Baton Rouge, Feb. 21, 1850j Sir — In «ict, appi j^ctTHaTgl^^ appointed, imniediaJ^^^ after its passage, J. D. B. DeBow, Superintendent of bureau of Statistics, created by the referred to. He great zeal on the discharge of hi duties, and now transiSS^^^2«i^^[^^^ his First I^eppr*on the subject, which was entrusted to Ills dSli^e. In thi«xiiceresting ^j;^iort, and in researches so conducive to the^rosperity of our State, Mr. DeBow has displayed all the ardouV,’ ability and patriot- ism which I expected from his well known character. The pre- ^nt report embraces the action of the Bureau of Statistics for t\n^ i^and the co-operation of other States in the ^^ ime matter^, contains/ »\any valuable suggestions, and is a mere introductioil' a Reporjf ofs^veral hundred pages, now in course of preparation the Officie, anS to be presented at the next session of the Legis-' |ture. T^-his last will present a map of statistics upon every sub-!, let conne/cted with tlie soil, population, agriculture, manufactures, ►mmerc/* and internal improvements of the State of Louisiana, ^nd wilL^6 one of the most complete records of the kind published by an^ State in the Union. In the pre^ration of this volume, and as a Contingent fund for printing circulars^Y^r stationery, postages, puriniases and copies of documents, I recommend that the sum of Fi^e Hundred Dollars be, as requested by the Superintendent in lis Report, granted to him by the Leg^lature. Very respectfully. CHARLES GAYARRE, Secretary of State of Loumana. James 'D. Bryce, mt pro. tera. if the Senate. INTRODUCTORY TO THE FIRST REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF STATISTICS, TO THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, JANUARY 1st., 1850. This office having been established by the Act of the 15th March,' 1848, the undersigned, at the request of the Secretary of State, consented to undertake its duties, and to prepare a report, to be presented at the next ensuing Session of the Legislature. The terms of the Act require a report that shall embrace “ in- . formation relative to the population, agricultural and other pro- ducts, resources and commerce of the State, the mechanic arts, public education, public health and manufactures, and such other information as may be deemed important,” etc. It was evidently the intention of the Legislature to obtain, if practicable, by means of this office, a complete statistical record, from year to year, showing the progress of our population and in- dustry, in all their various manifestations. Such a record, if pre- served for a long series of years, would, in the contrasts admitted of epoch with epoch, and our own with other States, prove an in- valuable adjunct in legislature, and furnish a mass of information, in an available form, for the use of every class of citizens. The field being wide and the subjects of research innumerable, the undersigned prepared, immediately after his appointment, a circular letter, setting out inTull the objects of the Bureau, and soli- citing in its aid, observations and facts from all sources. A large number of these circulars were forwarded to state and parish offi- cers, members of the Legislature, and leading citizens throughout the State.* It is believed, that the queries propounded in the circular em- brace every subject of interest relating to the soil and inhabitants *See Appendix No. 1, for circular. A 727.519 3 1 ’’I . . D u i 5 ; Bureau of Statistics. of the State, which should be embodied in presenting a complete statistical report. It is impossible to say of any they are unimpor- tant, and although the prospect of obtaining information upon all, or even a majority of the points, is remote, omissions could only be made with the risk of falling short of what is actually attainable. Individuals informed upon any particular point in the circular, it was hoped would reply to that in exclusion of all others, whilst others, having the time and ability, would make a more general response. To some extent, the office has been disappointed in its reasona- ble expectations. Independently of the general indisposition to un- dertake labors, and more especially those involved in statistics, voluntarily, and without compensation, as the experience of State and Federal officers proves, the novelty of the present call was likely to be unfavorable. It could not be known clearly and cer- tainly, the objects of the Bureau, and its minute interrogations, and without this knowledge, co-operation, to any extent, was hardly to be anticipated. We have but lately begun to press statistical en- quiries in any part of our country, and it is still too common to sneer at their results, as of little practical value, and always capa- ble of proving whatever is required for the occasion. This objec- tion would apply wdth equal force to the sciences of law, medicine, theology and many others, which is suffi_cient in its refutation. Without facts, to proceed upon all reasoning must be unsatisfac- tory, and legislation result rather in injury than good. The indus- try, habits and condition of a people should be accurately under- stood before attempting to extend or improve them. No State has been behind Louisiana in the negligent manner of preserving her records, and the fact of her population and industry, and the result is, that no state has had more contradictory and voluminous legis- lation. To implant a new principle or convince the understanding of a whole communityjr upon a matter, almost for the first time brought before them, involves a revolution requiring both time and patience.* * The importance of statistical researches to all classes, and more especially to the legislator, may be thus succinctly stated: “To the agriculturalist, it is interesting to know what proportion the population bears to the number of acres in cultivation, and the produc- tion of the soil, so as to regnlate his labor and economize his means — for labor is wealth. To the merchant, it is necessary to know the proportion of the population to the produce of the country, the imports and the exports, so as to ascertain the consumption and the average expenditure of each family, and thereby govern his enterprising speculations. To the physician, it is important to ascertain the proportion of the births to the deaths, and of each of these to the aggregate population, as well as the respective causes of death, and the effects of climate on diseases, so as to arrive at sound deductions respecting the nature of complaints peculiar to certain countries, and to certain ages, professions, and classes of the people ; the general state of public health, and other important points connected with vital 3 Bureau of Statistics. There is soiiietliing formidable to most persons in a long array of figures, and many are disposed to smile at the mi- nute labors of the statistician as impracticable and useless. Yet , from these may be deducted the wisest rules in the government of society and the amelioration of man. Those who will not give themselves time to examine a subject, arc the speediest to condemn. One readily acquires the character of a cold abstractionist or dull ])lodder, who devotes any consideration to the results of statistics. The labor is almost thankless, and must be endured without sym- pathy. The South has thus produced scarce a single statistician, whilst at the North, the number, though small, is continually in- creasing. We know that, to make an able report, or a convincing ^ demonstration in Congress or in the departments of government statistics. To the statesman it is indispensable to know the number of the population — their wealth or poverty — their increase or decrease — the number of poor in comparison with the rich — the number of laborers, or the productive part, with the number of thinkers, or the unproductive part — the proportion of the sexes — the number of marriag^es — and the general state of public morals, so as to enact wise and just laws that will not bear heavier on one part of the commnuity than another, but such as tend to prevent vice and encourage virtue, and are calculated to promote the welfare and equitable government of the whole. To the Philosopher it is interesting to know the ratio of mortality in a comitry, and to trace its causes, to ascertain the number of marriages, the average pioduceof these mar- riages, and to investigate the various contingent