window, and came down without the assistance of any
one, amid the cheers of those below. His finger–ends
were very much burnt, and his head was cut open
through a piece of timber falling upon it. Another
young man, named Bennett, was in the room, but, not
daring to jump down, he walked through the room in
the midst of the flames, and was taken down stairs. He
was immediately conveyed to the infirmary, when it was
found that he, too, was injured beyond recovery. A
third man who was in the room made his escape down
the chimney. The fire was subdued in about three
hours, without penetrating any of the lower stories, but
a great quantity of silk and machinery was damaged
through the body of water that was sent on to the
building.

SOCIAL, SANITARY, AND MUNICIPAL
                      PROGRESS.

A VERY interesting parliamentary return respecting
the Post–Office has appeared this week, which shows the
gigantic advance of the system. In the year 1839, the
estimated number of chargeable letters and franks which
passed through the Post–Offices of the United Kingdom
was 82,470, 597; the next year the total was doubled;
and it has constantly increased, till, in 1852, the aggregate
had swelled to 379,501,499. For the year ending
5th January, 1840, the gross revenue was £2,390,736;
the net, £1,589,486. On the reduction of the postage
there was a great falling off; but in the year ending
5th January, 1822, the gross revenue had increased to
more than it was under the whole system—£2,434,326;
while the net receipts, in 1841 only £410,028, have
advanced to £965,442 In 1837 the Post–Otfice paid
£1743 to railways; in 1852, £329,963 In 1839, £188,921
money–orders, for £313,124, were issued; in 1852 the
totals were 4,947,825 orders, for £9,438,277 In 1838
the loss on the money–order system was £5745; in 1852
the profit was £11,664, the commission received having
been £82,333, while the expenses were £70,669

The ninth annual meeting of the Society for
Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes was
held at the London Tavern on the 25th June. Among
the persons present were Lord Radstock, Lord Ebrington,
Lord R. Grosvenor, Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, and other
gentlemen active in the cause. Dr. Southwood Smith,
in moving the adoption of the report, gave an interesting
sketch of the objects accomplished by the society,
which had exceeded all expectation. In the Metropolitan
Buildings, Old Pancras Road, for example, containing
a population of 680, the deaths during the last year had
been 9, being in the proportion of 13 and a fraction out
of 1000 living. The total population, taking together
the whole of the Society's establishments, amounted to
1343, out of which number there had been only 10
deaths, being at the rate of 7 and a fraction in 1000.
The total deaths in the whole of the metropolis had
reached, during the same period, 22 and a fraction in
1000; so that the total mortality in London had been
three times greater in proportion than in these establishments.
It appeared further, that of the total population,
(1343,) 490 were children under ten years of age; of
these, 5 had died, being an infant mortality of 10 in
1000, whereas on an average of seven years the infant
mortality in the whole of London had been 52 in 1000;
so that the infant mortality in these establishments had
been not so much as one–fifth that in London generally.
Another circumstance deserving special attention was,
that in London the average deaths from typhus and
other forms of fever amount to about 12 per cent, of the
total deaths. This disease has its source in no want of
food or clothing, in no condition natural to this climate,
in no habits peculiar to the people; it arises solely from
filth. These establishments have been provided with
efficient drainage, a good supply of water, and the
cesspool has been removed; and the result is, that there
has not been a single death from fever in any one of
them since they were first opened. The same result
has followed the working of the Common Lodging–
houses Act. That act imposes on lodginghouse–keepers
the necessity of maintaining certain conditions of
cleanliness, forbids overcrowding, and directs the police to
enforce the law. The town of Wigan may be taken as
an example of the result. In this town there were 25
lodginghouses, which have received during the past
year 29,655 lodgers. The superintendent of police
reports—"There has not been a single case of fever in
any one of these houses since the act has been in
force." The town of Wolverhampton is a still more
striking example. In this town there are 200 lodging–
houses, which have received during the year the
incredible number of 511,000 lodgers. The superintendent
of police reports—"There has not been a single
case of fever in these houses since the Lodginghouses
Act has been in force, in July 1852." Similar returns
have been received from other towns, as well as from
the metropolis also. Before these houses were under
regulation, twenty cases had been received into the
London Fever Hospital from single houses in the course
of a few weeks.

The thirty–sixth anniversary of the Royal Caledonian
Asylum was celebrated on the 6th inst. by a dinner at
the Freemasons' Tavern. The Duke of Buccleuch
presided; and £520 was subscribed.

The first anniversary dinner of the National Orphan
Home was celebrated at Richmond on the 2nd; Mr.
Cowan in the chair. Lord John Russell, engaged to
preside, was unavoidably absent; but he sent a
handsome donation. This asylum was founded by the
exertions of a London clergyman, aided by one
philanthropist whose name is well known, chiefly for the
orphan children of the poor. It is situate at Ham, near
Richmond.

Two new Parish Baths have just been opened—the
St. Giles's and Lambeth. The former, in Endell–street,
consist of single baths and plunge–baths, with laundries
attached. The Lambeth establishment is formed of two
large swimming–baths in the Westminster–road,
previously a private speculation. Single baths and
laundries are to be added, with an infant–school, where the
women can leave their children while they wash their
clothes.

Another Educational Conversazione took place at
the Mansion House on the evening of the 7th. These
meetings have been set on foot by the Lord Mayor, for
the promotion of social intelligence, and the furthering
of art and knowledge in all their divers developments
and departments. This conversazione was of a purely
educational character, and a very great number of
teachers of schools, and others connected with education,
were present. The number of maps was immense,
and models of steam–engines and machines for reducing
the lines of beauty and the sounds of music to mathematical
form and certainty were not the least interesting
articles in the exhibition. The quantity of excellent
educational works sent by the various publishers was
also great.

The New Hackney Carriage Act came into operation
on the 11th inst. Every driver of a hackney–carriage
(including cabs) within the limits of the metropolitan
and city police district is required, on each occasion
when such carriage is hired, to deliver to the hirer a card,
on which must be printed "hackney–carriage," and
the number of the stamp–office plate, &c. When
required, a driver is to produce a book of fares. There is
no back–carriage fare. For any distance within, and
not exceeding one mile, the fare is 6d.; and for any
time within and not exceeding one hour, 2s. When
more than two persons shall be carried inside any
hackney–carriage, one sum of 6d. is to be paid for the
whole hiring, in addition to the above fares. Two
children under ten years of age are to be counted as
one adult person. In case of a disputed fare, the
passenger can insist on being driven to the nearest police–
station, where the dispute can be instantly settled.
Lamps are to be provided for omnibuses, and to be
kept lighted by the conductors. The advertising–van
nuisance is entirely got rid of by this act, as it is
declared that it shall not be lawful for such vehicles to be
exhibited, to the obstruction or annoyance of the
inhabitants or passengers, within the limits of the act.

A large building, called The Boys' Refuge, has been
erected in Commercial–street, Whitechapel. It consists
of a ground–floor; is built on land bought from the
Woods and Forests for £1050, and cost £1200; and is