STATISTICS

From Agepedia

STATISTICS. The past, in all its extension, belongs to history ; the present to geography and STATIstics. Sehlozer (q.v.) said with much truth, " History is statistics in a state of progression ; statistics is history at a stand." The subject of statistics is the investigation and exposition of the actual condition of states and nations, in regard to their internal organization and foreign relations. The description of the face of the country belongs to geography Statistics is often considered in too eoufm^d *aview, as if it had to treai only of those particulars ir> the condition O^L a country whi°.h can he reduced ro uuiusricii calculation, and exhibited in tables, such as the number, employments and wealth of the people. The frequent reference to " statistical tables," and the frequent use of the phrase, may be in part the occasion of this. A full, statistical view of the actual condition of a people requires the exhibition, 1. of the physical character of the country and the parts composing it, in regard to situation, boundaries, extent and soil, mountains, woods, rivers, climate ; also of the numbers and national diversities of the people ; their extraction, languages, &c.; the classes into which they are divided (nobility, free proprietors, bondsmen, slaves, officers, merchants, manufacturers, farmers, mechanics, soldiers, &c.); and their religious differences (the various sects, &c.): 2. of the degree of civilization shown in the state of the useful arts and occupations (agriculture, mechanical and manufacturing industry, commerce ); in the institutions for the promotion of the fine arts ; in the schools, universities, scientific academies, sale of books, &c.; in the manners of the people, and their conduct in all their important relations, moral, political and religious: 3. of the form of government, whether monarchical or republican, despotic or limited ; whether there be a popular representation or an assembly of the estates (q. v.); whether the representation is in one or two chambers; whether the representatives take part in legislation, or merely in the imposition of taxes; whether there is a responsibility of the ministers, and none of the monarch, &c ; also of the relations of church and state (whether any exist, and, if so, whether the hierarchical or territorial (q. v.) system prevails; whether there are concordates (q. v.) with Rome); likewise of the family of the monarch, where one exists, the age, religion, &c, of the members, the family laws of the ruling house, the court, and the laws relating to it, the military orders, &c.: 4. of the administration of the state (including all the temporal and spiritual authorities, &c, in particular the departments of justice, police, finances, the army and navy). In treating of the foreign relations of the state, this science shows, 1. the standing of the particular state (if it be in Europe) as to the other members of the European family, whether it be a power of first, second, third or fourth rank, and particularly its relations to its immediate neighbors (tlius, in treating of German states, it would show their relations to the whole confederacy ; so likewise with the Helvetic cantons and the American states): 2. 48* the reciprocal influence of its domestic and foreign politics: 3. of the existing treaties with foreign states, indicating the sources of information respecting them, their most important points, and thei** beneficial or injurious consequences. Ac* cording to the example of some distinguished statistical writers (e. g. Hassel, in the statistics of Austria and Russia ; Stein, in those of Prussia, and others), a view of the gradual increase or decrease of the state, in respect to extent, population, &c, may be given advantageously. Statistics differ from geography in this respect, that, though many particular facts belong equally to both, yet geography arranges them always on the principle of locality, but statistics with reference to their effect on the general condition of the nation. Thus geography mentions the mountains, rivers, woods, in describing the districts where they are found, or speaks of their distribution, to give a view of the face of the country : statistics treats of them collectively, with a view to their political importance, as affecting the productiveness of the country, favoring or obstructing communication, &c. In a military description, the same subjects would be treated with particular reference to their military importance. Geography treats also of manufactures, commerce, trade, public authorities, universities, schools, seminaries, museums, &c, in describing the places in which they are situated; but statistics combines them, with a view to arrive at