34 J. F. Miller, Esq., on the 



cent, per annum, which is below the average (2*579), while the mor- 

 tality in the country districts was at the rate of 1*982 per cent, per 

 annum, or somewhat above the average of the corresponding quarter 

 (1-941)." 



The mean difference between the temperature of the air and of 

 the dew-point, in 1852, (7°*51) is greater than in any year since 



1847, indicating a more than ordinarily low hygrometrical state of 

 the air. 



The deaths in the town and suburb of Preston Quarter, in 1852, 

 are 445, which is 85, or 16 per cent, below the annual average 

 number in 13 years, corrected for increase in population. The 

 births, (717 in number) exceed the deaths by 272, and are 43 

 above the corrected average number for the same period. 



The mortality in the town and suburb, in 1852, with a popula- 

 tion of 19,281, is exactly equivalent to 23 deaths per thousand, or 

 one death in every 43*3 inhabitants. 



The average number of deaths in the 13 years ending with 1851, 

 is 499, which, with an assumed population of 18,143, gives 27*5 

 deaths per thousand, or one death in every 36*3 persons. 



The sanitary condition of the town of Whitehaven has been gra- 

 dually improving during the last three years. In 1846, 1847, and 



1848, (assumed average population 18,329) the mean annual num- 

 ber of deaths is 694, being 37' 8 deaths per thousand, or one in 

 every 26*4 inhabitants in those three exceedingly fatal years. 



In 1849, the mortality is equivalent to 32-2 deaths per thousand, 

 or one in every 31 persons ; in 1850, to 24-9 deaths per thousand, 

 or one in every 40 individuals ; and, in 1851, to 23*4 deaths per 

 thousand, or one death in every 42*6 inhabitants. 



The writer cannot conclude this report with satisfaction to him- 

 self, without briefly referring to the character and influence of this 

 most remarkable year, in connection with a favourite department of 

 scientific research. A more unfavourable year for the successful pro- 

 secution of delicate astronomical work could scarcely occur, and I 

 question whether an epoch equally antagonistic to his pursuits will 

 present itself to the recollection of the oldest British astrometer. 

 Rain fell, almost uninterruptedly, from the commencement of the 

 year 1852, till the 18th of February ; dry weather then set in, and' 

 continued till the 28th of April — ten weeks ; during this protracted 

 period of drought, although there was a large proportion of clear 

 sky, yet, from the extremely low hygrometrical condition of the air, 

 celestial objects were generally indifferently defined, and the images 

 unsteady, and, on many occasions, the atmosphere was in the worst 

 possible state for determining the angles of Position and the Dis- 

 tances of the binary stars. On several nights, which were perfectly 

 clear to the eye, stellar systems of fully 3" central distance, such 



