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extent, smaller irregularities disappear, and general laws may 

 be deduced; which, though they may not enable us to guard 

 against or prevent them to any very great extent, point out 

 the means by which their consequences may be materially 

 mitigated. So also in the case of crime, the statistics of this 

 subject properly collected and arranged, at once bring to view 

 facts in the highest degree startling, and which go far towards 

 pointing out the appropriate means which should be employed 

 for its prevention. A single fact of undoubted truth may per- 

 haps show that I have not much exaggerated their value on 

 this subject. In England, one-half of the offenders against 

 the laws of their country, are under 20 years of age ; one- 

 tenth under 16, and one-sixtieth under 12 ; a fact which never 

 could have been known, unless statistical collections had ex- 

 hibited it. Here, indeed, the interference of government is 

 perhaps necessary to supply complete details, and it is for you 

 to direct its attention to it. If you compare the censuses which 

 have been taken at different times under the direction of our 

 general and state governments, you will at once be struck with 

 the vast improvement in those of later years ; and yet, exa- 

 mined with a view to statistics, even these are susceptible of 

 still further improvements. The making and enforcing of well 

 founded suggestions on the proper authorities, is one of the le- 

 gitimate objects of societies like our own, and when judicious- 

 ly done, will always receive respectful attention. But even if 

 confined to our own city, the researches of one individual 

 would in a very short time accumulate a mass of information 

 of the highest interest, and which is now no where to be found. 

 The number of commitments to jail, the proportion of indict- 

 ments found, and of convictions under them ; the number of 

 schools and scholars ; the amount of merchandize annually 

 brought into and taken from the city ; the number of travel- 

 lers who arrive at and depart from it ; are some of the points 

 of very different character that may be mentioned as tending 

 to show the extent of the field. An infinitude of similar sub- 

 jects will suggest themselves on the slightest reflection, not one 

 of which would not afford ample scope for the exercise not 

 merely of industry, but of talent and skill. 



