Ch. ix. in England {continued). 447 



and burials, and greater in the former than in the 

 latter, it is quite impossible to doubt. The testi- 

 mony of all the clergy concerned in making the 

 returns was, according to Mr. Rickman, uniform 

 in this respect. And if we suppose only the same 

 proportion of omissions from 1801 to 1821 as we 

 supposed from 1781 to 1801, and commence with 

 the census of 1801, on the presumption that the 

 number of double .entries in that enumeration 

 would be balanced probably by the number of de- 

 ficiencies, it will appear that the excess of the 

 births alone, excluding the deaths abroad, would 

 bring the population to within 184,404 of the enu- 

 meration of 1821, and including the allowance for 

 deaths abroad, (which, in this case, from a compa- 

 rison of the excess of male births with the male 

 and female deaths, appears to be 128,651,) to 

 within 313,055. 



On the supposition of such an amount of double 

 entries unbalanced by deficiencies in the two last 

 returns, the enumerations would still shew a very 

 extraordinary increase of population. The rate 

 of increase in the period from 1801 to 1811 would 

 be nearly 13 per cent. (12.88) which would double 

 the population in about 57 years ; and in the 

 period from 1811 to 1821, it would be very nearly 

 15 per cent. (14.95), which would double the po- 

 pulation in 50 years. 



Under the uncertainty in which we must remain 

 at present as to whether the enumerations par- 

 tially err in defect or in excess, I have not thought 

 it advisable to alter the amended table of the po- 



