442 



THE BRITISH ISLES. 



increased by degrees between 1841 and 1850, and culminated in a veritable 

 exodus, which threatened with depopulation several parts of Great Britain, 

 and more especially Ireland, In 1852 over 1,000 persons daily left the shores of 

 the United Kingdom in search of a new home in America or in one of the English 

 colonies. At no time, however, did the number of emigrants exceed the natural 

 increase resulting from an excess of births over deaths. After 1852 this emijrra- 

 tion movement gradually subsided. About 1870 it received a fresh impetus, but 

 for the last few 3'ears the number of emigrants has been small compared with 

 the total population ; for we must bear in mind that many of them return 

 after they have succeeded in amassing a competency abroad, and that, in 

 addition to this, considerable immigration of foreigners takes place. An influx 

 of immigrants thus counterbalances, in a large measure, the losses sustained 

 by emigration. xUtogether about 8,000,000 natives of the British Islands have 

 emigrated since 1815. These millions of voluntary exiles, though sometimes 



Fig. 21s.— Total Emigration prom tue British Islands. 



20noi)0 



looooo 



IBlj 11525 lB3b 



TJrPEu LrsE :— Total Emigration. 



U!4S labb I8G5 1^25 



Lower Live :— Emigration to the United States. 



decimated by disease on reaching the country of their destination, have given 

 birth to other millions, and they and their descendants are now^ equal in numbers 

 to at least half the population of the British Isles.* 



* Statistics of emigration : — 



Years. 

 1S40— 1849 . 

 18Ô0— 1859 . 

 18G0— 1869 . 

 1870—1874 . 

 1875—1878 . 



The above table includes only emigrants of British birth, and not foreigners who embarked at 

 British ports. 



The official returns of immigrants should be accepted with some hesitation, 

 number of emigrants they are as follows : — 



British-bom 

 iQco lo-n Emigrants. Immigrants. 



1863—18/0 .... 1,398,869 ?5.5/J12 



1871—1878 .... 1,247,103 676,143 



Compared -with the 



Excess of 



Emigrants. 



1,142,9t7 



670,960 



