comes flat down upon the palms, and, consequently, the springy action which is so graceful in high-bred races is not seen.

WRECKS IN 1860.-The returns of the Board of Trade instruct us that the past year has been almost unprecedented for a continued succession of bad weather; and that the number of casualties from causes other than collision, is, as might be anticipated, greater than the number recorded during either of the eight years preceding the year 1860; being 146 above the annual average for six years, or 1081 against 1067 in 1859. Whilst, however, wrecks and strandings have increased, collisions have decreased, being 298, against 349 in 1859, although 146 above the annual average for six years. In our narrow seas we fear that it must still be considered only too natural that a large number of collisions should constantly take place; since the number of British and foreign vessels entering our ports, including repeated voyages, amounts annually to upwards of 204,945, representing a tonnage of 29,176,196; whilst vessels clearing outwards number 209,402 having a tonnage burthen of 29,530,906. It may be further observed with respect to the increase of collisions reported since the year 1856, that in that year the Wreck Register was transferred to the Board of Trade, and the officers of the Customs and Coastguard, when receivers of wreck acting under the Board, were, by Parliamentary enactment, empowered to examine on oath persons able to give information respecting wrecks. The apparent increase, therefore, of collisions may be rather due to the increased

number of reports, than to any great increase in the actual number of collisions. Although the number of wrecks and strandings has been greater than usual, the loss of life happily has been less : the numbers in 1860 being under one-third of those lost in 1859, and 264 under the annual average for nine years; the numbers for 1859 and 1860 being 1645, and 536 respectively. The great loss of life during 1859 was mainly attributable to the wreck of two or three fine passenger ships, whilst the decrease in the number of lives lost in 1860 is to be attributed to the absence of loss of any such ships under similar circumstances. In 1859, 870 lives were lost by two such casualties alone, viz. by the wrecks of the Pomona and the Royal Charter; whilst in 1860, the greatest number of lives lost by any one casualty was 37, the next greatest number being 31. The total number of shipwrecks during the whole year was 1379, and for the year 1859, 1416, and the total loss of life from these 1379 shipwrecks was 536; whilst by life-boats, the rocket and mortar apparatus, shore boats, and other means, 2152 persons were fortunately saved, a most gratifying and encouraging result, to those who have toiled hard for many years past in organizing and completing the means of saving life from shipwreck. By tabular statements contained in the report, we find that the classes of ships to which casualties most frequently happen on our coasts, are those between 50 and 300 tons burthen, employed in carrying coal, coke, ores, and stone.

As to the distribution of these disasters over the year, 206 oc

curred in January; 137 in February; 71 in March; 70 in April; 187 in May; 74 in June; 30 in July; 74 in August; 84 in September; 156 in October; 164 in November; and 126 in December.

Of the vessels wrecked, 95 were under 3 years old; 183 between 3 and 7 years; 238 between 15 and 20; and 219 perished between the ages of 21 and 30.

As to their localities, 812 occurred on the east coast; 126 on the south coast; and 271 on the west coast. On the Irish coast, the casualties continue to decrease, the return being 98 for the year 1860, as against 99 for 1859, and 168 for the year 1858. On the Scilly Isles, 11; on Lundy Island, 7; the Isle of Man, 5; and on the north coasts and northern islands of Scotland, 49.

The "Wreck Chart," which accompanies the return, exhibits clearly the site of each of the casualties during the year, whilst the estimated loss of property arising therefrom is supplied by the reports of officers of some of the ships, drawn up at the time of their respective occurrence; although it is obviously impossible to ascertain accurately the amount of losses accruing on such appalling occasions: but looking at the fact that, of the 1379 vessels wrecked during the year, 554 were commanded by masters who were not required to be furnished with certificates of competency as mariners, it must be admitted that there is much to complain of on the score either of negligence or recklessness; and further, that until all vessels be subjected to a rigid inspection before they put to sea, that it may appear whether they be well found and provided

with life-boats, and with such proper and suitable equipment as will enable them to combat successfully with the elements, so lamentable a state of things cannot be remedied. The importance of the consideration, indeed, can scarcely be exaggerated, when we contemplate that the loss of life on the coasts of the British Isles alone, within the last 11 years, has amounted to no less than 6883, a fact which is well calculated to stimulate the public benevolence to renewed exertion in the cause of suffering humanity. Having dwelt long enough, however, on the darker side of the picture, we turn to its more encouraging aspect, and to find that, during the past five years, the number of lives saved on the coast by means of the various resources and appliances available for this noble purpose amounts to no fewer than 11,495; and that between the Farn Islands and the North Foreland alone, 62 life-boat establishments, and as many life-saving rocket and mortar stations, prepared for all emergencies, are in full operation; whilst it is most satisfactory to be able to add that the 66 National Life-Boat Institution" alone is enabled to keep up a fleet of 115 life-boats, which are stationed all round our coasts, to add to the security of those whose ways are across and along the mighty waters.

sun.

month for 90 years by 5o 4'. At the Royal Observatory the thermometer marked 97° 3′ in the In November, on the other hand, the temperature was, for the most part, much below the average; on the 18th it was not less than 15° 1' below. The 23rd and 24th November, 1858, were days of the same character; but with those exceptions we must go back to 1829 for a day of so low a temperature. On the 25th, the weather changed and became warm, and the 26th was not less than 26° warmer than the 18th. The period of warmth continued to the 24th December; but Christmas Day and the remaining days of the year were cold. The rainfall of the quarter was somewhat in excess of the average. This was owing to the excessive wetness of November, in which month the fall amounted to 5.2 inches; being the greatest fall in the month for 45 years, except in 1853. At Allenheads, rain fell on 72 days out of 92, and the quantity amounted to 15.8 inches.

The number of births in the autumn quarter was 166,174-a number somewhat in excess of the average, being at the rate of 3-26 per cent., while the mean of 10 years is 3.23 per cent,

The total number of deaths registered in the quarter was 104,917, being an increase over the number in 1860, and fewer than in 1859. For the purposes of registration, England is divided into 11 districts. In 9 of these the mortality was less than in 1859; in the northern district the difference was unimportant; but in the north-western counties, and especially in Lancashire, the excess was considerable. The

population of Lancashire is less than that of London by 340,000 persons, and is distributed over an area seventeen times as large; but such is the general salubrity of the metropolis, now greatly improved by the application of sanitary science, that only 16,000 persons died, while in Lancashire 16,742 persons died. The deathrate of England in the quarter was 2.061 per cent. of the population; the average is 2.179. The natural increase of the population, or excess of births over deaths, in the 92 days was 61,257, or 666 daily. This natural increase is diminished by artificial meansby emigration. This movement has been modified in a very remarkable manner, during the latter part of 1861, by the civil troubles in the United States. In the autumn quarter of 1860, the total number of emigrants to the United States was 15,000; in 1861, it fell to 5698; the great proportion of these departures consisted of Irish, who amounted to about 37,000 in the year; but of these only one-fifteenth part sailed in the fourth quarter. Of 8068 persons of English origin, who emigrated to all parts of the world, 5916 went to the Australian colonies, and only 1604 to North America.

The average price of wheat was 59s. 3d. per quarter-somewhat higher than in 1860, and 16s. higher than in 1859. The price of meat has not varied. The mean price of potatoes was 120s. per ton somewhat lower than in 1860; considerably higher than in 1859.

The interruption given to commerce and manufactures by the troubles in the United States, and