[25]. This may appear incredible. Indeed I myself feel doubts now when I read over the statement. But I know that when the subject was spoken of one day at dinner at Longwood, it underwent much discussion, and I noted down on paper what was then admitted to be the correct account. Besides, many individuals who accompanied the Emperor are still living: and the fact may be ascertained.
[26]. This fact is corroborated by authentic documents, which exhibit proofs more positive than might be expected. (See Situation de l’ Angleterre, par M. de Montvéran.)
| FRANCE | ENGLAND | |||
 | | |||
| Inhabitants. | Condemned to death. | Years. | Inhabitants. | Condemned to death. |
| 34,000,000 | 882 | {1801} | 16,000,000 | 3,400 |
| 42,000,000 | 392 | {1811} | 17,000,000 | 6,400 |
It is obvious from this statement, that in the year 1801, in France, twenty-six out of a million of inhabitants were condemned to death; and that in 1811, ten years after, the number of condemned had diminished two-thirds, leaving the proportion of only nine to a million.
In England, on the contrary, where, in 1801, the number of criminals condemned to death was 212 out of a million of inhabitants, the amount increased by more than one half; there being in 1811, 376 out of a million.
It is worthy of observation that the condemnations in England, compared with those in France, were as 376 to 9, or as 42 to 1.
The report of the state of mendicity in France, compared with that of the parish poor in England, also presents a prodigious difference: the French list, in 1812, exhibiting only 30,000 individuals out of 43 millions of inhabitants; while in England, in the same year, a fourth of the population, or 4,250,000 poor, were thrown upon the parishes.—(Montvéran.)
[27]. Dr. O’Meara of the Northumberland.
[28].
Persons composing the Emperor’s household.