Mr. Mitford,from the Secretary of State's Office, presented a Comparative Statement of the Population of the several Counties of Great Britain, in the Years 1801 and 1811; shewing the Increase or Diminution thereof: together with the present State of the Returns called for by an Act of the last Session of Parliament.
§ On the motion that this Account be printed
Mr. Rosesaid, he would take the present opportunity of making a few observations on the subject matter of the Account then before the House. No regular Census had beep attempted to be taken of the population of England, Scotland, and Wales, until the year 1801, when the right hop, gentleman, who now filled the chair of that House, brought in a Bill for that purpose.—The right hon. gentleman said, that he, in the last session, had had the honour of introducing the measure, under which the late enumeration was made; and he had great pleasure in stating to the House, that, in the course of the last ten years, since the Census of 1801, an increase of population, to the amount of more than one million and a half, had taken place. In England that increase appeared to be in a ratio of 14 per centum; in Wales 12 and in Scotland 13 This, increase in the amount of the population, exhibited an extent and duration unexampled in the history of this country; and what rendered it still more surprising was that the increase of the males was as great as that, of the females. The total population of England, Scotland, and Wales, in 1801, was 10,472,048; at present it amounted to 11,911,644; making an increase of 1,439,596 persons, actually 178 resident in the country; which, added to 170,000 men comprised in our army and navy abroad, made a total amount of 1,609,498.—He considered it a master of great congratulation to the country that the population should have so much in creased, when the drain of men for the army, navy, and merchant service was contemplated. It might perhaps be said, that, at the time when the country was called on to exult in such an increased population, it unfortunately appeared, that the employment for the lower orders had fallen off. Where such a circumstance occurred, it was to be regretted; but, he believed, in the manufacturing counties, and there only, had employment failed: every where else it kept pace with the increase of the population. And even there, it would be found, that the evil was not so generally felt as in the last year. But, taking the circumstances and situation of the country into consideration, it was of more importance to the empire that the population was in a state, of progressive increase, than that partial instances of a failure of employ had occurred. It probably might be alledged, that the apparent increase in the present Census arose in some measure from the former not having been properly executed; but he believed the Census of 1801, which was entrusted to nearly the same persons as were employed on the present occasion, was correct. There was a subject of infinite importance connected With this increased state of population; he meant the facility of providing the people with food. Much had been Stated on the high price of provisions, and the uncertainty of a supply of grain from other countries. Means should, therefore, be devised, to enable the country to supply it self. A person was then waiting to present an Account, Which would place the subject of the importation of grain in a very clear point of view; and it was a subject which required the most accurate information. By that account it would be seen, that, in the period of eleven years, between 1775 and 1786, the average quantity of grain imported annually, was 564,413 quarters; from 1787 to 1708, 1,136,101 quarters; and from 1799 to 1810, including three years of scarcity, 1,471,003 quarters; The average prices were 30s. per quarter in the first period, 40s. in the second and 60s. in the third. In the last year not less than 4,271,000l. went out of the country for the sustenance of the inhabitants—a 179 matter of most serious import to the public. There was also another Account, by which it appeared that the consumption of wheat and flour imported from foreign countries, had been progressively increasing from 1775 to the present time. In 1810, the quantity imported was 693,000 quarters; which clearly proved that the increased consumption of wheat was greater than that of all other grain, and that those who did not heretofore ordinarily make use of wheat, now made it a principal part of their food. To meet the growing wants of the population, without having recourse to foreign countries, was a most important object. He was aware that the inclosure of common and waste lands was carried to a great extent; but this did not keep pace with the necessities of the country. What, then, could be added to their internal resources? He had no objection that all the lands fit for the growth of barley, oats, &c. should be continued under that species of tillage. But still this alone would not be sufficient; and he was persuaded that there was no way in which the country could effectually supply its population, except by encouraging and extending the planting of potatoes, which would grow in those soils that were unfit for the cultivation of grain. There was also another source of supply, he meant the fisheries. It was strange, that in a maritime country, like this, fish was rarely to be seen, except at the tables of the rich. The poor received little or no benefit from that nutritious description of aliment. There might be some prejudices against it; but the exertions of gentlemen in the different parts of the country, if rightly directed, would do them away. He himself had been enabled, at a time when the quartern loaf was extremely dear, to supply the poor, in his immediate neighbourhood, with 22 pounds of good potatoes, and nine herrings, for fifteen pence; If the hints he had thrown out were acted upon, it would tend to introduce a variety of nutritious food amongst the lower orders of society, save a sum of 3,500,000l. annually to the country, increase the agriculture of the kingdom, and, by extending the fisheries, employ a hundred thousand persons in that way, which, more than any other, was calculated to uphold the naval greatness of the empire.
