PORTER'S PROGRESS OF TILE NATION.

Tins volume treats of Morals, Manners, Accumulation, Consump- tion, and Colonies; Production being incidentally noticed under the heads of Consumption and Accumulation ; as Postage, Newspapers, and National Education, are exhibited in the examination of Moral Progress. The facts of the last century are occasionally referred to, but the main matter relates to the present, when statistics began to receive more public attention. The mode of composition resembles that of the previous volumes ; a general view of the subject introducing the detailed statistics whence those larger conclusions were drawn. As regards inherent attraction, the subjects of this volume seem to have an advantage over the previous sections, in a more living character ; but we question whether the volume itself possesses the same interest. Wherever there is continuation there is almost sure to be repetition, whose tendency is to pall : and perhaps statistics do not now receive the attention which was paid to them some years ago. The public begin to perceive that there is a moral as well as a political economy; and the fashion sets against that exclusive regard to mere wealth which the economists of the new school were in the habit of pedantically enforcing. The world may not yet think exactly with the man who declared that "no- thing lies like a fact" ; but it begins to have a disregard for pure facts, considering them as valuable only for the conclusions they contain ; and if by overlooking any important consideration the con- clusion is imperfectly deduced, it may lead to very fatal falsehood.

In point of literary merit, this volume is perhaps an improve- ment. Mr. PORTER exhibits the same industry in collecting his facts, with an equal skill in selecting and grouping them ; while he has advanced in breadth of view, if not in general soundness of deduction. To any person whose pursuits have a relation to sta- tistics, the volume is, of course, nearly indispensable, as presenting the readiest, briefest, and completest view of' the subjects of which it treats. The general reader, if not altogether a light reader, will find in its pages many interesting facts and inferences, and much food for suggestion.

Into the topics relating to the Progress of the Nation we cannot fully enter ; but we may cursorily notice some of the more striking points. In the article of drinking there is no falling-off; despite of Tea-totalism, we sustain the reputation of our ancestors. In 1802, the average consumption of British spirits per head in Eng- land was 0.36 parts of a gallon; in 1840 it had risen to 0 52 ; to Scotland there has been an increase from 0.71 to 2.28,-though surely some of this must be owing to the diminution of smuggling; Scottish hospitality can never have progressed at this rate, even allowing for an almost " total abstinence" from rum, and a fall in brandy from 0.219 to 0.015. In the use of wine the island is de- generating; we have dropped from 0.533 in 1801, to 0.301 in 1841: but the consumption of malt has rather advanced. It is needless to say that there is an increase in the consumption of paper. In despite of our advances in accumulation, luxury, and show, there is a decline since the peace in the manufacture of plate, for a long time positive without reference to the increasing population. From 1807 to 1814, the quantities retained for home use were, of gold plate 50,570 ounces, and of silver plate 8,290,157 ounces ; from 1830 to 1837, there were only 48,432 ounces of gold, and 7,378,651 ounces of silver. Latterly there has been a slight advance in the gold, but that of silver is still below the average of the last years of the war. Mr. PORTER puts forward various suggestions to account for it : we believe it is mainly resolvable into the use of German silver and plated articles; we live in an age of show-" semblance of worth, not substance."

The number of men-servants has increased from 86,093 in 1812, to 109,814 in 1840; but this is not in proportion to the increase of population-in fact, two-thirds less : it was only from 1831 to 1835 that the increase in the number of male-servants bore an exact relation to the annual addition to our numbers. The in- crease in carriages, especially in two-wheeled carriages, or vehicles let for hire, is so remarkable, and the periodical growth so curious, that we present it as in Mr. PORTER'S table.

Carriages.

With four wheels With two wheels

Let for hire

1811. 1821. 1831. 1836. 1840.

