THEORY OF STATISTICS.
INTRODUCTION.
1-3. The introduction of the terms *‘ statistics,” statistical,” into the English
language—4-6. The change in meaning of these terms during the
nineteenth century—7-9. The present use of the terms—10. Defini-
tions of ¢ statistics,” ‘¢ statistical methods,” ‘‘ theory of statistics,” in
accordance with present usage.
1. THE words “statist,” “statistics,” ¢ statistical,” appear to be
all derived, more or less indirectly, from the Latin status, in the
sense that it acquired in medieval Latin of a political state.
2. The first term is, however, of much earlier date than the two
others. The word “statist” is found, for instance, in Hamlet
(1602),! Cymbeline (1610 or 1611),2 and in Paradise Regained
(1671).3 The earliest occurrence of the word “statistics” yet
noted is in Zhe Elements of Universal Erudition, by Baron J. F.
von Bielfeld, translated by W. Hooper, M.D. (3 vols., London, 1770).
One of its chapters is entitled Statistics, and contains a definition
of the subject as “The science that teaches us what is the politi-
cal arrangement of all the modern states of the known world.” 4
“Statistics” occurs again with a rather wider definition in the
preface to A Political Survey of the Present State of Europe, by
E. A. W. Zimmermann,’ issued in 1787. “It is about forty
years ago,” says Zimmermann, “that that branch of political
knowledge, which has for its object the actual and relative
power of the several modern states, the power arising from their
natural advantages, the industry and civilisation of their inhabit
ants, and the wisdom of their governments, has been formed, chiefly
by German writers, into a separate science. . . . By the more con-
venient form it has now received . . . . this science, distinguished
by the new-coined name of statistics, is become a favourite study
in Germany” (p. ii) ; and the adjective is also given (p. v), “To
the several articles contained in this work, some respectable
1 Act v., sc. 2. 2 Actii., sc. 4. 3 Bk. iv.
$I cite from Dr W. F. Willcox, Quarterly Publications of the American
Statistical Association, vol. xiv., 1914, p. 287.
5 Zimmermann’s work appears to have been written in English, though he
was a German, Professor of Natural Philosophy at Brunswick.
