The New York herald., 1851-12-06

was felt by individuals who had made statistic.
study and the necessity for action univer-
sally conceded and 1t affords iudnte grstcstion
statistical Congress- TO be held at Brusssls (Belgum)
during the ensuing fsa measure which has received
tns appreciation Of several Of the most dstinguih he'd
stss OF Europe and from which the most bene fcial
results are anticipated.
Mr. Porter the Board Of Trade has been appointed
delegate TO this Statistical Congress, from England
lie gentleman distinguished less by his aborous
ana valuable contributions to the science OF
political economy and statistical knowledge Of the
Brith Empire than for the elevated position he holds
as pubnc Cmctr and man Of letters.
M Ssatr Ina. oongsess may judge of the proprety Of
tne IN contemplation for preparing the tables of the
population and other statistics and be fully advised of
any new features introduced into other portions Of the
FORM the statistics Of State OF which comics win he
laid before the members Of both Houses their
tion For this purpose the State Of Maryland has beer
selected best adapted its central position And
combination OF more Of the various elements which enter
extent N
1t has been my endeavor according to the act to
range the fscs In the best and most convenient
ner for use' To judge of the character of
work in manuscript would require the long laborous
and perhaps unsatisfactory Investigation Of congress.
eiona committee and Congress would be posseaed az no
means Of forming an opinion Of the matter
II has been deemed the more proper to lay before Con-
gIes printed copy nasmuch as the expense Of the
~
stood -
the compilation Of the decennia census with every
portion OF which the facilities of comparison mas
tanned consist:-
l. In the form-that adopted being in conformity with
the size and appearance OF the "Ameroan Archives
In accompanying the statistics Of each State with
nected with its history from its FIRST settlement; sxhi
biting the progress Of our whole social SYSTEM to the
year 1885, also presenting as short OF each
Ia tlano uu;t,
the date OF its organization; account of It's physical
features its rocks minerals streams timber water and
sdaptation naturally and artfcialy, to the purposes
Of Gsgrcultrre manufactures and com.nsrcs
In the general geological account of the State
the first TO the seventh census inclusive with tables OF
population, to make which correctly it has been nece
reer 70 the original returns Of the census twenty
ana tnrty years back reliance could be placed on
the ngurse offcialy given in the printed work
In the review of its character for the health and
longevity OF It's inhsbtante account of the prevailing
diseases and rates Of mortality, with full tables
ing perfect history Of the statistics Of disease and NOR
ana caeuiasons OF the value of life among the
O. In the number of subjects embraced in the
statistical details and in the manner of ciassac cation
to admit Of extracting all the essential facts rs
pectng the materials OF each variety of mauufac
lures with other features in which the statst
VIII perceive variations from any previous census
Allusion not made to these things with the view 70
represent their advantages or as predcatng any arxu-
snt for their adoption The plan with all the dssd.
ssnsges whcn mus result from the sudden formation
study and reflection and it is thought will prove USE
full Should the work be found to possess real value the
result must be attributed mainly to the abun liant ma
teras collected and the zeal and intelligence of the
eons employed thereon; some Of whom men whose
ability should secure better remuaeration which it
hoped, Congress will be willing TO accord H. however,
the general plan shall be considered faulty by its
imperfect execution be deemed unworthy of adoption it
will have been well thus to bring it to the test that
may be condemned.
The work of course, has not been submitted to the
public for its Judgment but where opinions have been
at all expressed by those deemed good authority the
propriey Of csss6caons they have been raby
favorable Some such have found their way into the
public documents In the thirty second report
CT the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb,
made to the Legislature Of that State the following Ian
Of such portion Of the work Interested particularly
the directors OF that insttuton:"S Such list will
before for serins msnv bnby intsrsspy a." .a.s;c
questions; and its publication Is looked for with much
interest We shall endeavor in next annual report,
to set forth the results Of careful analyst. Of the
returns, respecting the deaf and dumb "
So far ss our judgment of the public press Is
ed its expression has been much more favorable than
could be wishsd with Its imperfect knowledge Of the
plan rs expectations may thereby be raised which the
result. win not justify Nonesof the information as i'm
parted In the volume Of statistics has been
IL being considered indelicate to make known the
world information due fret to the head Of the depart
pent, and through him to Congress; and would not
be decorous to orests the dispssonste judgment of
either.
1t has seemed to me that a work-ths expense Of
which shared by the whole community-should be
ranged as far as possible. for general utility and
compilation Of mere columns OF figures interesting ony
TO the man OF science for legislative purposes
ference but should be adapted while 1t will fu,-
nisn practical information to the statesman aud ph--
sopher and useful data to the legislator 1t will contain
also matters interesting to every portion Of the commu
nifty furnished somevhst In advance OF those deduc-
tions from ansy Investigations made wear. af,sr ts
publication To thisend- supported by the favorab.
opinion Of Congress- it will be made 10 evolve all of in
struction which zsaous efforts, though limited ability,
are capable Of elctng from the facts within sucn PEE
nod OF time ss must be accomplished without ret.d
ing its publication.
furnish much of the Information Include To such 1t
may be replied that, while these publications. possess
great value and are all repete with Instruction many
present but reprint Of former editions with the title
page changed to suit the date and few unimportant
atsrAtions in other respects ohsrs may contend that
the plan presented takes within is scope subjects not
egtmstey embraced within that OF statistics Such an
opinion might be maintained BY forming conclusions
from cur ptevou, publications but they are however
At variance With the best authority this subject
The dehnitioB Of statistics given by one author
consists in such description Of country any part
only by thorough knowledge the present state OF
the country and It's inhabitants with their present Gus
toms, habits morals, health and OF life that we
can form an accurate estimate OF the diton OF the
people, no 10 enjoy the knowledge necessary for the
sneioraon OF their circumstances, or improve their
and study their past history trace TO it, first
ginDings a. we survey river to ts acquire
o. ie geography or Of the permanent charsc
The term census applies more particularly to wealth
and possessions than to NUMBER IL was so undersooi
by the Romans who hrsi used the term Iiyy Ia his
hrt boek OF the history OF Rome chapter a. speaking
OF servius rulius ssys-"He then entered on the inn
pro, OF the civil polity Of the utmest Importance
tor be Instituted the ordinance Of the most
sslutsry consequences in empire that to rise to
such pitch Of greatness and according TO which the
several contributions In peace and 10 be dis
charged net by every person ndiscrimlnstely for
merry but according to the proportion their several
properties" And after describing the contributions re-
qured In proportion to the wealth Of individuals who ap-
peared on certain day every year each In his cen
tury an gave IN the amount Of his property be con-
tinues-" In all these instance. the burden was taken
from on the poor and laid en- the rchr
The census was completed with great ceremonies aud
onerng OF aerihce termed closing the lustrum In his
fourth book he speaks Of survey under the oensu,
aud description OF all the lands aud houses and the en-
TIRE revenue OF the Roman people (B ,4s0) In the
twelfth book II h stated that The eeuat. thea recsvad
,uvey OF twelve colonies presented by the Censors
o ,hose eoories Taeitus mentions that Augustus wrote
which N termed "censusp ALTHOUGH the term . can,
'us does not appear in constitution It does appear
IN tne title OF the act OF Congress under which th. ooe