TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 205 



figure. Wlien we take into consideration the fact that the corrected birth-rates in 

 subsequent years have been : in 1841-50 about 34^, in 1851-60 about 35, aud in 

 1861-70 about 36 per thousand, we are perhaps entitled to infer that an appreci- 

 able abatement in the rate was brought about through the operation of the new 

 Poor Law. 



Similar calculations with reference to the south-western counties, from whence 

 the emigration has been largest, show that the birth-rate in that division in 1801-40 

 was probably near 35 per thousand, against 32 per thousand in the succeeding 

 twenty years. The exodus from this division has been such that, for more than 

 700,000 natives aged 20-40 surviving in 1861, less than 500,000 persons were 

 enumerated as resident, of course inclusive of strangers. 



Other calculations show that the death-rate amongst natives of London is pro- 

 bably much higlier than the observed mortality amongst residents would lead us to 

 anticipate. It is desirable that returns shouli be obtained showing the place of 

 nativity of the dying, the effect of which would be to disturb very materially the 

 current ideas as to the significance of local death-rates. 



Finally, it may be useful to state summarily the following results of this 

 inquiry : — 



1. Whilst the net loss by the emigration of natives of England and Wales 

 amounted in the twenty years 1841-1861 to about 1,130,000 persons, the net gain 

 by the immigration of persons born elsewhere amounted to about 740,000 persons, 

 so that the average annual loss of population caused by migrations in those twenty 

 years did not exceed 20,000 persons ; and the loss by the same cause in 1861-70 

 has probably not exceeded 40,000 persons annually. 



2. That more than 15 per cent, of the male natives of England and Wales aged 

 20-50 were absent in 1861 from their countiy. 



3. That the census of England and Wales about to be taken will probably show 

 the popidation to be nearly 22,500,000, and the excess of females to be nearly 

 700,000. The first of these figures is a quarter of a million larger, the second about 

 150,000 smaller, than the estimates published by the Registration Office would 

 indicate. 



On Decimal Money and a Common International Unit. 

 Bif William Westgarth. 



1st. Our arithmetical basis is decimal; that is, we coimt by tens. Must that 

 therefore be the system in our monej', weights, and measures, in all that concerns 

 numbers, or are we free for any other counting ? 2nd. The greatest diversity of 

 natioual_ units, from the Spanish real of about 2^ f?. up to our own pound, shows 

 that accident first and habit afterwards must have largely shared in the creation of 

 such a family. Are some more suitable than others ? and how does this appear ? 

 3rd. Is the international arrangement really important ? 



Decimal Money. — Ten is not the best number, and probably never came into arith- 

 metical use by design ; eight and twelve, as more divisible, are better. Cannot we 

 therefore alter our basis? The reply at this time of day is, that in whatever way 

 ten-counting reached us, the world is now practically decimal, aud will remain so. 

 Then what is the eftect of nonconformity to our basis ? Try, for example, to con- 

 vert 1,527,643 farthings into poimds, shillings, pence, and farthings ; or to reduce 

 10,253 tons, 9 cwts., 3 qrs., 7 lbs., 8 oz., dwts., 5 grains, into gi-ains. With much 

 tinie and trouble to all, a large proportion would for certain commit one or more 

 mistakes in the process ; and some might never get through at all, in the weights 

 and measures at least, unless they could refresh their memories as to some part or 

 other of the imsystematic medley. Such being our present nonconfoi-mity system, 

 how are these puzzles dealt with decimally ? Simply by pointing off the successive 

 grades, or conversely, by erasing the decimal points. The two questions are thus 

 instantaneously answered : £1,527 .0.4.3, and 10,253,937,865 grains. The answer 

 is not worked, it is simply read. Of course every one has not such long calcula- 

 tions as these to go through ; but every one ha? something, more or less, of this 

 kind daily aud hourly in ordinary or business life, and wanting the decimal 

 facility, all the multiplication aud "division becomes a superfluous toil. In short 