circumstances which affect the reproduc- tion of the species, the value of lives, and the doctrine of probabilities, and thus be ena- bled to calculate the epoch when any given population would double itself, and a thousand other matters highly important and interesting to an inquiring mind. “ Statistics,” says Mr. Chambers in the Edinburgh Journal of Education, “is a science of comparatively late date, but it is one which promises to be of considerable service to mankind. Whatever can be ascertained by taking down numbers and instances and making summaries of them, may be said to be a proper object for this science. It is ge nerally applied to such matters as the amount of population, the rate of mortality, the progress of commerce and manufactures, and the increase or diminution of crime. The benefit of coming to correct reckonings about these matters must be obvious, but we shall cite one instance to make it quite clear. From accounts which have been kept of burials in England for the last fifty years, it appears that the rate of mortality, or number who die yearly, in comparison with the whole population, diminish regularly down to 1831, but has since then been a little on the rise, showing the condition of the people at large (mortality depending on condition) was improving until that time, but has since been slightly declining. When such a fact as this is ascertained, statesmen are put on the alert to discover, and if possible remove the causes. Thus it is seen a nation may be much benefited by taking a census, and keeping of a correct register of deaths. The value of statistical operations then, is manifest. Statistics may be said to be the account of a na- tion for ascertaining the state of its affairs. One which keeps no statistical records may be said to be like a merchant who does business without keeping a ledger or ever coming to a balance. Statistics bear in like manner upon many of the interests of private life. — Of this we trust to be able to give some notable instances in the sequel.” The science of statistics is thus defined by Hazard : “ The science of statistics is of racmit origin, Archcnball, who was born at Elbing, in Prussia, in 1719, and died in 1772 was the first who gave the name and a scientifie form to this branch of knowledge. His compend, originally published in 1749, went'through seven editions. His most distinguished pupil, Schlossa, carried out his views still further in the excellent yet incomplete ‘ Theory of Statistics,’ printed at Gettingen, in 1804. In 1807 appeared Newman’s ‘ Outlines of Statistics.’ In the systematic and compendous treatment of this subject, Toze, Remer, Meusel, Sprengel, Mannert, Fischer, and especially Hassell, have distinguished them- selves. The last-named is the eminent geographer. In Italy there are tlie well knov.ui names of Balbi, Quadri, :ind Gioja. The first European government that paid any atten- Bureau of Statistics. 4 nothing is more important than to be possessed of the facts and figures of the subject. Hence the Government begins now to make the most elaborate collections and returns, and sends out in addi- tion to the decennial census blanks, innumerable circulars to every quarter of the republic. The undersigned does not doubt, that in the future history of this Bureau, should the legislature pursue the plan of publishing its an- nual reports, a vast amount of practical information will be furnished by the voluntary responses and communications of citizens in all the various classes and pursuits.* As the importance of the matter tion to the collection of statistics in a systematic manner, though this was on a limited scale, was Sweden. About the middle of the last century a special commission was employed who made known, at intervals of five years, many interesting facts in relation to the population of the country, etc. Schlosser having called attention to the important results of the Swedish commission, several other States soon entered into a similar arrangement. There is now a Statistical Department, or what is termed a “ Bureau” in connection with the govern- ment of Prussia, Austria, Bavaria, Wurtemburg, Naples and Sardinia. At the head of the “ Bureau” in Berlin, is a gentleman of great intelligence, M. J. G. Hoffman. In 1832 Lord Auckland and Mr. Poulett Thompson, who then presided over the Board of Trade in England, established a statistical office in that Department, to collect, arrange, and publish statements relating to the condition and bearing upon the various interests of the British Empire. The volumes annually printed and laid before Parliament by this office, are well known and highly esteemed. In the year 1831 a Statistical Society was formed in the kingdom of Saxony, which has prosecuted its objects with great energy and success. The French Society of Universal Statistics was founded on the 22d November, 1829, and is under the protection of the king. It proposes and decrees prizes, grants, medals, publishes a monthly collection of its transactions, and maintains a correspondence with learned bodies in all countries. The Society numbers at present more than fifteen hundred members, French and foreign, who are classed into titulary, honorary and corre- sponding members. The subjects about which the Society is employed are arranged into three classes : First — Physical and descriptive statistics, embracing topography, hydrogra- phy, meteorology, geology, mineralogy, population, man considered physically, hygiene and the sanitary state. Second — Positive and applied statistics, embracing vegetables and animal productions, agriculture, industry, commerce, navigation, state of the sciences, general instructions, literature, languages, and the fine arts. Third, Moral and Philoso- phical statistics, including the forms of religious worship, legislative and judicial power, public administration, finance, the military, marine and diplomacy. The science of statistics may be considered as almost a new one in our country, it has, nevertheless, of late excited much attention, and we see from the reports of Congress and of State, down to the newspaper press, the strongest evidences of its favor and progress. Such a science is worthy of all attention? and deserves to bo introduced into our schools and colleges as it is into the merchant’s counting house and the Legislative halls, as an in- dependent and most important branch of sound practical education. * A large part of the information obtained b)'^ the Federal Government, and published m its reports, is obtained through the agency of circular letters. It was thus Mr. Walker published from the Tre.asury in 184fi, a volume showing the condition of our industry, North and South. His circular embraces sixty questions ; among others, “ Capital in- vested in Manufactures,” “ Amount in Materials,” “ Profits on Capital,” “ Annual quan- tity of Manufactures,” “ Persons Employed,” “Period,” “ Rates of Wages,” “Agricul- tural Products,” etc. It is thus the Patent Office is enabled, annually, to publish its volu- minous reports. Circulars are sent to every hamlet in the nation, and the returns are digested so as to present a thousand pages of valuable matter. After all, however, it is only from the decennial census, obtained by regular and salaried agents, that precise and accurate results for the whole country can be had. Bureau of Statistics. becomes better understood, from the published results, the fullness, minuteness and reliability of tbe reports will, in a higher degree, be secured. At the same time to rely exclusively upon these respon- ses, would be to stop very far short of that excellence to which the office may with propriety aspire. The important consideration should guide our movements, that the labors undertaken are not solely for the benefit of a single State, but extend their influences over the nation. Louisiana is one only of a large community of States, distinct, yet intimately de- pendant the one upon the other, and interested, in the last degree in each others’ welfare and progress. These States have a common government, but with such circumscribed and restricted powers, and so far removed from its various members, that the information it can obtain relating to these members, however important in influencing its action, is necessarily meagre and defective. The States, themselves, paramount within their respective limits, by their legislative provisions, official collections and reports, can only supply the defect, in any degree worthy of the subject, and were they but to move conjointly in the matter, each organizing a Statistical Bu- reau, their annual reports, condensed and digested by the federal authorities, would furnish a valume of practicable and reliable sta- tistics which no country in the world has ever excelled, and whose value would be beyond calculation.