13 APRIL 1844, Page 18

THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S REPORT OF Bre.rns, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES.

BESIDES the clear display of collected facts in various phases, this volume, unlike the generality of statistical documents emanating from public offices, contains a variety of deductions practically useful in the business of society, and is pervaded by the spirit of a feeling man rather than a mere official. Mr. FARR has arranged the mass of statistics collected by the Deputy-Registrars, with a view to a fuller consideration of life-insurance, and all sub- jects connected with the duration of life. There is an elaborate paper on the causes of the high mortality in town districts, ani- mated by a spirit of enlightened humanity, as well as by medical and statistical knowledge. The articles on Deaths in Childbirth, and Childbirth fatal by Contagion, call attention to important sub- jects, and are illustrated by facts furnished by medical men con- nected, apparently, with the department. In addition to these larger papers, there are a series of reports from the Deputy-Registrars of the Metropolis on the sanatory state of their respective districts— rather minute, but not devoid of interest, especially to persons having local knowledge; and there are an infinite number of tables exhibitive of births, deaths, and marriages—national life drawn to a focus.

To this subject the Report of the Registrar is primarily and principally directed ; and his general survey of the field affords some curious results. It would at first glance seem that the ex- hortations of MALTHUS and MARTINEAU are taking effect. While births and deaths have slightly increased, marriages have dimi- nished. In 1841, the marriages were 1 in 130, the births 1 in 31, the deaths 1 in 46; the average of the two preceding years having been, of marriages 1 in 127, births 1 in 31, deaths 1 in 45. Look- ing more closely, they would appear to be diminishing gradually but growingly-1 in 126 in 1839, 1 in 128 in 1840, 1 in 130 in 1841. Taking a comprehensive view, however, the facts admit of a more gallant interpretation ; which the Registrar does not fail to enforce. Examining the eleven divisions in the kingdom, it appears that some are preeminent over others for the proportionate number of the married. The Metropolitan district stands first: the proportion of men and women married, to 100,000 living, was, in 1839, 2,138 men, and of women 1,885. Cheshire and Lancashire are next : the proportion of men being 1,782 and women 1,700. Then comes Yorkshire, with 1,707 lads and 1,676 lasses ; whilst the proportion in Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, dwindles down to 1416 men and 1361 women ; and in the South-eastern division, em- bracing Hampshire, Berkshire, Sussex, and the country parts of Kent and Surrey, it is still lower-1,327 males, 1,299 females, to the 100,000 persons. Now it is in places where the marriages are in excess as it were, or stand above the average of the kingdom, that the falling-off has occurred ; in some of the other districts they have remained stationary, and in some they have increased. Whence the re- porter concludes, that the slackness in marrying, like other slackness, has arisen from bad times. "In some of the instances," be says, "the fluctuation was too slight to merit any attention; but ut others it coincided with the prosperity or depression of induittrikor

trade, and indicated with considerable accuracy the view which the people took of their own circumstances."

It seems, too, that there are seasons for marrying and giving in marriage ; spring, the sweet season, only occupying the second place. The greatest number of marriages (36,542) occur in autumn, and the smallest number (25,174) in winter ; the difference between these extremes is 111368; and the four seasons stand in the following order— Wixom. Sulam. SPRING. AT/TilltN.

January, July, April, October.

February, August, May, November, March. September, June, December,

Average (1839-41) 25.174 29,502 31,559 36,542

The order of births scarcely follows the expectation of marriages ; the greatest number taking place in winter, three or fifteen months after the marrying-season, and the fewest in summer, whilst spring ranks next to winter, and autumn next to spring : and there seems a singular approach to the numbers of births in the two respective periods.

WINTR1L. SPRING. SOMMER. AUTUMN.

Sum a births, 1939,1840, 1841. ... 389,568 397.749 363,805 365,913

From the facts before the Registrar it would appear that we are not so moral a people as we are in the habit of estimating our- selves. •

It is not stated distinctly in the Registers of Births whether children are or are not born in wedlock; but as various circumstances on the face of the Regiater generally enable us to infer the fact, I have had the illegitimate and legitimate births in the two last quarters of 1841 carefully abstracted. Of 248,554children registered, 15,839 were illegitimate : so 1 in 16 of the children born in England is not born in wedlock. This is a much higher proportion of illegitimate births than has been generally given'; but the numbers are not exaggerated ; for if any doubt arose in making the abstracts, and the matter appeared dubious, the child was invariably set down as legitimate. If, again, there are any defects in the registration of births, it is not probable that illegitimate children will be entered in undue numbers; so that I can discover no grounds for supposing that less than 64 in 1,000 English children are illegitimate. The proportion in France is 71 in 1,000."

There are some valuable particulars relating to death, both in its own nature and as it can be turned to the profit of the living ; but the subject is melancholy, and would require a larger space than we can now devote to it, to develop the use that might counter- balance its sadness. We will return to a more genial theme for a few closing facts. From data furnished by half a year, it seems

that out of 65,498 women married, 5,888 were widows ; of same number of men, 8,476 were widowers ; giving 9 widows and 13 widowers to every 100 marriages. It must not, however, be inferred from this that such is the natural preference of the sexes, but merely that more widows were not asked. Of the 122,496 marriages in 1841, 114,371 were according to the rites of the Established Church. Of these, 13 were by special licence, 19,088 by common licence, 94,298 by bans, and 972 by Superintendent-Registrar's certificate. Of the 8,125 marriages not performed by the Esta- blished Church, 5,882 were in registered places of worship, 2,064 in Superintendent-Registrar's offices, 66 between Quakers, and 113 hetween Jews. It would have been desirable, were it practicable, to know the sects to which the 7,946 recusant couples belonged, to see whether the objection to the Establishment-ceremonial is an individual objection of particular persons, or obtains generally among a few sects of Dissenters. The tables exhibit the numbers married at the local registered places of worship, but do not specify the religious opinions. We infer that the objection is mainly personal.