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History of the New York Census. 



from the exact numbers. Yet, notwithstanding this ine- 

 vitable uncertainty in the primary elements of the sum- 

 mary of national wealth, the results will be found to 

 approximate often very nearly to the truth. The over- 

 estimates of one, will balance the short returns of another, 

 and thus in a measure, compensate themselves in the final 

 aggregate. 



Legislation can never remedy this defect, which is alto- 

 gether beyond the power of law to correct or prevent. 

 Few business men keep their accounts of manufactures, 

 of the cost and quantity of raw materials, of the value 

 and amount of manufactured products, or of the price of 

 labor, as an element of the cost of manufactures, with that 

 exactness that might be desired in a census. In the 

 absence of data, what remedy is left to the agent charged 

 with collecting these statistics? The utmost courtesy and 

 willingness, supplies only estimates. It is an easy matter 

 to prepare a set of inquiries, that should furnish the most 

 exact basis for calculating the profits and wants of busi- 

 ness: but it is unwise to attempt more than we can ration- 

 ally expect to accomplish. 



I will now proceed to enumerate some of the inquiries 

 which have been included in the census returns of other 

 countries, which I do not deem applicable with us. 



In France, and other nations of Continental Europe, a 

 prominent place is given to tables of stillborn, foundlings, 

 and illegitimate children. Under the strict municipal 

 regime which there prevails, these statistics are readily 

 obtaiued, but with us, however desirable and useful, it is 

 not in the nature of Americans to report frankly and with- 

 out reserve, every thing they know concerning their own 

 families. The evasions that would be practiced would 

 quickly cancel whatever value there might be anticipated 

 from them. 



It would be deemed inexpedient to make inquiries upon 



