OBSERVATIONS UPON THE Dublin-Bills OF MORTALITY, MDCLXXXI. AND THE STATE of that CITY. By the Observator on the LONDON Bills of MORTALITY. LONDON: Printed for Mark Pardoe, at the Sign of the Black Raven, over against Bedfordhouse in the Strand. 1683. Yearly Bills of Mortality for LONDON and DUBLIN. Anno. Burials. Births. Burials. Births. 1680 21053 12747 1826 1096 1679 21730 12288 1397 1061 1678 20678 12601 1401 1045 1674 21201 11851 2106 942 1672 18230 12563 1436 987 1668 17278 11633 1699 1026 120170 73683 9865 6157 The medium or 6th part whereof is 20028 12280 1644 1026 LONDON. Burials. Births. Males. Females. Males. Females. 11039 10044 6543 6199 11154 10576 6247 6041 10681 9977 6568 6033 11000 10196 6113 5738 9560 8070 6443 6120 9111 8167 6073 5566 62545 57030 37992 35697 10424 9505 6332 5940 DUBLIN. Anno. Burials. Births. In Ternaries of years. 1666 1480 952 4821 2979 1667 1642 1001 1668 1699 1026 1669 1666 1000 5353 3070 1670 1713 1067 1671 1974 1003 1672 1436 967 5073 2842 1673 1531 933 1674 2106 942 1675 1578 823 4328 2672 1676 1391 952 1677 1359 897 1678 1401 1045 4624 3202 1679 1397 1061 1680 1826 1096 24199 14765 24199 14765 The medium or 15th part whereof is 1613 984 1613 984 The Parishes of DUBLIN. Anno 1671. An. 1670, 71, & 72. at a Medium. Families. Hearths. Births. Burials. 1 St. Katherins and St. james, 661 2399 161 290 2 St. Nicholas without, 490 2348 207 262 3 St. Michans, 656 2301 127 221 4 St. Andrews with Donabrook, 483 2123 108 178 5 St. Bridgets, 416 1989 70 100 6 St. john's, 244 1337 70 138 7 St. Warbrough, 267 1650 54 108 8 St. Audaens, 216 1081 53 121 9 St. Michael, 140 793 44 59 10 St. Keavens, 106 433 64 133 11 St. Nicholas within, 93 614 28 34 12 St. Patrick's Liberties, 52 255 21 44 13 Christ-Church and Trinity-college per estimate, 26 197 1 Houses built between 1671, and 1681, preestimate, 3850 17500 1013 1696 150 550 4000 18150 A Quarterly Bill of Mortality, Beginning and ending for the City of Dublin. PARISHES Names. Births. 1. Marriages. 2. Buried of Under 16 years old. Buried of Above 60 years old. Plague, Small Pox, Spotted Fever, Measles. Stone, Gout, Dropsy, Consumption. Sudden death, Quinsey, Pleurisy, Fever. Aged above 70 years old. Infants under 2 years old. All other Casualties. 1 St. Katherins and St. james, 2 St. Nicholas without, 3 St. Michans, 4 St. Andrews with Donabrook, 5 St. Bridgets, 6 St, john's, 7 St. Warbrough, 8 St. Audaens, 9 St. Michael, 10 St. Keavens, 11 St. Nicholas within, 12 St. Patrick's Liberties, 13 Christ-Church and Trinity-college, Totals, A Weekly Bill of Mortality for the City of Dublin, Ending the day of 1681. PARISHES Names. Births. Males. Females. Burials. Under 16 years old. Above 16 years old. Plague. Small Pox. Measles. Spotted Fever. 1 St. Katherins and St. james, 2 St. Nicholas without, 3 St. Michans, 4 St. Andrews with Donabrook, 5 St. Bridgets, 6 St. john's, 7 St. Warbrough, 8 St. Audaens, 9 St. Michael, 10 St. Keavens, 11 St. Nicholas within, 12 St. Patrick's Liberties, 13 Christ-Church and Trinity-college, Totals, An Account of the People of Dublin for one year, Ending the 24th of March, 1681/2. PARISHES Names. Number of Persons. Whereof Males. Females. Married persons. Persons of Under 16 years old. Above 60 years old. Protestants of above 16 years old. Papists of above 16 years old. Of all other Religions of above 16 years old. Births. Burials. Marriages. 