[ 125 ] 
extended through all the pariflies and towns in the 
kingdom. The advantages arifing from hence would 
be very confiderable. It would give the precife law 
according to which human life waftes in its different 
ffages, and thus fupply the neceffary data for com- 
puting accurately the values of all life-ari 7 mities and 
reverjions. It would, likewife, Oiew tlie different 
degrees of healthfulnefs of different fituations, mark 
the progrefs of population from year to year, keep 
always in view the number of people in the king- 
dom, and, in many other refpeds, furnifh inflruc- 
tion of the greatefl importance to the date. Mr. De 
Moivre, at the end of his book on the do6lrine of 
chances, has recommended a general regulation of 
this kind ; and obferved, particularly, that at iealf 
it is to be wiQied, that an account was taken, at 
proper intervals, of all the living in the kingdom, 
with their ages and occupations ; which would, iii 
fome degree, anfwer mod of the purpofes I have 
mentioned. But, dear Sir, I am fenfible it is high 
time to finifh thefe remarks. I have been carried in 
them far beyond the limits I at firfl intended. I al- 
ways think with pleafure and gratitude of yourfriend- 
fhip. The world owes to you many important dif- 
Goveries; and your name muft live as long as there 
is any knowledge of philofophy among mankind. 
That your happinefs in this, and every other refped:, 
may continually increafe, is the fincere wifh of, 
Newington-Green, 
April 3, 1769. 
Sir, 
Your much obliged, 
and very humble fervanf, 
Richard Price. 
XVll, DiJJertatio- 
