AND ITS COMPARATIVE HEALTHINESS. 341 



By natural Increase, therefore, there are added to the 

 French-Canadian population of Lower Canada four 

 persons for every one that is added to the population of 

 England. Not only are the people naturally prolific, 

 therefore, but the country is pre-eminently healthy. 



Another consideration will place this latter remark in 

 a still stronger light. In England there died of the 

 whole people yearly, in 



1700, one out of every 25 



1801, 35 



1811, 38 



1848, 45 



— that is, while England was undrained, and sanatory 

 measures unattended to, and medical skill less exten- 

 sively or generally available, the proportion of deaths 

 was nearly double what it is now. Were it still as 

 great as it was in 1700, and the births not more 

 numerous, four out of every hundred would die yearly, 

 while only three to every hundred are born. The 

 population, that is, would decrease more rapidly than it 

 is at present increasing. But Lower Canada, in its 

 natural condition — undrained, innocent of sanatory 

 associations or commissioners of sewers, and sparsely 

 provided with medical men — is more healthy than Eng- 

 land, with all the appliances which w^ealth, science, and 

 civilisation have yet brought to bear upon her sanatory 

 condition. 



This is a very satisfactory result, not only as it 

 explains why the French population of Lower Canada 

 rapidly increases, but because of its bearing on the future 

 prospects of the province, and the chances of health and 

 longevity to those who may select it as their future 

 home. 



Among other agricultural observations I had made 

 to-day and yesterday, I may mention the numerous 



