Star.
London, England, 1829-04-20 00:00:00

is no doubt that the observation can be speedily per.
firmed. That the children of the poor, at least in
London, die in very great numbers, appears manifest
from the Reports of the Committee on F, iendly Socie!
ties; but whether the presence or absence of the small-
pox, rather than the obvious evil of bad nursing, is the
cause or antidote, is a matter a Melt at all events is not
■ self evident proposition. Whether, after all, the small
pox itself might not have been the develhpment of
some evil principle in a particular form, which, opposed
and pot down in that form, might not still be in a state
of activity in some other; or, to speak plainly. whether
in proportion as small pox bas fallen to a discount—
scrpfola, consumption, and a power of other maladies
have not risen to a heavy premium, is a question en-
tirely submitted to those within whose province it falls
to be answered. Be this as it may, the gradual dimi-
nution of mortality in flutterer life, in middle and old
age specially, presents one practical consequence of
the greatest impotence in financial calculation►. if the
diminution had been doubtful, or very slight in degree,
it would follow as a matter of course, that a combina-
tion of all the facts observed upon would have formed
the proper basis for lite annuities and insurances; but
this being quite otherwise, there was no choice but
combination of two or three observations, the latest in
point of time.
In every census there are found alive many more fe
males than males, while in the births and baptisms of
every town, district, or kingdom. there is invariably
produced at least 105 boys, for every 100 girls. The
lesser mortality of females wai known to M. de Par-
cieuz, but he was unable to assign the precise magni•
tude of the difference, except in regard to the monks
and nuns. Four years previously it had been made pub-
lic by M. Wm. Kersseboom, who hoverer disregarded
the difference in the general table of mortality which
be sent forth. His data exhibit, from the experience of
many thousands. the mean duration of male children
distinct from that of -females; and those infants must of
necessity have commenced existence nearly two centti•
ries ago. With a slight correction the result may be
briefly stated thus; If there were ten classes of children
at each age, the first under one year old, the last aged
nine; and if the mean duration of life which it was

found each individual in a class had ultimately attained
were separately set out. the sum.of the existence ob-
tained by boys would be 369 years, that of the girls
402 5-
In other observations, taken at Montpelier, in France,
the fact was once more affirmed. The existence of ten
males as before being 396.79 year: ; ten females, 424.69.
Again, on the whole population of Sweden it was in
like manner established; ten male children having
44763; and ten females. 471.26 years. And lastly,
two additional tables have very recently appeared,
showing the mot tality of males and females respectively,
both for the city of Amsterdam and the city of Brus-
sels, pusslislied in the latter in 1827, by M. Quetelet,
among the a Recherches cur la Population, les Nais
sauces. B<c. dans le ltoyaume des Pays Bas." Taking
in these, as in the lotirner cases, the sum of the first ten
years existence, there is at Amsterdam for the males
402.15, for the females 450.43; and at Brussels, for the
males 397.97. the females 41293.. So that if the ex-
igence of the male children be represented in each of
those six instances, by the number 100,000. that of the
females will by proportiru stand' as under, vis._
Anciently in H0114n41, 109.079; at Chester, 111,831 ;
at :Vlontrelier. 107 031; in Sweden, 105.279; in Am-
sterdam, 112,005 ; in Brussels, 103.764. All these
Jesuits, it will be remembered, except the fist, are
'founded merely on statistical data. But the superiority
of female life is evident iu every instance.
It is hoped that the annexed observations will remove
all doubt whatsoever on that subject. They demonstrate
that, except tinder the age rt 12 and above the ige of
85 (extreme periods in which perhaps no distinction of
the mortality is apparent), there is at every other period
el life a remai Lade and decided advantage in favour
of the female. This is first must evident about 14, after
which the mortality among the female sex is observed
to proceed onwards to the age of 55 with the slightest
imaginable increase, contrary to many received notions
that child-bearing and nursing entail on this sex a
severe mortality in early life, and that in the earlier
stages of the decline of life they are also subject to
many casualties; all which is otterly disproved by the
fact. It is not true, but quite the contrary, therefore,
that married women incur greater danger than the
single; and reasonably may this conclusion be admitted,
when it is considered that the mauled are, in'tlie first
instance, in regard to health and strength of constitution,
always the elite of the whole sex, the unhealthy not
choosing,to marry. After 60 the female mortality ad-
vances more rapidly. but is always, until the age of 80
at least, very decidedly less than that of the males.
Among these on the contrary, aft- r the age of 14, a
remarkable increase of mortality occurs, Which rapidly
advances till the age of 23 ; it then diminishes till 33;
very slightly rises again and falls alternately till the age
of 49. when it stands at the same point as at 23. From
49 the decline of life commences on the side of the
males the same as with regard to the female.. and these
occurrences are manifest in almost every one of the obser•
stations—a matter that cannot be referre I to accident.
National Debt Nice, JOHN FINLAISON,
28th March, 1829. Actuary of the Natioasl Debt.
Vulpian, in the time of the Emperor Justinian, A.A. 529, es&
mated the values of annuities as follow—Paodect. 35. 2. IL
Age. Years Purchase.
hider so so It Is uncertain whether In
10 to „SS this computation he made any
55 to 30 2.5 - allowance for discard or some-
SO to 35 5l thing equivalent in meaning; or
35 to 40 4O whether, as is much mom pro-
At 41 lB bable, this was his notion of the
41 ..... • number of years which a Hfc at
43 l6 each age was likely tollie. • It
44
45 ..............14 Itlinfalti most have bad but a
46 ...13 miserable chance of life in old
47
48
49 lO
SO to SS
ss to SD
Above to

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