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If we compare the number of deaths in Manchester in the March quarter of 1862 with those of the corresponding quarter of 1861, we find the enormous increase of 539, or 304 per cent.; but in the subsequent quarter, upon instituting a similar comparison, though an increase still appears, it is far below that of the previous three months. In the June quarter the increase was 112, or 7.2 per cent.

Again, ranging the unions according to the rate of increase in the Midsummer six months, compared with the mean of the corresponding half-years of 1859-60 and 1861, we have the subsequent list :

Unions, &c.

Manchester and Prestwich.

Burnley

Rochdale

Haslingden

:

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ABSTRACT OF TABLE III. (Section C.)

+14.4 + 5.3 5.7

+ 5:3

10. In the four unions of Table III. the ratio of pauperism in the last week of December 1860 was 20 per cent.; in the corresponding week of 1861 it was 3-7 per cent. At the end of the three subsequent months it had attained to 6-8 per cent.; by Midsummer 1862 it was 8.6 per cent. The pauperism had risen 4.9 per cent. in the half-year. This is by far the most pauperized section of the district. As regards mortality, the Preston union, the most pauperized of this section, appears to have suffered little; the same observation is applicable to the Ashton-underLyne union. The Stockport union, the least pauperized, has, however, suffered the greatest mortality.

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Difference per cent. in number of Deaths.
March Quarter.

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June Quarter.

+ 5.8

+ 2·3

+22.1

+ 3.6

Re-arranging these unions in the order of their rate of rise in pauperism between the close of 1861 and the end of June last, and noting down the comparative deathrate of the Midsummer half-year 1862, they stand in the following order :

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11. Liverpool has not been classed with the other places in the foregoing tables because, however much that port may have suffered in consequence of the so-called "cotton famine," it evidently stands in a very different category from the manufacturing unions of Lancashire. It has suffered some increase in pauperism, though, in comparison with the other parts of the district, the augmentation may be called very moderate. The contiguous union of West Derby and the large parish of Toxteth Park are so intimately connected with Liverpool, that it is undesirable, in discussing the mortality and pauperism, to regard the latter town separately, though neither of its suburbs appears to have been much affected by the present distress. It is remarkable that while Liverpool exhibits an increase of pauperism fivefold that of the West Derby union (including Toxteth Park), the increase of

mortality in the latter place is very considerable; on the other hand, in the former town there is a positive, though small, decrease in the number of deaths:

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12. An interval of three years lies between the commencement of the last and the rise of the present distress in the north. The distress of 1857-8 barely extende over nine months. Counting to Midsummer last, the present suspension of ocapations has continued, with increasing severity, for eight months. It will be d interest to contrast the results of the two periods, premising that the figures whic relate to 1857-8 are representative of the nine months terminated at Midsummer 1858, while those of 1862 are for six months only. The ratio of pauperism for the earlier period is the average of the numbers relieved at Christmas, Lady-day, and Midsummer; in the latter year it is the average taken in respect of Lady-day Midsummer. The unions are hereafter classed according to the parity or the disparity of the results at the two periods. 1. Three unions which exhibit co responding results. 2. Six unions which show in comparison with earlier ratios & diminished rate of increase. 3. Six unions which show in comparison with the earlier ratios an augmented rate of increase :

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Making the same contrasts between Liverpool and the West Derby Union, we have the following figures:

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13. It is satisfactory to know that, whatever may be the cause, the rate of mortality in the distressed unions is, in proportion to the suffering, as indicated by the pauper returns, less now than it was in 1857-8. The Table just given shows that, with one or two exceptions, the pressure upon the poor-rates is much severer now than then; and that, of the sixteen unions selected as the most important of the district, three show the same rate of increase in mortality as in 1857-58, seven show a less rate of increase in mortality than in 1857-58, six show a greater rate of increase of mortality than in 1857-58. But the pauperism of the last six is, in its excess, nearly double that attained in the earlier period.

14. It is evident, from an inspection of the notes appended to the registrar's quarterly returns, that during the nine months ended with June 1858, an epidemic of scarlatina, whooping-cough, small-pox, and measles prevailed in the district

