286 Estimate of the risk of Life, 



for 20 years, retire living between the 20th and 25th, then, by the 

 table at page 274 in the Gleanings, these 40 being deducted from 

 the 100, the deaths would be stated at 40, out of 60, and the survivors 

 only 20 of that number. This circumstance, viz. the fact that the re- 

 tirements come mostly in the later years of service, will of itself explain 

 the wide difference apparent in the value of life in the later years, com- 

 pared with the earlier as exhibited in the article in question, and 

 remarked upon there as if fully established. The table at page 274 

 shows a decrement of very nearly 1-1 2th of the number living, for each 

 year, from the age of 45 to 50, which is out of all reason : one in 41 to 1 

 in 37 is the ratio of the Northampton tables quoted for the same age, 

 and the difference of climate cannot surely triple and quadruple this 

 mortality at that period of life*. 



Looking upon all computation from the number of survivors after 

 a given period as impossible, in consequence of the large proportion of 

 retirements in the advanced years of service, I am compelled to reject 

 the tables of the Gleanings altogether, and offer instead those given 

 above, which are based, as already explained, upon a comparison of the 

 number of deaths in each year of service, with the number living, and 

 in India on the first day of the year. This reduced to a decimal pro- 

 portion will allow a comparison to be made of the value of life in each 

 year, with the value assumed in the best approved tables of Europe. 

 The retirements will not much affect a calculation made on this prin- 

 ciple, and unless error can be detected in the numbers assumed for the 

 deaths on one hand, or for the total of risks on the other, I am not aware 

 of any ground on which the comparison can be impugned. Proceed 

 we therefore to this part of the subject, and first for the age of appoint- 

 ment. In the article of the G leanings this is taken at 20 years. Now- 

 considering that 15 years was heretofore the age of earliest appointment, 

 and 22 years the latest permitted by Act of Parliament ; considering too 

 that until 1806-7, there was no detention at the Hertford or Hayleybury 

 College, but those appointed were at once shipped to their destination ; 

 6othat many actually reached India before they were 16: this assumed 

 age appears too high, 17 years for the age of arrival before the establish- 



* Per Table in the Gleanings. Per Northampton ditto. 

 Age. Deaths. 



45 1 in 15 1 in41 



46 .... 1 in 14 1 in 40 



47 1 in 13 1 in 39 



48 1 in 12 1 in 38 



49 1 in 11 Iin37 



