Page:William Petty - Economic Writings (1899) vol 1.djvu/249

 

[CHAPTER IV.]

Concerning the Late Rebellion.

 

THE number of the People being now Anno 1672 about 1100,000. and Anno 1652. about 850 M. because I^[1] conceive that 80 M. of them have in 20 years encreased by Generation 70 M. by return of banished and expelled English; as also by the access of new ones, 80 M. of New Scots, and 20 M. of returned Irish, being all 250 M.

Now if it could be known what number^[2] of people were in Ireland, Ann. 1641. then the difference between the said number, and 850, adding unto it the encrease by Generation, in 11 years will shew the destruction of people made by the Wars, viz. by the Sword, Plague, and Famine occasioned thereby.

I find, by comparing superfluous and spare Oxen, Sheep, Butter and Beef, that |18| there was exported above ⅓ more Ann. 1664. than in 1641. which shews there were ⅓ more of people, viz. 1466,000; Out of which Sum take what were

1. Another punctuation may be suggested, viz. 'I conceive that 80 M. of them have in 20 years encreased by Generation, 70 M. by return of banished and expelled English as also by the access of new ones, 80 M. of New Scots, and 20 M. of returned Irish, being [in] all 250 M.'
2. Cox, 'If in anno 52 there were 850000 inhabitants, 130000 were Eng 20000 Scots & 700000 Ir: & in anno 72: 1100000 of all sorts y^e Ir have encreasd 60000: y^e Eng 100000 and y^e Scots 80000: it will follow by y^e same rule of proportion viz y^t they encrease a 25^th every x year by generation y^t in ann 1687 they are as followeth.

   Ir	800000 encreased 60000 are now 860000
   Eng	200000 encreased 15000 are now 215000
   Scotts	100000 encreased 07500 are now 107500

   But if to this be added y^t in these 15 years years (sic) last past, at least 35000 Eng. have come from Engld and the plantations to settle in Ir, & y^t 42500 Scotts have come in y^e same time, & y^t at least 60000 Ir have in y^t time gone to Clergy War Service Travail &c. then at this day there will be found in Ireland—Ir 800000 Eng 250000 Scotts 150000 and soe y^e Ir are but just double y^e Number of y^e brittish.' Cox arrives at the distribution of population in 1652 by assuming that the 80000 increase by generation is confined to the Irish. Petty returns to his calculation in the Dialogue appended to the Treatise of Ireland.