98 Progress of Population and Wealth 



of proportion to emancipation, then the other part of it directly 

 indicates a smaller decennial increase. 



In the cities and towns, to which most of the free persons of 

 colour resort, we find much reason for believing that their natural 

 increase is slower than that of the slaves or the whites. They are, 

 taken as a class, poor, improvident, immoral, and consequently, 

 little likely to rear large families. The licentiousness, too, which 

 characterizes many of the young females of this class, consigns a 

 large portion of them either to unfruitfulness or a premature grave. 

 In New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, they occupy much 

 more than their proportion of the pauper list. These facts are not 

 inconsistent with the supposed greater longevity of this class ; for 

 the rate of its natural increase depends upon the greater number, 

 and its character for longevity, on a few. 



In comparing the proportion of children under ten, in 1830 and 

 1840, we find the falling off to be greater in this class than the 

 other classes ; and if we cannot refer it to an increase of emanci- 

 pation in last decennial term, of which we have no evidence, it 

 seems to indicate a small diminution in the rate of increase. 



Let us now compare the increase of the white and coloured 

 population, in fifty years, supposing the former not to have gained, 

 and the latter not to have lost by migration. 



In 1790, the white population was .... 3,172,464 

 Increase in 10 years, exclusive of immigration, 33.9 



per cent 1,075,465 



In 1800 4.247,929 



Increase in 10 years, 33.1 per cent . . . 1,406,064 



In 1810, 5,653,993 



Increase in 10 years, 32.1 per cent . . . 1,814,932 



In 1820, 7,468,925 



Increase in 10 years, 30.9 per cent . . . 2,307,897 



In 1830, 9,776,822 



Increase in 10 years, 29.6 per cent . . . 2,929,136 



In 1840, 12,705,958 



Which shows an increase in fifty years, or rather in forty-nine 

 years and ten months, in the proportion of 100 to 400.4 



