102 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
saries of life ; for the lowing herds and waving crops have not 
more propitiated the bounteous Ceres, than have the limpid 
streams and verdant fields, the no less beneficent Hygeia ; the 
bountiful increase of the food of man having been accompanied 
with the blessings of health and longevity. The increased salu- 
brity of the fenny districts is satisfactorily established by the 
following extract from the Report of Mr. Marshall, jun., the 
clerk to the Union of the Isle of Ely, inserted in the Poor Law 
Commissioner's General Report on the sanitory condition of 
the labouring population of Great Britain drainage, embank- 
ments, and enclosures have given stability to the soil (which in 
its nature is as rich as the Delta of Egypt), as well as salubrity 
to the air. These very considerable improvements, though car- 
ried on at a great expense, have at last turned to a double account 
both in reclaiming much ground and improving the rest, and 
contributing to the healthiness of the inhabitants." 
On reference to a very perfect account of the baptisms, mar- 
riages and burials in Wisbeach from 1558 to 1826, I find that 
in the decimal periods, of which 1801, 1811, and 1821, were 
the middle years, the baptisms and burials were as under : — - 
Baptisms. Burials. Population in 1801. 
1796 to 1805 1627 1535 4710 
1806 to 1815 1664 1313 5209 
1816 to 1825 2165 1393 6515 
In the first of the three periods the mortality was 1 in 31 ; in 
the second 1 in 40 ; in the third 1 in 47 j the latter being less 
than the exact mean mortality of the kingdom for the last two 
years. (See Registrar GeneraFs Second Report, p. 4, fol. edit.) 
These figures clearly show that the mortality has wonderfully di- 
minished in the last half century, and who can doubt but that 
the increased salubrity of the fens, produced by drainage is a 
chief cause of the improvement.'^ 
In conclusion I have but to state, that from the inquiries and 
researches detailed in the preceding pages, respecting the muta- 
