in the United States in Fifty Years. 25 



The greater rate of increase of the whole population, exhibited 

 in the preceding comparison, is to be ascribed principally to the 

 acquisition of Louisiana, and, in a small degree, to an increased 

 importation of slaves before 1808, when it was known that Con- 

 gress would avail itself of the power it would then possess, of pro- 

 hibiting their further importation. These two circumstances are 

 sufficient to account for the excess of increase under the census of 

 1810, which excess did not exceed 77,000 persons ; and, indeed, as 

 the slaves imported and acquired with Louisiana, probably amount- 

 ed to more than half this number,* the remainder is not equal to 

 the white inhabitants which Louisiana contained, and consequently 

 we are justified in inferring, notwithstanding the augmented ratio 

 of actual increase, a small diminution in the rate of gain from im- 

 migration or natural multiplication, or both united. 



The three classes of the population were distributed in the fol- 

 lowing proportions in 1790, 1800, and 1810 : 



1790. 1800. 1810. 



The white population 80.73 per cent, 81.12 per cent, 80.97 per cent. 

 Free coloured 1.51 " 2.05 " 2.57 " 



Slaves 17.56 " 16.83 " 16.46 " 



100. 100. 100. 



Of the whole free pop. 82.24 " 83.17 " 83.54 " 

 Whole coloured 19.07 " 18.88 " 19.03 " 



It thus appears that the free coloured population had a greater 

 proportional increase than either of the other two classes ; and 

 that, while the whole free population gained on the servile, the 

 whole coloured gained a little on the white. 



The age of sixteen continued to divide the white population into 

 two nearly equal parts, but the small excess of those under that 

 age continued to diminish, thus : 



Whites under sixteen, males . . . 1,503,141 

 females . . 1,429,743 



2,932,884 



* Supposing the natural increase of the coloured population to be the same from 1800 

 to 1810, as from 1790 to 1800, and there is no reason for supposing it to be different, 

 then the difference of the decennial gain in this class, shown by the two enumerations, 

 shows the accessions to this class from the purchase of Louisiana and from importation. 

 That difference is 5.35 per cent on the whole coloured population, which is equal to 

 53,576. 



3 



