66 Hates of Mortality 



without vegetables or antiscorbutics, they will prevent these 

 diseases, as fevers, &c, which would arise if vegetables are 

 issued, and, although the vessels were well supplied with stores 

 of all kinds. 



I trust I have given sufficient reasons for bringing this subject 

 under your notice, and I hope that no time will be lost in putting 

 the merchant vessels that trade out of, and to this port, in a 

 condition, both of accommodation, dieting, and discipline, that the 

 health of the seamen may be secured, and that Scurvy in every 

 form which can be prevented, may never affect our seamen. 



Aet. V. — On the Bates of Mortality and Expectation of Life in 

 New South Wales as compared with England and other countries, 

 by M. B. Fell, JEsq., B.A., Professor of Mathematics in the 

 University of Sydney. 



[Head 6th November, 1867.] 



I have undertaken the task of examining the reports of the 

 Registrar-General, from the year 1856 to the present time, and 

 the Census returns for the years 1S56 to 1861, for the purpose of 

 ascertaining and exhibiting, as exactly as the data will permit, 

 the rates of mortality at various ages ; so that a comparison may 

 be made between this colony and England, so far as regards the 

 effect of the climate and condition of the people upon the 

 duration of life. Another object which I had in view in under- 

 taking this investigation was the formation of a complete mortality 

 table, to serve as the basis of exact cumulations respecting Life 

 Assurance, and Life Annuities. It is not my intention, however, 

 to enter upon that part of the subject in this paper. 



I have often heard the question asked, whether this climate 

 is as favourable to the duration of life as that of England, and 

 I have heard it answered in a variety of ways. I have heard it 

 said that our climate is more than usually fatal to infants and 

 young children, and that it is favourable to old age. To questions 

 of this kind the published returns afford no immediate answer. 



