280 Mtfcellanea (Zuriofa. 



An Efiimate of the Degrees of the 

 Mortality of Mankind^ drawn 

 from curious Tables of the Births 

 and Funerals at the City of Bre- 

 flaw; with an Attempt to af cer- 

 tain the Price of Annuities upon 

 Lives. By Mr. E. Halley\ 



THE Contemplation of the Mortality of 

 Mankind, has befides the Moral, its Phyfi- 

 cal and Political Ufes, both which have been 

 fome Years fince moft judicioufly conftder'd by 

 the Curious Sir H'illiam Petty, in his Natural and 

 political Obferyations on the Bills of Mortality 

 of London, own'd by Captain John Graunt : 

 And flnce in a like Treatife on the Bills of Mor- 

 tality of Dublin. But the Deduction from thofe 

 Bills of Mortality feemed even to their Authors 

 to be defective : Firft, In that the Number of 

 the People was wanting. Secondly, That the 

 Ages of the People dying was ^not to be had. 

 And Laftly, That both London and Dublin, by 

 reafon of the great and cafual Acceffion of Stran- 

 gers who die therein, (as appeared in both, by 

 the great Excefs of the Funerals above the Births) 

 rendred them incapable of being Standards for 

 this purpofe ; which requires, if it were poffible, 

 that the People we treat of, fliould not at all 



be 