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throughout the period, with more or less violence: to these causes must be added many deaths from bronchitis and pneumonia. The registrar of the Hulme district, with reference to the great mortality there in the March quarter of 1858, remarks that "the operative classes have been compelled to economise their resources in every possible way. This has led to an excessive overcrowding of the dwellinghouses amongst the poorer classes; for where in some streets most part of the houses are uninhabited, in others there are as many as two and often three families in one house, badly ventilated and deficient in most sanitary requirements. To this I mainly attribute the increased mortality." It will be remembered, in connexion with the existing distress, that the deaths in the Macclesfield union are below the average. The registrar for the east district states that "very extensive sanitary improvements have been made in sewering and in paving streets and courts in the worst parts of the borough; and the cottages have been also much improved. Where these measures have been carried out the deaths have decreased." The registrar of Wigan remarks, in regard to the June quarter, that "the deaths are very much below the average for the last five years.' He observes that "distress prevails greatly, and is on the increase;" but that, to some extent, it has been mitigated by liberal subscriptions. The registrar of Walton-le-dale district, in the Preston union, states that there the "deaths are much below the average, which I think is accounted for by the almost total stoppage of the cotton-mills, the inhabitants of the Walton district being chiefly factory operatives. It may seem in some degree to account for the improvement in health amidst such distress if I add that the able-bodied poor in my district are employed in out-door labour." The registrar of Preston remarks that "There are now upwards of 22,000 people out of employment, and entirely dependent on charity of the boards of guardians for support. But it is gratifying to know that, notwithstanding so much poverty, the rate of mortality has not increased, but decreased." The RegistrarGeneral has made the following remark as to the sanitary condition of the northwestern district, which comprises the union counties of Lancaster and Chester, during the quarter ended at June last:-"It was noticed above that the depression of trade in the manufacturing district had sensibly affected the marriage returns; but happily it does not appear that the same cause acting in the opposite direction has tended materially to raise the rate of mortality, and it cannot positively be asserted that it has produced that effect in any degree. England, as has already been mentioned, was generally rather healthier last quarter than in the same season of 1861; but the rate of mortality in Cheshire and Lancashire was, though in an inconsiderable degree, higher last quarter than it had been in the spring of the previous year. The difference was only between 2.408 and 2·417;" that is to say, an increase of nine in every 10,000 deaths. With respect to the increased mortality in Lancashire and Cheshire which the returns for the March quarter of the present year reveal, the Registrar-General had previously observed that "The registrars in certain districts refer the increased mortality, which these figures too plainly reveal, to scarlatina, measles, bronchitis, and pneumonia, which had been prevalent; and by some of them an opinion, which there is reason to fear may be too well founded, appears to be entertained that those complaints had found an active ally in the poverty and want which many of the unemployed thousands now suffer in the great seats of manufacture. Facts have been adduced to prove that in instances of great depression of trade, like that which recently occurred in Coventry, the mortality of children is reduced in consequence of the due amount of maternal care being bestowed on them which in more prosperous times is withdrawn by the important requisition of factory labour. This is within limits. Nursing, in straitened circumstances, may be better for children than fulness of good cheer without it; but when hard times are prolonged, and the small store that had been gathered in the day of full work is exhausted, the greatest amount of parental attention will not expel physical decline, sickness, or death itself from the dwelling."

15. To whatever causes those marked diversities which the paper has shown to exist in the Lancashire and Cheshire unions between the pauperism and the deathrate during the present distress may be ultimately traced, it will be conceded that the mortality tables of that district are matters of the deepest import to boards of

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guardians and relief committees. It appears obvious to the writer that if the deathrate in the distressed unions does not permanently exceed, or positively falls below, that of prosperous times, the relief granted to the unemployed operatives and their families is sufficient to maintain them in health. A greatly increased death-rate, on the other hand, must, though it be neither directly nor indirectly the result of insufficient aid, be a source of no little anxiety to those who are now officially or voluntarily engaged in alleviating the wants of the poor. Rochdale, for example, can give little concern to its guardians just now on the score of mortality. But Bury and Salford would in the same matter justify a considerable amount.

Statistics showing the Increased Circulation of a Pure and Instructive Literature adapted to the Capacities and the Means of the Labouring Population. By HENRY ROBERTS, F.S.A.

The author of this paper, alluding to the progress of sanitary amelioration, and to his "Notes on various Efforts to Improve the Domiciliary Condition of the Labouring Classes," given in extenso in the Transactions for 1860, assumed that, in an enlightened seat of learning, the efforts made to promote a healthy state of the mind, and of the immortal part of man, would be deemed equally worthy of attention.

With the progress of popular education in this country, and the unrestricted liberty of circulating works of every description, excepting such as openly outrage morality, the desire of gain led to the production of a large amount of low literature, most objectionable in its character, tending to foster the worst passions of human nature, and stimulating to the commission of crime, as well as to the contempt of all laws, human and divine. In order to counteract an evil so insidious, and one productive of so poisonous a state of the moral atmosphere, it was found worse than useless to have recourse to the law, excepting in a very few instances of its notorious violation. But much greater success has resulted from the various efforts made to supplant and drive out of the field the most injurious of the publications in question, by the introduction of such as are calculated to create a healthy moral atmosphere, to cultivate the mind, inform the judgment, to improve

and elevate the taste.

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A notice of the efforts made for promoting this object must, on the present occasion, be necessarily restricted to those of leading societies, some of which, as their titles indicate, were formed originally for the exclusive circulation of strictly religious publications, but now combine with that object a more extensive range of pure and instructive literature. These societies will be referred to in the order of their establishment; and afterwards some statistics will be given to show the extent of the circulation of works of the same class by private publishers, which are only illustrative of what is now done for this object, though perhaps on a less extended scale, by many other publishers in the United Kingdom.

