But whereas the yearly births of the kingdom are 190,000 souls. about 1 in 28.95, or And the yearly burials 1 in 32.35 or 170,000 souls. Whereby the yearly increase would be 20,000 souls. It is to be noted— Per ann. 1. That the allowance for 4,000 plagues and great mortalities may come to at a medium 2. Foreign or civil wars at a 3,500 medium 3. The sea constantly employing 2,500 about 40,000, may precipitate the death of about 4. The plantations (over and 1,000 above the accession of foreigners) may carry away 11,000 per annum. Whereby the net annual increase may be but 9,000 souls. That of these 20,000 souls, which would be the annual increase of the kingdom by procreation, were it not for the before-mentioned abatements. The country increases annually by procreation 20,000 souls. The cities and towns, exclusive of London, by 2,000 souls. procreation But London and the bills of mortality decrease 2,000 souls. annually So that London requires a supply of 2,000 souls per annum to keep it from decreasing, besides a further supply of about 3,000 per annum for its increase at this time. In all 5,000, or above a half of the kingdom’s net increase. Mr. King further observes that by the assessments on marriages, births, and burials, and the collectors’ returns thereupon, and by the parish registers, it appears that the proportions of marriages, births, and burials are according to the following scheme _Vide_ Scheme A. Whence it may be observed that in 10,000 coexisting persons there are 71 or 72 marriages in the country, producing 343 children; 78 marriages in towns producing 351 children; 94 marriages in London, producing 376 children. Whereby it follows— 1. That though each marriage in London produces fewer people than in the country, yet London in general having a greater proportion of breeders, is more prolific than the other great towns, and the great towns are more prolific than the country. 2. That if the people of London of all ages were as long-lived as those in the country, London would increase in people much faster _pro rata_ than the country. 3. That the reasons why each marriage in London produces fewer children than the country marriages seem to be— (1) From the more frequent fornications and adulteries. (2) From a greater luxury and intemperance. (3) From a greater intentness on business. (4) From the unhealthfulness of the coal smoke. (5) From a greater inequality of age between the husbands and wives. (6) From the husbands and wives not living so long as in the country.