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6
annual proportion of births for the last ten years,
has been 3,295, the deaths 2,955, and the marriages
1,698.
And with respect to the marriages, it is remarkable
that while the number in the Eastern
division of the City has declined from an average of
549 in the year to 510, and that in the Western
from 554 to 421, the proportion in the City proper
has advanced from 595 to 644. The explanation
of this is not apparent; but it may be said that the
number of marriages in the City during the year
has been in the proportion of 12.3 per 1,000 of the
population in the first-named district, 15.7 in the
second, and 13.9 in the third—making a general
average of 13.8 for the whole City. This is but
little below the common proportion (14) for the
last ten years; but it is a good deal below the proportion
(16.6) for the whole of England; although
it should not be, considering the large excess of
marriageable persons in the City population.
The birth-rate also has declined from a general
average of 27 per 1,000 of the population to 24.3
—the numbers for the several districts of the
City being 28.3 for the Eastern Union, instead of
32.9; 27.8 for the Western, instead of 28.4; and
18.6 for the Central or City Union, instead of 21.2.
In the rest of London the birth-rate is about 34