No census has been taken of the city since 1850. The estimated population is 25,000. Very respectfully yours, J. P. SCREVEN, _Mayor_. From the Mayor's annual report, we learn that the "assessments or value of lands and improvements," for the year ending October 31st, 1856, amounted to $8,999,015. The value of the personal property is, perhaps, about $3,000,000--total value of real and personal estate $11,999,015. CITY OF NEW-BEDFORD, } Mayor's Room, 1 mo., 6th, 1857.} H. R. HELPER:-- Yours of the 4th inst. came to hand this morning. In reply to your inquiries, I will say that the amount assessed on the 1st day of May, 1856, was as follows:-- Real Estate, $9,311,500 Personal, 17,735,500 ----------- Total, $27,047,000 The returns of a census taken the previous autumn gave 20,391 persons, from which there is not probably much change. Respectfully, GEO. ROWLAND, JR. _Mayor_. MAYOR'S OFFICE, } Wilmington, N. C., May 23d, 1857.} H. R. HELPER, ESQ., New-York, _Dear Sir_:-- I am in receipt of yours of 19th inst. The value of real estate as per last assessment, 1st April, 1856, was $3,350,000 We have no system by which to arrive at the value of personal property: I estimate the amount, however, exclusive of merchandize, at $4,509,000 There has been no census taken since 1850--the present number of inhabitants is estimated at 10,000. I regret my inability to afford you more definite information. Very respectfully, &c., O. G. PARSLEY, _Mayor_. From the foregoing communications, we make up the following summary of the more important particulars:-- NINE FREE CITIES. -------------------------------------------------------- Name. |Population.| Wealth. | Wealth | | |_per capita_. -------------|-----------|----------------|------------- New York | 700,000 | $511,740,492 | $731 Philadelphia | 500,000 | 325,000,000 | 650 Boston | 165,000 | 249,162,500 | 1,510 Brooklyn | 225,000 | 95,800,440 | 425 Cincinnati | 210,000 | 88,810,734 | 422 Chicago | 112,000 | 171,000,000 | 1,527 Providence | 60,000 | 58,064,516 | 967 Buffalo | 90,000 | 45,474,476 | 505 New Bedford | 21,000 | 27,047,000 | 1,288 |-----------|----------------|------------- | 2,083,000 | $1,572,100,158 | $754 -------------------------------------------------------- NINE SLAVE CITIES.