1 St. Katherins and St. james, 2 St. Nicholas without, 3 St. Michans, 4 St. Andrews with Donabrook, 5 St. Bridgets, 6 St. john's, 7 St. Warbrough, 8 St. Audaens, 9 St. Michael, 10 St. Keavens, 11 St. Nicholas within, 12 St. Patrick's Liberties, 13 Christ-Church and Trinity-college, Totals, Casualties and Diseases. Aged above 70 years. Headache, and Megrim. Abortive and Stillborn. Epilepsy, and Planet. Childbed-women. Fever, and Ague. Convulsion. Pleurisy. Teeth. Quinsey. Worms. Executed, Murdered, Drowned Gout, and Sciatica. Plague, and Spotted-Fever. Stone. Griping of the Guts. Palsy. Scouring, Vomiting, Bleeding. Consumption, and French Pox. Small Pox. Dropsy, and Tympany. Measles. Rickets, and Livergrown. Neither of all the other sorts. OBSERVATIONS UPON THE DVBLIN-Bills of Mortality, 1681. AND THE State of that CITY THE Observations upon the London-Bills of Mortality have been a new Light to the World; and the like Observation upon those of Dublin, may serve as Snuffers to make the same Candle burn clearer. The London-Observations flowed from Bills regularly kept for near One hundred years; but these are squeezed out of Six straggling London-Bills, out of Fifteen Dublin Bills, and from a Note of the Families and Hearths in each Parish of Dublin; which are all digested into the one Table or Sheet annexed, consisting of Three Parts, marked A, B, C; being indeed the A, B, C, of Public Oeconomy, and even of that Policy which tends to Peace and Plenty. Observations upon the Table A. 1. THe Total of the Burials in London, (for the said Six straggling years mentioned in the Table A) is 120170; whereof the Medium or Sixth part is 20028; and exceeds the Burials of Paris, as may appear by the late Bills of that City. 2. The Births, for the same time, are 73683, the Medium or Sixth part whereof is 12280, which is about Five eighth parts of the Burials; and shows, that London would in time decrease quite away, were it not supplied out of the Country, where are about Five Births for Four Burials, the proportion of Breeders in the Country being greater than in the City. 3. The Burials in Dublin for the said Six years, were 9865, the Sixth part or Medium whereof is, 1644, which is about the Twelfth part of the London-Burials; and about a Fifth part over. So as the people of London do hereby seem to be above Twelve times as many as those of Dublin. 4. The Births in the same time at Dublin, are 6157, the Sixth part or Medium whereof is 1026, which is also about five eighth parts of the 1644 Burials; which shows, that the proportion between Burials and Births are alike at London and Dublin, and that the Accounts are kept alike; and consequenly are likely to be true, there being no Confederacy for that purpose: Which if they be true, we then say, 5. That the Births are the best way (till the Accounts of the people shall be purposely taken) whereby to judge of the Increase and Decrease of People, that of Burials being subject to more Contingencies and variety of Causes. 6. If Births be as yet the measure of the People, and that the Births (as has been shown) are as Five to Eight, than Eight fifths of the Births is the number of the Burials, where the year was not considerable for extraordinary Sickness or Salubrity; and is the Rule whereby to measure the same. As for Example: The Medium of Births in Dublin was 1026, the Eight fifths whereof is 1641, but the real Burials were 1644; so as in the said years they differed little from the 1641, which was the Standard of Health; and consequently, the years 1680, 1674, and 1668, were sickly years, more or less, as they exceeded the said Number 1641; and the rest were healthful years, more or less, as they fell short of the same number. But the City was more or less Populous, as the Births differed from the Number 1026; viz. Populous in the years 1680, 1679, 1678, & 1668: For other causes of this difference in Births, are very occult and uncertain. 7. What hath been said of Dublin, serves also for London. 8. It hath already been observed by the London-Bills, That there are more Males than Females. It is to be further noted, that in these Six London-Bills also, there is not one instance either in the Births or Burials to the contrary. 9 It hath been formerly observed, That in the years wherein most die, fewest are born, & vice versâ. The same may be further observed in Males and Females, viz. When fewest Males are born, then most die: for here the Males died as Twelve to Eleven, which is above the mean proportion of Fourteen to Thirteen; but were born but as Nineteen to Eighteen, which is below the same. Observations upon the Table B. 1 FRom the Table B, it appears, That the Medium of the Fifteen years' Burials, (being 24199) is 1613. whereas the Medium of the other six years in the Table A, was 1644, and that the Medium of the Fifteen years' Births (being in all 14765) is 984, whereas the Medium of the said other six years, was 1026. That is to say, there were both fewer Births and Burials in these Fifteen years, than in the other six years; which is a probable sign that at a Medium there were fewer People also. 2. The Medium of Births for the Fifteen years being 984, whereof Eight fifths (being 1576) is the Standard of Health for the said Fifteen years; and the triple of the said 1576, being 4728, is the standard for each of the Ternaries of the Fifteen years within the said Table. 3. That 2952, the triple of 984 Births, is for each Ternary the Standard of People's increase and decrease from the year 1666 to 1680 inclusive, viz. The People increased in the second Ternary, and decreased from the same in the Third and Fourth Ternarys, but re-increased in the Fifth Ternary beyond any other. 4. That the last Ternary was withal very healthful, the Burials being but 4624, viz. below 4728, the Standard. 5. That according to this proportion of increase, the Housing of Dublin have probably increased also. Observations upon the Table C. 1. FIrst, from the Table C, it appears, 1. That the Housing of Dublin is such, as that there are not five Hearths in each House one with another, but nearer five than four. 2. That in St. Warburghs Parish are near six Hearths to an House. In St. john's five. In St. Michael's above five. In St. Nicholas within above six. In Christ-Church above seven. In St. James', and St. Katherine's, and in St. Michans, not four. In St. Kevans about four. 3. That in St. James', St. Michans, St. Brides, St. Warburgh, St. Andrews, St. michael's, and St. Patrick's, all the Christen were but 550, and the Burials 1055, viz. near double; and that in the rest of the Parishes the Christen were five, and the Burials seven, viz. as 457 to 634. Now whether the cause of this difference were negligence in Accounts, or the greaterness of the Families, etc. is worth enquiring. 4. It is hard to say in what order (as to greatness) these Parishes ought to stand, some having most Families; some most Hearths, some most Births, and others most Burials. Some Parishes exceeding the rest in two, others in three of the said four particulars, but none in all four. Wherefore this Table ranketh them according to the plurality of the said four particulars wherein each excelleth the other. 5. The London-Observations reckon eight heads to be in each Family; according to which estimation, there are 32000 Souls in the 4000 Families of Dublin; which is but half of what most Men imagine; of which but about one sixth part are able to bear Arms, besides the Royal Regiment. 6. Without the knowledge of the true number of People, as a Principle, the whole scope and use of the keeping Bills of Births and Burials is impaired; wherefore by laborious Conjectures and Calculations to deduce the number of People from the Births and Burials, may be Ingenious, but very preposterous. 7. If the number of Families in Dublin be about 4000, than Ten Men, in one week (at the Charge of about Five pound, Surveying Eight Families in an hour) may directly, and without Algebra, make an Account of the whole People, expressing their several Ages, Sex, Marriages, Title, Trade, Religion, etc. and those who survey the Hearths, or the Constables or Parish Clarks, (may, if required) do the same ex Officio, and without other Charge, by the Command of the Chief Governor, the Diocesan, or the Mayor. 