The Report of Coroner’s inquests for the year gives a total of 19,846, against 20,167 in 1857, and 22,221 in 1856. The diminution is ascribed to the fact that in 1856 the rule was established not to allow the expenses of inquests when it turned out that the death ensued from natural causes, and without any ground to suspect a criminal act or culpable neglect; and it is also alleged, that police officers are not disposed to give notice of cases that might properly fall under the Coroner’s investigation. There is, certainly, a singular uniformity in the operation of the causes that result in death by violence and accident. When we think of the changes in the condition of society—the fluctuations of business—and the excitements of passion, it seems scarcely credible that so comparatively slight a variation should occur in a succession of years; for example:— ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐ │ │1858.│1857.│1856.│ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ │Murder │ 183│ 184│ 205│ │Manslaughter │ 197│ 187│ 271│ │Justifiable Homicide │ 4│ 6│ 6│ │Suicide, or Self-murder │1,275│1,349│1,314│ │Accidental Death │8,947│8,930│9,716│ │Injuries from causes unknown │ 764│ 237│ 424│ │Found dead │2,611│2,949│3,183│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘ Only 1 difference in the murders of 1857 and 1858, only 10 in manslaughter, and only 17 in accidental deaths; and in suicides, only 35 difference between 1856 and 1857. It is worthy of remark that, of the 19,846 inquests held, 5,517 were children seven years old or under, and 3,318 were aged or infirm persons over sixty; showing that 44½ per cent. were persons least able to protect themselves from accident or injury. The average cost of each inquest was $15 dollars. The total number of convicts in custody during the year was 11,292, of whom 1,326 were women. Of the whole number, 110 died, 3 escaped, and only 36 were pardoned! The daily average, for the year, was 7,859, and the annual cost of each prisoner was $157.50, or about 42 cents per day. This sum is subject to a reduction to the extent of the value of their labor.