The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-18 00:00:00

BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MAR-
RIAGES.

EXTRACTS FROM " THE SECOND ANNUAL
REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL
OF BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES IN
ENGLAND.
(Presented to both Houses of Parliament by command
of her Majesty.)
TO THE MARQUIS OF NORMANSY, HER. MAJESTY'S
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY Or STATE FOR THE HOME
DEPARTMENT.
General Register-office, June, 1840.
My Lord,—ln submitting to your Lordship a gene •
ral abstract of the number of births, deaths, and mar-
riages registered during the year ending June 30, 1839,
in order that the same may be laid before Parliament,
I will offer a few observations upon the results so exhi•
bited, and the progress and state of registration during
the period above mentioned.
I will first state the general results, and compare
them with those of the preceding year.
The numbers registered in the year ending June 30,
1839, were—
Births
Deaths 331,007

Marriages
Which, compared with the numbers for the preceding
year, show, for the births an increase of 80,828 ; for
deaths, a decrease of 4,949 ; for marriages, an increase
of 9,602.
The increase of the number of registered births re-
sults from the continuance of that success which began
to be exhibited in the third and fourth quarters of the
first year of registration, and was adverted to in my
first report—a success which, as before, I attribute
mainly to the diffusion of a true knowledge of the be-
neficialaendeneies of the measure, and to the diligence
and intelligence of the local officers by whom it is car-
ried into execution.
A registration of births has thus been effected for the
second year of registration, approaching much nearer to
a complete record of the whole number born than was
afforded by the registers of baptisms for the ten years
ending 1830, the latest period at which we possess
authentic returns with respect to such registers. The
mean annual number of registered baptisms during that
period was 373,349 ; and if it be assumed that the
number of such registered baptisms has increased in
the same ratio in which the population increased from
1820 to 1830, it will appear that the probable number
registered in the parochial registers for the year ending
June 30, 1839, will not have exceeded 46,000, a num-
ber less than that of the number of registered births
for the same period by more than 20,000.
I have the satisfaction of being able to ascribe the
decrease of registered deaths, compared with those of
the preceding year, not to imperfect registration, but
to a diminished mortality. I have found no reason to
believe that the registration of deaths has been con-
ducted with less care and efficiency than before ; but in
comparing recent returns of the causes of death with
those of the first year of registration, I have found
reason to believe that the mortality of that year was
above the average, owing to the inclemency of the
winter in the beginning of the year 1838, and to some
epidemics, the prevalence and severities of which ap-
pear to have subsequently declined.
It is impossible, at present, to do more than approxi-
mate to a solution of the important question—What is
the proportion of the mortality to the population of
England and Wales ? The only data for arriving at
an estimate of the population for the year ending June,
1839, are the returns of 1821 and 1831. Taking the
enumerations then given—adding the Scilly Isles, which
were omitted in 1821, adding for the army, navy, and
other unenumerated population, according to the state-
ments prefixed to those returns, such proportions as
may be assumed to have belonged at these periods re-
spectively to England and Wales—the numbers will be
as follows :-
1821
1831
These numbers include all who may be assumed to have
incurred the risk of death within England and Wales at
those periods, and whose deaths might have been re-
gistered, if an act similar to the present had then been
in operation, all of whom were not included in adverting
to those returns in my report of last year.
With these corrections, and on the assumption that
the rate of increase since 1831 has been the same as
from 1821 to 1831, the population of whom the deaths
might have been registered may be estimated to have
been nearly as follows at the middle of each of the two
first years of registration under the present law :
Males. Females. Total.
January I, 1838...... 7,612,967 7,828,768 15,441,735
January 1, 1839
Tne deaths registered in the years of which the above-
mentioned periods are the middle terms, were—
Males. Females. Total
Year ending June 30, 1838 170,965 164,991 335,956
Year ending June 30, 1839 169,112 161,895 331,007
Without corrections for omissions, this would show the
mortality to have been as follows :
18,38-39 Males. Females. Total.
1837-38.
lin 45-7 lin 49 lin 47-3
Mean of the two years lin 45-1 lin 48-2 lin 46-6
Assuming that the population may bo estimated as
obove, and that it is unnecessary to allow a greater cor-
rection than 2 per cent. for omissions in the registration
of deaths, the mean mortality of the two sexes for those
Itwo years will be about 1 in 46. •
