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Art. XXVIII. 



On a plan for making a Return of all the Inha^ 

 biiants of a Parijh^ with their clefcripiions, i^c. — 

 Alfo an account of the New Gaol at Dorchester, 

 with Plates. 



[By W. M. Pitt, efq; M. P.] 

 Sir, Arlington-Jirect^ June \., 1796. 



AS an accurate knowledge of the flate of the po- 

 pulation of any country has been thought by 

 eminent writers an obje£t of great importance; and 

 as thefe writers have materially differed in opinion 

 with refpeft to the a£tual number of inhabitants in 

 this kingdom, I hope I may be permitted with great 

 deference to lay before the fociety a fpecimen of a 

 return which I drew up myfelf in the year 1790, 

 afcertaining not only the exaft number of people in 

 a very extenfive parifli, but alfo how the whole of 

 that number were employed, and which I have, as 

 a magiftrate, fmce found of confiderable utility. 

 This plan is equally applicable to the cafe of every 

 parifli in thefe kingdoms, and if it were univerfally 

 adopted, it would effeftually remove all uncertainty 

 on the fubjeft. 



It is natural for every man to be partial to thofc 

 objefts to which he has given a particular attention; 

 I hope, therefore, that I may be deemed in fome de- 

 gree 



