21 OCTOBER 1854, Page 2

3/Ittntfulio.

The number of deaths from cholera continues to decrease ; but the general sanitary condition of the Metropolis is below the average of former years of epidemic. Nevertheless, further improvement is noted in the report of the Registrar-General. "The returns for the last week from the Metropolitan districts furnish evidence of a steady if not a rapid improvement in the public health. The deaths, which numbered 1532 in the previous week, declined to 1394 in that which ended last Saturday ; but the mortality still exceeds the average of former years by more than 300 deaths, and it is also greater than the mor- tality of the same week in 1849, when the number had fallen to 1075.

"Last week, cholera was fatal in 249 cases, diarrhcea in 102. The deaths from the former disease were registered in the last two weeks in the five divisions of London in the following proportions,—in the Western districts 59 and 46, in the Northern 26 and 14, in the Central 31 and 24, in the Eastern 95 and 50, and on the South side of the river 200 and 115. In the second week of October 1849, the deaths reported as caused by cholera were 110.

"Scarlatina prevails to some extent in London, and:the mortality from it exhibits a weekly increase. In the last three returns this disease numbered 88, 105, and 112. This is considerably more than the average."

At a meeting of the City Commissioners of Sewers, on Tuesday, Mr. H. L. Taylor reported, in justice to the firm of Messrs. Calvert the brewers, that they had succeeded in consuming the smoke of their large furnaces, completely, and at a charge much less than had been antici- pated. Mr. Davie remarked, that it was important the public should know that the whole of "the smoke-consuming mystery was referable to the state of the furnaces and the conduct of the stokers,"—in what particulars, he does not appear to have explained.

The Post-office authorities propose to place pillar letter-boxes in the line of street from Ludgate Hill to Piccadilly, by Fleet Street and the Strand, at intervals of half a mile. The boxes are to be fixed at the side of the footway, in order that they may not obstruct traffic. Mr. Row- land Hill has applied for the permission of the various Commissioners of Pavements to erect the pillars.

About a month ago, the Worship Street Magistrate announced that the poor-box of his office was empty, at a time when there were many claims on it, from the distress arising from cholera. The benevolent quickly filled the void, and 500/, has been received for the poor-box. It has been distributed —801. for blankets alone.