of the United States and Territories of North America. 67 
once exhibit the relation between the males and females of each 
class : 
Ages. 
Proportional 
number of 
Males. 
Proportional 
number of 
Females. 
Under fourteen, 
106 
100 
Fourteen, and under twenty -six, 
100 
100 
Twenty-six, and under forty-five, 
107 
100 
Forty-five and upwards, 
110 
100 
It therefore appears, that, in the transition from the first class 
to the second, of the slave population, the ratio of majority 
which at first existed, becomes gradually converted into one of 
equality ; but that, from this latter class to the final one, the ra- 
tio again augments, and attains its maximum during the decline 
and close of life. 
The results which the above Table affords, are so very dif- 
ferent from those which have been obtained from the returns of 
the free coloured persons, that no apology may be necessary for 
somewhat interrupting the order of the essay, by introducing 
them in this place : 
Proportional 
Proportional 
Ages. 
number of 
number of 
Males. 
Females. 
Under fourteen, 
104 
100 
Fourteen, and under twenty -six, 
Twenty-six, and under forty-five, 
84 
100 
86 
100 
Forty-five and upwards, 
93 
100 
How opposite must have been the causes which contributed 
to produce the first numerical columns of the preceding Tables ! 
They are most unquestionably of a highly interesting nature, 
and deserving, in a particular degree, the attention of the phi- 
losopher. One principle may be clearly deduced from them, that 
the condition of the female is much improved by the blessings 
of freedom ; but how far the representative numbers for the 
males may be safely compared with each other, considering the 
probability there is, that this class of the slave population is 
continually receiving augmentations of an irregular kind, 
through the various channels which unfortunately exist for the 
