riage were raised to 30, the population would cease to increase at all; it would remain stationary. If the registration returns were equally full and accurate in this country, so as to allow of similar calculations being made here, we should have all the elements necessary to determine one of the most difficult and most frequently mooted questions in political economy.

Of 7,723 persons whose deaths were registered in Massachusetts during the past year, the average age was 3374 years. Of 27,001 deaths, including 454 still-born, registered in Massachusetts in three years, the average age was 32 11 years. The average age deduced from the registered deaths in England for four years ending June, 1841, was 28.93 years; in the Prussian States, it was 28.86. From the returns of deaths in Massachusetts for 3 years, in England for 4 years, and in the Prussian States for 14 years, we obtain the following results:- Out of every 10,000 deaths, 1,642 in Massachusetts, 2,161 in England, and 2,847 in Prussia, took place under one year of age; 3,763 in Massachusetts, 4,475 in England, and 4,947 in Prussia under ten years; 7,070 in Massachusetts, 7,148 in England, and 7,066 in Prussia, under fifty years; 9,221 in Massachusetts, 9,412 in England, and 9,619 in Prussia, under eighty years. These facts seem to prove, that the average duration of life in Massachusetts is greater than it is in England; while the facts mentioned in the following article, derived by Mr. Porter from an examination of the census of the two countries, go to show, that the average duration of life in the United States is less than it is in England.

Total number of Deaths in Massachusetts reported during the three years, 1842–4.

2255 2021 2092 2768 3051 2672 2140 2230 2132 2161 2353 2270 470

28,615

4434 2061 2349 1317 1713 3063 2310 1844 1586 1907 2314 1675 412 16 1614 28,615

March.

"Hence it appears that the greatest mortality has occurred in September (3,051,) and the least in June (2,021;) that the three successive months in which the mortality was greatest, were August, September, and October (8,491,) and that it was least in May, June, and July (6,368.) It also appears that more than one third (11,874) died before the age of ten years."

We will venture to make one suggestion respecting the future returns of registration in Massachusetts. As it is important to have the means of comparing the physical condition of one race with that of another, every record of a birth, death, or marriage should specify the color, as well as the sex and parentage, of the individual. There is the same reason for making this distinction in a system of registration as in the U. S. census.

XIII. COMPARATIVE AGES AND LONGEVITY

of Whites, Free Colored Persons, and Slaves, in the United States. THE United States Census of 1840 showed some extraordinary facts respecting the comparative prevalence of insanity and idiocy among the white, free colored, and slave population of this country. The returns seemed to prove, that free colored persons were very subject to these terrible diseases, -even in a greater degree than the whites; while the slaves were comparatively free from them. The proportion of the whole number of insane and idiotic persons to the total population was as 1 to 979; in New Hampshire, this proportion was as high as 1 to 564; and in Rhode Island, one person out of every 504 was insane or idiotic.

The whole number of insane and idiotic white persons was 14,508; the whole white population being 14,189,705, this was in the proportion of 1 to 978. On the other hand, the whole number of insane and idiotic colored persons, in the non-slaveholding States, was 1,189; the whole colored population of these States being 171,857,* this was in the proportion of 1 to 144, disregarding fractions. The whole number of insane and idiotic colored persons, in the Slaveholding States, was 1,737; the whole colored population of these States being 2,701,791,† this was in the proportion of 1 to 1,555. In other words, in the free States, one colored person out of every 144 was insane or idiotic; in the slave States, there was but one out of every 1,555. If we take single States, the difference will appear still more remarkable. Mississippi, out of a black population of 196,577, of whom all but 1,366 were slaves, had but 82 insane or idiotic, being in the proportion of 1 to 2,263; Massachusetts, out of a black population of

*This includes 1,129, who were nominally slaves. †This includes 215,565 free colored persons.

8,669, all of whom were free, had 200 insane or idiotic, being in the proportion of 1 to only 43. Georgia had 283,697 blacks, (280,944 of them being slaves,) of whom only 134 were insane or idiotic, or 1 to 2,117; Maine had 1,355 free blacks, of whom 94 were insane or idiotic, being in the frightful proportion of 1 to every 14. A French writer, remarking upon this last case, justly says that the alleged facts are wholly incredible, for no race of human beings can be subject to mental alienation in this terrible degree. The proportion in France is about 1 to 2,000.

