An article in the last Quarterly Review treats in a suggestive manner on the results of the Census of England in 1871. The change in the distribution of the population is one of the most curious points discussed. Gradually a change has been taking place between agricultural and urban residents, so that, from a majority of the former, the marked result is. now that some sixty per cent. of the entire population live in towns of over 2,000 inhabitants. More than this, very nearly one-half are to be found in the larger cities and towns entirely or almost entirely cut off from agricultural connections. Looking closer into details, the change is not less remarkable. While the total of the population has been. rapidly increasing, the actual number of agricultural labourers has actually been diminishing at a rapid rate, amounting to something like twenty per cent. within twenty years, With this great reduction in the number of labourers, however, it seems evident that there is no diminution in the area of land under cultivation, and in all probability there is an increase in its general productiveness. More remarkable still is the small amount of human labour made use of in the cultivation of the ground, A careful analysis showed that but one agricultural labourer was needed on the average for thirty-five acres, or about nineteen per square mile. A population, therefore, of about 85 to 90 individuals of all classes per square mile will represent the entire number required to keep the soil in the most efficient state, and supply the largest amount of food. The Quarterly Review is rather disposed to regret this decrease in the agricultural population; and without doubt there are one or two points in which, as in recruiting for the army, a large number of inhabitants living for the most part in the open air and accustomed to the rough life of the ordinary farm labourer is an advantage. Economically the change is, however, plainly for the better. The reduction in the number of hands unaccompanied by any reduction in the amount produced, is a direct saving to the country at large while economy of production evidently goes hand in hand with a reduction in manual labour. Compared with other countries, there are various resemblances as well as various contrasts. Theaverage size of farms in England is 152 acres, while in the United States, inhabited by a very similar population, it is 154. It is evident that some common cause in the experience of the former of the two countries has led to so similar a result, Compared again with France, the population of England has been rapidly increasing, and this increase does not seem as yet to show that the limit is nearly reached. In France, the population has been actually diminishing. P Doubtless, as suggested by the Reviewer, the foreed division of property amongst the children of a deceased Inndholder has much to say to this. It is not convenient to have too many children, when the paternal estate becomes too small to stand the further division. But there may be other reasons, France as compared with England is mainly an agricultural land, and the same reasons which have reduced the agricultural population of England are also probably at work in France with a similar result. The difference is, however, greatest when we compare England with the East. India and China offer, perhaps, the greatest 7 contrast. In both countries, the tendency exists to cause an increase of the agricultural population at the expense of all other. Woe can wander about the purely agricultural districts of England, and scarcely meet a soul. In China or India the soil seems to produce human beings from every plant, The want. of economy is evident in the frequent famines which. devastate both countries. The soil only produces enough for its cultivators, and nothing is left to produce a surplus available for export or for feeding large urban populations. In both cases, the govern. ment is fully to blame for this state of affairs; and it seems strange that it is only within the last few years that this knowledge has forced itself on the Indian Government. The last famine in Behar, and its evident con. nection with a large and isolated population, has taught a useful lesson in political economy. Strangely, in both countries, the principle of extreme division of the country, which has certainly produced evil effects in France, is the ordinary rule. There is, however, a distinction in the method of applica. tion, While in France the divided land is mainly held separately, in both India and China it is occupied in common. Possibly no better device for increasing a population at the expense of indivi. dual comfort, could be arrived at, The individual in both India and China is, in fact, sunk in the mass; his personal aspirations are sunk to the general level of mediocrity. The simple enforced sub-division of land prevailing in France has doubtless a somewhat similar tendency, though not so marked; but the decrease in the number of the population wooms rather to be a sort of half intelligent protest against unwise legislation, as the abuse of opium amongst the Chinese population is cor-tainly a protest, though it may be an instructive one simply, against the too great population subsisting only on the products of the ground, @utports, PEKING, L write to you from the mi marian darkness indeed es of Dec. Ist, reached. nce when we hi We have a faint overland courier at any moment after to-day, as the French mail was due in Shanghai on the 9th; but I for one take leave to doubt the Messyeries would be up to time, and shall not be surprised if hear nothing for another week, Under such ciroumstances—without a W.-C. Daily News to enlighten aiM edify us—Christmas festivities are a hollow and comfortless pretence.
The Japanese are unéusy about their Minister, Mr. Mori, who was expected at Tientsin about the Sth instant, coming ina Japanese man-of-war from Nagasaki to Taku direct. The Japanese Charge PAfaires, Mr. Tur, waited at tientsin until the 18th instant, and at length returned to Peking; giving up all hope of joeing the expected Minister arrive, The following Imperial Decree, making appointments to a further mission ab was issued on the 11th December
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.