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thousand per annum, which is nearly 2½ per thousand per
annum lower than the average annual death-rate during the
preceding 10 years.
The decennial census of the population was taken on
Sunday, April 5th, 1891, and I considered it necessary to
make the following observations with regard to it in my
monthly Report for June, 1891.
The Census population of the Parish in 1871 was
89,758, and that in 1881 was 89,573 i I have no reason to
believe that there was any serious inaccuracy in either of
these enumerations, so that the population of the Parish
was practically stationary during the ten years from 1871
to 1881. The enumerated population in 1891 was only
78,362, showing an apparent decrease of 11,211 (or one
eight of the population) since 1881. I know of no reason
whatever for any such decrease, and I do not believe it has
taken place. The Census was taken of the persons sleeping
in the Parish on the night of Sunday, April 5th, a day which
had two serious disadvantages, the first being that it was a
Sunday, a day on which many people in this Parish are out
of town, and the second that it was the Sunday after
Easter, and that large numbers of people had not returned
to town from their Easter Holidays. I therefore consider
that the enumeration of the population of the Parish this
year is of no value for statistical purposes, and in estimating
the birth-rates and death-rates, shall continue to use
the Census population of 1881, until a fresh and more
correct enumeration shall have been made, which will, I
hope,be in 1896. I should add that I think the beginning
of April, (provided it is not too near Easter, and that a I
Saturday or Sunday is not selected), is a very fair time for I
the enumeration to take place, so far as St. George's, I
Hanover Square is concerned, as the Parish is then neither I
too full of people nor too empty.