Am. IY. History of the Census in New York, and Plan 

 proposed for the State Census o/1865. By Franklin 

 B. Hough. 



[Read before the Albany Institute, Dec. 19, 1864, and before the American 

 Geographical and Statistical Society, February 2, 1865.] 



I invite your attention to a brief historical sketch of the 

 several enumerations of the population that have been 

 made in New York, and shall present as fully as practica- 

 ble, some of the proposed modifications recommended for 

 adoption in the state census which is required by the con- 

 stitution to be taken during the present year. 



I shall not undertake to present any of the results of 

 previous enumerations of the population, but shall limit 

 myself entirely to a consideration of the methods employed 

 in obtaining the census, the scope of inquiries proposed, 

 and such suggestions as a careful study of the subject, 

 while directing the labors incident to the last state census, 

 brought to my notice as desirable features to be incorpo- 

 rated in the next. 



During the Dutch period of our Colonial history we 

 have about half a dozen statements of the population, 

 which are but little better than estimates. 



The first attempt at a census during the English period 

 was in 1686, when Gov. Dongan, with the advice of his 

 council, and in pursuance of a request of the committee of 

 trade, directed the sheriff in each county in the colony to 

 report on or before the first day of April ensuing, the mili- 

 tary strength, number of inhabitants and merchants, Eng- 

 lish or foreigners, — the number of servants and slaves in 



