420 [Assembly 



Liverpool, 1840. 



No. of deaths. Average age of dec'd 



137 Gentry, professional persons, &c., 35 years. 



1738 Tradesmen, and th^ir families, 22 " 



5597 Laborers, mechanics, servants, &c., 15 " 



The following shows the difference in the average duration of life, 

 between the inhabitants of a manufacturing and of an agricultural 

 place, and it will be observed that the laborers of the latter attain 

 an age equal to the professional people and gentry of the former : 



Average age of death 

 in Manchester, in Rutlandshire. 



Professional persons and gentry, and their 



families, 38 years. 52 years. 



Tradesmen and their families, (farmers and 



graziers included with shopkeepers, in 



Rutlandshire,) 20 " 41 " 



Mechanics, laborers, and their families, 17 " 38 " 



This comparison exhibits very clearly the advantages of a pure 

 atmosphere, out-door occupation, domicilary cleanliness, and above 

 ground residence, Rutlandshire being distinguished for all these, and 

 as a consequence, for a more orderly, steady and respectable popula- 

 tion. 



The influence of degraded associations, of habitual neglect of 

 cleanliness, and prostration of health by impure living, upon the 

 moral habits of the people, and as impediments to their social and 

 political improvement, is a question with which I propose now to 

 occupy the reader's attention for a brief space, in the hope, that if 

 it can be shown that these are probable causes of misery and crime, 

 there will be found herein an additional reason for the action of the 

 city government upon the measures I or others may suggest for the 

 melioration ol the condition of those classes of the community more 

 exposed to their influences. 



Let any one ask himself the question, whether his own self-respect, 

 his carefulness to avoid improprieties of conduct, and to maintain 

 cleanliness of house and person, are not greatly enhanced by the 

 examples of those around him. I believe it will not be disputed 

 that the practices of those with whom we associate, by choice or 

 compulsion, possess a decided influence over not only our own acts 

 and habits, but over our thoughts and even our judgments. Circum- 



