I t has been observed that in some of these instances the rate
of mortality appears greater than that which properly belongs
to the climate, as some of the 'countries mentioned include
cities and districts known to be by local situation remarkably
unhealthy. In some the mortality belongs in great part
to strangers, principally Europeans, who coming from a different
climate suffer in great numbers. The separate division
from which the collective numbers above given are deduced
will sufficiently indicate these circumstances^
In Batavia 1 8 0 5 ' . . . : . . . , 1 in l l
Slâvès . i . . . . . . . . . . . , .■if « 13
Chinese ..................... . 1 “ 29
Javanese, via.Natives.,», 4 « 40
Bombay, 1815-----. . . . . . . i i I i a 5
Mussulmans . . . . . . . « 17.5
-Païsees........... } b • “ 40
| Whites . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 **22.5
Guadaloupe, 1811 to 1824. S Free-men of colour . . 1'^ 8 5 -
^Martinique, 1825 . . . . . . . . 1 , « 24 11
Free-men of colour . 1 “ 23
Grenada, 1815 ................. . 1 « 22
Saint Lucia, 1802 ................. Slaves ......................... . 1 « 20
The comparatively low degree of mortality among the free
men of colour in the West Indies, and the Javanese and
Parsees, in countries where those races are either the original
inhabitants, Or havé become naturalized by an abode of some
centuries, is remarkable in the preceding table. I t would sgem,
that such persons are exempted, in a great measure, from the
influence of morbific causes which destroy prematurely Europeans
and other foreigners. That the rate of mortality
should be lower among them than in the southern parts of Europe,
is a fact which, in the present state of our knowledge,
it is difficult to explain.
It would appear, that in the hotter climates a great part of
those who would otherwise attain to longevity, are carried off
prematurely by various causes of disease. In all countries,
however, particular individuals escape from the noxious influence
of causes which shorten the existence of, the majority;
and of these, we shall be.enabled to collect a sufficient numb
e r to prove that the attainable duration of life, or the term
of. longevity, is nearly the same indifferent races of men. As
this position is one of great importance with respect to the
inquiry v^hich I have principally ;irt view, I shall endeavour
to establisffiit upon sufficient evidenced^«
It, was calculated by Buffon, that va third part .of the human
race die before the age- of ten,^ years; one half before
that of thirty-five; two-third&i^offre)fifty-two, - and three-
fourths before sixty-ohe years of age-' A very different computation
bas been made by later writers". According to
Hufelandv’s estimate, out of a hundred individuals born, fifty
die before their tenth year; and six' only live to be above the
age ofsixty.*
It, may be thought that the instances of centenarians are
so few and scattered, that a1 collection of their numbers is
rather annatter of acciden^rthan calculation.') I do not beli'eve
this to be the case ;"and I have selected this particular class
o f aged persons, as examples of longevity in different japes,
because I find instS®ces freqnently, on record, owing IjOjthen
having been regarded as matters of singular occurrence and
curiosity, and therefore preserved in periodical accounts and
fbther documents.
It is difficult to ascertain from data now existing, the proportional
number of centenarians in the whole community.
It was calculated from the bills of mortality in London, ih a t
one individual in 3126 reaches his hundredth year. But in
1751, the total number of deaths amounted to 21,028 : in this
number there were fifty-eight persons aged ninety, thirteen
aged one hundred, and one aged one hundred and nine ; giving
one centenarian to 1617 and in .1703; opt of
deceased there were eighty-five aged ninety, and only two
centenarians. From 1728 to l758, during a period o f thirty
years, the total number of deaths in the chills of mortality
amounted to 750,322. In this number, two hundred and
forty-two persons exceeded the hundredth year.* The tables
* Hist. N a t du Genre Humain, par M. Virey, Paris, 1824.
' -t* Easton ort Longevity, Salisbury, 1799.