I thought so extraordinary a case well worth the notice of the learned members of this Society in itself; and the more so, as these few hints fall naturally from it, to render its publication useful. We are taught by this, how necessary it is for all such as have the management of youth under their care, to have an early regard to every accident that may befall children; for many times injuries of this kind have been thought very trivial, which, being overlooked and neglected too long, have been followed by very direful circumstances. I have known about a young gentleman to have great hard swellings about his head, and become epileptic, losing his senses as he advanced in years, from a blow with the back of a book given him by a master. I am, with due respect, The +SOCIETY+'s Most obedient Servant, James Parsons. Sept. 18. 1757. XLIII. _An Extract of the Register of the Parish of_ Great Shefford, _near_ Lamborne, _in_ Berkshire, _for Ten Years: With Observations on the same: In a Letter to_ Tho. Birch, _D. D. Secret. R. S. from the Rev. Mr._ Richard Forster, _Rector of_ Great Shefford. [Read Nov. 17, 1757.] Great Shefford, near Lamborne, Berks, July 8. 1757. Rev. Sir, WHEN I settled in the country, abundant leisure enabled me to keep an exact parish-register. I have now finished ten years, I trust, with sufficient care, having examined every thing accurately myself. The sight of three letters, lately published in the Transactions, upon the subject of political arithmetic, put me upon overlooking and methodizing my own account; which I here send you, to make what use you think proper of it. From Lady-day 1747. to Dº. 1757. { Males 73 } Baptized { Females 75 } 148 { Males 44 } Buried { Females 39 } 83 --- Increase 65 { Under 2 years of age 25 { Between 2 & 5 4 { 5 - 10 3 { 10 - 20 4 { 20 - 30 5 Buried { 30 - 40 9 { 40 - 50 4 { 50 - 60 4 { 60 - 70 9 { 70 - 80 11 { 80 - 87 5 -- 83 -- And but one alive above 87, who is 91. The Number of People 425. The Number of Houses 90. The Number of Acres 2245. whereof ⅙ is waste. I do not offer such trifling numbers as these, as a fit subject to build a canon of life upon; but only as they may furnish us with a few particulars, which may throw some small light upon a subject hitherto very little cultivated: and as what has been advanced this way has been always taken from great cities, a little from the country perhaps may not be disagreeable.