of mortality.—80,014 persons
were Married in the quarter ending June 30, 1852; and
thus 40,007 new families were established, or 5286 more
than were established in the corresponding quarter of
1848. The increase in the marriages appears to be
general; but it is the greatest in London, where the
marriages in the quarter were 6713, or 1304 more than
in the corresponding quarter of 1848. In Hampshire,
Devonshire, Somersetshire, Cheshire, Lancashire,
Durham, Cumberland, and South Wales, and generally in
the ports from which emigrants sail, an unusual number
of marriages was celebrated.—151,193 Births were
registered in the quarter ending September 30, 1852. The
number slightly exceeds the high number registered in
the corresponding quarter of 1851, and is greater by
31,371 than the number registered in 1840, when, it is
believed, the registration was more imperfect than it is
now. Within the last 12 months 621,260 children have
been enrolled on the national registers. The rate of
births in England is influenced by the seasons; it is
higher in the first than it is in the last two quarters of
the year, in the proportion of 34 to 31; thus, taking one
year with another, the annual rate of births per cent, in
the spring quarter is 3·411; in the summer quarter
3·147; the rates in 1852 were 3·516 and 3·294.—100,497
Deaths were registered in the quarter ending September
30. This number greatly exceeds the number of deaths
in any of the corresponding quarters of previous years,
except 1846 and 1849, when 101,663 deaths and 135,235
deaths respectively were registered. The excessive
mortality in the summer of 1846 was the result of an
extensive epidemic of summer cholera and diarrhoea;
Asiatic cholera was epidemic in the summer of 1849;
and in the present quarter the chief causes of the increase
of deaths were the same as were in operation in 1846.
The temperature of summer in 1846 was high, and the
summer of 1852 exhibited great variations; on July 5th
the temperature exceeded 90°, and through the month
of July was 5° above the average; heavy thunderstorms
were observed. The two subsequent months were
warmer or colder than the average of the season. The
annual rate of mortality in the 117 London and other
chief town districts for the summer quarters 1849-51 was
2·536 per cent.; for the summer quarter of 1852 it was
2·590. The annual rate of mortality in the other 507
districts of the kingdom was 1·826 and 1·908. The increase
was rather less in the town than it was in the country
districts.—As 151,193 births and 100,497 deaths have
been registered in the quarter, the natural Increase of
Population is 50,696, which is at the rate of 3899 weekly,
and 557 daily. The natural increase is less than it has
hitherto usually been, not through any diminution in
the number of births, but by the increase of deaths from
epidemic causes. Emigration has proceeded with
increased activity. The emigration from the United Kingdom
went on through the summer at a rate which, if it
continue the same, will sensibly reduce the population.
109,236 persons left the ports at which there are Government
emigration officers; 62,579 sailed for the United
States, 7116 for British North America, 38.601 for the
Australian colonies, and 940 for other places. 8355
emigrants sailed from Irish, 5976 from Scotch ports. 94,325
sailed from English ports; namely, 70,012 from Liverpool,
3125 from Plymouth, and 21,788 from London.
The destination of 14,956 of the emigrants from London
was Australia. It is well known that a large proportion
of the emigrants that sail from Liverpool are of Irish
birth.

A plan, proposed by Mr. Charles Pearson, for Making
a City Railway Terminus, communicating with the
railways north of the Thames, by means of four under
ground lines, and for constructing large markets,
warehouses, and shops along them, has given occasion to a
public meeting at the London Tavern on the 1st instant.
Mr. Pearson gave a full description of his scheme, and
its anticipated advantages; and announced that the
directors of the Great Northern Railway had considered
and approved of the scheme, and had resolved to negotiate
with a company, if one were formed, on a fair and
liberal basis. In order to secure a fair beginning,
Mr. Pearson undertakes to advance all the cost of giving
the requisite notices, and making the necessary
preparations for Parliament, without looking for repayment
should the company not proceed. He proposed that the
deposits of the capital subscribed should be paid into the
Bank of England to the account of trustees (probably
the three commercial representatives of the City); and
if three-fourths of the capital required is not subscribed
by the 7th January next, each shareholder shall receive
back his deposit without deduction. The practical result
of the meeting was, that resolutions approving of the
scheme, and agreeing to these conditions, were passed;
and a committee was appointed, including Sir James
Duke, Mr. Raikes Currie, Mr. William Williams, and
Mr. Sheriff Croll, to take steps to effect the required
object.

The Direct Communication between London and
Paris by Submarine Telegraph was opened on the 1st
inst. A numerous company assembled at the office of
the company in Cornhill, to witness the experiments.
Among them were Lord De Mauley, the Earl of
Cadogan, Mr. Masterman, M.P., Mr. Laing, M.P.,
Count Flahault, M. Ernest Bunsen, Mr. Samuel Gurney,
Sir J. W. Hogg, Mr. Airey, the astronomer, and
many other gentlemen known in commerce, diplomacy,
and science. The most striking message, except the
last, was sent to Paris at ten minutes past two—"What
time is it?" Answer—"2:10 p.m." The last message
was as follows:—

"The Directors of the Submarine Telegraph Company beg
leave to approach his Highness the Prince President with the
expression of their best thanks for the assistance which he has
uniformly given towards the establishment of this instantaneous
means of communication between France and Great Britain.
May this wonderful invention serve, wider the Empire, to
promote the peace and prosperity of the world!
"Dated Nov. 1, 1852, 30, Cornhill, London."

The Treatment of Patients in Bethlehem Hospital
became a subject of discussion in the Court of Aldermen
on the 2nd inst., in consequence of the official report on
the subject, which has recently been published in the
Daily News. Mr. Alderman Copeland asked whether
the Lord Mayor had received a copy of the report, or
evidence, or whatever it might be, which had emanated
from the committee of inquiry? The Lord Mayor
replied, that he had not received a copy; and he referred
the matter to Sir Peter Laurie. Sir Peter said, that the
authorities of Bethlehem had been prevented by the
Secretary of State from sending copies to the governors
of the hospital. The committee had in the first instance,
last February, directed the report to be printed for the
use of its own members; but they were restrained by
the influence which the Commissioners in Lunacy
brought to bear on Mr. Walpole; and it was not until
April that the Secretary of State permitted them to
continue the printing, on condition that the report
"should be transmitted in the strictest confidence to the
members of the committee." Mr. Walpole did not
authorise the committee to send copies to the medical
officers until the 25th of June, and these were only to be
used for the purpose of preparing answers. Sir Peter
could not enter into any particulars, as that would be
anticipating the answer in preparation. But he must
complain of the manner in which the commissioners
conducted the inquiry. They had not informed the
governors, or the witnesses, of the charges brought
forward; nor, when the report had been prepared
upon an "ex-parte inquisition," had any one been heard
in defence. Changes had taken place in the staff of the
hospital; a resident physician, apothecary, and matron,
had been appointed: but these changes were made
irrespectively of any complaint. He believed that in
less than a fortnight "the charges would be met by a
perfect refutation." Alderman Sidney thought Sir
Peter Laurie would commit no breach of honour if he
were to contradict the worst charges. Sir Peter
declined to contradict anything explicitly; and contented
himself by saying "that the report of the commissioners
had been greatly coloured." Some other remarks were
made, but nothing more was elicited; and the subject
dropped.

Various schemes of Amalgamation of Railway Companies
are now in agitation. At meetings held by
London and North-Western, and the Midland
Companies, it has been resolved to effect an amalgamation
between them on the following terms:—”