224 report — 1859. 



inseparable to the ceaseless wars which had been carried on, which, from their 

 enormous cost, had necessarily involved Indian finances in confusion, Col. S. stated 

 that in 1842 he had caused a statement to be drawn up in the proper department of 

 the India House of the real condition of the receipts and expenditure of India. These 

 statements were continued from 1842 to 1857, embracing five decennial periods 

 from 1808 onwards to 1857, when exact returns terminated with the mutiny year. 

 Under the various heads of progress of revenue, progress of charge, progress of civil 

 charges, progress of military charges, progress of interest of debt, he gave at great 

 len°-th the results of those returns, which it is, from their length and multiplicity 

 of figures, impossible to abstract, and concluded by the following deductions : — I. 

 That expenditure in the military branch of the service can be reduced whilst the 

 highest efficiency was preserved. 2. That the progressive increase of debt was 

 necessary and inevitable. It was an object to link the interests of the native capi- 

 talists in India with those of the British Government through the medium of 

 pecuniary obligations. 3. That the pressure of the interest of the debt of India in 

 relation to the revenues in 1857, before the mutiny was 7'19 per cent, and the debt 

 1-79 vear's purchase of revenue. Since the mutiny, it was, after all, only 9-34 per 

 cent/and the purchase 2-43. 4. That the revenues of India have increased to a 

 greater ratio than the interest of the debt. 5. That there was a satisfactory pro- 

 spect in the ultimate productive working of the amount of silver, which has been 

 poured into India, and remained there since 1800, which was, in fact, the balance 

 of trade in favour of India. 6. That on a right understanding of the past financial 

 condition of India, and a proper knowledge of the resources of the country, depended 

 the success of the hazardous experiment of increased taxation. 7. That there was 

 ample proof of the progressive financial strength of the government, of increasing 

 confidence on the part of the public mind, and of the large disposable capital in 

 India. 8. That the finances were gradually and steadily growing healthy, as shown 

 by Parliamentary paper, No. 201, Session 2. 



On Illegitimacy in Aberdeen and the other large Towns of Scotland. 

 By James Valentine. 



The published returns by the Registrar-General of Scotland on this point date 

 only from 1st January, 1858, but the comparatively unvarying experience of eighteen 

 months which his reports illustrate, has already well nigh fixed down a certain 

 character on the various towns and districts in Scotland, and especially a bad one 

 on this town. Some explanation, at least, is therefore required. 



The proportion per cent, of illegitimate to legitimate births, is about 6-5 in 

 Sweden, 66 in Norway, 6-7 in England, 67 in Belgium, 7T in France, 7-1 in 

 Prussia, 9-3 in Denmark, 9-8 in Hanover, and 11-3 in Austria. In London it is 

 about 4 per cent., in Liverpool above 4i per cent., in Birmingham under 5 per cent., 

 and in Manchester about 6 per cent. (Chambers's Information). In Scotland, during 

 1858, it was 8-8 per cent., made up thus : — 



In the eight principal towns 8-4 



Districts, including smaller towns 8-6 



Country districts 9-3 



Taking the eight principal towns by themselves as they stand in the Registrar's 

 Reports, the following residts appear : — 



Year. Half-year. Mean rate. 



Jan. to June. Per cent. 



1858. 1859. 



Aberdeen 149 15-7 15-2 



Dundee 101 108 104 



Perth 9-6 9-1 93 



Paisley 73 93 8-3 



Edinburgh 8-7 7-8 8-2 



Glasgow 7-7 7-4 7-5 



Leith .... 5-9 7-8 6-8 



Greenock .... 4-7 ... . 50 4-8 



