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ANNUAL OP SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



The increase of population in the last half century was upwards of 

 10,000,000, and nearly equalled the increase in all preceding ages, notwith- 

 standing that millions had emigrated in the interval. The increase still 

 continued, but the rate of increase had declined, chiefly from accelerated 

 emigration. At the rate of increase prevailing from 1801 to 1851, the 

 population would double itself in 52^ years. 



The rmmber of persons absent from Great Britain on the night of the 

 30th of March, 1851, was nearly 200,000: viz., army, navy, and mer- 

 chant service, 162,490 ; and British subjects resident and travelling in 

 foreign countries, 33,775. 



The number of the houseless classes, i. e. of persons sleeping in barns, 

 tents, and the open air, on the night of the census, was 18,249. The 

 following table gives the number of these classes, together with those 

 sleeping in barges and vessels : 



The following table gives the number of houses in Great Britain in 



1851: 



