STATISTICS

(J^a.t.%iaXvii, state, condition.) The name given to the science which exhibits the state or condition of a country or nation, principally in relation to its extent, population, industry, wealth, and power. By a statistical account of a country, we mean a work describing its situation and extent; its natural and acquired capacities of production; the quantity and value of the various articles of utility and convenience existing and annually produced in it; the number and cla es of its inhabitants, with their respective incomes; its institutions for the government, improvement, defence, and mamtenance of the population; with a variety of subsidiary statements and details. A science embracing so great a variety of objects is not easily defined or limited; nor is it po ible to draw any distinct line of demarcation between what should be left out of start is tical works, and what should be included in them. Much must always depend on the object in view, and on the good sense and discrimination of the author. Statistics has many features in common with geography and politics, and embraces that sort of mongrel science [s. 1162]