In explanation of the great increase in the number of
registered marriages over these of the preceding year,
I beg leave to refer to my first report, wherein I stated
that the number there recorded was probably deficient ; j
that it was less by 4,627 than the number estimated by 1
Mr. Finlaison in his letter of Feb. 2, 1839 ; and that '
the deficiency was attributable to the great additional
number of marriages, which, as I had been credibly in-
formed, were, under a misapprehension of the object and
effect of the recent Act for lalarriages, solemnized im-
i mediately before that Act came into operation. The
increase now exhibited confirms the opinion then ex-
pressed—that the number returned in the first year
could not he regarded as a proper average.
In considering in what manner the records deposited
in the office may be rendered useful in illustrating the
condition of the people, I have found the registers of
marriages calculated to throw much light upon the state
of education with respect to writing among the adult
population of England and Wales.
Almost every marriage is duly registered, and every
register of marriage is signed by the parties married,
those who are able writing their names, and those who
are unable, or who write very imperfectly, making their
marks. Therefore an enumeration of the instances in
which the mark has been made, will show the propor-
tion among those married who either cannot write at all,
or write very imperfectly.
1 It may be said in recommendation of this criterion,
that it is free from the disadvantage of selection, in-
cluding alike every class and condition, and every age,
except children and very old persons. It must at the
same time be remembered, that although a fair average
is thus afforded, the portion of the whole population
exhibited in the yearly returns of marriages is small.
It appears that there are usually about seven or eight
marriages in every 1,000 of the population. It', there-
fore, it be assumed that persons between the ages of 18
and 65 constitute half the population (which the enu-
meration of ages in 1821 shows to be very nearly the
case), it will follow that of those who may be consi-
dered the marriageable portion of the community, about
30 in every 1,000 (or 3 per cent.) are married yearly.
The portion, therefore, whose signatures appear on the
marriage registers for a single year is sufficiently small
to be easily affected by accidental circumstances ; and it
cannot safely be asserted that the 30 in 1,000, from
whose signatures we would draw an inference respect-
ing the other 970, may not happen to consist of more
than the proportionate number of uneducated persons.
It must not therefore be hastily assumed, upon the evi-
dence afforded by the returns of a single year, that the
inhabitants of any particular county or district are less
educated than their neighbours. The experiment must
be repeated often, and be attended with similar results,
Defore this inference can be drawn with safety ; and it
is only when returns of the same description, given for
several successive years, shall have exhibited similar
facts, that it will be perfectly justifiable to arrive at any
unfavourably conclusion with respect to any particular
district.
It is obvious that this criterion gives no insight into
the amount and nature of the education now afforded.
It can be applicable only to the past, and particularly
to such as existed between 10 and 20 years of age.
It is confined to the signatures of persons married, and
1 is not extended to those of witnesses in the marriage re-
gisters, or of informants in the registers of births or of
deaths, and for this reason, that the signatures of per-
sons married are entirely free from the objection of
I
being selected instances, and that it is almost impossible
that the same persons should have signed twice in the
same year ; whereas the informants are in some degree
sid selectedenraabbli
el
ipteyrstoonws
deficiency,i
taen d the signature of the same informant
is liablel to occur many times.
tion.
deficiency iisn, wotihtheoruktinddesu obft elementary,
indicativee of
dcon-
uca-
-1
Opinionsmaythwienlleedibffeeras to "h
ntisto which
Here follows
tion the solution • inferred ; andexthteis aq s-
eat
twabhliechelxhwihililtinnot
thew
raotteomrtpiotn per
.
cent, in the metropolis, 'in each Elinglishpeouprity, and in
year ending June 30, 183 s'
of persons married in the
It appears from the table, wleh,
North and South Wale
signednthhearevefore, tha
that
iitnh mar
fifteen
English counties, ande is
more than 40 per cent. of the
men were enable to write
North and South Wales,
their names ; and in Lin t
West Riding of Yorkshreeena English counties, in the
half the women were similarly taddeifine Wales, more than
appear from the subjoined abstract of marriages,ient; and it will
the whole of England and Wales, out
that in
couples married, there were 40,5 g out of
7 121,083
women who could not write. men and 58,959
It is to be observed, that the education of the
menin this respect appears to be superior to that of the
women, the proportions per cent. of those who were
deficient being respectively 33 and 49 for the whole
kingdom, and a superiority being maintained by the
men throughout every county.