The extraordinary statements thus derived from the census naturally excited great surprise, and led some persons to examine the returns very carefully, in order to discover, if possible, the mistakes on which they were founded. This examination proved fatal to the credit of the work, for it disclosed such a multitude of blunders and discrepancies as to show that the enumeration was wholly untrustworthy, and that any conclusions founded upon it would be entirely unsafe. In the last volume of this Almanac, in an article upon the "Mistakes in the Census of 1840," we exposed a sufficient number of these errors to show the true character of the returns, and to caution persons against putting any reliance upon them. It is enough to repeat here, that in a large number of towns the whole colored population was not so great as the number of colored persons in them reported to be insane. What cause led to such glaring blunders it is impossible to tell. As the data were so incorrect, we might well expect that further calculations and arguments founded upon them would lead to conclusions the very opposite of those upon which we have here commented; in other words, that various deductions from the returns would be found to contradict each other. The Journal of the London Statistical Society, for February, 1843, contains a paper written by Mr. Porter, an eminent statistician, the Secretary of the Society, which incidentally brings to light some facts, apparently established by the census returns, that lead to conclusions very different from those indicated by the statements respecting the comparative prevalence of insanity. The paper does not relate specially, it is true, to this particular disease; it refers more generally to the comparative physical condition of the white and colored races. But it is hardly possible to accept the conclusions to which it leads, without believing that the former statements respecting the number of insane and idiotic persons were erro

neous.

Mr. Porter did not intend primarily to examine the census of the United States. His paper is upon the ages of the English population, according to the census of Great Britain, taken in 1841. The corresponding facts relating to the population of this country, as shown by the census of 1810, are introduced only for the sake of comparison. He begins with the supposition that, during the early years of life, every person is, in some degree, a burden upon the community. It must therefore be favorable to the growing wealth of a nation, that the proportion which

the number of children bears to the whole population should be small; while it is necessary to that end, that the whole number of those who have ceased to be burdensome, and who form the productive part of the people the working bees of the hive - should be large." Of course, it is not meant that it is of advantage that the actual number of children should be small, since it is only from them that the productive class can be recruited; but that a country is then most favorably situated for progress, when it has the largest proportionate number of its inhabitants of an age suited to active employments. It is obvious, also, that the comparative longevity of two races is shown by the comparative numbers who are found to survive a certain age, that of 50, for instance, --and not by a few isolated cases of individuals who have attained a great age. The whole number of persons in England, in 1841, was 15,906,589, of whom 5,723,782 were under 15 years of age, 7,969,171 were between 15 and 50, and 2,213,636 were over 50. In other words, out of every 10,000 persons, 3,610 were under 15 years of age, 5,025 were between 15 and 50, and 1,365 were over 50. In respect to the first two items, this is a more favorable result than was indicated by the census of England in 1821, when, out of every 10,000 persons, 3,908 were found to be under 15, and 4,680 were between 15 and 50. But in respect to the third item, showing the comparative longevity of the people at the two periods, the result is a little less favorable; for out of every 10,000, in 1821, there were 1,412, and in 1841, only 1,365, who had passed the age of 50. For the comparison, in these respects, of the English census of 1841, with the United States census of 1840, we copy Mr. Porter's own words and computations:

"In America, the ages are given at the same stages as those adopted in the English returns of 1821. The proportionate numbers at each age in 10,000 persons were as follows:

"The condition of England, as far as depends upon the ages of the popu lation is placed in a comparatively favorable light by these figures. While we have to provide for the sustenance and education of only 3,610 in each 10,000, the United States are thus burthened in respect of 4,371 in that number; and while we have 5,025 in 10,000 between 15 and 50, and who are thus in a condition to add to the general wealth, there are in the United States only 4,799 in 10,000 between those ages. We have thus in every 10,000 of the population 226 more persons whose energies are available for the sustenance of 761 fewer children than are living in the United States. Of persons above 50 years, we have 1,365 living, while in the United States the proportion is only 830, showing that the rapid growth of their population is not attributable to the great duration of life, but arises from the number and fruitfulness of marriages, aided in a considera-ble degree, no doubt, by immigration.

"In taking the census in the United States, the white population is distinguished from the colored race, and this latter is divided into two classes, viz. free and slave. The returns already noticed have reference to the white inhabitants only. The ages of the colored people are distinguished at different stages from those adopted for the whites, classing together all under 10 years; all between 10 and 24; all between 24 and 36; all between 36 and 55; all between 55 and 100; and all who are 100 and upwards. To the following figures, which necessarily follow this arrangement, there are added the proportionate numbers (by approxima tion) of the white inhabitants of the same ages, viz.

"Comparing the whites with the free colored population, it will appear that the colored people are in the most favorable condition; the proportion of children is smallest; during the period of activity, on the contrary, the proportion living are greater than those of the whites, and a larger proportion attain to longevity. But when we compare the condition in these respects of the slave population with that of the other two classes, we find it to be the least favorable of the whole; the proportion of children is greatest, while the remaining parts of the population, those in the vigor of life, and those who have attained to greater years, are less than the proportions of the whites, and far less than those experienced by such of the same race as are in the possession of freedom. It would appear that the climate of the United States, or some other influences, are more favorable to the African than to the European races, but that those advantages are far more than counterbalanced by the evils that attend upon them in the condition of slavery."

These results are very different from what would naturally be expected; for as the population here increases to some extent from immigration, and as much the larger portion of immigrants would probably be between