336 Moral Statistics of France. 



A new impulse has recently been given to statistical research. At the 

 meeting of the British Association at Cambridge in 1833, a statistical 

 section was engrafted upon the Association, principally through the zealous 

 exertions of a distinguished foreigner, M. Qu^telet of Brussels. Subse- 

 quently and through the efforts of this section, a General Statistical Society 

 has been formed in London, which has the Marquis of Lansdown for its 

 President, and enrols among its members many of our public men, the 

 most distinguished for enlightened patriotism and scientific attainments. 

 It is the aim of this Society to encourage the formation of branches in 

 every part of the kingdom. In Manchester a Statistical Society was still 

 earlier formed, and the communications which have been made by its mem- 

 bers, particularly by Mr. W. R. Greg, to the British Association, are evi- 

 dence of the zeal and talent with which its proceedings are conducted.* 



The object of the Statistical Societtj is simple, but comprehensive. Its 

 motto miglit be the admirable and well-known aphorism of Lord Bacon, 

 which M. Guerry prefixes to his work : " Homo, naturae minister et inter- 

 pres, de naturae ordine tantum scit et potest quantum observaverit, nee 

 amplius scit aut potest." — (Nov. Org.) 



Statistical science does not intrude on the province of moral and poli- 

 tical philosophy. It deals not with the powers and affections of our na- 

 ture, as to their essential character and relations, but only investigates the 

 numerical laws developed in their external effects and operations; thus 

 giving, as Professor Sedgwick says, " the raiv material to political economy 

 and political philosophy," and helping to lay a firm /o««(/fl/;iow for those 

 sciences. The Society announces that its aim is "to procure, arrange, and 

 publish facts, calculated to illustrate the condition and prospects of society." 

 Its first and most essential rule is to exclude what is merely opinion, to 

 confine its attention rigorously to facts, and as far as possible to such 

 facts as can be stated numerically, and arranged in tables. In the collec- 

 tion and arrangement of these facts, and in reducing the laws which they 

 display to " the order, the harmony, and the consistency of theory," great 

 patience and labour are required; the field of investigation is almost bound- 

 less J and it is only from very numerous and diversified observations that 

 general results can safely be deduced. 



Rich as is the history of the human mind in the department of rash 

 speculation, it would be. difficult perhaps to find instances of greater ab- 

 surdity, and more marked contempt of experience and scientific research, 

 than the records of legislation display. The most intricate and momen- 

 tous questions, affecting the well-being of millions, have been settled at all 

 hazards, according to the prejudices of the day, with little or no regard to 



* It is gratifying to find that an office has recently been opened at the Board of 

 Trade, for the collection and publication of official documents connected with statis- 

 tical subjects, 