16,596 17,555 24,886 26,861 27,194 27,286 30,743 49,331 45,242 42,732 5,544 5,480 20,196 31,937 34,550 49,426 53,778 94,413 104,040 104,476

In many things connected with food, our knowledge is but con- jectural, from the want of data, or any means of procuring correct returns. In fact, statistics upon this subject are mere delusion : the point at issue is taken for granted. When a statist solemnly calculates that so much wheat is consumed per head, he can reach to no more than this, that the poor would eat it if they had it : and even in the amount of this calculation the statists differ by one-third.

The increase in timber is remarkable, and not very easily ac- counted for, since the scantling in buildings is less than was deemed necessary of yore. The number of loads imported in 1801 was 161,869, and 745,158 loads in 1841 : the increase in the popula- tion is only 641 per cent, but the timber imported has increased 360 per cent. The progress in iron is still more remarkable, though admitting of an easier solution.

" The increased use of iron in this country during the present century bag been truly extraordinary. The importations of this metal at the beginning of this century amounted to about 40,000 tons yearly, and the quantity made at home was under 150,000 tons. It was given in evidence by Sir John Guest, before the Committee of 1840 on Import-Duties, that in the year 1806 the quantity of iron made in the kingdom was increased to 258,000 tons; that in 1823 the quantity produced was 452,000 tons; in 1825 it had reached 581,000 tons; and in 1828 the quantity was 703,000 tons. At this point the manu- facture remained stationary for a few years ; but in 1831 it again began to ad- vance, and in 1835 the quantity made was estimated on good grounds at a million of tons. In the following year the estimate was 1,200,000 tons, and in 1840 it reached 1,500,000 tons. A statement was prepared in October of that year by one of our most intelligent ironmasters, giving the number of furnace* in blast and out of blast, and the number of tons of iron made at each work in Great Britain. it was there shown that the annual product, exclusive of Ireland, amounted to 1,396,400 tons."

Morals and manners depend rather upon inference from observa. tion and comparison than on any tabular facts. Mr. PORTER con- siders we have lost in patriotism, national justice, and the bolder virtues, but gained in

" All the gentler morals, such as play Through life's more cultured walks and charm the way."

In manners and refinement we have made great advances : and the evidence on this point approaches more to statistics—ballads, books, and the language of common discourse. In crime the pro- gress of the nation has been wonderful.

" If we refer to our criminal returns, it will be found that in England and Wales the number of persons committed for trial is now five times as great as it was at the beginning of the century ; while in Ireland the proportionate in- crease has been even more appalling, there having been in 1839 sevenfold the number of committals that were made in 1805, the earliest year for which our records are available. There are not any accounts of so early a date by which we are able to make a similar comparison for Scotland, but,comparing the number of committals in 1815 with those in 1839, we find that in those twenty- four years they have augmented nearly sixfold."

It should be observed, however, that crimes of violence have diminished; the increase is in crimes against property. Some allowance, too, must be made for a better police, and something for the greater lenity of the criminal law, which induces people to prosecute. There is a curiously suggestive table at page 178 on our progress in lenity. In 1805, 68 persons were hanged out of 350 sentenced to death; in 1 84 1, only 10 were executed and only SO sentenced. At the same time, the remoter period does not present the best comparison. In 1813, there were 713 sentenced to death, and 120 hanged.

In 1817 1,302 and 115 hanged.

In 1821 1,134 and 114 hanged.

The inference would seem to be, that in years of disturbance or distress crimes multiplied, and judges hanged to terrify. As re- gards murder, no conclusion can be drawn either way. The num- ber of persons executed for murder during the first five years of the table was 48, and during the last five years 44. The crime predo- minated during the period from 1812 to 1822; the highest number executed in one year for murder being 25 ; but it rose as high as 21 in 1835.

Before taking leave of this volume, we may remark that the succinct account of the Colonies in the last section will be found useful to numbers. Too much is aimed at for the space,— as we have history, statistics, institutions, and government, in a very small compass: but it is a indium in parvo of the kind, which cannot be got elsewhere.