822 



REroiiT — 1884. 



Hjlijllll 



br" --hea of education than iu the United Kingdom, but that would not make any 

 coi^oiderable difference in the comparison of such high figures as these. Tims tin- 

 extraordinary fact remains, tliat in respect of educational statistics the United 

 States are numerically in advance of even the British Empire. 



The religious missions to non-Christian nationalities constitute a bright feature 

 in the British Empire. The statistics of the Roman Catholic missions are not 

 fully known, but their operations are very considerable. The income of the 

 various Protestant missionary societies is hardly less than three-quarters of a million 

 sterling annually, and the number of European ordained missionaries maintained 

 by them is about 900. This is exclusive of a considerable number of reverend 

 missionaries employed within the British Empire by societies in the United State?, 

 The number of native Christians under their care, together with children at school, 

 cannot be less than a million. 



In conclusion, the statistical summary under the three heads, the area of the 

 empire, the inhabitants, and their works, has been presented. From it the follow- 

 ing inferences are to be drawn regarding the British Empire : — 



The area of the British Empire is enormous, amounting to at least 8J, perhaps 

 even to 10, millions of square miles, or nearly one-fifth of the habitable globe. The 

 lesser part only is cultivated or occupied, some portion being uncultivable ; but the 

 cultivable portion ready for cultivation or occupation is vast enough to support an 

 indefinite increase of population. 



The great length of coast line, mostly inhabited by a seafaring population, and 

 dotted from point to point with large harbours, offers maritime advantages in an 

 unequalled degree. 



The population of the Empire, amounting to 305, perhaps to 315, millions of 

 souls, is vast. Still the imperial area is on the whole but sparsely populated, with 

 an average of only thirty-three persons to the square mile, notwithstanding the 

 mighty aggregate of the people, as the population is most unequally distrilnifed, 

 being extremely dense in some regions. 



The lesser proportion of the population belongs to the Caucasian fair, dominant, 

 and Christian race; the majority consists of the coloured Aryan Asiatic race, 

 professing the Hindu and Muhammadan religions. The proportion of the Mongo- 

 lian Buddhist race and of the aboriginal races is small ; while tlie entire Hindu 

 people, and half the Muhammadan world, are under the Britijh crown. 



Although in the United Kingdom the population is largely urban, still in the 

 Empire, as a whole, it is chiefly rural. 



The total of yearly revenue and receipts. Governmental and local, amounting 

 to 264 millions sterling, is unequalled, but falls at the moderate rate of flj sterling 

 per head of the total of Britisli subjects. 



Of the total sum collected by authority from the people, one-fourth is for 

 local purposes, immediately concerning the rate-payers ; three-fourths being foi 

 Governmental purposes. 



Of the Governmental taxation one-fourth only is direct, such as land and 

 property taxes ; and three-fourths indirect, such as customs and excise, Vifhich 

 grow by natural increment ; but the local taxation is for the most part direct. 



The armed forces, by sea and land, though numerically large, show a ven 

 moderate ratio to the area and population ; the section of the people absorbed in 

 military employ being extremely small, and the military expenditure, compared 

 with the imperial revenue, being the cheapest in the world, Avith the exception of 

 the United States. 



The total of armed forces on land, nearly a million of men, is apparently great, 

 though its unity and organisation are not complete. But the proportion (more than 

 two-thirds of the whole), belonging to the fair or European races, is satisfactory, 



By sea the number of ironclad war-vessels ready for action indicates a degree 

 of naval preparedness hardly to be matched by foreign nations. 



The total police force of all kinds is very moderate, indicating a peaceful and 

 law-abiding disposition in the people. 



The mercantile mariiie has nearly half of the steam tonnage, of the carrying 



