Ch. ix. in England {continued). 449 



In 1801, the proportion was 1 to 122.2, in 1811 

 1 to 126.6, in 1821, 1 to 131.1 ; and if, assuming 

 that, for the 20 years ending with 1820, the mar- 

 riages, in which it is supposed that there are very- 

 few omissions, would remain in the same propor- 

 tion to the population as in 1801, we had esti- 

 mated the population by the marriages, the num- 

 bers in 1821, instead of being 12,218,500, would 

 only have been 11,377,548, that is, 840,952 short 

 of the enumeration of 1821 . 



It appears, then, that if we can put any trust in 

 our enumerations,* no reliance can be placed on 

 an estimate of past population founded on the 

 proportions of the births, deaths, or marriages. 

 The same causes which have operated to alter so 

 essentially these proportions during the 20 years 

 for which we have enumerations may have oper- 

 ated in an equal degree before; and it will be 

 generally found true, that the increasing healthi- 

 ness of a country will not only diminish the pro- 

 portions of deaths, but the proportions of births 

 and marriages. 



* The migrations into England from Ireland and Scotland may 

 account for some portion of the excess of the enumerations above 

 what is warranted by tbe excess of the births above the deaths. 



VOL. [. G G 