* In this view the undersigned enclosed a copy of the circular pre- pared by him to the Secretary of State of each State in the Union, requesting the matter to be brought before the legislatures at an early day, in order, if possible, to secure the desired co-operation. A copy was also sent to the Commissioner of the Patent Office, at Washington, together with a report upon the organization of the Bureau, and the general statistics of Louisiana, which appears in his annual volume for 1848. It is gratifying to reflect that Louisiana has been the first State in the Union to perceive the advantages of this system, and attempt its application. Already has her example been pointed to in terms of highest commendation and suggested for adoption. Though other States have surpassed her in the number and extent of statis- tical publications, she alone has made provision for a systematic and permanent office of statistics. * Our Government is one of limited powers, and we ought to guard against their ex- tension. It should not come down too often and too closely, and pry too much into indi- vidual action. Its theory is, to do what the States cannot do so well. But who shall be So generally informed or so capable of obtaining all the necessary information in the mi- nutest details, in regard to the circumstances of a people, and their industry as the State iteelf. The compass being small, how much more accurately the investigations. The State Government is the natural and proper repository of all the facts relating to its people and it is met with no obstacles in obtaining them. The General Government, it is true, ehould make its digests from the State Reports, &c., &c. Bureau of Statistics, 6 In his report of January, 1848, Hon. Edmund Burke, Commis- sioner of Patents, remarks : “I have been informed that a hill has been introduced and is now pending in the Legislature of Louisiana, providing for the organization and establishment of a Bureau of Statistics. It is ardently hoped that the measure may be carried, and that the example which will he thus set hy Louisiana, result- ing from an enlightened view of the importance of her great inter- ests, agricultural and commercial, will he speedily followed- hy other States of the Union — all have industrial interests of sufficient im- portance to justify the establishment of such a Bureau in their respective governments.” In the volume for 1849, language still stronger is used by the Commissioner. “In the pursuit of its sta- tistical investigations, this office has keenly felt the want of means for obtaining accurate and reliable information concerning the great industrial interests of the country. No provision has been made by the General Government for obtaining such information except in relation to our foreign commerce, and but very few of the States have adopted measures for obtaining authentic information in relation to these industrial interests. Massachusetts and Louisi- ana are in advance of most other States in their legislation upon these subjects. In the former State, very full returns are obtained in short periods of a few years, if not annually, of her industry and resources ; and in the latter a Bureau of Statistics has been established, etc., etc. A most interesting view of the vast resour- ces of this great Republic would be annually exhibited, if all the States should follow the example of Louisiana and Massachusetts. The statesman and legislator, to whom the people commit the des- tinies of their common country, would then have at their hands ample material to aid them in the intelligent discharge of their mo- mentous and responsible duties, without which they are like blind men feeling their way in the dark.” A special committee of the Legislature of South Carolina, in the session of 1848, after having ably shown, in a variety of instances, how little information existed, in regard to the resources of that State, declare, “There are facts and considerations which, properly exhibited, would prove the necessity of providing some such organ- ization, as would lead to a correct understanding of these important matters ; and the insufficiency of the matters here presented, only serves to show conclusively, that we have been heretofore neglectful of those means of information which are calculated to elicit correct apprehensions of our advantages and duties. We know not how strong we are at some points, and how weak we are at others. The appointment of such a committee, {i,e. on commerce, agriculture and mechanics,) will soon lead to the establishment of an efficient 7 Bureau of Sta tidies. Bureau of STATfSTics, which will be the means of collecting and disseminating statistical information touching all the interests of the State, of the most valuable kind.” Governor Seabrook in his Message of December last to the Le- gislature of the same State, says, “To ascertain with correctness the resources of a country which a beneficent Being has so prodi- gally endowed, is among the paramount duties of the representatives of the people. Their development and improvement, when ascer- tained, might properly be entrusted to the people themselves. “As inseparable from the enterprise, should the wisdom of the Legislature determine to prosecute it, I recommend the careful collection of Statistical information on all the branches of in- dustry. by the possession of facts and materials, lucidly arranged and methodised, we shall be furnished with complete data as to the present state of the population, white and colored ; concerning agri- culture, commerce, navigation, manufactures, trade, finance, health, and need of whatever may be interesting or instructive to our ci- tizen and their rulers. Under our political organization, and in the condition of society which the Southern States exhibit, the value of this knowledge will soon become manifest and duly estimated. It will tend materially to facilitate many of the most important duties of the public functionary ; enable the Legislature to adjust and re- gulate the various interests of society, and to reduce a chaos of de- tails, on matters requiring their action, into order and system. Nor will the people shemselves be less benefitted. To know all that concerns the land of their birth, i& a matter of pride and deep in- terest.” The suggestions of the Governor are, we understand, soon to be carried out, and a number of distinguished citizens of the State have had the subject in consideration, and are by correspondence, Ac., de- vising the best method to ensure success. The State has already, by a handsome appropriation secured the publication of the reports of her central agricultural society in one large volume, embracing a vast amount of information relating to the staples of cotton, rice and corn, the negro population, negro laws, soils, minerals, ma- nures, etc., etc. In the Legislature of Rhode Island, now in session, a memorial was referred to a select committee, but a few days ago, requesting the appointment of a Superintendent of Statistics, with a sui- table salary, whose duty it shall be to collect all the information possible, relative to the population, the agricultural and other pro- ducts of the State, its resources of every description, the commerce of the State with sister States and foreign countries, the nature and value thereof, the mechanic arts and manufactures, public educa- Bureau uf Sla/hiies. tion, religion, public health, and such other inforination as may, froin time to time, be required of him, having' a bearing upon the industrial and progressive history of the State. The author of the measure in a letter to the undersigned, compliments in handsome terms the action of Louisiana, and adds that Jlhode Island will un- doubtedly co-operate. Massachusetts is far beyond every other State in the pains which she takes to preserve even the most minor particulars relating to her population and industry. It is to this that we may attribute in a degree the rapid advances