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neither pains nor trouble, in order that I might furnish you with materials
to enable you to judge, whether the waters distributed oyer the
Parish are of a wholesome character, or whether beneath their sparkling
and refreshing coolness there lurks that subtle poison, inappreciable to
the eye or taste, which, according to Dr. Snow and other scientific
enquirers, decimated the population of Golden-square in 1854.
It will be part of my duty also to give some account of those
occupations which are likely to prove injurious to the public health.
I shall then have to offer such suggestions as may tend to improve
the moral and physical condition of the industrial classes, by removing
from their dwellings those recognized evils which foster and
intensify epidemic disease, increase the rate of mortality, and frequently
prostrate our working men, and make many of them look for
support to the parochial rates.
The Parish of Kensington stands at the south-west extremity of
the Metropolis; is bounded by Chelsea on the south, Fulham and
Hammersmith on the west, Paddington on the north, and Westminster
on the east-—this is the area with which we have to deal.
It has been divided (by the Registrar-General) into two subdistricts—Kensington-town
and Brompton—having an area of 1,244
and 698 statute acres respectively, and a population, in 1851, of
29,183 and 14,870, which will give about 23-5 persons to each acre
in the Town division, and 21-3 in the Brompton.
kensington. bbomfton.
Females 17,275 Females 8,849
Males 11,908 Males 6,021
Excess of Females 5,867 Excess of Females 2,825
All London contains 30 persons to the acre:—St. George's,
Hanover-square, 60,—St. George the Martyr, 184.
Comparing our own Parish thus with the majority of the other metropolitan
districts, we perceive that the density of the population ismuch
less.
This arises from the fact that we have still a large space of open
ground used for agricultural purposes, and are near also to Kensington-gardens
and the Royal parks. Under any circumstances, therefore,
and to whatever extent building may be carried on, Kensington,
from its very position, may always maintain that character for
salubrity which has been accorded to it.
The number of our inhabited houses in 1851 was 6,136; this will
give, upon an average, seven inhabitants for each house.