Ch. v. in Sivitzerland. 341 



cate a population of 22,536 ; and if the multipliers 

 be just, it will thus appear, that instead of the 

 decrease which was intended to be proved, there 

 had been a considerable increase. 



That I have not estimated the mortality too 

 high during the first period, I have many reasons 

 for supposing, particularly a calculation respect- 

 ing the neighbouring town of Geneva, in which it 

 appears that, in the 16th century, the probability 

 of life, or the age to which half of the born live, 

 was only 4*883, rather less than four years and 

 ^ths; and the mean life 18*511, about 18 years 

 and a half. In the 17th century, the probability 

 of life was 11*607, above 11 years and a half ; the 

 mean life 23*358. In the 18th century the proba- 

 bility of life had increased to 27*183, 27 years 

 and nearly a fifth, and the mean life to 32 years 

 and a fifth* 



It is highly probable that a diminution of mor- 

 tality, of the same kind, though perhaps not in 

 the same degree, should have taken place in 

 Switzerland ; and we know from the registers of 

 other countries which have been already noticed, 

 that a greater mortality naturally produces a 

 greater proportion of births. 



Of this dependence of the births on the deaths 

 M. Muret himself produces many instances; but 

 not being aware of the true principle of popula- 

 tion, they only serve to astonish him, and he does 

 not apply them. 



* See a paper in the Bibliothccpie Brilannique, published at 

 Geneva, torn. iv. p. 3'28. 



