young’s TRAVELS IN FRANCE.
3*5
554,344; and as this comes within 2000 of the actual enumeration, it proves that two.feptiers a head is an accurate ellimate ; and though it does not perfectly agree withIVionf. Necker’s account of the former population of Paris , yet it is much nearer to itthan the calculations made to correct that account, by Dr. Price, and by the very ableand ingenious political arithmetician, Mr. Howlet. As the late enumeration fhews thepopulation of Paris to have been (proportionably to the confumption of corn) 615,937fouls, when its births amounted to 20,550, this fa£t confirms the general calculation inFrance , that the births in a great city are to be multiplied by thirty ; for the above men-tioned number fo multiplied, gives 616,500, which comes fo near the truth, that thedifference is not worth correcting. M. Necker’s multiplier is confirmed clearly ; andthe event, which gives to France a population of 26,000,000, has proved, that Dr.Price, who calculated them at above 30,000,000, was as grofly miftaken in his exag-geration of French populousnefs, as Mr. Howlet hasfhewn him to be in his diminutionof that of England. It feems indeed to have been the fate of that calculator to havebeen equally refuted upon ahnolt every political queftion he handled ; the mifchief ofinclofures—the depopulation of England — the populoulnefs of France —and the denun-ciation of ruin he pronounced fo authoritatively againft a variety of annuitant focieties,that have flourilhed almoft in proportion to the diffrefies he affigned them. The con-fumption of wine at Paris , on an average of the laft twenty years, has been from 230,000to 260,000 muids per annum ; average, 245,000. In 1789 it funk rather more than50,000 muids, by fmuggling, during the confufions of that period. In 245,000 muidsthere are 70,560,000 Paris pints, or Englilh quarts, which makes the daily confump-tion 193,315 quarts; and if to this, according to the computation of the commis of thebarriers, one-fixth is to be added for fmuggling, it makes 22 5,534, which is one-thirdof a quart, and one-tenth of that third per head per diem. The confumption of meatis very difficult to be calculated, becaufe the w'eight of the beafls is not noted; I canguefs at it only, and therefore the reader will pay no other attention to what followsthan to a mere conjecture. I viewed many hundreds of the oxen, at different times,and ellimate the average at fixty ftone ; but as there aredoubtlefs many others fmaller,let us calculate at 50, or 7001b. and let us drop fmuggling in theie cafes, fince thoughit may on the whole, be one-fixth yet it cannot be any thing like that in thefe com-modities ; the calves at i2olb. the fheep at 6olb. and the hogs at loclb.
Oxen,
.69,893,
at
0
0
cr
48,918,1001b.
Calves,
•
l
1
l
1
O
Oo
M
at
120
1 2 =39 2 s5 2 °
Sheep,
. 3 2 3 >7 62 >
at
60
f9=4 2 5’7 2 °
- - - - * 3*5=3335
at
ICO
3,633,200
*
Total *, -
-
-
8 4>3 6 9>J4°
This quantity divided among!! a population of 615,937, gives to each perfon 1361b. ofmeat for his annual confumption, or above one-third of a pound per diem. Duringthe fame twenty years, the confumption of London was on an average, per annum,92,539 oxen, and 649,369 fheep f. Thefe oxen probably weighed 8401b. each, andthe fheep ioolb.; which two articles only, without calvesor hogs, make 142,669,660 ;
* Long fince this was written, I received Monf Lavolfier’s Rfullats cPun owvrage, 179 1 ; 111 W ^ !C ^ fiegives a table of the Paris confumption ; but I do not know’on what authority, for the weight per h£adhe makes the total of all meats 8.2,300,coolb.
•f Report of the Com. oj the Court of Common Council , 1786. Folio, p, 75*