404 Of the Checks to Population Bk. ii. 



according to Sussmilch, above 1 in 33 * In the 

 Observations on the Results of the Population Act,~\ 

 many probable causes of deficiency in the registry 

 of the burials are pointed out ; but no calculation 

 is offered respecting the sum of these deficiencies, 

 and I have no data whatever to supply such a cal- 

 culation. I will only observe, therefore, that if 

 we suppose them altogether to amount to such a 

 number as will make the present annual mortality 

 about 1 in 40, this must appear to be the lowest 

 proportion of deaths that can well be supposed, 

 considering the circumstances of the country ; 

 and, if true, would indicate a most astonishing 

 superiority over the generality of other states, 

 either in the habits of the people with respect to 

 prudence and cleanliness, or in natural healthiness 

 of situation.'^ Indeed, it seems to be nearly 

 ascertained that both these causes, which tend to 

 diminish mortality, operate in this country to a 



* Sussmilch, Gottliche Ordnung, vol. iii. p. 60. 



t P. 6. 



% It is by no means surprising, that our population should have 

 been underrated formerly, at least by any person who attempted 

 to estimate it from the proportion of births or deaths. Till the late 

 Population Act no one could have imagined that the actual returns 

 of annual deaths, which might naturally have been expected to be 

 as accurate in this country as in others, would turn out to be less 

 than a 49th part of the population. If the actual returns for 

 France, even so long ago as the ten years ending with 1 780, had 

 been multiplied by 49, she would have appeared at that time to 

 have a population of above 40 millions. The average of annual 

 deaths was 818,491. Necker, de 1' Administration des Finances, 

 torn. i. c. ix. p. 255. 12 mo. 1785. 



