4. It is hard to say in what order (as to greatness) these parishes
ought to stand, some having most families, some most hearths, some
most births, and others most burials. Some parishes exceeding the
rest in two, others in three of the said four particulars, but none
in all four. Wherefore this table ranketh them according to the
plurality of the said four particulars wherein each excelleth the
other.

5. The London observations reckon eight heads in each family,
according to which estimation, there are 32,000 souls in the 4,000
families of Dublin, which is but half of what most men imagine, of
which but about one sixth part are able to bear arms, besides the
royal regiment.

6. Without the knowledge of the true number of people, as a
principle, the whole scope and use of the keeping bills of births
and burials is impaired; wherefore by laborious conjectures and
calculations to deduce the number of people from the births and
burials, may be ingenious, but very preposterous.

7. If the number of families in Dublin be about 4,000, then ten men
in one week (at the charge of about 5 pounds surveying eight
families in an hour) may directly, and without algebra, make an
account of the whole people, expressing their several ages, sex,
marriages, title, trade, religion, &c., and those who survey the
hearths, or the constables or the parish clerks (may, if required)
do the same ex officio, and without other charge, by the command of
the chief governor, the diocesan, or the mayor.