Mortality.—The statistics of mortality for the [pg 561] census year, represent the number of deaths occurring within the year as 320,194, the ratio being as one to 72.6 of the living population, or as ten to each 726 of the population. The rate of mortality in this statement, taken as a whole, seems so much less than that of any portion of Europe, that it must, at present, be received with some degree of allowance.

Indians.—The Indian tribes within the boundaries of the United States are not, as is well known, included in the census, but an enumeration of these tribes was authorized by an act of Congress, passed in March, 1847; and the census of the tribes east of the Rocky Mountains has been taken by Henry R. Schoolcraft, Esq., under the direction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. These returns have been published, with estimates for the Indian tribes in Oregon, California, Utah, &c., and the result shows the total Indian population to be 388,229, to which may be added from 25,000 to 35,000 Indians within the area of the unexplored territories of the United States. The Indian population of Oregon is estimated at 22,733; of California 32,231; of New Mexico 92,130; of Utah 11,500; of Texas 24,100. In round numbers, the total number of Indians within our boundaries may be stated at 420,000.

Census of 1840.—For the purpose of comparison, we here present a summary of the Sixth Census of the United States, June 1, 1840.

Free States.Whites.Free col.Slaves.
Maine284,0365371
New Hampshire500,4381,355
Vermont291,218730
Massachusetts729,0308,668
Rhode Island105,5873,2385
Connecticut301,8568,10517
Total of N. England2,212,16522,63323
New York2,378,89450,0274
New Jersey351,58821,044674
Pennsylvania1,676,11547,86464
Ohio1,502,12217,3423
Indiana678,6987,1653
Illinois472,2543,598331
Michigan211,560707
Wisconsin30,74918511
Iowa42,92417216
Total Free States9,557,065170,7271129
Slaveholding States.Whites.Free col.Slaves.
Delaware58,16116,9192,605
Maryland318,20462,07889,737
District of Columbia30,6578,3614,694
Virginia740,96849,842448,987
North Carolina484,87022,732255,817
South Carolina259,0848,276327,038
Georgia407,6952,753280,944
Florida27,94383725,717
Alabama335,1852,039253,532
Mississippi179,0741,369195,211
Louisiana158,45725,592168,451
Arkansas77,17446519,935
Tennessee640,6275,524183,059
Kentucky590,2537,317182,258
Missouri323,8881,57458,240
Total Slave States4,632,640215,5682,486,226
Total United States14,189,705386,2952,487,355

Total population of the United States in 1840, 17,063,355.

Atlantic States.—The progress of population in the Atlantic States, since 1790, is shown by the following table. The Middle States are New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

New England.Middle.Southern.
17901,009,823958,6321,852,504
18001,233,3151,401,0702,285,909
18101,471,8912,014,6952,674,913
18201,659,8082,699,8453,061,074
18301,954,7173,587,6643,645,752
18402,234,8224,526,2603,925,299
18502,728,1065,898,7354,678,728

It may be interesting to notice in this sketch of the progress of the United States, the population of the country comprising the original thirteen States, while under the Colonial Government, as far as the same is known. The first permanent colony planted by the English in America was Virginia, the settlement of which commenced in 1607. This was followed by the colonization of Massachusetts, in two original settlements; first that commenced at Plymouth in 1620; the other at Salem and Boston in 1628 and 1630. Maryland was settled by English and Irish Catholics in 1634; and New York by the Dutch in 1613.

With the exception of Vermont, the foundation of all the New England States was laid within twenty years from the arrival of the first settlers at Plymouth. Hutchinson says that during ten years next prior to 1640, the number of Puritans who came over to New England amounted to 21,000. If this estimate is correct, the whole number of inhabitants in New England in 1640, taking the natural increase into consideration, must have been over 32,000. As the Puritans came into power in England, under Cromwell, their emigration was checked, and almost ceased, until the restoration, in 1660. Mr. Seaman, in his “Progress of Nations,” has estimated the population of New England to have increased to 120,000 in 1701, and gives the following statement of the population of the original United States, while British colonies, estimated for 1701, 1749, and 1775: