"A hundred fertile marriages for each decade from 1831 to 1890 have been taken consecutively from those families who have held their title to nobility for at least two preceding generations, thus excluding the more modern commercial middle-class element in the present Peerage, which can be better dealt with elsewhere. We then get the full effect of hereditary stability and a secure position, and do away with any disturbing influence that might occur from a sudden rise to prosperity." [48] The results were as follows: [Reference: Population] Year. Number of children to each fertile marriage. 1831-40 7.1 1841-60 6.1 1871-80 4.36 1881-90 3.13 The birth-rate amongst thirty families of the landed gentry, who were known to be definitely Catholic, was also investigated, with the following results: Years. Number of children to each fertile marriage. 1871-90 6.6 (as compared with 3.74 for the landed families as a whole during the same period.) The interpretation of these figures is not a matter of faith, but of reason. I submit that the facts are _prima facie_ evidence that by observance of the moral law, as taught by the Catholic Church, even a highly cultured community is enabled to escape those dangers of over-civilisation that lead to diminished fertility and consequently to national decline. The truth of this statement has been freely acknowledged by many Anglicans. According to Canon Edward Lyttelton: "The discipline of the Roman Communion prohibits the artificial prevention of conception, hence Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom in which the birth-rate has not declined, and the decline is least in places like Liverpool and those districts where Roman Catholics are most numerous." As we have already seen, there are also other reasons why Catholicism preserves the fertility of a nation.