It will be observed that this return indicates a de-
cided superiority with regard to education is the metro-
polis as compared with the rest of England and Wales,
and, next to the metropolis, in the north of England ;
and that the principal deficiency is in Lancashire, Bed-
fordshire, Monmouthshire, and Wales. But, as I have
before observed, the comparative superiority or in-
feriority of particular portions of the kingdom must not
be hastily inferred from the returns of a single year.
I have included in the abstract of marriages the num-
bers married under 21 years of age, which are .5,6'28
men, and 16,414 women ; being in proportion to the
whole number of each sex married in the same year
4.64 per cent. and 13.55 per cent., respectively.
The counties in which early marriages have appeared
to prevail are those of Hertford, Bedford, Cambridge,
Huntingdon, Northampton, Leicester, and Essex. They
have occurred least in the metropolis, in the northern
counties, and in Wales. _ _ .

The average age at which persons are married in
England and Wales has never yet been ascertained,
nor do the returns deposited in this office enable me
to do so with certainty ; for the column headed
" Age" in the register of marriages is required to be
filled, not by the actual ages of the parties married, but
only by a statement whether each is of full age or a minor.
There was, however, considerable misapprehension on
this subject, notwithstanding my endeavours to circulate
information, when the recent Registration and Marriage
Acts first came into operation, and it appeared, on the
reception of the quarterly returns of certified copies, that
in many districts the precise ages of the parties married
had been uniformly inserted. This being the case, and
as the information is of a novel kind, I subjoin the result
of a❑ examination of the recorded ages i❑ 4,858 mar-
riages, which, as they are not selected instances, but be-
longed to districts varying greatly in situation and cha-
racter, and included every marriage in such districts,
thus comprising persons of every class, may be presumed
to be a fair example of the ages at which marriages occur
throughout the whole kingdom. The result of calcula-
tions founded on this abstract shows that the average
age of marriage was, for men, about 27 years, for women,
25 years and a few months.
The registration of places of public religious worship
not belonging to the Church of England has continued
to be affected to a considerable extent, as will appear
from the following table, showing the number registered
in each county before the year 1839, amounting to
1,332, and the number registered during each quarter
subsequently during that year, amounting to 246, form-
ing together a total of 1,578.
[Here follows a table showing the total number of
buildings in each county of England and Wales regis-
tered for the solemnisation of marriages, pursuant to the
Act of 6 and 7 William IV., c. 85, as well previous to
as during the year 1839.]
, I have appended to the abstracts of deaths a table
similar to that appended to the abstracts of the preced-
ing year, wherein each is reduced to a common denomi-
nation ; and the proportion of deaths, at different ages,
out of 1,000 registered deaths, is shown for each divi-
sion, and for the whole kingdom. It is thus rendered
easy to compare both different portions of the kingdom
and the results of different years.

I will first notice the most remarkable diversities ex
hibited by the abstracts of the second year of registra.
tion, with respect to different portions of the kingdom.

The m•st marked and serious difference is that which
is observable between the mortality of rural districts
and of large towns, as exemplified in the proportion of
the deaths of children and of persons dying at advanced
ages. The mortality of children appears to have been
greatest in towns ; and among those towns respecting
which I can exhibit separate returns, the greatest at
Manchester, where it appears that out of every 1,000
deaths of males, 196 were of children under three years
of age. The mean deaths of children under three years, in
Manchester and Salford and suburbs,were 475 out of 1,000
deaths. In Leeds and its suburbs the proportion was 447 ;
in Birmingham, 440 ; in Liverpool and West Derby,
437 ; while in Dorsetshire and Wiltshire it was 281 ;
in Devonshire, 296 ; in the North Riding of York-
shire, with Durham (except the mining parts), and the
northern part of the West Riding, 282 ; and in the
northern part of Lancashire, 'Westmorland, Cumber-
land, and Northumberland (except the mining portion
of the latter), not more than 253. In the whole of
England and Wales the mean mortality under three
years was 343 out of 1,000 deaths at all ages ; and it is
to be remarked that, notwithstanding the comparative
unhealthiness of towns, the proportion in the metropolis
is still less, namely, 338.
Equally remarkable are the contrasts exhibited by
the towns and rural districts with respect to the pro-
portion of persons who appear to have died in old age.
The proportion out of every 1,000 deaths which have
been at the age of 70 and upwards has been in Man-
chester, only 53 ; in Liverpool, 60 ; in Leeds, 63 ; in
Birmingham, 78 ; i❑ the metropolis, 99 ; while in the
North Riding of Yorkshire, and the agricultural parts
of Durham, it is 202 ; in Devonshire, 208 ; and in the
north of Lancashire, Wcstmorland4 Cumberland, and
Northumberland, not less than 210. In the whole of
England and Wales the proportion, out of 1,000 deaths
occurring at 70 and upwards, was 140.

