low it. Of the women who, in 1860 married in Bedfordshire, only 64.8 per cent signed the register; in the West Riding only 53.4; in Lancashire only 45.9. Of the women of England who became wives in 1860 more than 60,000 have the disadvantage of being unable to write their own names; more than 13,000 even of the women of busy and acute Lancashire. In one marriage in every six in all England both man and woman were unable to write.

ENGLISH AND FRENCH NAVIES.

The following are the official statements of the size and condition of the English and French navies:

A RETURN SHOWING THE NUMBER OF STEAM SHIPS AFLOAT AND BUILDING, TOGETHER WITH THE NUMBER OF EFFECTIVE SAILING SHIPS IN THE ENGLISH NAVY ON THE 1ST FEBRUARY, 1862.

Class of ships.

Effective Total sailing steam

ships and

afloat. sailing.

Ships of the line...

70

The building of these vessels have been suspended.

Includes Constance, whose conversion to a screw ship is not yet completed.

Five of these are small vessels built in compartments, and can be taken to pieces

for the puropse of easy transport.

The steam navy of the two countries, on which the principal dependence must be placed by both sides, is as follows:

Total steam navy of England built and building..
Total steam navy of France built and building...

580

360

220

Difference in favor of England....

whereas an excess of 180 would be adequate for our purpose. In ships of the line, England has, (including block ships,) 85 against France 37. In frigates, a most important kind of vessel now-a-days for the protection of commerce, the account stands :

English frigates built and building...

French frigates built and building.

The number of English gunboats built and building is.
The number of French gunboats built and building is.

Excess...

4

197

58

139

Of iron-plated vessels, the figures given in these papers do not correspond with those given by Lord PALMERSTON, either as far as respect_the English navy or the French. He said the French had 36, and the English 25. The returns give:

and they can only be raised to the number mentioned by Lord PALMERSTON, by including

Floating batteries mentioned in the return.....
Seven additional mentioned in a subsequent return

14

17

21

On the other hand, the English list only gives 15 iron-cased ships, whereas it is said she now has 25, though some of these too may be floating batteries. Even now, therefore, we have no adequate information upon this material item.

PASSENGERS ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES.

The annual report of the Secretary of State of the number, &c., of passengers arriving in the United States during the year ending December 31, 1861, is just published. The tables furnished are very unsatisfactory, the usual summary being omitted. After wandering through the long columns of figures, we are able to present the following totals:

We have prepared from former reports, as published each year in the Merchants' Magazine, the following comparative tables:

THE NUMBER OF ARRIVALS FROM THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1790.

Thus it will be seen, that during the twelve years, from 1850 to 1862, many more passengers arrived than during the whole of the sixty preceding years. The largest arrivals were from the year 1850 to 1857. Since 1857 the number each year has been much less, as will be seen from the following table:

STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES BY SEA FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES, FROM DECEMBER 31, 1850, TO DECEMBER 31, 1861.

JOURNAL OF INSURANCE.

1. DAMAGES FROM PETROLEUM--ACTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF BROOKLYN TOO HASTYPROTEST OF MERCHANTS. 2. MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

DAMAGES FROM PETROLEUM-ACTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF BROOKLYN TOO HASTY-PROTEST OF MERCHANTS.

OUR fire insurance companies feel that the destructive fire in Williamsburgh should incite everywhere city authorities to enact rules for the storage of petroleum, kerosene, and the other inflamable oils which have, within a few years, become so important an article of commerce. The utmost care is necessary in handling these substances, and city ordinances ought to provide regulations that will ensure safety, and penalties for their violation by all who store them. If the wind had been westerly, at the time of the fire, the greater part of Williamsburgh would most likely have been destroyed, and this through the carelessness of some person while handling petroleum, which was unloading from a lighter alongside a dock on which a great quantity of the same exceedingly combustible oil was stored. We are told that a cask fell and broke open; the gases arising from the spilled oil caught fire, as is reported, from a lighted cigar in the mouth of a laborer on the vessel, and in an instant the lighter was in flames. As the flames reached the remainder of her cargo, barrel after barrel exploded, increasing the fierceness of the flames, which presently caught on the dock and spread destruction all around.

