[ 4'S ] 



it is thought to amount, by fomc, to not 

 more than five millions ; and by others, fix, 

 in England and J Vales. 



The only method hitherto taken to dis- 

 cover the number, has been by calculating 

 fix to a houfe : The houfes are very near a 

 million. But this idea I have the greateft 

 reafon to believe erroneous. From a variety 

 of enquiries, and particular obfervation, I 

 mould conceive the number more confonant 

 with eight or nine millions of people, oreie;ht 

 or nine to a houfe; the mere foundation for 

 fuppofing it fix, is the calculation that a mar- 

 riage gives two adults and two young chil- 

 dren at once : But the point of marriage has 

 little to do with it, unlefs the number of 

 houfes was regulated by it; which is far 

 enough from being the cafe. The only juft 

 rule is, to gain the average of fouls that in- 

 habit a houfe, from the King's palace to the 

 lowed cottage. Now in this view, without 

 troubling ourfelves about marriages, is it 

 conceivable that the average can be (6 low 

 as fix ? Cottages are, in general, the habita- 

 tion of labourers, who all fwarm with chil- 

 dren ; and many have double, treble, and 

 even quadruple families. And in mofr. pa- 

 rifhes view the parifi cottages ', with do: 

 of families in them : RefLcf. upon the vaft 

 number of houfes in towns, where poor fa- 

 milies occupy on 1 }' a floor ; where every one, 



