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CENSUS 193 and sold for a slave. The whole population was divided into six classes based upon prop- erty qualifications, each comprising a number of centuries. Augustus, who had the population numbered, enlarged the scope of the census, and improved the mode of taking it. In the 16th century the practice of keeping church registers of births, marriages, and deaths, out of which grew the modern systems of record- ing the movements of the population, came into use. No exact popular enumerations were made in the 17th century, but in the 18th great progress was made in the development of statistical science. In Kussia partial census- es were taken by order of the government in 1700, 1704, 1705, and 1710. In 1719 a com- mission was organized by Peter the Great to visit the principal provinces of the empire for the purpose of making a general census. The commission was charged to ascertain the num- ber of peasants, mechanics, domestics, and per- sons without regular employment. The whole population was returned excepting females, who were omitted because the census was taken solely for purposes of revenue and mili- tary conscription. Females, however, were subsequently included, but returned with less exactness than the males. In 1722 insane and infirm persons without means of subsistence were included in the enumeration, and it was ordered that a census should be taken at inter- vals of twenty years. Accordingly enumera- tions were taken in 1742, 1762, 1782, and 1796. The taking of the census was eventually vested in the central administrations of the provinces, which were held responsible for its correct- ness. As early as 1802 a " central bureau of statistics " was organized under the direction of the ministry of the interior, to which the results of the statistical inquiries of the several departments of the government were trans- mitted, and which published from time to time statistical exhibits of the public administration, population, territorial extent and subdivision, agriculture, commerce, and industry of the em- pire. The central bureau of statistics was reorganized in 1852, and again in 1858, under the name of "central statistical commission," which has charge of the preparation and pub- lication of statistical information of various kinds ; but one of its chief functions is the enumeration of the population. Censuses were taken in 1812, 1815, 1834, 1851, 1858, and 1867. Formerly the range of inquiries was very limited, but in the most recent censuses has been extended so as to include the legal population by sexes ; the number of houses in towns, and of estates in villages and country ; and the number of churches and chapels, be- nevolent institutions, schools, fairs, markets, post stations, and manufacturing establish- ments. The census is taken by means of printed schedules which are distributed and col- lected by the local administrative authorities. The time in which the census is to be taken is fixed by the government, a longer time being allowed for the Asiatic than for the European provinces. The digesting and publication of the returns devolve upon the central statis- tical authorities. A separate mode of taking the census prevails in the province of Finland, which has a special statistical bureau. It is taken by the civil authorities in conjunction with the clergy, and relates exclusively to population. In Prussia census taking dates from the time of Frederick William I., by whom measures were instituted to ascertain the number of the population. This was done through officers of the government, not by an actual enumeration, but by calculations based on various data. This imperfect system was greatly improved by Frederick II. From 1748 to the close of the century an enumeration of the inhabitants, under the direction of the su- perior authorities of each province, was made annually, except during a few years when it was prevented by war. In 1805 a central bureau of statistics was organized, which has existed with progressive changes in its constitution to the present time. It embraced within its functions general statistics ; births, marriages, and deaths; schools and churches; medical statistics; and statistics of mechanical trades and manufactures. At first inquiries into these various subjects were made annually ; but a/ter 1820 annual inquiries were made only as to the general movement of the population and births, marriages, and deaths, information relating to the other subjects being collected once in three years. Upon the establishment of the customs union in 1834, the existing system of triennial population censuses was adopted. At first the inquiries related to the actual population, ac- cording to the age, sex (arranged in yearly classes), birthplace, and civil condition ; mental and physical disabilities ; school attendance, religion, immigration, and emigration. In 1840 the enumeration was made by names, which resulted immediately in a large 7 increase in the population returns. In 1846 the number of families was determined; in 1849 the dis- tribution of the population by habitations ; in 1858 the number of persons of each sex be- tween 17 and 45 years of age was returned in five classes ; in 1861 the unmarried and wid- owed were specially classified, and inquiry was made as to the language spoken, and the social condition and occupation of the people. The Prussian census is taken by civil officers in De- cember, on one day, by means of printed schedules. Besides the census, extensive sta- tistical information relating to a great variety of subjects is prepared and published' by the statistical bureau, and by the several depart- ments of the government. In most of the minor German states the census is taken tri- ennially under the regulations of the customs union, and differs but little from the Prussian! system. In Bavaria, besides the triennial census, a more extended one is taken every 12 years. The first census of the new German empire was taken Dec. 1, 1871. The first census in Aus-