POPULATION, CRIME, AND PAUPERISM 


London, August 23, 1859 


A Blue Book, headed “Statistical Abstract for the United 
Kingdom in each of the last fifteen years from 1844 to 1858,” was 
presented to both Houses of Parliament during the last session. 
Dry as the figures, arrayed in the close columns of the official 
print, may look, they contain, in fact, more valuable contributions 
to the history of the national movement than volumes of rhetorical 
claptrap and political gossip. The first item that calls for our 
attention, is the population tables, but, strange to say, the figures 
relating to the movement of the population of Ireland during the 
fifteen years are altogether omitted. The Scotch table shows but 
feeble oscillations which we shall not dwell upon. The following is 
an account of the population movement in England and Wales: 


Years. Estim’d Popula’n. Births. Deaths. Marriages. 
POAT: cocectecavesreaeess 16,520,000 540,763 356,950 132,249 
P8456 ches Sek 16,721,000 543,521 349,366 143,743 
1846 o vecsc-bccecesacees 16,925,000 572,625 390,315 145,664 
1847 secceteiicane 17,132,000 539,965 423,304 135,845 
DBAS crest sode ence 17,340,000 563,059 399,800 138,230 
BBA schcnccvctntenss 17,552,000 578,159 440,853 141,883 
1.15] | een ee 17,766,000 593,422 368,986 151,738 
LOE wcieciseonsece7: 17,983,000 615,865 395,174 154,206 
PB 52: cccotiaeNriaeases 18,205,000 624,171 407,938 158,439 
LBS wt nainenant adenss 18,403,000 612,391 421,097 164,520 
bS04 axtaeseoaiw 18,618,000 634,506 438,239 159,349 
TRB she teosdieis 18,787,000 635,123 496,242 151,774 
DBD Gs he deestacbesuies 19,045,000 657,704 391,369 159,262 
185 Pascua nase 19,305,000 663,071 419,815 159,097 


1BD8 suds dagiasetevess 19,523,000 655,627 450,018 154,500 


488 Karl Marx 


Face to face with this population table we place the statements 
respecting crime and pauperism of England and Wales: 


COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. 


Years. Males. Females. Total. Convicted. 
1844 oe. 21,549 4,993 26,542 18,919 
18458. lecieaiseks 19,341 4,962 24,303 17,402 
1846 oe. 19,850 5,257 25,107 18,144 
1847 oo. 22,903 5,930 28,833 21,542 
1848 oi. 24,586 5,763 30,349 22,900 
1849 0... 22,415 5,401 27,816 21,001 
1850 .............. 21,548 5,265 26,813 20,537 
PSD D4 csos.sceses 22,391 5,569 27,960 21,579 
TB52 ociccssaee 21,885 5,625 27,510 21,304 
1853 oc sn2G.: 20,879 6,178 27,057 20,756 
1854 ooo. 22,723 6,636 29,359 23,047 
1855 oseieieniees 19,890 6,082 25,972 19,971 
1856 0.0... 15,425 4,012 19,437 14,734 
1 oy aan 15,970 4,299 20,269 15,307 
1858 ......... 13,865 * 3,990 17,855 13,246 


The tabular statement relating to the number of paupers 
(exclusive of vagrants) in receipt of relief in the several unions and 
parishes under Boards of Guardians in England and Wales, begins 
with the year 1849: 


Years. Total of Paupers. Years. Total of Paupers. 
MBAD os cto sscescnss aastivesntivessietesvintese O34 419” 1804 cacsctitann eticanacemeans 818,337 
FSD sa sssicacusdsserndevines sae cocenveetiiuss 920,543. S05 cigairusen cenawus Gite 851,369 
PSD! wa tiveeciiep resiascceennene 860,895. 1850s... semis snares 877,767 
DOD eae Sadie snd inasteieensacshcacnioorst B54 424° TBS Face cti Re aisaaheaionunty 843,806 
PODS scenic staan Stas ea icen eens T9B 822° LEDS cacapisstvazerssieae wens avidddssteseins 908,186 


By comparing these three tables of population, crime and 
pauperism, it will be found that from 1844 to 1854 crime grew 
faster than population, while pauperism from 1849 to 1858 
remained almost stationary, despite the enormous changes worked 
during that interval in the state of British society. Three great 
facts mark the decennial period of 1849-1858—facts which would 
almost justify us in comparing that period to the most illustrious 
epochs of the 16th century. The corn laws had been repealed, the 
gold fields discovered,**’ and an immense emigration had taken 
place. There were, besides, other circumstances which gave a new 
start to industry and commerce. From revolutionary convulsions, 
Europe had turned to an industrial mania. The conquest of the 
Punjaub, and then the Russian war and the Asiatic wars, had 


Population, Crime, and Pauperism 489 


made accessible markets till then almost unknown. Finally, the 
United States’ import of British produce had developed itself in 
dimensions not even suspected ten years before. The whole 
market of the world had expanded and seemed to have doubled 
or trebled its powers of absorption. And with all this, during this 
memorable decennial epoch, the stationary million of English 
paupers is diminished only by 26,233 individuals. If we compare 
the years 1853 and 1858, it has even increased by 109,364. 
There must be something rotten in the very core of a social 
system which increases its wealth without diminishing its misery, 
and increases in crimes even more rapidly than in numbers. It is 
true enough that, if we compare the year 1855 with the preceding 
years, there seems to have occurred a sensible decrease of crime 
from 1855 to 1858. The total number of people committed for 
trial, which in 1854 amounted to 29,359, had sunk down to 17,855 
in 1858; and the number of convicted had also greatly fallen off, 
if not quite in the same ratio. This apparent decrease of crime, 
however, since 1854, is to be exclusively attributed to some 
technical changes in British jurisdiction; to the Juvenile Offenders’ 
act in the first instance, and, in the second instance, to the 
operation of the Criminal Justice act of 1855, which authorizes the 
Police Magistrates to pass sentences for short periods, with the 
consent of the prisoners. Violations of the law are generally the 
offspring of economical agencies beyond the control of the 
legislator, but, as the working of the Juvenile Offenders’ act 
testifies, it depends to some degree on official society to stamp 
certain violations of its rules as crimes or as transgressions only. 
This difference of nomenclature, so far from being indifferent, 
decides on the fate of thousands of men, and the moral tone of 
society. Law itself may not only punish crime, but improvise it, 
and the law of professional lawyers is very apt to work in this 
direction. Thus, it has been justly remarked by an eminent 
historian, that the Catholic clergy of the medieval times, with its 
dark views of human nature, introduced by its influence into 
criminal legislation, has created more crimes than forgiven sins. 
Strange to say, the only part of the United Kingdom in which 
crime has seriously decreased, say by 50, and even by 75 per cent, 
is Ireland. How can we harmonize this fact with the public-opinion 
slang of England, according to which Irish nature, instead of 
British misrule, is responsible for Irish shortcomings? It is, again, 
no act on the part of the British ruler, but simply the consequence 
of a famine, an exodus, and a general combination of cir- 
cumstances favorable to the demand for Irish labor, that has 


490 Karl Marx 


worked this happy change in Irish nature. However that may be, 
the significance of the following tabular statements cannot be 
misunderstood: 


I.—CRIMES IN IRELAND. 
COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. 


Years. Males. Females. Total. Convicted. 
DBAS oes ecccoenterseetiieds 14,799 4,649 19,448 8,042 
TRAD voc seneateouec eax 12,807 3,889 16,696 7,101 
1846 3. netics 14,204 4,288 18,492 8,639 
TB4 7 cisscteruceipuiepank 23,552 7,657 31,209 15,233 
LS48 ests deveacestivad: 98,765 9,757 38,522 18,206 
1849 vk eesti 31,340 10,649 41,989 21,202 
1850 -vcccesecceiiciitiassices 22,682 8,644 31,326 17,108 
VO5) aversion 17,337 7,347 24,684 14,377 
1852. oe. sicceceseaceiievesicns 12,444 5,234 17,678 10,454 
UBS Pests depnutetavareccea! 10,260 4,884 15,144 8,714 
18546 tiwisdiehies 7,937 3,851 11,788 7,051 
VSD De orsclet desc deceseeatse. 6,019 2,993 9,012 5,220 
L856 isc icdedssvess eveasvece 5,097 2,002 7,099 4,024 
18572 swcctiesssiedl veseexe 5,458 1,752 7,210 3,925 
DODD esvisci icciseastecsee 4,708 1,600 6,308 3,350 


II.—PAUPERS IN IRELAND." 


