The southern press., 1851-12-11

portant hints for the improvement of agriculture,
for the extension of our commercial industry,
for regulating the conduct of individuals, or for
extending the prosperity of the State none can
tend so much to promote the general happiness
of the species"
The example Of all enlightened Europe sus,
tains the views of Sinclair, although falling far,
very far, behind him, in the extent embraced
within their periodical statistics.
Mccullough, in the Introductory chapter TO
the last edition of Smiths Wealth of Nations"
uses the following language -" To arrive at
true knowledge of the laws which regulate the
production, distribution, and consumption Of ma
tonal wealth, we must draw our materials from
a very wide surface, study man in every differ
ent situation-resort to the history of society,
arts, commerce, and government to the works
of philosophers and travellers; to everything,
in Short fitted TO throw light on the progress Of
opulence and civilization We should mark the
successive changes which have taken place in the
fortunes and condition of the different ranks and
orders Of men in our own country and in others
! should trace the rise progress and decline Of
population and industry; and, above all, should
analyze and compare the Influence Of different
institutions and regulations, and carefully dis
criminate the various circumstances wherein adj
vaLcing and declining societies differ from each
other. These investigations are so very complex
and difficult, that it is not possible? perhaps, al
ways to arrive at right conclusion. But, though
! they may not be quite free from error, they are
sufficient when made with the requisite care and
attention, to unfold the principal sources Of ma
tioual opuence and refinement, and of poverty
and degradation; and, however defective, they
furnish the only available means for satsfacto-
rily solving the various problems in the science
of wealth, and for devising scheme of public
administration, fitted to insure the advancement
of nations in tine career of Improvement
The commissioners for the census of Ireland
in 1871, in the introduction to the census of that
country, which comprises folio of nearly 1000
pages, and was published in l843, use the fol.
lowing very appropriate language:-"We feel,
in fact, that census ought to be social survey
mot bare enumeration"
In connection with the population Of Eng
land, they have published many large folio vol
umes, containing maps of all the counties anG
boroughs in the kingdom. In other portions o
Europe, the same expanded view is taken OF
what should constitute statistical work.
The European statistical publications, il
point of execution, far exceed our own, Whicl
have heretofore been most announcement and I'M
wieldy volumes. The only volumes in its pos
session. which the shelves of the royal library OF
Belgium are not adapted TO hold, are those Of
our last census, which have occupied place
on the floor, beneath the shelves, for severa
years. The inconvenient shape of these volumes
has led to their destruction, almost entire ex
termination. Their extreme rarity, at this
time, leads me to believe that they have, ir
many instances, unfortunately, been used as sc
much waste paper, not esteemed worth the
room they occupied.
!. These explanations are deemed necessary
only for information relating to the views OF
cotemporanaeous nations, and not as an apol-
ogy for what is deemed correct and proper.
Our materials are more varied and OF better
character, than any nation has ever possessed
and shall it be said that, insensible of Their
value, We have not known how to render them
useful! Respectfully submitted,
J. s. G. KENNEDY,
Honorable ALEXANDER Ii. II. STUART, Sc
cretary of the Department of the Interior.