of that commonwealth, and her course should serve to guide each of her sisters. She appropriates, annually, large sums to the numerous agricultural associations within her limits, in aid of their premiums and publications. On the table before me are a large number of her published reports and documents, furnished kindly by the Secretary of State, at my re- quest. A list of these will aid us in understanding the system she adopts, and perhaps stimulate our own efforts. No. 1. — Statistics of the condition and products of certain branches of industry, in Massachusetts, This is a volume of 400 closely printed pages, mostly figures, published in 1845, prepared from the returns of the assessors, who were provided with blanks by the Secretary of State. This volume is admirably complete, and is expected to be followed up at short periods by similar pub- lications. No. 2 — Abstract of the Returns of Agricultural Societies. A volume of 160 pages made up from the returns of all the Agricul- tural Societies in the State, who, as a condition precedent to the receipt of the bounty allowed, must report annually the amount expended by them, premiums allowed, reports of committees, names of officers, addresses delivered, etc., etc. No. 3. — Abstract of Massachusetts School Returns, containing 336 pages, and published annually by the Secretary of State. This volume was digested by the Hon. Horace Mann from the' reports of the School Committees in all the 309 towns of the State, which amounted in manuscript, as he says, to 5,500 closely written pages, and is very full upon even the merest details of her education system. No. 4. — Insurance Abstracts. These are large pamphlets pub- lished annually by the State, giving tbe operations of every incor- porated company, from returns required by law. No. I*.-^Bank Abstracts. Similar annual publications, showing the capital of every bank in the commonwealth, circulation, pro- fits, debts, deposits, resources, dividends, etc. No. 6. — Annual Reports of all Rail Road Corpoiations. Bureau of Statiatics. No. 7. — Annual lleyorts of Lunaiic Asylmn. No. 8. — Annual Reports, Births, Marriages, and Deaths, These are volumes of 125 to 150 pages each, and are prepared with great care from the returns made by the Clerk, etc., in each of the towns in the State. Nothing like this is found in any other State of the Union, and the general deductions made from the tables have high influence in the regulation of life and society.* Many of our large cities have been equally liberal in the docu- ments prepared and published, showing the progress and pursuits of their population. Prominent among these have been, Boston, New York, and Charleston, which have contributed each large volumes of statistics, so condensed and presented, as to show every thing that could be desired in every department, and to afford the highest and best evidence of the actual condition of the people. Nothing could be more complete and admirable than these volumes. They furnish as it were, a map of the operations of a city from the ear- liest period, down to the moment that we examine them. Should it not be hoped that other cities, and New Orleans in particular, the second important commercially in the Union, will provide for simi- lar volumes, by public appropriations. It affords me great plea- sure to say, that a movement has already been made for the purpose by Mr. Jarvis, a member of the General Council. Since undertaking the duties of this office, the undersigned has been addressed from many quarters of the Union, in regard to its organization, and has answered numerous communications solicit- ing information concerning the industry and resources of the State. To the National Census Board he addressed, through the public prints, a series of letters, commenting upon a proposed innovation * 111 the last report Mr. Shattuck quotes from the 5th Report of the Registrar-General of England. “The census has been taken with regularity in the United States of America, but abstracts of the Register of deaths have only been published by the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and some of the more advanced towns. No correct life table can therefore be framed for the population of America, until they adopt, in addition to the cen- sus, the system of Registration which exists in European States. Since tlie English Life Table has now been framed from the necessary data, I venture to express a hope, that the facts may be collected and abstracted, from which Life Tables for other nations can be constructed. A comparison of the duration of successive generations in England, France, Prussia, Austria, Russia, America, and other States, would throw much light on the phy- sical conditiop of the respective populations, and suggest to scientific and benevolent indi- viduals in every country, and to the government, many ways of diminishing the sutFerings, and ameliorating the health and condition of the people ; for the longer life of a nation denotes more than it does in an individual — a happier life — a life more exempt from sick- ness and infirmity — a life of greater energy and industry, of greater experience and wis- dom. By these comparisons, a noble national emulation might be excited ; and rival na- tions would read of sickness diminished, deformity banished, life saved — of victories over death and the grave — with as much enthusiasm as of victories over each other’s armies in the field; and the triumph of on© would not be the humiliation of the other; for in hi& contention none could lose territory, or honor, or blood, but all would gain strength.” B 10 Bureau of Statistics, upon tlie accustomed method of obtaining the Census, and furnish- ing a variety of suggestions and data relating to the State of Loui- siana, and to the general interests of the country. These letters drew but a response from the Board, and it is believed were not without influence, in producing a change of plan, and securing for the South, a system likely, in the result, to prove much more advantageous than the oe originally contemplated.* Not among the least important duties of the Bureau is that of replying to the continued application of State and federal officers for information upon particular branches of industry, and particu- lar institutions, &c., existing among us ; and in preparing, from time to time, such tabular exhibits of resources, revenue, expendi- tures, Asc., as may be required by either branch of the Legislature. it is clear that these duties should be charged upon a special office.t * Census Letters. — These letters discussed elabarately the following subjects: — Plan of Census enumerations, mode of preparing blanks, whether special blanks applicable to the several States, how far the South is interested in these blanks, population of Louisiana, employment population, number insane, deaf and dumb, educated and uneducated in the State, investment of capital in Louisiana, annual product of industry, capital invested in sugar industry, lands and levees in Louisiana, importance of statistical bureaus, errors in the census enumerations, and mode of amendment, wages of labor, cost of transportation, internal improvements, omissions in previous censuses, population of Russia and United States contrasted, statistics, of population, history of census enumerations, analysis of American censuses, pauperism in the United States, population of native and foreign birth, education in the United States, at the South, vital statistics, or, statistics births, marriages and deaths, importance of such data, experience of European nations, «fec., &c. The references to all these matters were necessarily brief. In return, the Census Board thus expresses itself : “Were the board furnished with letters, equally satisfactory, from each State in the Union, it would be much better able than it now is, to arrive at satisfactory determinations, &c.. The importance of Bureaus of statistics for the several States, and a general bureau of statistics at the seat of government is manifest to the mind of every individual, &c. It is certainly complimentary to the State of Louisiana, that she has been the first to establish a regular office of statistics, &c. The official or- gan also noticed the series of letters^ as follows: — “But apart from their strictures upon the plan of varied blanks, the articles derived importance from the amount of