1854.] LANDS AND POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND UPPER CANADA. 287 



facts, some pains have been taken to ascertain and compare the persons have emigrated from these States than have eome into 



number of inhabitants at different periods, viz., 1750, 1774, 1780, them from abroad. All this, and something more, is their 



and 1791. natural increase. 



Here follows the estimate and the results, showing that in In 1 750, Massachusetts contained 32 persons, and in 1790, 



the year 1750, the total of inhabitants in the thirteen colonies about 60 persons to each square mile; 



was 1,179,259— 1790, the whole number in the thirteen States, i n Tfgn, Connecticut contained 20 persons, and in 1790, 



4,000,000, being about 34-10 times the number of 1750. If arj0 ut 50 persons to each square mile; 



this increase be computed in the manner of simple interest, it _ ,„ ' _, , T , , , , „ , . 

 affords a ratio of 5-9S, or very nearly 6 per cent., or in the man- , In l7 u o0 > Rhode Islfmd contained about 23 persons and in 

 ner of compound interest, of between 3 and 3* per cent. Any V ' * [ ™ S ° nS ,° ^ Sq -T° ' ?° , ' f 

 number increased in the compound ratio of 3 per cent, per the numerous emigrants these States have sent forth, they have 

 annum, is doubled in about 23,V years, and at 3_ per cent., in ™ ore thau doublcd ihe } r numbers in 40 years, and nearly trebled 

 about 20 years; that is, it is equal to 5 per cent, simple increase them slnce the y contained 20 persons to each square mile. 

 for the same period. Mr. Jefferson took some pains to prove that the inhabitants of 

 In 1782 a return was made to Congress of the inhabitants in Virginia double their numbers once in 2 7£ years. He also 

 the several States, by which there appeared to be 2,3S9,300. P ro * ed >. b J m ln g enlous calculation that in 1782, the numbers 

 This return was then believed to be accurate, for it was made ln Virginia were 50, ,614; m 1790, the same country (part of 

 the rule for the assessment of public burthens among the States; 1vlllcn made * he State of Kentucky) contained 821,287, giving 

 but, in 17S4, the accuracy of it was attacked by Lord Sheffield, a , n "^crease of 496-100, or very nearly > per cent, and doubling 

 who affirmed it was too great. If it was, in fact, as much too thelr fibers not in 27| years, as Mr. Jefferson sought to 

 great as he supposed, then the increase of numbers from that F°, ve > bu < "_ le f s thiln 21 years. \ irgmia (exclusive of Ken- 

 time-to 1790 must have exceeded all credibility. But allowing l J%) , added . abo " t ls °> 000 t0 lts numbers between 1782 and 

 it to have been accurate, the 1790 the period when the numerous emigrations to Kentucky 



caused so great a dram upon its population. 



Difference between the number, 1790 4,000,000 



And the number, 1782 2,389,300 In 1780, the number of militia west of Blue Ridge in Vir- 



■ ginia was 11,440, which, multiplied by four, gives for the num- 



Is 1,610,700 ber ol inhabitants 45,760. In 1790, the same county contained 



From this deduct for emigrants, viz., 10,000 151,235, those counties- having more than trebled their numbers ' 



emigrants per annum for 9 years 90,000 in 10 years. 



Increaseof ditto at 5 percent. 4' years... 20,250 ™. ± , , ., . , , , , ,, . 



1 J _____ -qq 05Q The writer then proceeds to say, it is to be observed that 



'" these facts (and many more of a similar tendency might be 



Natural increase in 9 years 1,500,450 adduced) are drawn from the former and least prosperous state 



which, calculated upon the number of inhabitants returned in °{ A ™. rica > andfi '° m periods which were either absolutely those " 



1782, gives the astonishing natural increase of 6-97, or very of P ubIlc ° a ! am1 ^ or at test we re not those of national pros- 



nearly 7 ner cent ner annum P ent y ; ? et - U ls apprehended they sufficiently prove that the 



1 l ' r inhabitants of the United States increase at least as fast as at 



From these statements, compared with each other, it appears the compound ratio of 3^ per cent.; that should foreigners cease 



that in the year 1790 the actual increase of inhabitants in the to remove there, it would not prevent more than 1-15 or 1-20 of 



United States, beyond the number ever imported,* must have this increase, and that there are as yet no symptoms of this rate 



been 3,200,000, or, after the most liberal allowances, at least of increase being at all diminished by the crowded population of 



3,000,000; that the whole rate of increase upon the numbers the country. The United States must contain 18,000,000 of 



at any given period has been more than 5 per cent, and, deduct- people to equal the average of New England, and 55,000,000 to 



ing for emigrations, that it has been equal to about 5 per cent. equal the rate of population in Massachusetts and Connecticut, 



for any twenty years successively, or 3^ per cent, compound The emses of thu t increase f population, so peculiar to 



increase for any period that has yet elapsed. America, might be readily and satisfactorily explained by a 



But it may be said, no inference as to the future population review of the state of manners, society, property, &c, in that 



of America can be derived from these facts, because, as the country. This discussion is, however, unnecessary for the object 



country becomes more thickly settled, the increase will be entertained. 



slower. We have an opportunity of examining what weight Here follow the calculations showing the increase of population 



the objection possesses. g ; nce 1790 to 1797, at the ratio of 3^ per cent, per annum, eom- 



m, T71 l ci 1 „ „ *i „ 1. t\ ■ ii : i „v,:*„,i ti,„ pounding the increase with the principal every year. They result 



The Lastern States are the most thickly inhabited, the 1 , ., p. , , , _r . 1, TT K ■> , „, , . J „„, 



p ,, r j ,1 1 • v. -.1 in exhibiting that the population 01 the United btates in 179/ . 



greater part of the emigrations from them have been either to en Son f 



other States in New England,'or to the State of New York.. was 5 >°88,S90. 



SECTION II. 



In 1750, New England and New York together contained 

 444,000-in 1790, 1,348,942, having more than trebled their 0N ™ E ™hritory of the united states. 

 numbers in 40 years, and increased during all that period at the From the statements in Section I., it appears that the increase 

 rate of more than 5 per cent, upon their original number, and f t] le inhabitants of the United States is in the compound ratio 

 in the compound ratio of nearly 3 per cent ; and as many more f about 3£ per cent, and that at the end of 1797 their numbers ■ 

 ■ were 5,088^890. The territory of the United States has been 



* Various authorities are quoted from which these data are taken. usually reckoned, after Mr. HiitcMns, as equal to a tract of 



