404< Proceedings of the British Association. 



The Secretary next read a very interesting paper relating to tlie 

 statistics of Glasgow, drawn up by Dr Cleland for the British As- 

 sociation. In this paper was pointed out the great inaccuracies of 

 the parochial registers, and the instances here stated shewed that 

 these are wholly inadequate to form the basis of a correct census. 



In the portion of this paper which relates to the probability of 

 liuman life in Glasgow, Dr Cleland stated his belief that that city 

 is a place of average health, and that no material variation in the 

 rate of mortality in that city has occurred between the years 1821 

 and 1831. 



Dr Cleland found, as has been universally observed elsewhere, 

 that in Glasgow there are more males horn than females ; but that, 

 in every period above fifteen years of age, the proportion of living 

 females always preponderates. 



It is unnecessary to allude at greater length to this valuable pa- 

 per, as Dr Cleland has printed it for the use of the Association, and 

 members may obtain copies of it by applying to the Secretaries of 

 this Section. 



A letter from Professor Malthus was read, stating his regret 

 that his avocations at the East Indian College prevented him from 

 attending this meeting of the Association. 



A letter from Mr Quetelet of Brussels to Professor Whewell 

 was read, respecting his necessary absence from this meeting, and 

 announcing the speedy publication of a work by that gentleman, 

 the most interesting portion of which will be devoted to an exami- 

 nation of the law of population. Mr Quetelet states his belief that 

 he has succeeded in reducing the examination of this law to the 

 discussion of mathematical fonuulse, and that those at which he has 

 arrived are in fact exactly similar in form to those employed in the 

 planetary theory. Mr Quetelet is aware how visionary this an- 

 nouncement may possibly appear, but requests that it may be tested 

 by the close accordance between the calculated results and those 

 furnished by observation in England, the United States, and else-- 

 where. 



The Committee took this opportunity of reminding the meeting, 

 that, in consequence of the recommendation of the Statistical Sec- 

 tion at the last meeting, a society has been formed under the name of 

 the Statistical Society of London. Several members of the council 

 of that society are present in Edinburgh, with power to elect new 

 Fellows. Those members of the Association who may be desirous 

 of joining that society, are requested to give in their names to the 