scientific results. Statistics, in modern times, has often been mixed with geography, in some cases advantageously to the immediate purpose in view, but in many to the disadvantage of science and sound knowledge. Statistics was first scientifically treated in Germany: Achenwall (q. v.) gave it, in 1749, its name and systematic form. Since his time, it has become more and more separated from geography and history, and has been cultivated independently of them; but even before him, authors had scientifically combined statistical materials ; for instance, some Italians, as Sansovino Botero ; some Frenchmen, as d'Avity ; and particularly Germans, as Conring, Oldenburger, who died in 1678, at Geneva, the author of Thesaurus Rerum public arum (4 vols., Geneva, 1675); Gastel, in bis De Statu publico Europa novissimo (Nuremberg, 1675, folio); Von Zech, in his European Herald (3 vols., Leipsic,1705, folio, in German), and several others; Dutchmen, as De Luca, in his Descriptio Orbis, &c. (Leyden, 1655); and Everhard Otto, in hia Primte Linecz JYotilice Europe Rerum puUicarum (Utrecht, 1762). Following Coming's example, Achenwall delivered university lectures on statistics. His Slaaisverfassung der Europdischen Reiche im, Grundrisse, passed through seven editions. Several other manuals appeared. To the department of the theory and history of statistics belong Gatterer's Idea of Universal Statistics (Gottingen, 1773); Schlozer's unfinished Theory of Statistics (Gottingen, 1804); Niemann's Sketch of Statistics (Altona, 1807); and a vast number of other works. Among the statistical manuals are Hassel's Complete Manual of the most recent Geography and Statistics, and Stein's Manual of Geography and Statistics (4th ed., 1819). Among the living statistical writers of Italy are Balbi, Quadri and Melch. Gioja. The statistics of crime have been most attended to in France and England. The French writers have paid particular attention to comparative statistics; for example, baron Dupin, a statistical writer of the first order; also the Italian Gioja, in his ffllosqfia della Stalistica (2 vols., 4to., Milan, 1826 et seq.). Meusel published a Literature of Statistics (2d edition, 2 vols., in German). Statistical tables may lead, and have led, to incorrect notions, when the bare results are considered, without reference to the causes and accompanying circumstances, but, when used with due caution, they are of the highest importance. The influence of the study of statistics has been incalculable: it is the test and the basis of the principles of political economy, and has mainly contributed to that knowledge of the condition and interests of nations which distinguishes our time. Every nation will find its interests essentially promoted by cultivating and making public its own statistics; and writers like Dupin are public benefactors. Among the best statistical works are Hassel's Statistical Sketches of all the European States (1805, 2 vols.) ; his Statistical Tables, comprising a view of all the European States, and some others ; his General GeographicoStatistical Lexicon (Weimar, 1827); and his Genealogical, Historical and Statistical Almanac (an annual); Crome's works ; Staudlin's Ecclesiastical Geography and Statistics (2 vols., Tub., 1804); Herbin and Peuchet's Siatistique de la France (7 vols., Paris, 1803); Dupin's Forces productives et commerciales de la France (Paris, 2d vol., 4to., 1832); Colqulioun's Treatise on the Wealth, Power and Resources of the British Empire 'JLondon, 1814, 4to.); Dupin's Voyages dans la GrandeBretagne (1820); Wichmann and HassePs works on Russia; and J. H. Schnitzler's Statistique et Miner aire de la Russie (Paris and Petersburg, 1829); Von Hammer and Lindner's works on Turkey; Bisinger's, Hassel's, Demiairs, Andre's, on Austria ; Schwartner's, on Hungary; Mirabeau's, Krug's, Demian's, Stein's, on Prussia; Thaarup's work on Denmark; Politz's, on Saxony. There is no complete statistical view of the present condition of the U. States, though such a one would be highly desirable, in order to give other nations correct notions respecting this country. Much valuable information is contained in Warden's Statistical, Political and Historical Account of the United States (3 vols., 8vo., Edinburgh, 1819); Timothy Pitkin's Statistical View of the Commerce of the United States (8vo., New York, 1817); Adam Seybert's Statistical Annals of the U. States (Philadelphia, 1818); William Darby's Historical, Geographical and Statistical View of the United States (Philadelphia, 1828); Watterston and Van Zandt's Tabular Statistical Views of the United States (Washington, 1829); Ouseley's Political Institutions of the United States (1832); and the American Atlas (3d edition, Philadelphia, 1827).