much more than in any other June quarter of the years
1S39—1850.

The Mortality is now, it is gratifying to report, much
below the average. It has not been so low in any of the
corresponding quarters since 1837, when the new
system of registration commenced, except in the quarter
ending June, 1844. The rate of mortality per cent, per
annum in the quarter was 2·084. At this rate one in
192 persons died in the last three months; in 1847, one
in 161 persons died in the same time. This shows
clearly how much the risk of life has declined. The
average chance of living through the three months,
April, May, June, among persons of all ages is 179 to 1.
93,005 deaths were registered in the quarter ending
June; while the deaths in the corresponding quarters
of the four previous years were 90,231, 106,718, 99,730,
102,249. The improved state of the public health has
been general; the eastern is the only division in which
the deaths of 1850 slightly exceeded the deaths in the
corresponding June quarter of 1849. The most
considerable decrease is observed in London, and in the
north-western division, comprising Cheshire and
Lancashire. The improvement in the public health is not
confined to the parts which were visited by the epidemic
cholera of 1849. A further examination is required before
the causes of this improvement can be eliminated; but
it may be safely affirmed that they act generally, and
have been by no means confined to districts decimated
previously by the epidemics either cf cholera or
influenza. The registrars in their notes refer to sanitary
measures, to the state of employment, and to other
circumstances which affect the social condition of the
people, as probable causes of the happy improvement in
the public health. The registrar of Llanelly refers to
the depressed state of the iron trade in his district; but
this is a solitary case; and the general tone of the notes
is, as expressed by the registrar of Kington, that "the
people are employed, and feel the great blessing of cheap
and plentiful provisions."

Although Vaccination is actively promoted by the
Poor-law board, is now performed at the public expense,
and affords almost complete immunity from small-pox,
it is still neglected to a great extent by the ignorant
classes of society. Some of the objections to it are
excuses for negligence; others are based on a sort of
fatalism; but such cases as the registrar of Nottingham
records are criminal, and it is to be feared spring from
the same cruelty as leads to the sacrifice of children's
lives in other circumstances. A woman there who had
lost a child by disease, assured the registrar that "she
would rather lose half a dozen children by it than fly
in the face of Providence in having one vaccinated."

The Report of the Railway Commissioners for 1849,
just published, gives some general results of much
interest. One is the increase of railway communication
during the last year. In the course of 1849, the board
sanctioned the opening of 869 miles of new railway—
viz., 630 miles in England, 108 miles in Scotland, and
131 in Ireland—"making the whole extent of railway
communication, at the end of the year, 5996 miles;
the proportion for England being 4656 miles, for
Scotland 846 miles, and for Ireland 494 miles." Of the
general character of the extensions made within the past
year, the report informs us that they largely consist of
"small branches and short lines," which were required
as "links to complete important communications." The
next point of interest is the extent of railway, authorised
by parliament, which yet remains to be constructed.
It is in length 6030 miles, and a further sum of 126
millions is demanded for it; but though the powers are
in force for raising it, the progress of the new constructions
is, happily, proceeding at a slower rate than
heretofore. On the 30th of June, 1849, only 1504 miles
were in actual course of construction, as compared with
2958 in progress on the 1st of May, 1848; and according
to returns already presented to parliament, "all
work has ceased on about 350 miles of lines which were
returned as being in progress in 1848, and which for the
present may be considered as abandoned or postponed
until more prosperous times." Moreover, the
Commissioners infer, from the data before them, "that no great
length of new line has been commenced since last year,
and that probably only about 1000 miles out of the
6030 miles which still remain to be opened at the end of
1849 were in progress of construction at that time."
This diminution of the rate of progress has been attended
with a very serious diminution in the amount of
employment for labour. It is a matter for grave consideration
that "the reduction in the number of persons
employed in the construction of lines has been very
considerable, amounting to 84,361 persons, against an
increase of only 3280 employed upon lines open for
traffic; " and this reduction, added to that of 1848, and
to further reductions which may be expected to take
place during the current year, will, we are informed,
"make an aggregate of upwards of 200,000 persons,
who may be considered as having been temporarily
withdrawn from other occupations by the stimulus which
railways received in 1845 and 1846, and who must now
seek a livelihood in other ways." The rate of profit on
capital invested in railways has undergone great reduction.
The 5996 miles in actual operation represent, we
are told, a capital of about £197,500,000, yielding a
gross annual revenue of £11,806,000—from which, if
the working expenses be deducted at the rate of 43 per
cent., there remains a net available profit of about
£6,729,420 being at the rate of 3·40 per cent. on the
investment. We call the special attention of railway
shareholders to the very significant, though obvious,
remark which follows:—"It therefore appears," say the
Commissioners, " that all sums raised at a higher rate
of interest than this must reduce the aggregate revenue
available for the original proprietors." On the important
topic of railway accidents, the Report shows that the
danger of this mode of travelling is reduced to a very
trifling amount. During the year 1849 only five passengers
were killed "from causes beyond their own control;"
that being little more than half the number (nine) of
such accidents during the previous year: while, on the
other hand, the number of passengers for 1849,—
63,841,539,—shows an increase of ten per cent, on the
preceding year; facts which speak most favourably of
the management of railway conveyance.

The Post Office Returns for 1849, presented to the
House of Commons, exhibit some very remarkable results.
In the year 1839, before the establishment of the new
system, the number of letters delivered in the United
Kingdom was 82,470,596. In the following year, 1840,
the number rose to 168,768,244; and in 1849 the number
was 337,065,867. In 1839 the net revenue, after paying
the cost of management, was £1,633,764; in the following
year it fell to £500,789; and in 1849 it was £840,787.
The cost of management, which, in 1839, was £756,999,
amounted in 1849 to £1,324,562. The number of Money
Orders issued in 1839 was 188,921 for an amount of
£313,124. In the following year the number was 587,797
and the amount £960,975; and in 1849 the number was
4,248,891 and the amount £8,152,643. The total expense
of the Money Order Office for the United Kingdom in
1849, was £70,248, and the amount of commission
received was £70,570; so that the cost of this department
was £322 less than its receipts.

The Poor Law Board has made a Return to the
House of Commons, which presents some gratifying
results respecting the condition of Pauperism at the
present time, as compared with the corresponding period
of last year. It is divided into two heads; the first
gives the total number of paupers (in-door and out-door)
in receipt of relief on the 1st of July, 1849, and on the
1st of July, 1850, in 605 unions and parishes under
Boards of Guardians in England and Wales. The
second head shows the numbers of adult able-bodied
paupers receiving in-door and out-door relief at the
same two periods in the same unions and parishes.
Under the first head it appears on the 1st of July last,
the total number of persons receiving relief was
829,708; on 1st July, 1849, the number was 885,737;
being a decrease of 56,029, or 6·3 per cent. Under the
second head it is stated, that on 1st of July last, the
number of adult able-bodied paupers receiving relief was
138,575; on 1st July, 1849, the number was 164,559;
being a decrease of 25,984, or 15·8 per cent. Of the 52
counties of England and Wales, there has been a
decrease on 40. On the remaining twelve (which are
Kent, Lincoln, Norfolk, Northumberland, Rutland,
Stafford, Suffolk, Westmoreland, Anglesea, Brecon,