§ Mr. Broughamparticipated in the great satisfaction expressed by the right hon. gentleman, at the flourishing increase of 180 the population; and had derived much pleasure from the sensible and important observations he had made on the subject of provisions; a subject which the House should always keep in view, but particularly at the present moment, when the country was threatened with a scarcity. He was not, however, prepared to agree with the right hon. gentleman to the full extent of his statement. With respect to the great and progressive increase of population, since the Census of 1801, there certainly was an apparent increase; but whether, upon inquiry, a real increase could be substantiated, was another matter. The point on which his doubt arose had been touched upon by the right hon. gentleman. In 1801, under the then Population Act, a Census had been taken. Being a novel measure, and its machinery for the first time set at work, and, indeed, in part only created, its results could not be supposed to possess all that accuracy which was manifested on the present occasion, after the experiment had been once made. Even if the same persons were employed on each Census, it was apparent, that, having had the experience of the first, they would be more capable of a correct discharge of their duties, than when they originally undertook the task. There were other reasons, too, which operated against the correctness of the Census of 1801. When the measure was first proposed, it had to struggle with the prejudices of the people. That they were wrong he admitted; but their existence was known to every man in the country. Many persons had imbibed superstitious ideas on the subject. They conceived there was an ominous fatality, something extremely unlucky, in numbering the people; and they quoted certain passages from the Old Testament, in support of their opinion. Those prejudices were now dope away.; and that circumstance, added to the, increased experience of the persons to whom the operation of the present Act was entrusted, must have had, the effect of producing a result nearer the truth, than could be procured under all the difficulties, arising from, the novelty of the measure, the prejudices of the people, and the inexperience of those who were engaged in making the Census in 1801 The question, then, was, whether the error was one of increase or of diminution? From the probable causes of error which he had assigned, particularly the prejudice 181 against the Bill, he thought it was fair to infer, that the Census of 1801 made the population less than it really was; to what extent he would not pretend to say. But, as the present Census was, no doubt, more accurate, those were included in it, who were not enrolled in the former, and thus an apparent increase, to a certain extent, was produced. Indeed, looking to the state of war in which the country had been so long engaged, the number of emigrations, and various other circumstances, he could not comprehend how the population could have increased in such a surprising manner; for, contrasted with the neighbouring countries, the population of Great Britain made a progress comparatively slow, But the important question was, taking for granted the alledged increase of population, whether the advantages derivable from it were so great as the right hon. gentleman seemed to think? And here, one point had been omitted by him, which might have been very properly introduced when he spoke of the high price of provisions. He thought that an account of the increase of the Poor's Rates ought to have been laid on the table along with the documents to which the right hon. gentleman had alluded. That, perhaps, would have shewn, that the comfort and happiness of the people had not increased with their numbers. He would now call the attention of those persons who were particularly connected with the measure, to a very great defect in the law, as it at present stood. He conceived that it ought to have extended to Ireland. A Census of the inhabitants of that part of the empire ought to be taken, pointing out, if possible, the progressive increase for the last twenty years, or, at all events, since the legislative union. He regretted, extremely, that such a measure had not been heretofore resorted to; particularly when they were on the eve of agitating that most important subject, the State of Ireland. When they were about to enter into a dispassionate inquiry into the state of the people of that country, for the purpose of securing the rights and redressing 182 the wrongs, of a great part of its population, it Was deeply to be lamented that some such salutary act had not been introduced 12 years ago; or, at any rate, last year. If a Census were directed to be taken there, it would be right, in his opinion, to have the number of persons attached to each religious sect specified. How many Catholics, Protestants, and Dissenters, that, at one view, their numerical relation, to each other might be discernible. The hon. and learned gentle man concluded by recommending the subject to the serious consideration of his Majesty's ministers.
Mr. Roseobserved, that he had formerly moved for Accounts in order to ascertain the amount of the Poor's Rate, and had written a pamphlet on the subject, which were proofs that it had not escaped his attention.
Mr. Herbert,of Kerry, agreed with the hon. and learned gentleman in the propriety of instituting a Census for the population of Ireland, and stated as the result of his own personal inquiries and information, that the population of Ireland had been long rapidly augmenting.
§ Mr. P. Mooreobserved, that the right hon. gentleman, on a motion for printing a document, had addressed the House, at some length, on one subject which was, and one which was not before them. As to the paper which was on the table, it carried evidence of its falshood on the face of it. It was stated to be a document shewing the strength of the empire. If it was so, why was Ireland not included? The population of England, Scotland, and Wales, was 11,000,000 And were the six million of Ireland to be forgotten; many of whom were then fighting the battles of the empire, and made part of that army and navy which swelled the list then before the House? If Ireland was really considered as part of the effective strength of the empire, it was a criminal deficiency to omit her population.
§ The said Return was then ordered to be printed, and is as follows:
183§ COMPARATIVE STATEMENT of the POPULATION of the several Counties of BRITAIN, in the years 1801 and 1811; shewing the increase or Diminution there of: together with the present State of the Returns called for by an Act of the last Session of Parliament.
| ENGLAND. | ||||||||
| COUNTIES. | POPULATION 1801. | In crease. | Diminuloin | POPULATION 1811. | ||||
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | |||
| Bedford | 30,523 | 32,870 | 63,393 | 6,820 | … | 33,171 | 37,042 | 70,213 |
| Berks | 52,821 | 56,394 | 109,215 | 9,062 | … | 57,360 | 60,917 | 118,217 |
| Buckingham | 52,094 | 55,350 | 107,444 | 10,206 | … | 56,208 | 61,442 | 117,650 |
| Combridge | 44,081 | 45,265 | 89,346 | 11,763 | … | 50,756 | 50,353 | 101,109 |
| Chester | 92,759 | 98,992 | 191,751 | 35,280 | … | 110,844 | 116,190 | 227,031 |
| Cornwall | 89,868 | 98,401 | 188,269 | 28,398 | … | 103,310 | 113,357 | 216,667 |
| Cumberland | 54,377 | 62,853 | 117,230 | 16,514 | … | 63,433 | 70,311 | 133,744 |
| Derby | 79,401 | 81,746 | 161,142 | 24,345 | … | 91,494 | 93,993 | 185,487 |
| Devon | 157,240 | 185,761 | 343,001 | 40,307 | … | 179,553 | 203,755 | 383,308 |
| Dorset | 53,667 | 61,652 | 115,319 | 9,374 | … | 57,717. | 66,976 | 124,693 |
| Durham | 74,770 | 85,591 | 160,361 | 19,444 | … | 84,777 | 95,028 | 179,805 |
| Essex | 111,356 | 115,081 | 226,437 | 26,036 | … | 124,839 | 127,634 | 252,473 |
| Gloucester | 117,180 | 133,629 | 250,809 | 27,727 | … | 129,546 | 148,990 | 278,536 |
| Hereford | 43,955 | 45,236 | 89,191 | 4,882 | … | 46,404 | 47,669 | 94,073 |
| Hertford | 48,063 | 49,514 | 97,577 | 14,077 | … | 55,023 | 56,631 | 111,654 |
| Huntingdon | 18,521 | 19,047 | 37,568 | 4,640 | … | 20,402 | 21,806 | 42,208 |
| Kent | 151,374 | 156,250 | 307,624 | 63,261 | … | 181,925 | 188,960 | 370,855 |
| Lancaster | 322,356 | 350,375 | 672,731 | 155,578 | … | 394,104 | 434,205 | 828,309 |
| Leicester | 63,943 | 66,138 | 130,081 | 20,338 | … | 73,366 | 77,055 | 150,419 |
| Lincoln | 102,445 | 106,112 | 208,557 | 13,994 | … | 109,707 | 112,844 | 222,551 |
| Middlesex | 373,655 | 444,474 | 818,129 | 131,913 | … | 433,036 | 517,006 | 950,042 |
| Monmouth | 22,173 | 23,409 | 45,582 | 5,692 | … | 25,715 | 25,559 | 51,274 |
| Norfolk | 129,842 | 143,529 | 273,371 | 18,611 | … | 138,076 | 153,906 | 291,982 |
| Northampton | 63,417 | 68,340 | 131,757 | 9,596 | … | 68,279 | 73,074 | 141,353 |
| Northumberland | 73,357 | 83,741 | 157,101 | 15,060 | … | 80,385 | 91,776 | 172,161 |
| Nottingham | 68,558 | 71,792 | 140,350 | 22,580 | … | 79,057 | 83,843 | 162,900 |
| Oxford | 53,786 | 55,834 | 109,620 | 9,584 | … | 59,140 | 60,064 | 119,204 |
| Rutland | 7,978 | 8,378 | 16,356 | 24 | … | 7,931 | 8,449 | 16,380 |
| Salop | 82,563 | 85,076 | 167,639 | 27,061 | … | 96,038 | 98,662 | 194,700 |
| Somerset | 126,927 | 146,823 | 273,750 | 29,430 | … | 141,449 | 161,731 | 303,181 |
| Southampton | 105,667 | 113,789 | 219,656 | 25,691 | … | 118,434 | 126,913 | 245,347 |
| Stafford | 118,698 | 120,455 | 239,153 | 57,370 | … | 148,758 | 147,765 | 296,523 |
| Sufffolk | 101,091 | 109,340 | 210,431 | 23,468 | … | 111,866 | 122,033 | 233,899 |
| Surrey | 127,138 | 141,905 | 269,043 | 54,808 | … | 151,811 | 172,040 | 323,851 |
| Sussex | 78,797 | 80,514 | 159,311 | 29,934 | … | 93,775 | 95,470 | 189,245 |
| Warwick | 99,942 | 108,248 | 208,190 | 10,703 | … | 104,487 | 114,406 | 218,893 |
| Westmorland | 20,175 | 21,442 | 41,617 | 4,369 | … | 22,902 | 23,084 | 45,986 |
| Wilts | 87,380 | 97,727 | 185,107 | 8,721 | … | 91,560 | 102,268 | 193,838 |
| Worcester | 67,631 | 71,702 | 139,333 | 21,668 | … | 78,261 | 82,740 | 161,001 |
| York, E. Riding | 68,457 | 70,976 | 139,433 | 27,920 | … | 81,205 | 86,148 | 167,353 |
| —N. Riding | 74,904 | 80,602 | 155,506 | 2,698 | … | 77,505 | 80,609 | 158,204 |
| —W Riding | 276,005 | 287,948 | 563,953 | 89,049. | … | 321,651 | 331,351 | 653,002 |
| Totals | 3,987,935. | 4,343,499. | 8,331,434 | 1,167,966 | … | 4,555,257 | 4,944,143 | 9,499,400 |
| WALES. | ||||||||
| Anglesey | 15,175 | 18,031 | 33,806 | 3,286 | … | 17,467 | 19,625 | 37,092 |
| Brecon | 15,393 | 16,240 | 31,633 | 6,117 | … | 18,522 | 19,228 | 37,730 |
| Cardigan | 20,408 | 22,548 | 42,956 | 7,376 | … | 23,793 | 26,539 | 50,332 |
| Carmarthan | 31,439 | 35,878 | 67,317 | 9,900 | … | 36,080 | 41,137 | 77,217 |
| Carnarvon | 19,586 | 21,935 | 41,521 | 7,498 | … | 23,241 | 25,778 | 49,019 |
| Denbigh | 29,247 | 31,105 | 60,352 | 3,888 | … | 31,129 | 33,111 | 64,240 |
| Flint | 19,577 | 20,045 | 39,622 | 6,896 | … | 22,712 | 23,806 | 46,518 |
| Glamorgan | 34,190 | 37,335 | 71,525. | 9,743 | … | 39,378 | 41,890 | 81,268 |
| Merioneth | 13,896 | 15,610 | 29,506 | 1,418 | … | 14,308 | 16,616 | 30,924 |
| Montgomery | 22,914 | 25,064 | 47,978 | 2,628 | … | 24,760 | 25,846 | 50,606 |
| Pembroke | 25,406 | 30,874 | 56,280 | 4,335 | … | 27,453 | 33,162 | 60,615 |
| Radnor | 9,347 | 9,703 | 19,050 | 2,749 | … | 10,571 | 11,228 | 21,799 |
| Totals | 257,178 | 284,368 | 541,546 | 65,834 | … | 289,414 | 317,966 | 607,380 |
| SCOTLAND. | ||||||||
| SHIRES. | POPULATION 1801. | Increase. | Diminution | POPULATION 1811. | ||||
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | |||
| Aberdeen | 55,625 | 67,457 | 123,082 | 13,891 | … | 60,973 | 75,930 | 136,903 |
