AGE NATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



49 



"This diminution of numbers with increasing age is much more rapid with the 

 vohmteers than with the population from which they spring." 



"The average age of the 51,271 was 25.99, and their equate age, or the age above 

 and below which their numbers were equal, 28.74.'" 



Mr. Gould's observations, made upon a much larger scale, sustained Mr. Elliott's 

 conclusions with remarkable exactness." From the statistics of this office, a somewhat 

 diti'erent result was to be expected. Under the enrollment-law, the liability continuing 

 to the age of 45 years, a larger proportion of men is found at the extreme end of the 

 scale than is observable in the tables of the volunteers. Young men of 18 or 19 years 

 of age, free, as yet, from the risk of conscription, enlisted in large numbers as volun- 

 teers and substitutes, incited thereto by the profuse sums offered the former as hoiinties, 

 and the high prices paid the latter. The following table exhibits the particulars as to 

 age of 190,621 white natives of the United States. These were all accepted men. Their 

 mean age was 26..-;41 years, and their equate age was 23.463 years. 



Table shoichu/ the number of men per thousand at each age from 10 to 45 years in 190,021 icliite 



natives of the United States. 



' This expresses tLo mean of the uumbers from 40 to 45 years. 



The very large proportion found at the eighteenth year is a striking feature of the 

 foregoing table. In fact, one-sixth of the whole number of men is included in that 

 year, leaving only five-sixths for the remaining 27 years. The number of men recorded 

 as having attained their eighteenth and nineteenth years comprise very nearly one- 

 fourth (24.59) of the whole number, leaving but three-fourths for the remaining 26 

 years. In like manner, the first seven years include fuUg one-half, (52.08,) leaving 



1 On the military statistics of the United States of America, 4to, Berlin, 1803, pp. 11, 12. 

 « Op. cit., p. 35. 



