View report page

* For the information of those interested in the subject.it maybe well to explain in what manner the rate of increase of the population
has been estimated. It having been observed that the births in Paddington have increased in a uniform manner since 1851, and the
annual rate of that increase having been calculated.it is assumed that the population has itself augmented at the same rate. This assumption
is made on the supposition that the relation existing between the population and the number of births is subject to little variation under the
same circumstances. I am willing to admit that such a method is open to objection; but the birth-rate is the only datum on which it
is possible to depend at all in a limited and fluctuating population.
The annual rate of increase of the Birth.rate is calculated for the six years 1851—56 as follows :—
mean number of births in the three years 1851—53
Assuming that the increase in any three years —R—then, if r be the annual
mean number of births in the three years 1854—56
rate of increase sought, r3 = R; or log. r Whence the value of r may be easily obtained.
3