Another youth, of 17, married a spinster of 25; and still another, of the same age, was united to a bride of 21.

Of the grooms, two were 17 years of age; 27 of 19 years ; and 35 of 20 years. Of the brides, one was only 14 years of age; 3 were 15; 21 of 16; and 69 of 17.

Of the grooms, 8.18 per cent. were above 40 years of age at the time of their marriage; and of the brides, 18.20 per cent. were above 30 years.

In 361 instances (9.30 per cent. of the whole number) the brides were older than the grooms.

It will be seen, from this table, that seven inexperienced grooms had the courage to marry brides who had been twice widowed. No less than 28 grooms chose for their third wives spinsters; another, who had been three times bereaved, married a maiden; while still another, of like experience, contented himself with one who had but once before appeared in the matrimonial market.

The first marriages of males, and the first marriages of females, make 85.29 and 87.97 per cent. respectively of all the marriages.

The number of marriages of which both parties were colored was 82. The number of instances in which the grooms

were colored, and the brides white, was 26, making the whole number of colored grooms to be 108. It will thus be seen that the marriage rate of the colored population was 40.56 in a thousand; and, if the mixed marriages be considered as colored ones, the rate is 60 in a thousand.

The following table shows the occupations of 47.80 per cent. of all the grooms. It will be seen that seven or eight occupations or trades furnish nearly half of the whole number of grooms. Laborers, as usual, comprise by far the largest class, making 18.10 per cent. of all the grooms.

Among the grooms were 20 physicians, 12 clergymen, and 7 lawyers. The residences of the grooms were: Boston, 3,317; other towns in the State, 380; other States, 186. Residences of brides: Boston, 3,522; other towns in the State, 218; other States, 143.

The number of certificates of Intentions of Marriage issued during the year was 4,549, an increase of 125, or 2.82 per cent. compared with the preceding year. It will be seen that the number of certificates issued exceeded the number of marriages recorded by 666. The largest portion of these missing certificates are doubtless recorded in other towns, where the marriages were solemnized; while some, used in other States, will, perhaps, escape registration altogether. A considerable number, however, do not appear in this report, on account of the culpable negligence of clergymen. Although the law requires that marriage returns shall be made to recording officers monthly, and notwithstanding this requirement is printed on each certificate, where it cannot escape notice, a large number of marriages are not sent

in for months after the time prescribed by statute. Of course these marriages do not appear on the returns furnished to the Secretary of State, which fact renders the State Registration Report, which is made up from such returns, defective to the extent of these omissions.

DEATHS.

There were 7,869 deaths in Boston during the year, a decrease of 221 from the mortality of the preceding year. If the difference between the number of deaths from small-pox in 1872, and the number that occurred in 1873 (436) be considered in connection with the diminished mortality of the latter year, there will be the difference between 221 and 436 (215 deaths) in favor of the general mortality of 1872, compared with that of 1873.

According to the rate of increase of the population of the city, as shown by the State and National censuses of 1855, '60, '65, and '70, the population of Boston proper (including East and South Boston), January 1st, 1874, was 220,045; Roxbury, 42,775; Dorchester, 13,759; making an aggregate of 276,579. According to this estimate, the death-rate was 28.45 in a thousand, — a reduction in the general result of two in a thousand from that of the preceding year; but still sufficiently large to awaken concern. The death-rate throughout the Commonwealth is about 23 in a thousand. Although it is to be expected that large cities will exhibit a higher death-rate than is seen in small towns, it is evident that the present rate in Boston is excessive; and, with two or three exceptions, contrasts unfavorably with those of the last twenty years. Any conclusions, however, arrived at from comparisons between the mortality of populous cities and that of small towns would be far from satisfactory; as the circumstances in the one case would not be found in the other. In the firstnamed case, the mere aggregation of numbers involves unfavorable conditions from which the other is exempt. Besides

this, locality, soil, climate, etc., must be taken into the account in any consideration of the subject, and without which, no accurate results need be expected.

The average age of the male decedents during the past year was 23 years 10 months; that of the females, 25 years 2 months. The following table gives the average ages of eight classes of the population, and presents the facts in an interesting light : —

It will be seen that the average age of the Scotch males exceeds that of any other class. The average age of native females was four and a half years higher than that of the native males. The average age of the colored females exceeds that of the males by five and a half years; and the average age of the females born in the British Provinces exceeds that of the males by nearly two years and a half. In each of the other five classes the average age of the males exceeds that of the females. It will also be noticed that the average age of the male decedents who were born in the British American Provinces was 11 years and 4 months, and of the females, 13 years and 9 months.

Another noticeable feature in the present report is the large number of colored decedents. There were 245 deaths from this class, an increase of 73 over the number of the pre

ceding year. The colored population is not far from 3,600. According to this estimate there was 1 death to each 14.69 of the colored population, or at the rate of 68 in a thousand. In contrast with this is the mortality among the whites, which was in the ratio of 27.93 deaths in a thousand, or 1 death in each 35.80 persons living. Several interesting facts will be seen in the following:

There were 26 couples married, the grooms being colored, and the brides white, which are embraced among the colored marriages in the above table. The low birth-rate, together with the high rate of the marriages and deaths of the colored population, compared with those of the whites, are striking. It will be seen that among that class there was one marriage to every 16.66 persons, and that one in every 14.69 died.

Of the male decedents, 1,139 were married at the time of death, and 93 were widowers. Of the former, 689, and of the latter, 47, were foreign-born. Of the female decedents, 930 were married, and 549 were widows. Of the former, 610, and of the latter, 324, were foreign-born. It will thus be seen, that 30 per cent. of the male decedents, and 39.23 per cent. of the female were, or had been, married at the time of their decease. It will be further noticed, that while only 2.27 per cent. of the males were widowers, no less than 14.32 per cent. of the female decedents were widows.

The number and percentage of the deaths in each quarter, compared with a similar statement of the preceding year, are given in the following: