1. Of ascertaining the increment or decrement of the population in
every place, and at any period.
2. Of accurately ascertaining the population of the country, and at
any period.
3. Of diminishing, if not nearly superseding, the immense expense
incurred by a census.
4. Of obviating the difficulties, great expense, and frequent
disappointment in proving marriages, births, baptisms, and burials,
to which persons who are desirous of establishing legal proof of
their identity, descent, consanguinity, &c. are still exposed.
5. The present extensive and beneficial system of assurance on
lives, reversionary payments, annuities, and legacy duties on the
latter species of testamentary property, is founded on calculations
deduced from numerous bills of mortality.
6. The prosperity or decay of commerce, manufactures, or trade of
any place, is shown by comparing bills of mortality of different
dates.