a marked decrease in some counties of England, yet, in others, there was a notable increase. The births, after allowing for increase of population, were slightly above the average. The death-rate was a little in excess of the average of the season. Scarlet-fever was widely diffused over the country, and was the chief cause from which the increase of mortality sprang; the skill and energy of the Medical Profession, and more particularly of the Officers of Health, were taxed to the utmost in endeavouring to arrest the ravages of this epidemic.

Potatoes were lower in price than in the summer of 1868; but both beef and mutton were about a halfpenny per lb. dearer than in the summer quarter of 1868.

In the quarter under review emigration proceeded with increased activity. The greatest proportional increase, as regards nationality, was among the English and Scotch emigrating to the United States and to British North America. The number of emigrants who left ports of the United Kingdom for foreign and colonial settlements was 70,734, of whom 30,114 were English, 7873 of Scotch, and 18,855 of Irish origin, while 13,892 were foreigners. In the total number there was an increase, over the summer quarter of 1868, of 18,109.

Autumn Quarter (October, November, December).—Births registered were 190,231. The annual birth-rate of the season per 1000 of population was 34-38; the average of ten autumns (1859-68) was 33.79.

Deaths registered were 128,146. The annual death-rate of the season per 1000 of population was 23-16; the average of ten autumns (1859-68) was 21.90.

The birth-rate was slightly above the average. The high birthrate maintained in England is partly attributable to the rapid rate of increase among married women at ages above 15 and under 55, viz., 1.6 per cent. per annum, while the female population at all ages increases at the rate of 1.3 per cent. per annum. The deathrate was considerably in excess of the average.

Potatoes were cheaper than they were in the autumn of 1868; but both beef and mutton were dearer.

The number of emigrants who left ports of the United Kingdom in the last quarter of the year was 38,481, of whom 16,762 were of English, 4123 of Scotch, and 10,305 of Irish origin; while 7291 were foreigners. 31,695 were bound for the United States; 1989 for the North American Colonies; 3826 for the Australian Colonies; and 971 for other places. The emigration was greater than it had been in any autumn quarter since 1865.

The death-roll for the last quarter of the year 1869 shows that the public health was far from being in a satisfactory state. The mortality was much higher than it had been in any of the corresponding quarters that have intervened since 1864. Scarlet-fever spread with destructive force amongst the young; in London alone, in the last 92 days of the year, it destroyed 2710 souls. It has been shown that the countless myriads of motes that are seen to dance in every sunbeam are organic particles, and among them are zymotic bodies which are said to be germs of disease. These bodies are in concentrated force in the rooms occupied by persons suffering from, or who have died of, scarlet-fever; hence the absolute necessity of isolating the sick as much as possible, and of adopting the precautions for the hygienic management of the invalid chamber, which have been drawn up by medical authorities. While all the efforts that medical skill can devise should be employed to mitigate the intensity, and arrest the progress of this highly contagious disease, it should be borne in mind that the prevention of its further extension is often, in the first instance, a mere question of expense. Unwhitewashed ceilings, uncleansed rooms, and unpurified bedding, are fruitful sources of infection; the clothing that has been worn by scarlatina patients should be destroyed, and children who have suffered from the epidemic should be kept away from school until some considerable time has elapsed from the period of their recovery.

Of 11 of the greatest cities and towns in England, Sheffield shows the highest death-rate; the mortality of the quarter was at the annual rate of 30.79 per 1000 living. Manchester followed with a rate of 30.59; Salford, 29.12; Liverpool 28-88; Leeds, 27.86. Birmingham had the lowest mortality, 25-73; Hull, 25-95; Bradford, 26-02. Newcastle-on-Tyne indicates a considerable improvement; its death-rate was 26.36.

THE YEAR 1869.

In the United Kingdom 1,032,177 births and 660,966 deaths were registered in the twelve months, thus making the natural increase 371,211, or, after correction, 1056 daily. The recorded number of emigrants of home origin was 190,782, or 522 daily. The difference between the emigrants and the corrected natural increase was 534 daily.