Years. Total of Paupers. Years. Total of Paupers. 
DB aeecas eacusiticnaisdgeanliets 620,747 LOSE sosscctnesevendseeevass 106,802 
POO vy wsiepeaescaeeeorantiatiunds 307,970 EB OG: sci stcnesaoveisaiots 86,819 
PSS by tices pass ieaesiaetes tenn 209,187 PB 5G capesciveiaiertaasseneees 73,083 
TBD 2 cmiagcons canperteeiernteeae: 171,418 VOD D wicnsrmyecattetaacates 56,094 
VOSS sce vivesscseineseddQeaeessacses 141,822 1 BGS cectsttenieteonveckees 50,582 


It is to be regretted that the emigration table does not specify 
the different parts of the United Kingdom, from which the 
movement started, and the ratio in which each part has 


a The figures that follow were taken by the editors of the present edition from the 
“Statistical Abstract” used by Marx. In the New-York Daily Tribune the following table, 
referring to Scotland, was published under the heading “Paupers in Ireland”: 


No. of No. of 
Years. Parishes Paupers. Years. Parishes. Paupers. 
LB 49 sascsssseass ccadenees 880 = 82,357 LBD ccsanivccateaiins 883 78,929 
TBO”. sictestsstaedtecs 880 = 79,031 PBB eckucaates 883 79,887 
jhaie 2 erences erry 881 76,906 LB5G: codssvsis severance 883 79,973 
313 p arene eer 882 75,111 LBD auctor yes 883 79,217 
LB DS sete creer 882 75,437 LS 5S: cceeicssicceeiatts 883 79,199. 


— Ed. 


Population, Crime, and Pauperism 491 


contributed to the general result. From the table, such as ‘it is, it 
will be inferred, that from 1844 to 1847, the emigration to the 
British North American Colonies bade fair to approximate, if not 
to outstrip the emigration to the United States. From 1848, 
however, the emigration to British North America settles down 
into a mere appendage of the emigration to the United States. On 
the other hand, British emigration to Australia and New Zealand 
is developing itself during the 15 years from 1844 to 1858 in rapid 
strides. While the emigration to the North American Colonies 
reaches its climax in 1847, and that to the United States in 1851, 
the emigration to Australia and New Zealand stands on its apogee 
in 1852. From that time down to 1858, there is a continuous fall in 
the number of emigrants, the total number of which in 1852 had 
ascended to 368,764, being brought down, in 1858 to 113,972, or 
by more than 75 per’cent. The following is the table alluded to: 


NUMBER OF EMIGRANTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM 
TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS. 


To the N.A. To the Australia and Other Total. 
Colonies. US. ‘New Zealand. Places. 
1844 ........ 22,924 43,660 2,229 1,873 70,686 
1845 0... 31,803 58,538 830 2,330 93,501 
1846 ........ 43,439 82,239 2,347 1,826 129,851 
EB47 niece 109,680 142,154 4,949 1,487 258,270 
1848 ........ 31,065 188,233 23,904 4,887 248,089 
1849 ........ 41,367 219,450 32,191 6,490 299,498 
EBSD: sissies 32,961 223,078 16,037 8,773 280,849 
1851 acces 42,605 267,357 21,532 4,472 335,966 
1852.36: - 32,873 244,261 87,881 3,749 368,764 
1853 gui 34,522 230,885 61,401 3,129 329,937 
1854 ........ 43,761 193,065 83,237 3,366 323,429 
1855... 17,966 103,414 52,309 3,118 176,807 
1856 ........ 16,378 111,837 44,584 3,755 176,554 
1857 ........ 21,001 126,905 61,248 3,721 212,875 
1858 ........ 9,704 59,716 39,295 52a 7 113,972 
Written on August 23, 1859 Reproduced from the news- 
First published in the New-York Daily a a 


Tribune, No. 5741