From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 23 October 1805
Oct. 23. 05.
Th:J. to Genl. Dearborne
Taking from our last Census the number of 384,554 free white males of the age of 16. and under 26. and distributing them according to their ages by Buffon’s table they stand thus.
between | 16. and 18. | 80,405. | not of military age | |
in their | 19th year | 39,591 | ||
20th. | 39,250 | |||
21st. | 38,706 | |||
22d. | 38,373 | |||
23d. | 37,793 | |||
24th. | 37,312 | |||
25th. | 36,876 | |||
26th. | 36,161 | 304,062 | ||
384,467 |
I found on trial that our Census gives us about ⅙ more between 16. & 25, & 1/7 fewer between 25 & 45. than Buffon’s tables would: consequently they differ too much from the actual state of life here to be applied through any long period where accuracy is of any importance. our whole census gives us but 727,915 free white males of the military age, which is very far short of your estimate. friendly salutations.
DLC: Papers of Thomas Jefferson.