in the United States in Fifty Y, 



79 



States, and least in those which gain from that source, as the 

 western States. If, then, we make fair allowance for this influence, 

 we shall find that the difference among the different States, as to 

 this afflicting visitation, is insignificant ; and that in all of them, as 

 to the white population, if we deduct the foreign emigrants, the 

 proportion of the insane will be very nearly as 1 to 1,000. 



But as to the coloured population, it appears to be far otherwise. 

 We find an extraordinary difference among the States, in the pro- 

 portion of the insane of the coloured race. The proportions in the 

 several States appear to be as follows : 



Ratio as 

 1 to 

 14.4 

 28.2 

 56.1 

 43.3 

 249. 

 184. 

 257. 

 297. 

 256. 

 697. 

 1005. 

 1865. 

 1289. 

 1215. 

 2447. 



978.8 



Total, 2,873,945 2,936 



It thus appears, that the proportion of insane is greatest among 

 the coloured population of the northern States, and that it consider- 

 ably decreases as we proceed south ; from which we may infer 

 that the rigours of a northern winter, which have no influence on 

 the temperament of the whites, affect the cerebral organs of the 

 African race. There are, however, two other circumstances, 

 which operate to produce the great diversity we see ; and these 

 are, emigration and slavery — the slave population seeming to be 

 less liable to this malady than the free coloured population, and the 

 insane very rarely migrating. By a due regard to these three 

 circumstances, of coldness of climate, migration, and the proportion 

 of slaves in the coloured population of a State, we may probably go 

 far to reconcile most of the diversities which are exhibited in the 

 above table. But perhaps it is premature to theorize on this subject ; 

 for when we see in some of the States so large a proportion of the 

 coloured population as 1 in 43, and in Maine nearly 1 in 14, so 

 anomalous a fact throws a doubt over the correctness of this part 

 of the census, and at least inclines us to suspend our opinion, until 

 we have further evidence or explanation. 