Great also are the differences exhibited by the mining
districts and the agricultural districts which surround
them, with respect to mortality, both in childhood and
in advanced age.

lln the mining parts of Staffordshire and Shropshire
the mean deaths in 1,000, at all ages under three years,
were 462 ; at seventy and upwards, only 90. In the
rest of Staffordshire, Shropshire, and Cheshire, the
proportion under three years was 332 ; at seventy and
upwards, 141. In the mining parts of Northumber-
land and Durham the proportions of deaths under three
years of age was 349 ; of deaths at seventy and up-
wards, 150 ; while in the surrounding agricultural
districts, comprised in the divisions 22 and 24, the pro-
portions of deaths under three years were only 282 and
252 ; and of deaths at seventy and upwards, 202
and 210.

Although I am not required by the Act for Regis-
tering Births, Death, and Marriages, to present ab-
stracts of the registered causes of death, yet, as such
abstracts are of great and acknowledged value—as.
without them, a vast mass of records of facts deeply
important to medical science, and therefore to the
health of the community at large, would be compara-
tively useless, and as the experiment of forming such
abstracts for the first half-year of registration was at-
tended with considerable success, 1 have again causes
similar abstracts to be formed, embracing a still larger
period, compiled, like those of the preceding half-year,
under the direction of Mr. Farr. They will be found
in the Appendix to this Report, accompanied by a
statement from Mr. Farr, to which 1 particularly invite
attention.

Since the commencement of the present year, I have
obtained from the registrars of the metropolitan dis-
tricts weekly returns of the registered causes of death,
and have directed abstracts of the same to be compiled
and printer for publication ; and I have caused the
result of such returns for the first twenty weeks of the
present year to be exhibited in the appendix to this
.report. I need not enlarge upon the obvious import-
ance of giving early and accurate records of the causes
affecting the mortality of a population amounting in
1831 to 1,594,890, the largest of which there is any
account on which reliance can be placed, that is any-
where congregated in so small a space, and in which,
as is shown in Mr. Farr's letter in the appendix to my
first report, the mortality is comparatively much greater
than where the population is less dense. As it is
impossible to define accurately the limits of the metro-
polis, and as that term obviously ought to be extended
beyond the boundaries of the bills of mortality, and
even of the city of London, Westminster, South-
wark, and the new metropolitan boroughs, I have
preferred to apply it in the most extensive sense
of which it is susceptible, including every super-
intendent registrar's district into which the suburbs
extend continuously, and which, with the exception of in-
considerable portions, assumes throughout the character
of town.

I have the honour to be, my Lord,
Your Lordship's obedient servant,
T. H. LISTER.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

(PROM THE DAILY PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.)
(From the Standard.)
It is understood to be decided that Vice-Admiral Sir
Charles Adam, K.C.8., brother-in-law to Lord Minto,
is to succeed Sir Robert Stopford in the command in
chief of the British Mediterranean fleet ; and that the
Queen is to be commissioned by Lord Edward Russell,
for the purpose of receiving his flag. Having been the
first to denounce the shameless profligacy of the nomi-
nation of another member of the Minto family to the
Governorship of Greenwich Hospital, we should be
guilty of a dereliction of our duty did we cot offer a few
remarks on the present appointment. We have no desire
to disparage the professional character of Sir Charles
Adam, who is, we believe, a good officer and a
highly respectable gentleman ; but we ask if it is
decent, at a juncture so important as this, to place the
command of our Mediterranean fleet in the hand
of a junior Vice-Admiral of a few years' standing,
over the heads, not only of ALL the Admirals of
the fleet, but of no fewer than FORTY officers of
his own rank ; a large proportion of whom, with
tenfold his experience, temper, and discretion,
are neither disqualified by age or infirmity for un-
dertaking this important duty ? Beside this fact, it
has usually been admitted that there is " might and
magic" even in a name. If, therefore, Sir Charles
Adam's naval career had really been other than
undistinguished, and the whole
of his brother officers
who are eligible for the post which is to be conferred
upon him, who were only his equals in experience, it
cannot surely be denied that the names of such ad-
mirals as Sir George Cockburn, Sir Philip Durham,
Sir Josias Rowley, among those of higher rank, and
very many more of his own status in the service, would
carry a vast deal more weight with them than that of
a gentleman whose employment for some years past
has been limited to the more inglorious duty of assisting
to pare down the naval strength of England ; and who
has then sought to justify his own conduct, and that of
his colleagues, is the House of Commas, by &pre-