of EdinhuTfjli, Session 1883 - 84 . 
627 
As in the case of births, the relative numbers of bachelors and 
spinsters materially affect the matrimonial market. Thus, since 
1870 the registrar of a small Inverness-shire parish has twice 
reported a blank marriage register at the close of the year, the 
cause ungallantly assigned by him being the “ undue proportion of 
old maids ! ” Very similar results, however, are found even where 
swains are abundant. The registrar of an insular parish in Argyll- 
shire very recently reported that the only marriage during an entire 
quarter was that of a tradesman from the south ; adding that 
“ though there is a large number of native bachelors, the inducements 
to marry appear to be awanting.” 
III. Deaths. — Tor many reasons, more or less obvious, the 
mortality returns present even greater contrasts than those appli- 
cable to births and marriages. Speaking generally, the number of 
deaths is materially influenced by the density of the population ; but 
this circumstance has been so frequently adverted to, that it is 
unnecessary to produce any confirmatory evidence.* The normal 
mortality of a closely-packed population may, however, be sensibly 
lessened by the judicious introduction of sanitary improvements ; and 
during the last twenty years many very gratifying results have been 
exhibited in some of our largest cities. In many country districts, 
however, where the blessings of pure air and abundant space have 
been vouchsafed, we frequently find that a deficient or faulty water- 
supply, inattention to cleanliness and ventilation, or the toleration 
of nuisances in the immediate vicinity of human dwellings, are the 
means of largely augmenting the number of deaths. In such a city 
as Edinburgh, which, for the purposes of the Eegistration Acts, is 
divided into five districts, very striking differences appear in their 
respective mortality returns. It cannot, of course, be expected that 
the ratio of deaths should be the same in the district of St Giles, 
embracing as it does many of the most crowded and insanitary 
sections of the city, as in that of St George, which is largely com- 
posed of the abodes of the wealthy, with their various advantageous 
* The numbers of births and marriages are also considerably augmented by 
the density of the population, being highest in the eight principal towns, next 
highest in the large towns, lower in the small towns, and lowest of all in the 
rural districts. Some interesting illustrative details will be found in the Fib 
teenth Annual Report of the Registrar-General, applicable to the year 18G9. 
