202 History of the New York Census. 



Manufactures, incorporated in this state, in 1791, soon 

 after its organization, endeavored to collect statistics of 

 husbandry by the aid of circulars, but without published 

 results. Early in 1815, the Literary and Philosophical 

 Society of IsTew York, under the presidency of Dewitt 

 Clinton, issued a circular for obtaining a statistical account 

 of the state of New York. It was prepared with intelli- 

 gence and embraced a wide range of inquiries relating to 

 local history, natural history, resources and products, the 

 methods and results of agriculture and manufactures, 

 climatology, social and moral statistics, local incomes and 

 expenditures of towns and counties, and in short every 

 thing that could be reached by inquiry, or desired for a 

 gazetteer. These inquires were evidently suggested by the 

 statistical labors of Sir John Sinclair in Scotland, whose 

 publications were presented as a model of excellence. 



Many of the inquiries of this circular, were beyond the 

 reach of any national census plan, and to succeed would 

 have required educated experts in every locality ad- 

 dressed. 



The returns of the census of 1821, present only the 

 acres of improved land, and the number of neat cattle 

 and sheep. They also show the number of yards of fulled 

 cloth, flannel and linen, or other cloths made in families. 



Upon the revision of the Constitution in 1821, a census 

 was ordered in ] 825, and on every tenth year thereafter 

 for the? purpose of equalization the representation. Al- 

 iens, paupers and persons of color not taxed, were de- 

 ducted from the total, and were therefore necessarily 

 enumerated separately. This provision is still continued, 

 with the exception that paupers, were under the Constitu- 

 tion of 1846, not excluded from representation. 



The census of 1825, was taken by " one discreet person 

 to be called a Marshal in each town or ward, appointed 

 by the supervisor, clerk and assessors." The schedules 



