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the mortality of the population during the last year, convey of
themselves but little instruction; but I propose to make some
of them my text, and by comparing them with other data to
educe information which will, I trust, prove not altogether
valueless or devoid of interest.
Death rate of Camberwell during 1856.—During the last year
1183 persons died in Camberwell. According to the census
which was taken in 1851, this parish contained on the 31st of
March of that year 54,667 inhabitants ; and therefore supposing
the population to have remained stationary, the mortality
during the year 1856 was at the rate of 2-16 per cent., or, in
other words, out of every 1000 individuals 22 died.
But the number of parishioners, instead of being stationary
during the lustrum which has passed since the census was taken,
has in all probability fluctuated ; and that fluctuation which has
not been taken into account in the above calculation, would no
doubt, if its amount could be accurately ascertained, be found
to exert a considerable, or at least a very appreciable, influence
over the apparent proportion of deaths. It is necessary, therefore,
to estimate what the propable change in the amount of
population has been, before we can venture to establish the
correct death rate for the year.
During the five consecutive decennial periods which constitute
the half century between 1801 and 1851, London has exhibited
an increase, on the number of the population living at each
census, of 18, 21, 20, 17, and 21 per cent. respectively, so that
the increase has been tolerably uniform, at the rate of about 20
per cent. per decennium at compound interest. And, as there is
every reason to believe, that the rate of increase which has
been going on for the last fifty years, is still the rate at which
the population of London is augmenting, it is not difficult to
estimate the probable population of this large city for any
given time, subsequent to the last census. But, as might have
been surmised, what holds good of the entire metropolis does
not hold good of its constituent parts ; for the various parishes
and districts of which it is composed, are found to differ remarkably,
not only in their rate of increase as compared with
one another, but also as regards the fluctuations in the amount
of their own population at different periods. Disturbing influences
are great in individual parishes, but correct and neutralize
one another in the aggregate, so as not to affect materially the