OF SELBORNE 21 



poor ; many of whom are sober and industrious, and 

 live comfortably in good stone or brick cottages, which 

 are glazed, and have chambers above stairs : mud build- 

 ings we have none. Besides the employment from 

 husbandry, the men work in hop gardens, of which we 

 have many ; and fell and bark timber. In the spring and 

 summer the women weed the corn ; and enjoy a second 

 harvest in September by hop-picking. Formerly, in the 

 dead months they availed themselves greatly by spinning 

 wool, for making barragons, a genteel corded stuff, much 

 in vogue at that time for summer wear ; and chiefly manu- 

 factured at Alton, a neighbouring town, by some of the 

 people called Quakers : but from circumstances this trade 

 is at an end.* The inhabitants enjoy a good share of 

 health and longevity : and the parish swarms with children. 



Average of burials for 60 years. 



From 1720 to 1729, both years in- /Males 4,8 \ 



elusive . . . . \ Females 5,1 / "■" 



From 1730 to 1739, both years in- /Males 4,8 \ 



elusive .... \ Females 5,8/ ^"''* 



„ .,„,„. ^„,„. 1 . f Males 4,61 „ , 



From 1740 to 1749, mclusive . . | Females 3 8 / *•* 



r Males 4 91 



From 1750 to 1759, inclusive . . | Females s'l | ^°'° 



r Males 6 91 



From 1760 to 1769, inclusive . . | Females 6^5 / ^^'^ 



{Males 5 51 



Females 62 / ^^'' 

 Total of burials of Males 3151 ... 

 Females 325/ ''*" 

 Total of burials from 1720 to 1779, both inclusive, 60 years, 640. 

 Baptisms exceed burials by more than one-third. 

 Baptisms of Males exceed Females by one-tenth, or one in ten. 

 Burials of Females exceed Males by one in thirty. 

 It appears that a child, bom and bred in this parish, has an equal 



chance to live above forty years. 



Twins thirteen times, many of whom dying young have lessened the 



chance for life. 



Chances for life in men and women appear to be equal. 



* Since the passage above was written, I am happy in being able 

 to say that the spinning employment is a little revived, to the no 

 small comfort of the industrious housewife. 