8. The Bills of London have since their beginning, admitted several Alterations and Improvements; and eight or ten pound per annum surcharge, would make the Bills of Dublin to exceed all others, and become an excellent Instrument of Government. To which purpose the Forms for Weekly, Quarterly, and Yearly Bills are humbly recommended, viz. A POSTSCRIPT TO THE STATIONER. WHereas you complain, that these Observations make no sufficient Bulk, I could answer you, That I wish the Bulk of all Books were less; but do nevertheless comply with you in adding what follows, viz. 1. That the Parishes of Dublin are very unequal; some having in them above Six hundred Families, and others under Thirty. 2. That Thirteen Parishes are too few for Four thousand Families; the middling Parishes of London containing One hundred and twenty Families; according to which rate, there should be about Thirty three Parishes in Dublin. 3. It is said, that there are Eighty four thousand Houses or Families in London, which is Twenty one times more than are in Dublin; and yet the Births and Burials of London are but Twelve times those of Dublin: which shows, that the Inhabitants of Dublin are more crowded and straightened in their Housing, than those of London; and consequently, that to increase the Buildings of Dublin, will make that City more conformable to London. 4. I shall also add some Reasons for altering the present forms of the Dublin-Bills of Mortality, according to what hath been here recommended, viz. 1. We give the distinctions of Males and Females in the Births only; for that the Burials must, at one time or another; be in the same proportion with the Births. 2. We do in the Weekly and Quarterly Bills propose, that notice be taken in the Burials of what numbers die above Sixty and Seventy, and what under Sixteen, Six, and Two years old; foreseeing good uses to be made of that distinction. 3. We do in the Yearly Bill, reduce the Casualties to about Twenty four, being such as may be discerned by common sense and without Art; conceiving that more will but perplex and imbroil the Account. And in the Quarterly Bills, we reduce the Diseases to Three Heads, viz. Contagious, Acute, and Chronical; applying this distinction to Parishes, in order to know how the different Situation, Soil, and way of living in each Parish, doth dispose Men to each of the said Three Species: and in the Weekly Bills we take notice not only of the Plague, but of the other Contagious Diseases in each Parish; that strangers and fearful Persons may thereby know how to dispose of themselves. 4. We mention the Number of the People, as the Fundamental Term in all our proportions; and without which, all the rest will be almost fruitless. 5. We mention the number of Marriages made in every Quarter, and in every year; as also the proportion which Married Persons bear to the whole; expecting in such Observations to read the improvement of the Nation. 6. As for Religions, we reduce them to Three, viz. 1. Those who have the Pope of Rome for their Head. 2. Who are Governed by the Laws of their Country. 3. Those who rely respectively upon their own private Judgements. Now whether these distinctions should be taken notice of or not, we do but faintly recommend, seeing many Reason's pro and con for the same: and therefore although we have mentioned it as a matter fit to be considered, yet we humbly leave it to Authority. FURTHER OBSERVATION UPON THE Dublin-Bills: OR, ACCOUNTS OF THE Houses, Hearths, Baptisms, And Burials in that CITY. The Second Edition, Corrected and Enlarged. By Sir WILLIAM PETTY, Fellow of the Royal Society. LONON: Printed for Mark Pardoe, at the Sign of the Black Raven, over-against Bedfordhouse in the Strand. 1686. The STATIONER TO THE READER. I Have not thought fit to make any Alteration of the first Edition, but have only added a New Table with Observation upon it, placing the same in the front of what was before; which perhaps might have been as well placed after the like Table at the 8th Page of the first Edition. DUBLIN. 