A4 OBSERVATIONS on THE 
From circumftances which have been already ftated, it is 
evident the proportion of births, to the exifting number 
of the whole people, is greater here than in Europe: but 
it is not probable that this excefs is greater than in the pro- 
portion of one-half to’ oiie-thirds—I prefume it is rather 
lefs.---If, however, this'excefsS be in the ratio of three to 
two, the-chances. of lite from the birth to fixteen ‘will, in 
this cafe, be the famein both countries. On this fuppo= 
fition, then, the probabilities in. favor of the continuance 
of life afrer fixteen, through all the fubfequent ftages of 
its poflible exiftence, muft be higher here than in Europe: 
becaufe, as I have fhewn, only one in forty-five die an- 
fually, even in: the’ city” of. Philadelphia ; > whereas, in 
France; the proportion 18 one if ake e piiey in En= 
sland, one in’ thirty-three. ° cits 
In addition to what has been faid, refpeéting the longe= 
vity of the inhabitants of Connedticut, and of Hingham 
and Ipfwich-Hamlet in Maffachufetts, I fhall meatiol 2 
few remarkable inftances of longevity, which have occurred 
in other parts of the union--They are not adduced as being, 
of themfelves, proofs of American” longevity; but rather 
to evidence its reality, in fuch cafes as ferve to corrobo- 
rate the truth of the pofition, that the people of this coun- 
try are long-lived.---The inftances are the following.---Iit 
the year 1765, a Mr. ‘Temple died in the county. of Wor 
cefter, Maflachufetts, aged ‘eighty- -{ix years--He left eight 
children, four fons ‘and ‘four daughters, all of whom were 
living in September 1788; and their ages were as follow, 
Viz. 89,853 '83,°8r; 793°775 75;'and 73. “‘fohn: Sydenham 
(commonly éatled Sidman) was living near Mount Holly, 
in the ftate of New-Jerfey, on the oh of November-1788: 
he was then 106 years and three months old—This man 
was born near Exeter; in England; but was brought to 
America, when only eighteen months of age.—Edward 
Drinker was born in Philadelphia, December 24th, 1680, 
and 