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge was founded in 1698, by members of the Established Church. It has three distinct objects, one of them being the preparation and circulation of books and tracts, including the Sacred Scriptures and Prayer-books, in various languages; and from this source our army and navy have been largely supplied. The supply of emigrants and the system of lendinglibraries has been long a valuable branch of the society's operations, and, with a special view to the latter object, its publications now embrace works on history, biography, philosophy, political economy, natural history, topography, &c., prepared in an attractive form, and written in a Christian spirit. The outlay on the society's publications has averaged, for the last twenty-five years, about £16,000 Its issues in the year 1860 to 1861 were, of Bibles and New Testaments, 235,592; Common Prayer Books, 339,997; bound books, 1,952,873; tracts, &c., 4,105,611; total of publications in the year, 6,634,073: and from the year 1733, when its issues were first reported, it has circulated 148,902,287 copies of various publications.

per annum.

The Book Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor was established in 1750. Its objects are the gratuitous distribution and the sale of Bibles, Testaments, and books of established excellence, not exclusively religious, as well

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as the publication of original and standard works adapted to promote religious and moral instruction. It is a rule of this society that no books of a controversial character shall be distributed; and any profits made from the sale of its publications are appropriated to the making grants of books to destitute Sunday and Ragged Schools, &c. The receipts and expenditure of the society for the last year were nearly £5000.

The Religious Tract and Book Society of Scotland, instituted in 1793, sells none but religious books. It was the first society in Great Britain to employ colporteurs in the distribution of approved publications, and it has now from 110 to 120 agents thus employed. Its sale of periodicals in the past year has been above 700,000 copies, and of Bibles and Testaments 20,000 copies.

The Religious Tract Society was founded in 1799, at which period it has been estimated that there were 20,000 hawkers engaged in selling indecent songs and polluting penny papers throughout all parts of the country. The publication of tracts and books for children, with attractive illustrations, was commenced by this society at an early period of its history; and they were followed by cheap editions of old authors, or original works, written in a plain and popular style, to which were subsequently added educational works; and lastly, it was deemed advisable to engage in the production of periodical literature, mostly illustrated, and suited to various ages and classes. Its circulation has increased since 1851 at the rate of nearly two millions per annum, it having amounted in 1851 to 20,887,064, in 1856 to 31,529,185, and in 1861 to 41,883,921. The agency for distributing this mass of good literature is all voluntary, excepting that employed on board of emigrant ships and the sales made through the ordinary channels of trade. The annual receipts and expenditure of the society now exceed £100,000; and the total distribution of its publications has been about 950,000,000 copies.

The British and Foreign Bible Society was established in 1804, for the supply and circulation of the Sacred Scriptures without note or comment. In Great Britain voluntary agency is thus largely employed through the medium of its auxiliaries and branches; and in foreign countries it promotes the same object, often where the Scriptures were before unknown, and even amongst savages, where no written language previously existed. The translating, printing, and distributing of the Sacred Scriptures, in whole or in part, has been promoted by this society, directly or indirectly, in 160 languages or dialects; and the number of versions, wholly or partially completed, is 190, of which 140 are translations never before printed. The issues by the society last year were upwards of 1,500,000 copies, and its total issues of the Scriptures, or portions of them, now amount to 40,910,474 copies. The total receipts of this society were for the past year £168,443 15s. 5d., including £76,760 17s. 8d. for the sale of the Scriptures; and the total expenditure of the society, from its establishment in 1804, has been £5,250,546 13s. 6d. The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (now dormant) was established in 1826. Amongst its earliest publications was the Penny Magazine,' which had at one time a circulation of 200,000 copies. In 1828 it commenced the British Almanac,' a publication which has greatly conduced to the very marked improvement in the general character of our almanacs. The first number of the Penny Cyclopædia' was issued by this society in 1833, and of its first volume 55,000 copies were sold.

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The Working Men's Educational Union was founded in 1852, for the purpose of "assisting all persons desirous of imparting interesting and popular literary and scientific information imbued with a sound Christian spirit," whether by the delivery of lectures, the formation of libraries, or the promotion of mutual-instruction or other classes for adults. The agency of this society is to a very considerable extent gratuitous, and the lectures are mostly delivered in such suitable places as are obtainable free of cost.

From the Dublin Tract Repository there have been issued within the past eight years 34,000,000 of publications, including pamphlets and small books.

The Pure Literature Society was established in 1855, for promoting the extensive circulation of all such books, maps, prints, diagrams, and other publications as may be deemed good and useful by the managing committee; but the society itself abstains from publishing. Grants of well-selected books are made at half-price in

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