352 Moral Statistics of France. 



The benefactions to Protestant establishments bear a very small ratio to 

 the total number, not more than i in 150. But, although the Protestants 

 give less in proportion than the Catholics to the poor, they not unfrequently 

 lend support to the Catholic institutions as well as to their own, and their 

 benefactions to schools are proportionally the most numerous. 



With the slight exception offered by some departments of Brittany and 

 the south, it is in those parts of the kingdom which are most rich and en- 

 lightened, and which have long been distinguished by their liberal elections 

 and industry, that we find the greatest number of benefactions towards re- 

 ligious establishments. 



3. Schools. Donations for the support of public schools are in France 

 the rarest of all. They do not exceed 1 -30 of the total number of bene- 

 factions, whilst in England, says M. Guerry, where such aid is less neces- 

 sary, (?) they constitute 1-3 of the whole. 



Schools, like the clergy, receive more from living benefactors than in 

 bequests, and more from men than women. Whether by donations in 

 life time or by legacies, spinsters are found to give more to schools than 

 married women or widows. 



Anonymous donors to schools are proportionally five times more numer- 

 ous, than among benefactors to the clergy. In the north-eastern departments 

 of France, where it is well known instruction most prevails, the donations 

 to schools are most numerous, particularly in Franche-Comtfe, and Nor- 

 mandy. 



There are 17 departments in which, during a period of ten years, not a 

 single bequest has been made in favour of schools. Thirteen of these are 

 in the western and central divisions, and eleven of them lie contiguous to 

 each other. Throughout all of them, it is almost unnecessary to add, in- 

 struction is at its lowest pitch. 



A few departments in the north-west and south may stand comparison 

 with the most enlightened districts in their support of schools. This fa- 

 vourable result M. Gnerry ascribes in part to the statistical account pub- 

 lished some years since, of the neglected state of primary instruction in 

 those parts of the kingdom, by which a stimulus has been given to eflForts 

 of amelioration.* 



Suicides. 



For some time past. Suicide has ceased to be considered as a fit subject 



• It would tie a curious inquiry, and probably productive of many useful results, 

 to follow out the idea suggested by the following statement of Mr. Simpson's : "The 

 entire generation is apt to take credit for the institutions of charity. The subscription 

 lists tell a different tale. It has been observed, that about 1500 known individuals, 

 of the 150,000 of which Edinburgh is composed, support all the charitable establish- 

 ments of the place. The London proportion would be 15,000. It would be inte- 

 resting to know how the fact stands, — charity balls and musical festivals of course 

 excluded." — On Pop. Educ. p. 56. 



