Page:PettyWilliam1899EconomicWritingsVol2.djvu/193

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498
Further Observation on the Dublin-Bills.

the Medium betwixt which number and 48200 is 58045, which is the best estimate I can make of that matter, which I hope Authority will ere long rectifie, by direct and exact Enquiries.

4. As to the Births, we say that Anno 1640, 1641, and 1642, at London, just before the Troubles in Religion began, the Births were 56 of the |5| Burials, by reason I suppose of the greaterness of Families in London above the Country, and the fewer Breeders, and not for want of Registring. Wherefore, deducting 16 of 2263, which is 377, there remains 1886 for the probable number of Births in Dublin for the year 1682; whereas but 912 are represented to have been Christen'd in that year, though 1023 were christened Anno 1671, when there died but 1696; which decreasing of the Christnings, and increasing of the Burials, shews the increase of Non-registering in the Legal Books, which must be the increase of Roman Catholicks at Dublin.

The scope of this whole Paper therefore is, Thaf the People of Dublin are rather 58000, than 32000[1]; and that the Dissenters, who do not Register their Baptisms, have encreased from 391 to 974: but of Dissenters, none |6| have increased but the Roman Catholicks, whose Numbers have encreased from about 2 to 5 in the said Years. The exacter Knowledge whereof, may also be better had from direct Enquiries.


FINIS.


  1. Petty previously calculated 32000 inhabitants in Dublin. See p. 485.