
Se 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 95 
the whole population is 1 in 186, In Leith, however, where the population is of 
much humbler grade, the proportion is 1 in 110. Again, in Perth, there is 1 marriage 
to 159 inhabitants; while in Dundee, which is a much poorer place, there is 1 in 111 
inhabitants, Thus statistics prove that poverty is not a cheek on marriage, though 
political economists have always assumed that it is. We find another example in the 
doctrine of profits and wages, which Mr, Ricardo, followed by other political econo- 
mists, held to be autagonistic, the increase of wages diminishing profits, and vice 
vers; whereas Mr, Senior, on looking to facts, found that wages and profits usually 
rise and fall together. Mr. Ricardo’s error, in this instance, is traceable to ambiguity 
of expression. While statistics afford materials and a test to political economy, the 
Jatter points out the proper object of statistical inquiries, and draws conclusions from 
their results, SSS 
Contributions to Academical Statistics, Oxford. By Professor PowE.t. 
The following details refer solely to the first examination, called ‘ Responsions,’ 
which takes place at the end of the first year of academical residence, and the passing 
of which is an indispensable preliminary for becoming afterwards a candidate for a 
degree, that is, in general, for continuing in the University. ‘The column of matricu- 
lations is taken from the author’s communications in the Reports of the British Asso- 
ciation for 1889 and 1842. The number of candidates being in general greater than 
that of the matriculations, arises from the circumstance of many offering themselves a 
second, or even a third time, after failure or withdrawal on a previous occasion. The 
mean results may show generally the proportion of those who either failing or with- 
drawing at this examination, do not go through more than the first portion of their 
academical course. But no exact proportion can be assigned, owing to the circumstance 
just mentioned. 



ws didates . 
Year. gp te i for Passed. Failed. P aehia 
1832 377 415 308 51 56 
1833 384 420 325 42 53 
1834 360 379 307 29 43 
1835 369 395 292 45 58 
1836 369 420 311 56 53 
18387 421 431 295 73 63 
1838 393 489 336 107 46 
1889 404 483 375 70 38 
1840 896 408 326 53 29 
1841 - 441 412 338 40 34 
Mean...| 391 425 321 57 | 47 
On a natural Relation between the Season of Death and the Anniversary of 
the Season of Birth, which varies with each Month of Birth; and on a 
similarily varying tendency ta Death in the Anniversary of the Natal Month. 
By Josern Peer, Catiow. 
The fundamental data of this communication are the months of birth and death 
respectively of 4743 individuals, collected indiscriminately, from general and parti- 
eular biography, and other authentic sources, with a range of time from the sixteenth 
to the nineteenth century inclusive; the average duration of life being 51 years 
8 months 18 days. 
1. The monthly births and the monthly deaths respectively, throughout the year, 
differ: inconsiderably in comparison with the quota furnished severally by the former 
to the latter. Thus, the greatest difference between the monthly births is only 2°57 
per cent., and the greatest differenee between the monthly deaths is only 2: per cent. ; 
the greatest number of births being in February, and the least in July; the latter 
month also furnishing the smallest number of deaths, and April the largest. On the 
other hand, the greatest difference between the quota furnished severally by the 
