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25
habitants in 1850, and 234 in 1847. In 1866, the
numbers were 264 for London, and 229 for Hackney.
As before stated, I believe this figure, 229 for Hackney
to be too high. The average rate of death per 10,000
inhabitants for the twenty years was 240 for the whole
of London, and 207 for Hackney. I have not any
means of comparing the age at death, for London and
Hackney during these years, but I have ascertained
them for a few years and found the results for Hackney
to be far more favorable even than the death-rate.
It can however, scarcely be expected that the difference
in the death-rate for the whole of the metropolis
and for Hackney, will be so great for the future, as
during the past twenty years, because Hackney is
favorably situated for drainage, and inhabited by a
much more wealthy class of persons than the whole of
London. Sanitary over-sight has therefore not produced
so great an improvement in the health of the inhabitants
as in London generally. The district also
has become much more densely populated in certain
parts, and a much smaller class of houses is in course
of erection at Hackney Wick, and other localities.
Indeed, I think there can be but little doubt, that a
very large number of houses for the working classes
Avill be built in this district, by which the poor-rates
will be increased, and the death-rate become larger.
An increased sanitary supervision will also be necessary
for these houses, for a very large proportion of the
nuisances lately discovered, were in the houses occupied
by the poorer classes.