1682. Parishes. Houses. Fire-places. Baptised. Buried. St. james 272 836 122 306 St. Katherine's 540 2198 St. Nicholas without, and St. Patrick's 1064 4082 145 414 St. Bridgets 395 1903 68 149 St. Audones 276 1510 56 164 St. Michael 174 884 34 50 St. john's 302 1636 74 101 St. Nicholas within, and Christ-Church Lib. 153 902 26 52 St. Warbors 240 1638 45 105 St. Michans 938 3516 124 389 St. Andrews 864 3638 131 300 St. Kevans 554 2120 87 233 Donobrook 253 506 6025 25▪ 369 912 2263 Further Observations upon the Dublin Accounts of Baptisms and Burials, Houses and Hearths, viz. THe Table hath been made for the Year 1682, wherein is to be noted, 1. That the Houses which Anno 1671, were but 3850 are Anno 1682, 6025; but whether this difference is caused by the real increase of Housing, or by fraud and defect in the former Accounts, is left to consideration. For the Burials or People have increased but from 1696, to 2263, according to which proportion, the 3850 Houses Anno 1671, should Anno 1682 have been but 5143, wherefore some fault may be suspected as aforesaid, when Farming the Hearth-mony was in agitation. 2. The Hearths have increased according to the Burials, and ⅓ of the said increase more, viz. The Burials Anno 1671 were 1696, the ⅓ whereof is 563, which put together makes 2259, which is near the number of Burials Anno 1682. But the Hearths Anno 1671, were 17500, whereof the ⅓ is 5833, making in all but 23333; whereas the whole Hearths Anno 1682 were 25369, viz. ⅓ and better of the said 5833 more. 3. The Housing were Anno 1671, but 3850, which if they had increased Anno 1682 but according to the Burials, they had been but 5143, or according to the Hearths, had been but 5488, whereas they appear 6025, increasing double to the Hearths. So as 'tis likely there hath been some error in the said Account of the Housing, unless the new Housing be very small, and have but one Chimney apiece, and that ¼ part of them are untenanted. On the other hand, 'tis more likely that when 1696 died per An. there were near 6000; for 6000 Houses at 8 Inhabitants per House, would make the number of the People to be 48 Thousand, and the number of 1696 that died according to the Rule of One out of ●0, would have made the number of Inhabitants about 50 Thousand: For which reason I continue to believe there was some Error in the Account of 3850 Houses as aforesaid, and the rather because there is no ground from experience to think that in 11 year, the Houses in Dublin have increased from 3850 to 6025. Moreover, I rather think that the number of 6025 is yet short, because that number at 8 heads per House makes the Inhabitants to be but 48200; whereas the 2263 who died in the year 1682, according to the aforementioned Rule of one dying out of 30 makes the number of People to be 67890; the Medium betwixt which number and 48200 is 58045, which is the best estimate I can make of that matter, which I hope Authority will o'er long rectify, by direct and exact Inquiries. 4. As to the Births, we say that Anno 1640, 1641, and 1642▪ at London, just before the Troubles in Religion began, the Births were ⅚ of the Burials, by reason I suppose of the greaterness of Families in London above the Country, and the fewer Breeders, and not for want of Registering. Wherefore deducting ⅙ of 2263, which is 377, there remains 1886 for the probable number of Births in Dublin for the year 1682; whereas but 912 are represented to have been Christened in that year, though 1023 were Christened Anno 1671, when there died but 1696; which decreasing of the Christen, and increasing of the Burials, shows the increase of Non-registring in the Legal Books, which must be the increase of Roman Catholics at Dublin. The scope of this whole Paper therefore is, That the People of Dublin are rather 58000, than 32000; and that the Dissenters, who do not Register their Baptisms, have increased from 391 to 974: but of Dissenters, none have increased but the Roman Catholics, whose Numbers have increased from about 2 to 5 in the said Years. The exacter Knowledge whereof, may also be better had from direct Inquiries. FINIS.