4A Mr. Worcester on Longevity. 
tants, we should then see log houses giving place to framed houses 
and those of brick; school-houses and academies built, and 
filled with pupils ; churches erected ; and the whole machinery of 
civilized society advancing with a rapidity hitherto unknown, and 
corresponding to the progress of population. 
Had the four past enumerations been made on the plan here 
suggested, they would have presented a mass of information more 
interesting and valuable to the present and future generations, 
than all that will probably be preserved from destruction by our 
Historical and Antiquarian Societies (useful as their labours are 
acknowledged to be) during a century. The views which they 
would have afforded of many parts of the country, at the first settle- 
ment, would have rendered them peculiarly interesting in future 
ages, and it may be presumed that they would have become in- 
comparably more important and celebrated in the future history 
of the country, than Doomsday-Book is in that of England. 
Exact enumerations of the population of the most improved 
countries of modern Europe, are of but recent date. The popu- 
lation of France was not accurately determined till since the French 
Revolution; nor that of England till 1801. The government of 
the United States is entitled to the honour, we believe, of having, 
at its first institution, set the example of establishing a system of 
an official census of the inhabitants, at regular periods. The 
results of this census, inasmuch as they exhibit a view of the 
strength and growth of the nation, are highly interesting, not 
only to the statesman and philosopher, but to every patriotic citi- 
zen; and it is desirable that, at this early period of the history of 
the country, the best method of taking it should be fixed upon, 
and that it should be carefully adhered to in all subsequent 
enumerations. 
[Presented to the Academy in 1825, and printed in 1826.] 
