effect. The results were published with the census returns of 1801; but,
instead of each parish being separately shown, only the totals of the
hundreds and similar county divisions, and of a few principal towns,
were given. In subsequent "Parish Register Abstracts" down to that of
1841, the same meagre information has been afforded by an adherence to
this generalising system.

In 1836, with a view of forming an estimate of the probable population
for England and Wales at certain periods anterior to 1801, Mr. Rickman,
acting upon the result of inquiries previously made respecting the
condition and earliest date of the register books in every parish,
applied to the clergy for returns of the number of baptisms, burials,
and marriages registered in three years at six irregular periods, viz.
A.D. 1570, 1600, 1630, 1670, 1700, and 1750. The clergy, with their
accustomed readiness to aid in any useful investigation, responded very
generally to the application, and Mr. Rickman obtained nearly 3000
returns of the earliest date required (1570), and nearly 4000 (from not
much less than half the parishes of England) as far back as 1600; those
for the more recent periods being tolerably complete from all the
counties. The interesting details thus collected have not been
published; nor am I able to say where the original returns, if still
extant, are deposited. In pursuance of this design, however, Mr. Rickman
proceeded with these materials to calculate the probable population of
the several counties on the supposition that the registered baptisms,
&c., in 1570, 1600, and at the other assigned periods, bore the same
proportion to the actual population as in 1801. The numerical results
are embodied in a table which appears in the _Census Enumeration
Abstract_ for 1841 (Preface, pp. 36, 37.), and it is stated that there
is reason for supposing the estimate arrived at to be an approximation
to the truth.