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As a rule, it is found, that the more densely a district is populated, the greater Is its
irate of mortality ; it might therefore be expected that, as Spitalfields is more densely
crowded than Aldgate, in the proportion of about 3 to 1, the rate of mortality in each
would be in the same proportion : but this is not the case; for the rate of mortality in the two
districts will be found nearly equal, whether it be calculated by the number of deaths in the
whole population, or by the proportion of the deaths of young children to the total number of
deaths, which is a mode of estimating the comparative unhealthiness of a district the least liable
to error, as children do not long exist in a healthy state in crowded localities. The greater
part of the area of the Aldgate sub-district is made up by the open spaces of the St. Katharine's
Docks, and by the adjoining portion of the river. These large open spaces are peopled only by
persons living on board ships; but that part of the sub-district which is occupied by in?
habited houses is small, and is probably more densely peopled than the Spitalfields subdistrict.
Before we can expect to see the rate of mortality in the Whitechapel District
reduced much nearer to the healthy standard, we must prevent the few remaining open spaces
from being occupied by small tenements, and reduce the number of tenants in those houses
already inhabited. This leads me to make allusion to that gigantic evil in operation in this
district—the erecting of houses intended for the occupation of the poor, in localities where
there is not adequate space to afford a due supply of air for the efficient ventilation of the
house ; or in other words, the building of three houses where there is only room for two; and
this is done, notwithstanding the provisions of the Building Act, which provides, that " unless
all the rooms can be lighted and ventilated from a street or alley adjoining, the house shall
have, in the rear or on the side thereofaxi open space exclusively belonging thereto, of the
extent at least of one hundred square feet. To an unsophisticated mind, it would appear to
be a difficult matter to set at naught the wholesome provisions of the Act, but as such has been
the case, the Act must necessarily be defective; and if houses can by law be erected
on spaces not sufficient for the health of the intended occupants, the sooner the law
be altered the better it will be for the health of the whole district and for the pockets
of the ratepayers. Unless the crowding together of houses in unsuitable places be prevented,
the good results attendant on the labours of your sanitary officers will be
frustrated. All that I can do, however, in' the meantime is, to protest most strongly
against the practice now prevailing, and to express a hope, that before the next session of
Parliament is concluded, there wijl be passed an amended Building Act, containing more ample
provisions for carrying into effect such sanitary regulations for the construction of houses,
especially as regards light and ventilation, as experience has declared to be necessary for the
health of the inhabitants.
The number of males in the entire district is 39,80S, and of females 39,159, which is in
the proportion of 101.6 of the former to 100 of the latter. This is at variance with the returns
of all other large towns, in which it appears, that the number of females exceeds that of males,
In England and Wales the proportion of females to males is as 105'6 to 100. In four of the
sub-districts in the Whitechapel District, viz : the Spitalfields, Mile End New Town, White*
chapel North and Aldgate, the males exceed in number the females; while in the other
sub-districts, the females are in excess of the males. The great excess of males over females,
which appears in the Aldgate sub-district, is accounted for by the presence of the garrison in
the Tower, the inmates of the Sailors' Home, and the persons living on board ship in the
Docks and in the Biver.
From a return kindly furnished to me by Mr. Price, the Inspector of Registered
Lodging Houses, it appears, that on the south side of the district, there are fifty registered
common lodging houses, consisting of 173 rooms, which are capable of accommodating 855