( 48 ) 



ly 1 243 ; though, in the fame fpace of tim^ 

 no fewer then 18,545 ^ a( l died naturally. 



The fame account prefents us with a moft 

 fufpicious article, under the title of defer lion, 

 and which includes 42,069. In what man- 

 ner it was poflible for fuch a number as 

 42,000 failors to find an opportunity of de- 

 ferring from the royal navy, will undoubtedly 

 furpafs thecomprehenfion of vulgar intellects j 

 unlefs by deferters we mean prifoners of war, 

 thofe who perifh in the ocean, as well as de- 

 ferters properly fo called ; for the account al- 

 luded to gives no lift of either of thefe. Upon 

 this, however, or fomething fimilar to it, we 

 muft make our calculation. It cannot be fup- 

 pofed that lefs care is taken to preferve the 

 lives of feamen in the royal navy, than in the 

 trading Ihips fitted out by private adventur- 

 ers, and they are evidently more free from 

 the hazard of ftorms and fhipwrecfcs, becaufe 

 the men of war are much ftronger and better 

 failers than the merchant fhips. Every cir- 

 curnftance confidered, therefore, we muft fup- 

 pofe the definition of mankind to be iio lefs 

 by the veiTels employed in commerce, than on 

 board the {hips of war; nor can we cftimate 



