TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 181 



tended that a passenger should be enabled to travel one joiu-ney, of any distance, 

 in a given direction for a sum little more than nominal. In 1868, 310,150,915 

 passengers travelled on the railways, paying an average fare of 11 fd. to ll^d. 

 Six times the number of passengers could be caiTied for a very small (if any) ad- 

 ditional expense ; and if a universal fare of 3d. was charged for any distance for 

 each person, at a verv moderate computation, six times the present number of persons 

 would travel, and would produce £23,261,318, being £8,536,516 in excess of the re- 

 ceipts of 1865 from passengers only. This calculation was made supposing that each 

 person pays only a 3d. fare ; but he would divide them into three classes as now, and 

 fix the fares for any distance at the following rates : — first class. Is. ; second, Qd. ; 

 third, 3d. For such first-class passengers who would pay £10 and £5 annually in 

 addition for such distinction should travel in carriages provided exclusively for 

 them. He proposed that separate lines should be constructed for the goods and pas- 

 senger services ; and he would make passengers pay for all luggage that had to 

 be placed in the van, which would largely increase the revenue. There would be, 

 no doubt, many who would say that the idea of can-ying a passenger from London 

 to Edinburgh for 3d. is preposterous, but they must remember that it was not 

 imtil Sir Rowland Hill had shown its feasibility that any one thought it was reason- 

 able to take a letter from London to Edinburgh for the same charge as fi'om London 

 to Richmond. Under the most adverse circumstances, for instance, that by his 

 plan not one more passenger was induced to travel, there would still be a gain to the 

 railways of £2,000,000, a year. In conclusion, he showed that the scheme would 

 have a beneficial effect on the labour markets in enabling a working man to re- 

 move at once to, the district where his skill is in demand, and would thus tend 

 to equalize the value of labour in the country. 



On the Want of Statistics on the Question of MLvecl Eaces. 

 By Hyde Claeke, F.S.S., For. Sec. Ethnological Society. 



The author stated that the existing materials are fragmentary, and admit of no 

 comparison, and that the approaching Congress of the English and American 

 Empires should be taken advantage of to obtain figures as to mulattos, half- 

 breeds, Anglo-Maories, eurasians, &c., to determine the question of vitality of 

 mixed races. 



On the Distinction between Bent and Land Tax in India. 

 By Hyde Clarke, F.S.S. Sfc. 



In various parts of India rent and land-tax have been fused into one sum, and 

 hence a serious confusion exists as to the functions and duties of Government in 

 its respective capacities of landowner and tax-receiver. This acts likewise in re- 

 tarding the establishment of private freeholders in India. The writer urges the 

 desirability of returning to the original distinctions of rent and land-tax. These 

 are observed in other parts of the East. In Turkey and Persia the land-tax com- 

 monly represents 10 per cent., but occasionally of late 15 per cent. The remainder 

 of the sum received by the Government may be treated as rent. 



Note on Variations in the Bapidity and Bate of Human Thought. 

 By Hyde Clakke, F.S.S. ^c. 



The purpose of this note is to extend the range of statistics or the numerical 

 method of investigation. The author states that after an attack of typhus fever, 

 finding his physical system much weakened, he put himself through an examina- 

 tion to test whether his mental system was affected. This he found not to be the 

 case as to quality, but as to speed of thought. By a rough process of test he 

 devised, he found the speed was reduced to one-fourth of the previous power. 

 The correctness of reasoning was not aflPected, but processes requiring rapidity of 

 thought, as poetical composition, were influenced. It was some years before the 

 former rate of rapidity was restored. The practical conclusions are, that the rate 



