Population  and  Dijeafes  of  Chefter.  137 
in  thofe  pari  flies.  It  has  been  fufpected,  as  a reafon  why 
the  central  parifhes  appear  molt  healthy,  that  more  who- 
die  in  the  city  may  be  buried  in  the  fuburbs  than  the 
contrary ; and,  as  a reafon  why  the  whole  town  appears 
fo  healthy,  that  more  perfons  who  die  in  it  may  be 
buried  in  the  country  than  the  contrary ; but  on  Uriel 
inquiry  I can  find  no  foundation  for  either  fuppofition. 
The  extent  of  the  furvey  both  in  each  parifli,  and  in  the 
town  in  general,  correfponds  with  much  exahtnefs  with 
the  extent  of  the  regifter.  However  it  muft  be  con- 
feffed,  that  there  is  one  circumftance  which  makes  the 
center  appear  more  healthy  than  the  fuburbs,  though  it 
rather  tends  to  prove  the  reverfe.  The  central  parifhes 
have  a fmaller  proportion  of  inhabitants  in  the  weakeft 
period  of  life,  or  under  the  age  of  15.  The  number 
under  15  in  thefe  parifhes  is  888;  whereas,  had  it 
borne  the  fame  proportion  to  the  whole  number  that  it 
bears  in  the  town  in  general,  it  would  have  been  1067. 
But  this  confideration  could  only  reduce  the  average  of 
deaths  from  1 in  5 8 to  x in  5 5 ; fo  that,  making  all  due 
allowance  of  this  account,  the  center  is  ftill  proved  to  be 
remarkably  the  moft  healthy. 
There  is  one  probable  caufe  that  renders  the  fuburbs 
more  unhealthy  than  the  reft  of  the  town.  A part  of  the 
putrid  filth,  which  flows  from  the  center  to  the  circum- 
Vol.  LXVIII.  T ference. 
