means to be counted upon: it is a much more difficult thing to raise, than to lower, the scale of living which the laborers will consider as more indispensable than marrying and having a family. According to all experience, a great increase invariably takes place in the number of marriages in seasons of cheap food and full employment.
This is to be seen by some brief statistics of marriages in Vermont and Massachusetts.
| Year. | Vermont | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 2,179 | 12,404 |
| 1861 | 2,188 | 10,972 |
| 1862 | 1,962 | 11,014 |
| 1863 | 2,007 | 10,873 |
| 1864 | 1,804 | 12,513 |
| 1865 | 2,569 | 13,052 |
| 1866 | 3,001 | 14,428 |
| 1867 | 2,857 | 14,451 |
In Vermont, while the average number of marriages was reached in 1860 and 1861, it fell off on the breaking out of the war; rose in 1863, under the fair progress of the Northern arms; again fell off in 1864, during the period of discouragement; and since 1865 has kept a steadily higher average. In manufacturing Massachusetts the number fell earlier than in agricultural Vermont, at the beginning of the difficulties.
| 1856, July to Jan. | 6,418 |
|---|---|
| 1857, Jan. to July | 5,803 |
| 1857, July to Jan. | 5,936 |
| 1858, Jan. to July | 4,917 |
| 1858, July to Jan. | 5,610 |
The effects of the financial panic of 1857,