reliable statistical information they contained of the productions and resources of the South, and especially of that portion of it embraced in the valley of the lower Mississippi. Had the invitation of the board, which were extensively circulated in all the States and Territories, soliciting information upon every branch of production, mineral and other resources pecu- liar to each section of the Union, been generally responded to in the same spirit and with the knowledge displayed in these communications, the plan that is condemned would have been much easier of satisfactory execution. Had the other States bureaus of statistics, with a chief as competent and willing to advance the ends aimed at in making a census as Louisiana possesses, the general object of the board would have been greatly promoted.” t A letter from the commissioner of patents, now filed in the Bureau furnishes an ex- ample. To answer this long and patient investigation is needed and will be given. The Commissioner says, “Endeavoring to trace up the history of American inventions, and supposing that interesting facts may be hidden in the archives of the various States, particularly in the records of patents, of which some have been known to have been granted under colonial rule, and others by more or less of the States previous to their conceding the right to the general government, I respectfully request to be furnished with copies of any such documents,” &c., &c. fh/rraii of ^talhlics. 11 The lirst ])ur|)os<^ to be accom[)lished by the Bureau, should un- doubtedly b(5 tlie ])reparatioii and ])ublication of an elal)orate re- port, extending' back, from the earliest settlement of tlie State, and including' every ])articular relative to its population and wealth. Such a re})ort the undersigned has had in view, having collected, and being still engaged in collecting, a variety of information for the purpose, from every available and reliable source — corresponden- cies, odicial documents and reports, historical works, local records, files of newspapers, &c. STATISTICAL COLLECTIONS OF LOUISIANA, CONTRASTING EACH PERIOD OF HER GROWTH, AND COMPARING THE RESULTS WITH THOSE PRESENTED BY THE OTHER STATES OF THE UNION. PART I. — Territory and Improvements. Date of discovery and settlement — origin and growth of parishes, geographical descrip- tions and statistics of rivers, mountains, islands, sea coasts, lakes, etc. ; geological structure, minerals, forests, natural products ; public lands and land system ; lands in cultivation ; arable lauds, pastures etc ; value of lands and productiveness in different sections ; lands capable of reclamation ; navigation of rivers and lakes, character of harbors, climates, meteorological phenomena and diseases ; internal improvements, railroads, canals, turnpikes, bridges, levees and levee system, crevasses, etc. ; facilities of communication, statistics of freights, passages, length of routes, etc. ;post roads and post offices, etc. PART II. — Population. Growth of population from settlement — colonial population ; analysis of census 1800, census 1810, census 1820, census 1830, census 1840, census 1850; comparison of all the censuses ; insane, idiots, deaf, dumb, blind, proportion of sexes, marriages, births, deaths, old, young, productive, unproductive, paupers ; indians, slave and free negro population ; emigrants ; foreign, naturalized and native population compared ; proportion native and foreign origin ; employments of population, agricultural, manufacturing, commercial ; phy- sical condition people, wages, proportion wealth, relative advances different classes population ; education, professions, colleges, schools, societies, libraries, newspapers, chari- ties, religious sects, statistics of education ; proportion educated at home and abroad, ex- penses of education, school returns and appropriations, etc ; the militia — pensions, taxes, revenues, expenditures, debt ; representation in Congress ; density of population ; crimes, punishments, penitentiaries, condition of people as compared with other periods and States, etc. PART III. — Industry. Chapter I. — AGRICULTU RE : growth of agriculture — improvements in, agricultur- al staples with their progressive increase ; statistics of all agricultural products, capital and profits in agriculture, produce of forests, cattle, stock, wool, poultry, agricultural societies and publications, application manures, agricultural machinery, probable new products, condition of agricultural population, etc Chapter II. — MANUFACTURES: character of manufactures, statistics of all branches of manufactures, comparative progress of manufactures, capital in manufac- tures, revenue from, per cent, profit and wages, home manufactures consumed or exported, consumption foreign manufactures, manufactures capable of being introduced. Chapter III. — COMMERCE: Imports and exports, before the purchase in value, quantity and kind ; imports, exports, etc., from the purchase to 1812, from 1812 to 1850, in value, quantity and kind ; progress of trade with each contemporary State or depen- dency, in value, quantity and kind ; statistics of all commercial commodities ; customs, port and quarantine regulations ; chambers of commerce ; conflicting mercantile systems of the States ; bankrupt system ; money, banks ; trade and commerce several cities, growth of cities ; navigation, light houses ; new proposed markets, comparison with other Stales. Chapter IV. — MISCELLANEOUS: Including a. digest of the back rejiorts of the various State offices — auditors, treasurers, engineers, land offices, etc, general statistics} A:c. i2 Butwiu of Statutics. This Report which will occupy a volume of three hundred close- ly printed pages, a large }>art l)eing tabular work, on the plan of the Massachiiseti’s documents, is respectfully suggested to tlve legis- lature for publication. In preparing it, the undersigned would adopt the foregoing plan, adhering as closely to it in the details as possible, and neglecting no head upon which there shall be any chance of obtaining reliable data. There is something peculiar in the origin and progress of the population of Louisiana, made up as it is from such a mass of heterogenous sources, and living to so great an extent without amalgamation, which distinguishes it from every other State. It becomes us, as far as possible to collect the fleeting traditions of this population, and to condense for ready reference whatever facts may be illustrative of its conditions and prospects. The liveliest interest must attach to the subject, viewed in whatever light we please. In discussing the soils, minerals, natural products, etc., of the State, we are met almost at the first step by the criminal deficiency of information which exists among our citizens. Scientific surveys of the State, it is true, were conducted a few years ago by gentlemen, liberally compensated by the Legislature, but the manuscript reports from the culpable negligence or care- lessness of parties, it is difficult to say who, are nowhere to be found among our archives. It is impossible to tell how much the State may have lost, or how far the existence at that time of an office of the character of this Bureau would have protected against the contingency. At the present moment we know literally nothing of the geology of the State. It is evidently too late now to discuss the merits of geological explorations. They have been ordered by a large number of the States of the Union, and are becoming every year more frequent and thorough. A bill is now pending before Congress, providing that a portion of the public lands within the States be appropriated for this purpose. The facts elicited in the prosecution of such sur- veys are essential to the art of mining, to the construction of roads, canals, harbors, buildings and to the improvement of agriculture. In this last particular they are chiefly valuable. Soils consist of organic and inorganic ingredients — the first giving rise to fertility, and the last being indispensable in all improvements. These in- organic compounds, whether clay, lime, silicious earths, magne- sia, salts of iron, manganese, potash, soda, etc., etc., wherever greatly deficient, must be supplied, and to do this a knowledge of their nature and character becomes necessary. To no other sci- ence in so high a degree is agriculture indebted for its advances as to geology. Its