The birth-rate per 1000 of the year was 35-34, the death-rate: 22.74 for the United Kingdom, after a correction for the defective registration of Ireland.

The birth-rate per 1000 of England was 35-34, the death-rate 22.64; the numbers for the previous year (1868) are 36-35 and 22.20.

In the year 1869, 92,667 of the English people, 23,083 of the Scotch, 75,032 of the Irish people, and 67,275 foreigners, left ports of the United Kingdom for foreign and colonial settlements; 5975persons, whose origin was not distinguished, have been proportionately distributed. Of the total number of British emigrants, 150,371 went to the United States, 20,955 to the North American Colonies, 14,457 to the Australian Colonies, and 4,999 to other places.

METEOROLOGY.

Third Quarter (July, August, September). The remarkably cold period which set in on the 10th of June lasted until the 3rd of July, after which a warm period, with a little rain, prevailed until the end of the month. On 1st August the weather suddenly changed, and for 21 days there was an average daily deficiency in the temperature of 2°-8. This was followed by a week of very warm weather with brilliant sunshine, and on the 28th August the excess of temperature was as much as 12°. From the 29th August to the 3rd September it was cloudy, bleak, and cold; but on the 4th the temperature again rose above the average, and continued generally warm until the end of the quarter, with frequent heavy gales and storms. The mean excess of temperature for the 92 days averaged 1.9 daily.

(V)

In July the mean reading of the barometer was remarkably high, being 29-928 in. Only two instances in the preceding 20 years are recorded when such high readings in July were observed, viz. in 1859 and 1863, on which occasions 29.937 in. and 29.961 in. were registered. In August the mean reading was still higher, being 29.968 in.; only one reading approximated to it during the preceding 20 years, viz. in 1864, when it was 29-918 in. In September the reading was very low, viz. 29.642 in., and during the preceding 20 years the only instances when the mean readings for September were about the same, were in 1841 and 1866, viz. 29-624 in. and 29.575 in. respectively. During the periods of great barometric depression in September, violent gales raged from the south-west, which caused great destruction of life and property.

The mean temperature of the quarter was 61°4, or 1°.9 above the average of 98 years. In July it was 3°1 higher than the average; in August 0°1 higher; while in September it was 2°.5 higher. The rainfall for the quarter amounted to 4.9 in. or 2.5 in. below the average of the season; in September it was 0.7 in. in ex cess of the average.

Harvest-work began in the South of England early in August, and became general towards the end of the month; by the end of September it was completed except in the North-west of Ireland, and in the Scottish Highlands. Opinions as to yield and quantity were very conflicting; the barley crop was said to be the best, while the wheat and oat crops were spoken of as being below the average. Beans and peas were both short crops.

Wheat was cut on the 22nd of July at Guernsey and Weybridge; on the 24th at Streatly; on the 27th at Worthing and Over Court; on the 28th at Hawarden; on the 29th at Eastbourne and Oxford; and on the 31st at Osborne. On the 2nd of August at Strathfield Turgiss and Cardington; on the 3rd at Helston; on the 9th at Llandudno; on the 10th at Little Wratting and Boston; on the 14th at Somerleyton and Hull; and on the 18th at Miltown.

Barley was cut on the 2nd of August at Llandudno; on the 7th at Weybridge; on the 9th at Strathfield Turgiss and Cardington; on the 10th at Helston; on the 14th at Culloden; and on the 19th at Somerleyton.

Oats were cut on the 22nd of July at Weybridge; on the 23rd at Worthing; on the 24th at Streatly and Hawarden; on the 26th at Boston; and on the 28th at Over Court. On the 2nd of August at Strathfield Turgiss; on the 10th at Helston and Culloden; on the 11th at Eastbourne; on the 16th at Llandudno: on the 25th at Miltown; and on the 27th at Hull.

From observations collected from about 50 meteorological stations,

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS RECORDED AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH, IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF

average of Mean. average of Mean. average of Mean. average of 28 years.

NOTE. In reading this table it will be borne in mind that the sign (-) minus signifies below the average, and that the sign (+) plus signifies abore the average,