Yet, although our authorities should undoubtedly examine into this matter and make stringent regulations respecting the storage of petroleum, still there can be no doubt in the mind of any but that every privilege and facility, "consistent with the safety of adjoining interests," should be afforded this important and growing trade. Under the influence of such an accident as that at Williamsburgh, there is danger of acting too hastily and without proper consideration and regard for the heavy interests involved. We think the course taken by the Common Council of Brooklyn is open to this criticism. It may be necessary to pass equally stringent regulations, but in our opinion the necessity for it has not yet been shown. One fire certainly does not prove it. Let there be such an investigation of the subject as the great interests at stake demand and are entitled to, before we adopt such sweeping measures. The following is the ordinance adopted by the Brooklyn Common Council:

ORDINANCE.

An ordinance to prohibit the storage of crude petroleum, rock or earth oil, and to regulate the vending the same where refined, within the limits of the city of Brooklyn.

The Common Council of the city of Brooklyn do ordain as follows:

SEC. 1. It shall not be lawful for any person to store or receive on storage within the limits of the city of Brooklyn, except as provided in section 3 of this ordinance, any crude petroleum, rock or earth oil, under the penalty of $10 for each barrel, and for each and every day the same shall be stored, the penalty to be recovered from the owner or owners thereof, or from the party or parties storing or receiving the same on storage.

SEC. 2. Any person or persons owning or having on storage any petroleum, rock or earth oil, within the limits of the city of Brooklyn, shall cause the same to be removed within twenty days from the passage of this ordinance, under the penalty of $500 for each and every day thereafter until full compliance with the provisions hereof.

SEC. 3. It shall not be lawful for any person or persons to keep at any one time, either for use or for the pupose of manufacture, within the limits of city of Brooklyn, an amount exceeding twenty barrels of crude petroleum, rock or earth oil, and then only in sheds or open ground situate not less than 1,000 feet from any other building, and not less than 200 feet from any dock or pier, under the penalty of $250 for each and every offense, and for each and every day he or they shall so continue to keep the same. SEC. 4. No person or persons shall hereafter keep, sell, or dispose in any way, within the limits of the city of Brooklyn, any rectified petroleum, rock, or earth oil, commonly designated by the name of kerosene oil, which contains benzine or naptha, or both, in quantities sufficient to ignite at a temperature of 100° Fah.; and no such oil shall be kept or sold of less density than 451° Reaumer, under the penalty of $500 for the first offence, and a like penalty, or imprisonment for six months in the county jail, or both, at the discretion of the magistrate before whom a conviction shall be had, for every offense thereafter.

SEC. 5. It is hereby made the duty of the fire wardens in the city of Brooklyn to examine into and make complaint to any jurisdiction of the subject matter, of any and all violations of this ordinance; and all penalties collected upon complaint made by said fire wardens, one-half thereof shall be paid over to the Widows' and Orphans' Fund of the Fire Department in the District in which the violation of the ordinance shall

occur.

At the same meeting a motion was made and adopted, that the joint fire committee be instructed to hear the views and objections, if any be offered, by parties interested in this business, to the operation of this law, and report the same to the Board.

Thus, it would seem that this action was not intended to be final.

On the 10th of June a large and enthusiastic meeting was held by the dealers in petroleum oil, at 34 Pine-street, in the room lately occupied as the Traders and Mechanics' Exchange, to take into consideration the above ordinance, in reference to the storage of this article within the city limits of Brooklyn. The ordinance in question, being calculated to affect the trade most injuriously, it was deemed an act of justice due to themselves to make an effort to induce the Common Council to re-consider its resolve. Mr. A. C. FERRIS was President, and Mr. J. WALES Secretary of the meeting. Remarks were made by the Chairman and Secretary, and also Professor JERLEY, after which it was—