Part 14

Mr. King further observes that by the assessments on marriages, births, and burials, and the collectors’ returns thereupon, and by the parish registers, it appears that the proportions of marriages, births, and burials are according to the following scheme

Vide Scheme A.

Whence it may be observed that in 10,000 coexisting persons there are 71 or 72 marriages in the country, producing 343 children; 78 marriages in towns producing 351 children; 94 marriages in London, producing 376 children.

Whereby it follows—

1. That though each marriage in London produces fewer people than in the country, yet London in general having a greater proportion of breeders, is more prolific than the other great towns, and the great towns are more prolific than the country.

2. That if the people of London of all ages were as long-lived as those in the country, London would increase in people much faster pro rata than the country.

3. That the reasons why each marriage in London produces fewer children than the country marriages seem to be—

(1) From the more frequent fornications and adulteries.

(2) From a greater luxury and intemperance.

(3) From a greater intentness on business.

(4) From the unhealthfulness of the coal smoke.

(5) From a greater inequality of age between the husbands and wives.

(6) From the husbands and wives not living so long as in the country.

He further observes, accounting the people to be 5,500,000, that the said five millions and a half (including the transitory people and vagrants) appear by the assessments on marriages, births, and burials, to bear the following proportions in relation to males and females, and other distinctions of the people, viz.:—

SCHEME A.

People. Annual Producing Marriages. children In all. each 530,000 London and 1 in 106 5,000 4.0 bills of mortality 870,000 The cities 1 in 128 6,800 4.5 and market towns 4,100,000 The 1 in 141 29,200 4.8 villages and hamlets 5,500,000 1 in 134 41,000 4.64

* * * * *

Annual Births. Annual Burials. In all. In all. London and 1 in 26½ 20,000 1 in 24.1 22,000 bills of mortality The cities 1 in 28½ 30,600 1 in 30.4 28,600 and market towns The 1 in 29.4 29,200 1 in 34.4 119,400 villages and hamlets 1 in 28.95 190,000 1 in 32.35 170,000

Vide Scheme B.

So that the number of communicants is in all 3,260,000 souls; and the number of fighting men between sixteen and sixty is 1,308,000.

SCHEME B.

Males. Males. Females. Both. Females. In London 10 to 13 230,000 300,000 530,000 and bills of mortality In the 8 to 9 410,000 460,000 870,000 other cities and market- towns In the 100 to 99 2,060,000 2,040,000 4,100,000 villages and hamlets 27 to 28 2,700,000 2,800,000 5,500,000

That as to other distinctions they appear by the said assessments to bear these proportions.

People. Males. Females. Husbands and 34½% 1,900,000 950,000 950,000 wives at above Widowers at 1½% 90,000 90,000 above Widows at about 4½% 240,000 240,000 Children at 45% 2,500,000 1,300,000 1,200,000 above Servants at 10½% 560,000 260,000 300,000 about Sojourners and 4% 210,000 100,000 110,000 single persons 100% 5,500,000 2,700,000 2,800,000

And that the different proportions in each of the said articles between London, the great towns, and the villages, may the better appear, he has formed the following scheme:—

London and Bills of The other Cities and The Villages and Mortality. Souls. great Towns. Souls. Hamlets. Souls. Husbands and Wives 37% 196,100 36% 313,200 34% 1,394,000 Widowers 2% 10,600 2% 17,400 1½% 61,500 Widows 7% 37,100 6% 52,200 4½% 184,500 Children 33% 174,900 40% 348,000 47% 1,927,000 Servants 13% 68,900 11% 95,700 10% 410,000 Sojourners 8% 42,400 5% 43,500 3% 123,000 100% 530,000 100% 870,000 100% 4,100,000

SCHEME B (continued).

He further observes, supposing the people to be 5,500,000, that the yearly births of the Kingdom may be 190,000, and that the several ages of the people may be as follows: