90 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION, 
from various published documents chiefly referring to the 
year 1865. 
In 1851 the population was given at 68,600, while the 
births were 2300, being 33 per 1000. In 1861 the popula- 
tion had increased to 84,500, while the births were only 
2450 or 29 per 1000. I have heard it estimated that in 
1865 the population amounted to over 90,000, which would 
give a birth-rate of about 34 per 1000 for that year, the 
births being 2955. These averages are not very different 
from those of Great Britain, but they are lower than in any 
of the greater continental States of Europe, except France, 
where the rate is 26 per 1000. 
In 1851 there were 380 marriages, or 5£ for every 1000 
inhabitants. The European proportion is about 7 per 1000, 
and that for the whole of Great Britain is 8 per 1000. Tak- 
ing the average of the years 1860-61-62 we find the yearly 
number of marriages in Trinidad to be only 390, giving 
4-6 per 1000 of the total population. If we take the pro- 
portions for 1865 we find them still less. The following 
statement will give a more lively idea of the true state of 
matters in this respect : — 
In 1848 there were 52 births to 10 marriages. 
,, 1850 
>> 
62 
}) 
10 
a 
„ 1861 
a 
63 
} } 
10 
a 
,, 1865 
a 
100 
a 
10 
a 
being on an 
average 
of all these 
years 
69 births to ten mar- 
riages.* But the fluctuations from year to year are so great 
that it will be better that I should mention to you some of 
the extremes. During the last ten years the highest num- 
ber of marriages in this Colony occurred in 1857 ; it was 
* According to the Census ofl861 the number of married persons was 
16,416, of unmarried, 68,022. 