successful investigation in the United States was Hureau of Vi first begun in 1807 by Mr. McClure. In 1814 DcWitt Clinton urged in New York a geological, inincralogical, botanical, zoolo- gical, and agricultural survey, which has since been eftected, and the results published in a inagnilicent scries of quarto volumes. — North Carolina has the merit of having sent the first geologist into the field — Professor Olmstead, whose report was prepared in 1825, South Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, and many other States, have followed the example, and the science is now being introduced into the leading Colleges and Universities of the country. It is worthy of consideration, whether Louisiana may not have it in her power, in making provision at any future time for the permanent organization and establishment of her new University, to perfect a knowledge of the State. In any endowment made to the institution, a stipulation might be inserted that the professors of geology and the other natural sciences, in the long vacations so necessary in this climate, be required occasionally to traverse the State, presenting the results of their explorations in regular syste- matic reports. The plan is entirely practicable, and whilst it would increase the value and efficacy of the institution, would confer incalculable advantages upon the State at large. To the University should belong these duties ; and it would be but carrying out the principle now urged upon Congress, if a considerable part of the public lands lately donated to the State should, after being reclaimed, if they ever are, be set apart as a fund for the perfor- mance of this work, (including observations upon the general hydro- graphy of the State,) and for the general interests of the Uni- versity. In many States of the Union, a multitude of facts, concerning the soil, traditions, localities, and population are brought to light and published through the operation of Historical, Statistical, and other Societies, scarcely one of which we have in Louisiana. Twelve years ago, it is true, a few of our citizens formed an historical association, which fell into decay, and was revived within the last three years, by electing Judge Martin to the Presidency, and afterwards Judge Bullard. The practical operations of this society have been chiefly in the collection of books, etc., in which it has been aided by the Legislature, withaview to future usefulness. One of the members, John Perkins, Esq., of New Orleans, now in Europe, in the most liberal and intelligent spirit, has had a digest made in three volumes, two of which have been received, of all the documents contained in the various departments of France relating to Louisiana, and donated it to the State for the use of the Society. In a letter to the undersigned, on forwarding the first volume, he says : “ I have presented through you to the Society, a summary of our history, embraced in one large quarto volume of 14 Bureau of Statistics. 500 jjages, reaching- down to 1710. 1 must ask yonr es]H^cial ex- amination of this volume, for 1 believe it will be found to contain matter of much interest that has never yet been published. The compilation of the rest of the documents is progressing, and I be- lieve that by next fall the State will be in possession of a complete index to all the papers in any of the French archives pertaining to our history.” The full return of Mr. Perkins’s labors will be found in the appendix to this report, — See appendix 2.* In investigating the numerous topics connected with population our progress is almost entirely impeded by the total neglect of nearly every species of record existing among us. Careless, as has been our course in regard to the statistics of wealth, we have been infinitely more careless in those that pertain to life and mortality. In vain has the importance of a registration system of births, mar- * Historical Societies should meet with encouragement in every S< ate. By their correspondence, by their committees, by the spirit which they infuse, by the interrogato- ries which they put to every class of society, they rescue from oblivion the precious results of the past in all the deportments of life. They collect them — they combine them — they preserve them, and hand them down to succeeding generations, consistent records in the stead of vague traditions. The Historical Society of Massachusetts has published 8 volumes, of Rhode Island 5 volumes, Connecticut 6, New York 8 or 10, Pennsylvania 5, Georgia 2 volumes. There are also Societies in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, &c., &c., to which add as somewhat kin- dred, the Antiquarian American Society, National Institute, Smithsonian Institute, &lc. The Louisiana Historical Society has in preparation a volume of proceedings, &c., but has published nothing. Many donations of books &c., have been made to it by Congresa and the State Legislature. It has yet no hall, nor regular meetings. This Society should press the collection of information abroad, relative to the early history of the State, as has been done successfully by other Societies, particularly those of New York, Georgia, and Massachusetts. The Legislature has appropriated ^2,000 for a search of Spanish re- cords now being conducted and appropriated ; about ^1,000 more for a volume of trans- cripts brought over from Franco by one of our citizens. Mr. Forstall made some years ago, and published an index of the most important French papers (Reprinted in Commer- cial Review for 1846). Mr. Perkins, Secretary of the Historical Society, at his own pri- vate expense, which was very considerable, as we have remarked above, has sent over several large volumes in manuscript, being an index of all the papers of every kind re- lating to the State in any of the offices or libraries of the French government, and esti- mates that complete transcripts of the whole could be had for about ^6,000. As our State advances, it will, perhaps, be deemed expedient to bring over these papers. Indeed, this should 1)0 their depository. Two years ago, Mr. Vattemere, an intelligent and philanthropic foreigner, presented to the Historical Society, and to the State, many valuable works relating to France, its agriculture, commerce, manufactures. The Governor called attention to this donation, but it has never been met with any appropriate return. As it is well known that Mr. Vattemere is devoting his life to the groat purpose of promoting exchanges of pub- lications between the nations of the world, thus increasing their comity, and has brought over and distributed many thousand volumes among the dilFerent States, taking back, ]>er- haps, as many in donations from these States. It becomes us not to be behind hand in a liberal co-operation. It is, therefore, suggested that the Legislature order an appropria- tion of a few hundred dollars to be expended by the Secretary of State in the purchase of works relating to Louisiana, or her industry, and a donation of duplicates of some of our publications lor the purpose of reciprocating, and of promoting Mr. Vattemere’s agency. A small sum would also be necessary to reimburse the expenses of that gentleman. Bureau of Statistics. 