| Argyll | 33,767 | 38,092 | 71,859 | 13,726 | … | 40,675 | 44,910 | 85,585 |
| Ayr | 39,686 | 44,640 | 84,396 | 19,648 | … | 48,506 | 55,448 | 103,954 |
| Banff | 16,067 | 19,740 | 35,807 | - - | 1707 | 14,911 | 19,189 | 34,100 |
| Berwick | 14,294 | 16,327 | 30,621 | 158 | … | 14,466 | 16,313 | 30,779 |
| Bute | 5,552 | 6,239 | 11,791 | 282 | … | 5,545 | 6,488 | 12,033 |
| Caithness | 10,183 | 12,426 | 22,609 | 810 | … | 10,608 | 12,811 | 23,419 |
| Clackmanan | 5,064 | 5,794 | 10,858 | 1,152 | … | 5,715 | 6,295 | 12,010 |
| Dumbarton | 9,796 | 10,914 | 20,710 | 3,479 | … | 11,369 | 12,820 | 24,189 |
| Dumfries | 25,407 | 29,190 | 54,597 | 8,363 | … | 29,347 | 33,613 | 62,960 |
| Edinburgh | 54,224 | 68,730 | 122,954 | 25,490 | … | 64,903 | 83,541 | 148,444 |
| Elgin | 11,763 | 14,942 | 26,705 | 1,403 | … | 12,401 | 15,707 | 28,108 |
| Fife | 42,952 | 50,791 | 93,743 | 7,529 | … | 45,968 | 55,304 | 101,272 |
| Forfar | 45,461 | 53,666 | 99,127 | 8,137 | … | 48,151 | 59,113 | 107,264 |
| Haddington | 13,890 | 16,096 | 29,986 | 1,178 | … | 14,232 | 16,932 | 31,164 |
| Inverness | 33,801 | 40,491 | 74,292 | 4,123 | … | 35,749 | 42,666 | 78,415 |
| Kincardine | 12,104 | 14,245 | 26,349 | 1,090 | … | 12,580 | 14,859 | 27,439 |
| Kinross | 3,116 | 3,609 | 6,725 | 520 | … | 3,466 | 3,779 | 7,245 |
| Kirkcudbright | 13,619 | 15,592 | 29,211 | 4,473 | … | 15,788 | 17,896 | 33,684 |
| Lanark | 68,100 | 78,599 | 146,699 | 45,053 | … | 88,688 | 103,064 | 191,752 |
| Linlithgow | 8,129 | 9,715 | 17,844 | 1,607 | … | 8,874 | 10,577 | 19,451 |
| Nairn | 3,639 | 4,618 | 8,257 | - - | 6 | 3,530 | 4,721 | 8,251 |
| Orkney & Shetland | 20,793 | 26,031 | 46,824 | - - | 671 | 20,151 | 26,002 | 46,153 |
| Peebles | 4,160 | 4,575 | 8,735 | 1,200 | … | 4,846 | 5,089 | 9,935 |
| Parth | 58,808 | 67,558 | 126,366 | 8,727 | … | 64,034 | 71,059 | 135,093 |
| Renfrew | 36,068 | 41,988 | 78,056 | 14,540 | … | 41,960 | 50,636 | 92,596 |
| Ross & Cromarty | 25,494 | 29,849 | 55,343 | 5,510 | … | 27,640 | 33,213 | 60,853 |
| Roxburgh | 15,813 | 17,869 | 33,682 | 3,548 | … | 17,113 | 20,117 | 37,230 |
| Selkirk | 2,356 | 2,714 | 5,070 | 819 | … | 2,750 | 3,139 | 5,889 |
| Stivling | 23,375 | 26,950 | 50,825 | 7,349 | … | 27,745 | 30,429 | 58,174 |
| Sutherland | 10,425 | 12,692 | 23,117 | 512 | … | 10,488 | 13,141 | 23,629 |
| Wigtown | 10,570 | 12,348 | 22,918 | 3,973 | … | 12,205 | 14,686 | 26,891 |
| Totals | 734,581 | 864,487 | 1,599,068 | 208,180 | 2384 | 825,377 | 979,487 | 1,804,864 |
| SUMMARY. | ||||||||
| POPULATION 1801. | Increase. | Diminution | POPULATION 1811. | |||||
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | |||
| England | 8,987,935 | 4,343,499 | 8,331,434 | 1,167,966 | … | 4,555,257 | 4,944,143 | 9,499,400 |
| Wales | 257,178 | 284,368 | 541,546 | 65,834 | … | 289,414 | 317,966 | 607,380 |
| Scotland | 734,581 | 864,487 | 1,599,068 | 208,180 | 2384 | 825,377 | 979,487 | 1,804,864 |
| Army, Navy, &c. | 470,598 | - - - | 470,598 | 169,902 | … | 640,500 | - - - | 640,500 |
| Totals | 5,450,292 | 5,492,354 | 10,942,646 | 1,611,882 | 2384 | 6,310,548 | 6,241,596 | 12,552,144 |