Various Tables of Annuities. 341 



I have thus endeavoured, as briefly as possible, to present 

 the data vk'hich we now possess for determining questions con- 

 nected with the duration of human life. The accordance of 

 the results which have been deduced, proves that no considerable 

 error can obtain, for the slight difference which exists between 

 Table VII. which I have formed from the observations at Chester, 

 and the Table formed by Mr. Milne from those at Carlisle, is 

 of the order of the inevitable errors of these observations, and 

 of the hypothesis I made with respect to the rate of increase 

 of the population during the century previous to the observation ; 

 and in order to get rid entirely of this slight discrepancy, it 

 would be only necessary to make the rate of increase about 

 1.007 instead of i.oos as I supposed it to be. The Northampton 

 Table treated in the .same way would give results nearly similar. 



No doubt our information on this subject will soon be much 

 improved ; for when we consider the accuracy which has been 

 introduced into every other branch of philosophical enquiry, it 

 appears surprising that this .shovild have remained so far behind. 



J. W. LUBBOCK. 