15 riai> cs and deaths, been pressed by Statisticians in every part of the Union, by coniniittees of medical associations, by the late National and State Medical Convention, &c. The public mind will not be brought to an appreciation of its value and influence. Massa- chuskts still remains the only State in the Union which has successfully set up such a system, in imitation of Great Britain and others of the more advanced European powers. Several of our States have evinced a disposition to be active, and New York, it is believed, has even passed a registration law. In Louisiana, at different periods, we have had enactment upon enactment. That of 1811 makes the parish judges, recorders, with a special recorder in New Orleans. The act of 1819 fixes a penalty for not re- cording in New Orleans. There have been several other legisla- tive provisions, but what have been the practical results of the whole ? * * Vital Statistics and Registration Laws. — Even the little that our registration laws have effected is not in an available form. There may be much of value scattered through the records of the late parish judges. The registrar at New Orleans preserves many volumes, but to digest anything of value from them would require very great labor. In the office of the Charity Hospital, Board of Health, Parish Churches, &c., exist an immense amount of information, useless in its present shape, but capable of being gene- ralized. So indeed as to other offices. In most of the Northern States are published annual statements of commitments, crimes, punishments, vagrancy, pauperism, digested from the returns of Jails, Prisons, Penitentiaries, Courts of Justice, &c. What a volume of light do these shed upon the condition of a people, and what important improvements suggest. The ^ame remark of public hygiene. We have no meteorological observations by public authority, though there are tables in existence, kept in various parts of the State by private individuals, running back for many years from which much might be condensed. Some years ago Dr. Barton suggested a medical commission to report upon the sanitory condi- tion of every part of the State, in order to correct many of the erroneous impressions afloat, and lead to an amelioration of the public health, so infinitely more important than the public wealth. It was then recommended to be made a part of the duty of the Sur- geon-General, of the State, to prepare such a report. In the establishment of a perfect registration system of births, marriages, and deaths. Great Britain and Massachusetts have taken the precedence of all other governments. The Registrar-General of the former has published seven or eight large volumes, which should be obtained for our State library ; and the Secretary of the latter has published voluminous systematical returns already referred to, annually, since 1841 or 2. The late medical convention of the United States memo- rialized Congress, and the State government on the subject. The medical convention of South Carolina, and Louisiana, have ordered a similar memorial. Before preparing this report the undersigned addressed a letter to Dr. E. N. Barton, of New Orleans, long known among us for his devotion to Vital Statistics^ and received in reply a letter, from which, for their great interest, he begs leave to extract the following passages : “There can be no known advancement without we are first made acquaintfid with our actual condition it is evident. All this has been so eminently proved in relation to this city, that I only need to hint a few of the facts to your intelligence and the whole truth will start from the canvass in the most glaring colors: The United States census takers for 1840 gave us a population of about 27,000 more than ive actually had, but as the mortality was not added in a similar ratio, it made us by the Bobadil method of com- putation, the healthiest city in the Union. And some of our writers have since calculated 16 Bureau of Statistics, It is scarcely necessary to remark that our registration system has been entirely inoperative for any of the purposes advocated by vital economists. Louisiana is peculiarly interested in health and mortuary statistics, as it is believed that no State in the Union has suffered more from erroneous impressions, and misrepresentations that have ^one abroad, w^hich vre ourselves have not the means to correct. Were the facts even against us, a faithful exhibit of them would tend in the result to improve our sanitory condition. The experience of all countries preserving such records, shows a mark- our mortality as one in fifty-eight, a ratio of salubrity far exceeding any city in America, and probably in the world ! while our actual mortality is more than double that. You see then that a misstatement is as bad — nay, worse — than none, for here is an official statement presumed to be entitled to confidence from which deductions have been drawn off our actual situation ; had the facts been known and constantly so for thirty or forty years back of the real mortality of this city, and you know how much I have labored to procure them for the last fifteen years, it would be a poor compliment to this intelligent people to suppose that the causes of that mortality would not long since have been inves- tigated — pointed out and remedied, and the city would now be in the enjoyment of the sa- lubrity it only had through a fiction.” “The importance of a knowledge of the health of a community is only second to the health itself. The amount of information from reliable sources that exists upon this sub- ject in America is exceedingly small — in fact, out of the large cities — Massachusetts ex- cepted, and presently New York — there are no statistics of the sanitary state of the country any where to be found, excepting detached monographs in the medical journals ; nothing really but prejudiced assertion ; and this assertion is pro and con, either of them widely separated from the truth.” “ The general information in relation to the health of particular sections of our Union is entitled to very little reliance — the specific facts which properly claim confidence do not exist, and it will doubtless be a long time before the States will authorize them. I stated above that such information was confined to the largo cities. I might have added to the large cities of the sea-board. In the West — in Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, the interior everywhere — there are, so far as I have been able to ascertain, by ac- tual visits and an extensive correspondence and inquiry, no records at all ! As to the entire South, there are very few. In Maryland one, (in Baltimore,) throughout Virginia one only, (at Norfolk,) in the Carolinas one, (and an excellent one, at Charleston,) in Georgia one, (at Savannah,) in Alabama one, (at Mobile,) in Louisiana ozie, (at New Orleans,) in Mississippi one, (at Natchez,) — in their interiors, none ! None in the entire West, so far as I have been able to ascertain.” “The importance of a registry law to a political community may be compared to the value to an individual knowing the state of his health and of his affairs ; a man who takes no note of these may be ruined before he knows it. So a body politic, that is ignorant of its condition — of a prosperous or adverse state of its affairs — of what may advance the one or remedy the state of the other — may be actually retrograding while it is supposed to be thriving, and may be suffering while in reach of all the gifts of fortune. This would bo the more obvious if this was the general belief throughout the world ; but the state of foreign and conterminous countries are constantly being made known, constituting statistical infor- mation: the wants and the sources of supply are constantly being published, and the ba- lance struck : — in fact, the limit to the advantages of a people becoming acquainted with their condition, is about as boundless as the wants of man, for thus only can it bo bettered, (about as strong a feeling in America as in any other,) and some may extend it to all hu- man knowledge, and a reference to the relative condition of nations will show that their prosperous or adverse condition, indeed, their elevation in the scale of intelligence is in a great measure dependent upon an enlightened knowledge of their own condition and wants, and of those of other parts of the world wheiiee they may supply their wants.” “ This kind of knowledge of our actual condition, and the short stop resulting to the de- velopment of our capacity, is more wanting in the South than in any part of our widely Bureau of Statistics. 