of Children of the Age 0 and under 5 Years in some of the Principal European by the Mortality in Cols. 8 and 9.

UNHEALTHY DISTRICTS of ENGLAND. Population, Deaths, and Average Annual 1851-60, and in Sixty-three Healthy Districts, in the Five Years 1849-53.

be presumed that the probability of survivorship is somewhat understated for this country by the method here employed; but the error is counteracted by another in an opposite direction.

The effect of an increase of the annual births will be seen by referring to the previous paper, where an exacter method is described; that method being inapplicable in the greater number of States from the want of adequate data. Let Bo, B1, B2, B3, B4 be the annual number of births in 5 years, increasing in the ratio of 1 to r, so that B1 r Bo, and generally B = Bo. Then let do, di, da, dз, d be the deaths in each of the first 5 years of age, during, say the year 1865; if we assume that do die out of B, born at the beginning of that year, d1 will die out of B1 = 4; to obtain the deaths corresponding to B4, there

==

=

fore, multiply d by r; for the same reason d is multiplied by r2, &c., and the correct probability of living becomes

p =

B4 (do + rd1 + r2d2 + r3dz + råds).
B4

Through the omission of this correction in the tables, they understate the probability of dying, and overstate the probability of living, from which the survivors are deduced, unless there is a countervailing element. Fluctuations of the annual births also affect the results.

The errors of the data and of the method do not probably affect sensibly the comparative results, which agree closely with those deduced independently from the deaths, and the enumerated population under 5 years of age. (See Table III.) VOL. XXIX. PART I.

D

TABLE VII.-Population, Deaths, and Average Annual Rate of Mortality per European States, arranged in the Order

Cent. of Children of the Ages 0-1; 1-3; and 3-5; in some of the indicated by the Mortality in Col. 10.

ORGANISATION, STRENGTH, and Cost of the ENGLISH and FRENCH NAVIES in 1865. By COLONEL W. H. SYKES, M.P., F.R.S., one of the Vice-Presidents of the Society.

As very exaggerated opinions were prevalent not only in the public mind, but in the House of Commons, in the beginning of 1865, with respect to the progress the French navy was making in strength, efficiency and improved organisation, as compared with the British navy, I deemed it worth while to look over the French Official Naval Budget for 1865, characterized, like that of the army, for its elaborate and perspicuous details in every department of the naval service. The result of my investigations of the French budget and the English naval estimates, satisfied me that the old status or condition of both the English and French navies was rapidly altering, by

The

the substitution of iron-clad vessels of all rates for the wooden vessels previously employed, whether sailing, paddle, or screw. French had first commenced the change some years back. As it would necessarily neutralize our vast numerical superiority in wooden ships, that had rendered us masters on the ocean, we were compelled to enter into the new race of competition with all the energy of the English character, otherwise the deference hitherto conceded to us, as the leading maritime power, would have been endangered. The present transition state, however, of the two navies, seemed to me to cause any comparison to be unsatisfactory, if not valueless, and scarcely worth the labour, and I abandoned my intention of making it, and I communicated this intention to the Council of the Statistical Society. It was, however, suggested by some members of the Council, that, as the old conditions of the English and French navies were likely to pass away, it would be desirable for future reference to have upon record the present numerical strength in ships and men, and cost of both navies, for the purpose of comparison with the new organisation, when it shall have been fully developed. I acquiesced in these views; and the present paper, which I have endeavoured to condense as much as possible, is the result, for without condensation, a comparison of details would have swollen this paper into a volume.

II. NUMBER OF SHIPS IN THE ENGLISH NAVY.

First, with respect to the numbers of ships, their rating and armaments in the two navies, at the beginning of 1865.

In the body of the English naval estimates for 1865-66 there is not any information given of the number of ships, their rates armaments, and manning, for the maintenance of which supplies are asked from Parliament; but in the appendix to the estimates, at page 116, a short statement of the numbers of ships in COMMISSION is given, but without mention of armament, or manning, or charge for each vessel; and the status is only given for the 1st December, 1863, and 1st December, 1864. The total number in commission, at the first date was 336,* and at the last date it was 325. To be able to state the whole number of vessels in the British navy for 1865, for comparison with the French budget of 1865, it is necessary to have recourse to returns presented by the Secretary to the Admiralty, or those moved for by individual members of Parliament.

The following Parliamentary Return, however, dated 15th February, 1865, shows, that at that date there were 445 British screw and paddle steam vessels afloat; and that 26 were building; and that there were 69 effective sailing ships and mortar vessels afloat, making a total of the British navy of 540. Of this number, 27 are repre* 243 steam, 93 sailing. † 233 steam, 92 sailing.