ADVERTISEMENT.

THE object of this number is to present whatever may be found, of a suitable class, relative to the inhabitants of Massachusetts, at different periods, prior to the censuses ordered by our General Government. It would be matter of high satisfaction, if such a work had far more facilities for its accomplishment. Indeed, they are so deficient, through large portions of them having been lost, in the lapse of years, that they present a repulsive aspect to the prosecution of our purpose. Still, whatever they are in quantity or kind, a proper regard for the appearance of our Commonwealth, in this departmant of its political economy, require them to be arranged and issued from the press for the consultation of persons who may be desirous to examine them. The task has been too long delayed. In the present attempt to perform it, the Whites, Indians and Africans will be treated of under distinct divisions. A mode of this sort allows us to state facts, which have a peculiar bearing on each of these races and could not, with convenience, be presented together.

Whatever may be the character of the execution of our plan, public usefulness is its primary object.

POPULATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

THE earliest history of nations shows, that they have ever regarded their inhabitants, as of the first importance in the science of political economy. And well they might. What is a Crown without subjects; what a Kingdom without people; what a Republic without freemen? As men count might, the mightiest is he, who has successfully controlled the most millions of their species. Hence, the increase or diminution of any nation, has been a matter of deep interest to its enlightened rulers. The means of subsistence has imparted to our own country, a vast superiority, as to the enlargement of its population, over most other portions of the globe. Here, on this account, especially to the agriculturist, children, when of suitable age, are of great assistance in carrying out his plans of labor, improvements and profit. But, for the lack of such means, in many sections, even of Europe, a large family is the cause of poverty and distress to the parents. While, then, the bountiful hand of the Supreme is granting abundant supplies, not only for the natural increase of our own people, but, also, for the multitudes, who annually throng to our shores, it becomes us to trace the advancement of a portion of them, for whom He has cared every moment of their being. It will be a pleasant sign in the knowledge of our Republic, when writers, like Smith and Malthus, shall arise and be encouraged to publish their researches, speculations and conclusions.

That we may think and speak understandingly of the progress, which population has made in this Commonwealth, we

must reflect on the past and examine the transactions of our leading ancestors.

There can be little doubt but that the taxes, raised to meet the disbursements of our infant Colony, were based on polls as well as property. Such a mode, in the former respect, with more limitation, was agreed on, 1643, by the United Colonies, of which Massachusetts was the chief member. Their contract said, that the charges of all just wars, should "be borne by all the parts of this Confederacon in different proporcons according to their different abilitie in manner following, namely, that the Commissioners for eich jurisdiccon, from tyme to tyme, as there shalbe occation, bring in a true account and number of all the males in euery Plantacon or any way belonging to or under their seuerall jurisdiccons of what quallyty or condicon soeuer they bee from sixteene yeares old to threescore, being inhabitants therein." This rule was applied by such a body for the discharge of claims upon them, during the long continuance of their association. The first record, which we find of our General Court's practice on a like plan, with some variation, is under October 27, 1647. It reads, "For a more equal and ready way of raising monies for defraying public charges," the commissioner and selectmen of each town "shall make a list of all males from sixteen years old and upward. Ordered that the commissioners of the several towns, in every shire, shall yearly, the 4th day of the 7th month, assemble at the shire town and bring with them fairly written, the number of males, listed as aforesaid." It will be perceived, that this method differs from that of the United Colonies. The subsequent action of our Legislature, under session of May 23, 1655, has no such discrepancy. It runs thus, "It is ordered the Secretary shall issue out warrants to the constables of the several towns, within this jurisdiction, to send him a true list of all the males, within their respective towns, from sixteen years of age to sixty, before the first of August next. And if any constable shall neglect to make return as aforesaid, he shall forfeit five pounds to the treasury." Such a measure was taken to supply the government of the United Colonies with data so as to apportion the share of its expense, payable by Massachusetts. In the former of the two last quoted cases, the object was to know all, who

upon

were liable to be rated. We perceive, then, the reason why, in one relation, the polls were reckoned from sixteen years and upward, and, in another, from sixteen to sixty years. Of course, the polls, on the Union ratio, were less than those on the tax ratio of our own Colony. This variation is noticed so that the results of both modes may not be used fully alike, in computing the inhabitants of our own and the other associated Colonies. The method, just specified, of estimating polls in our State taxes, has been continued in every similar assessment since. Various accounts of our population were given before 1700, some of which, are so wide from correctness, they could not have been calculated on such a basis.

It would be very gratifying to have proceedings of our Legislature as to regular censuses of their constituents, from ancient down to modern times, so that they might be laid before the public and supply social deficiencies in each community. But, in this, our wish cannot be fully realized. While, however, we pass over a large space without culling a flower, the whole course is not a waste; it reaches and embraces spots, where desirable gleanings can be made. The first movement for a census in Massachusetts, except one for negroes ordered 1754, which we find on our legislative records, was begun in 1763. The occasion and delay of such a measure will appear from the subsequent documents. Required by the British government, it was viewed, with anxious jealousy, by our fathers, as another plan for the imposition of taxes on our Province and the infringement of their charter rights. The numbering of Israel by David and its results were remembered, and applied by some to the injunction for their observance, as similarly objectionable and liable to be followed with judgments. Besides, the proposal, with so wide an application, being an unpractised one, in this meridian, was met with objections, common to novelties in political requisitions. Governor Francis Bernard, on the 2d of June, 1763, communicated the subsequent message to both Houses of our General Court.

"I am directed by the Lords of Trade to take a particular account of the number of the people of this Province with all proper distinctions thereof. I am desirous to have this done with the utmost exactness, as such information will be of great