17 ed amelioration of society, diminution of disease, and extension of t!ie average period of life. The physical condition of man has im[)rovcd in equal pace, with a knowledge of the causes affecting him, and their degree of intenseness in different localities. There can he no question either, that “ the white, black, and other races, present peculiar, moral, and physical characters, which should not he overlooked by the statesman, whose legitimate aim can only be the prosperity and happiness of all nations.” We are strikingly deficient in knowledge of the black and colored population, although living among us for nearly three hundred years. Investigations, notwithstanding their importance, have never been made in this field, until within a very few years. Is it true that the negro is long extended country. And how much has she lost and is losing politically, and in every ele- ment of prosperity, from a want of a suitable knowledge of her condition and capacity ? With the best climate, the richest soil, the finest water power, and mineral wealth inex- haustible, she constantly sees her poorer and less advantageously situated sisters in the inhospitable climates of the North, far outstripping her in every element of wealth, prosperity ■'nd power. This is a sacred duty we owo to ourselves to aid in every way to developo our resources, to exhibit the true sanitary condition of our country, and the immense ad- vantages the South offers to the emigrant to add his stores to ours, and with united indus- try to make her fair fields the very garden of the confederacy. One of the most important is to remove the bugbear in relation to the effect of the climate on health, the actual facts of the ratio of death to population, the average of death and the small portion of time em- braced in the confinement of sickness in the interior of this State would stagger credulity itself, as might bo made apparent, were this the place to publish some tabular statements, I have prepared (for another purpose) to exhibit the comparative health and longevity of our people and the larger proportion of population wo possess of the productive age than of any country known. ” “ Various parts of the United States are avoided on account of supposed insalubrity, as part of this State, when it is now well known to us that those very portions are amongst the healthiest in the Union. And again, all agricultural countries are sickly when first opened and settled, and become healthy soon after the countr}^ becomes cleared, cultivated and subdued to the purposes of man. Such is eminently the fact with regard to the long- settled parts of the Southern States, while countries and cities supposed to be healthj'’ have been found by examination and statistical records to be far the reverse. Such has been found to be the fact with Liverpool, which was deemed one of the healthiest towns iu England before its real condition was made knowm through the registration la'ws, wlien it was actually found to be one of the most sickly ! The alarm was sounded and an im- mediate examination instituted into the cause, when it was ascertained that about 20,000 of its population lived more like reptiles than human beings — burrowing in the ground in damp, dirty, dark cellers, opening into blind alleys, &c., and the mortality was about one in seventeen or eighteen, I think. A reform was at once instituted, with a gain in average life, in a few years, of about ten years. Similar facts have occurred in various parts of England, and also in Massachusetts.” “ But this is not all. Various parts of our widely extended country have their special liabilities to particular forms of disease. Individuals and their families have also their pre- dispositions to special affections. These peculiarities can be worn out and gotten rid of en- tirely by removing from one part where they are very liable to occur, and do produce great mortality, to other portions where they are almost unknown. For instance, there are somo portions of our country where pulmonary affections are very rare, and particularly that opprobia medicorum, consumption, and other portions where they take off near twenty-five per cent, of the entire mortality. A knowledge of this fact is of the last importance to in- dividuals and families who have inherited the phthysical diathesis, and so of many other forms of disease which I need not specify. Then, again, countries change in their liabili- ties to particular diseases, and these facts can only be made known through accurate re- cords worthy of confidence, at successive periods, ” 18 Bureau of Slatislics. lived at the South, and the reverse at the North, whilst the mulat- to is always short lived, and never prolific? Is not the real merit of the slave question involved in the physical characteristics of the races, and in discussing it, are not the facts of births, average lives, diseases, longevity, deaths, increase, vital force, &c., respectively at the North and the South in freedom or in slavery, equally if not more important and decisive than the admonitions of St. Paul, or the laws of Moses? We want facts, full, minute and reliable, upon every feature of this subject ? In these exciting times when fanaticism run riot, endangers the existence of the Union, it becomes the South to be furnished with a reason for her faith. We have almost universally neglected the statistics of our negro population. The North, so minute in other respects, is silent here. Can we tell from their tables how far free- dom proves favorable to the vitality, morals, or physical comfort of the negro ? Is there not reason to believe, from the little we are allowed to know, that amid all the cant of universal freedom he is there short-lived, vicious, depraved, and wretched in the last de- gree ? On the other hand, under slave laws, is not the very re- verse in every respect exhibited. We call again for facts, and they are within our reach. The most overwhelming evidence is in the power of the South,, with an ordinary degree of pains. It is time to go further into these matters than mere general statements. “I think we may safely conclude,” says Dr. Nott, of Mobile, “that the Negro attains his greatest perfection, physical and moral, and also his greatest longevity in a state of slavery. The colored popula- tion of Charleston show not only a lower rate of mortality than any laboring class of any country, but a lower mortality than the aggregate population, including nobility of any country in Europe, &c., &c.” Again, “I have said enough to make apparent the paramount importance of negro statistics. If the blacks are in- tellectually inferior to the whites — if the whites are deteriorated by amalgamation with the blacks — if the longevity and physical per- fection of the mixed race is below that of either of the pure races, and if the negro is by nature unfit for self-government ; these are grave matters for consideration.” “Perhaps,” says Dr. Ginor, phy- sician, in charge of the Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsylvania, “the most striking disproportion is between the white and colored deaths. If my experience, 8 with the natives. We read no where of cruelty. They concili- ated when it was po.ssible, and their priests met with success scarcely equalled in any other .part of America. ^ With the hope that yon may deem it consistent with your duty to advise an appropria- tion by the approaching^ Assembly for securing the historical material refeiTcd to in thif letter, 'I am, with much respect, Verv Irulv yours. JOHN PERKINS, Jr. APPENDIX NO. 111. “ The Vital Statistics of New Orleans,” says Dr. Barton, in his able report to the Ame- ■yican Medical Association, ** constitute a problem, and an important one, that has never been solved. We have to presume the United States census of 1830, to be correct, that of 1840s the cause of all the errors, we now knov^' was noS ; a census was made in 1847-j it was partially correct only ; the entire population almost certainly was not given, and then there were no details of ages, &c., and, of course, no basis for calculating the ave- rage age of the livings so I have taken these for 1830 as my basis, and calculated it t6 be twenty-four years one month. In the census of 1847, none but strictly family resi- dents were taken ; the thousands that count New Orleans their homes, and are occasion- ally absent, were left out entirely.” Dr. Barton, therefore, adds 5,000 to the census of 1847, making the number 100,028, and supposes 20 to 30,000 floating population, belong- ing to the city, and adding to its diseases and deaths. He then calculates (the mortality from 1841 to 1848, at 1 in 19.32 of the population, an estimate of the most mournful cha- racter, if the evidence be found satisfactory. In 1845 the mortality was 1 in 33,07. Dr. Barton adds, “ I think I am entitled to the credit of having rescued from oblivion some ten or fifteen years of the records of mortality, which had been surreptitiously made away with. I have collected now the mortality for about forty years,” &c. “ The actual mor- tality of the city, is certainly very large, but then it is evident from the ages of those who die, from their short residence here, and from their course of life, not at all adapted to th« elimale, that the climate, per se, has less to do with it than other conditions.”