90 REPORT—1845. 
4156 (being 42 less than in the previous year), and from the persons of this class the 
sum of 1392/, 10s. 10d. has been taken and restored when discharged, The return 
also shows, that out of a gross amount of 76587. 6s. 11d. reported to have been stolen 
during the year, the sum of 3040. 14s, 3d. has been recovered by the police; and 
that out of a sum amounting to 1801/. 8s. 1d, reported to have been accidentally lost, 
the police have been instrumental in recovering 1]26/. 6s. 3d. The only other 
table which it may be necessary to notice is that which shows that curing the past 
year 2798 premises have been found open and insecure by the police during the 
night ; of this number, 1433 consisted of warehouses and shops, containing property, 
in which no parties resided, or were left in charge; 649 of houses, shops, and ware- 
houses, containing property, and in which parties did reside; and 538 of empty 
houses. The same table also shows that the police have, during the past year, re- 
stored to their friends 2637 children found apparently lost in the streets, 
Plan for the Formation of a Society to collect the Statistics of all Civilized 
Countries, and opening a communication between all persons engaged in 
Statistical Inquiries. By M. Juuien. 
~ 
On the Statistics of Small-pox. By Dr. Srarx. 
On the Statistics of Merthyr Tydvil, By Mr. Kenrick. 
The mass of the population of Merthyr has been brought into this wild district by 
the establishment of large ironworks belonging to Messrs, Crawshay, Guest, Hill and 
Thompson. The total population in 1841 was 32,968; houses, 6145—nearly 52 
persons to a house, and nearly three persons toa sleeping-room, In consequence of 
the number of unmarried men who come from Cardiganshire, Pembrokeshire, and 
other adjoining counties, to take advantage of the high wages which are given at the 
ironworks, the males much exceed the females ; the former being in the ratio of 6 to 5 
of the latter. Though so near the boundary of an English county, there are only 
about 4000 English out of a population of 33,000; and there are 11,000, or one-third, 
who cannot speak English intelligibly, and would not understand an English sermon. 
Only 1313 children attend the day schools, while there are 6857 children who are 
of a proper age to receive instruction. Perhaps the number at schools does not ex- 
ceed each day 1200 children. Most of the places of worship have Sunday schools 
belonging to them, where, te a certain extent, the deficiency of public day schools is 
supplied, but the teaching is confined to reading. There is a great neglect of drain- 
age in Merthyr: many of the streets are unpaved, and in bad weather the people 
have to wade through a stratum of mud from six to twelve inches deep. There 
are many cellars and miserable hovels that ave not fit for men to dwell in. There 
are many streets without the conveniences which are necessary for the health and 
comfort of civilized beings. There are no proper infant schools, no good juvenile 
schools, two only middling ; most of the teachers being illiterate, two of thenr not 
able to write. There is ng taste for literature among the working classes, very few 
of them having books on general subjects. There is a considerable proportion of 
the people who never attend a place of worship, and whose enjoyments are low and 
degrading. 
On the Vital Statistics of America, By Tuomas Laycocx, M.D. 
The duration of life is greater in England thanin America, greater in the Northern 
than in the Midland States, and greater in the Midland than in the Southern States. 
On the Choice of Sites for Colonial Towns. By the Rev. Mr. Boys. 
_ 
On the Iron Trade in Scotland. By Dr. Atexanper Warr. 
Dr. Watt has lately had occasion to collect full information relative to the iron 
