View report page

14
These are given in the order of their rate of mortality from above downwards ;
the whole of them show a mortality above 20 per 1,000 (calculating from the
numbers living at the census of 1851). The average rate of mortality amongst
all classes was about 19 per 1,000, calculated in the same way. Hawkers,
cabmen, and actors, exhibited a mortality more than twice the average ; and the
other classes enumerated above gradually decreased from 38 per 1,000 down to
20 per 1,000.
It would be interesting to speculate on the various causes which have raised
the mortality amongst the various classes, but I believe that such speculations
would be almost futile from the causes stated, as well as from the small
numbers with which we have to deal, and these enquiries must be postponed
until data are obtained from a longer series of years.
METEOROLOGY.
On this subject I make use of the information supplied by the RegistrarGeneral
for Greenwich. The peculiar phenomena of the year are the high
temperature (51°1, being 2° above the average of 17 years), and the slowness of
the wind's movements. " The wind, instead of moving at the average rate of 110
miles, passed over London at the rate of 81 miles a day, during the 53 weeks."
" The rain-fall at Greenwich was 21'4 inches ; being inches less than the
average of 40 years. The mean daily range of the temperature was 17°, which
is 1.30° more than the average of 16 years.
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
51, Upper Gowrr Street. THOMAS HILLIER,
May 14 th, 1858.