similar to this, he would, in some measure, establish the doctrine he advances. But, in saying that there is an agreement between the deaths and marriages, corresponding in different countries, he proves nothing that he wishes to prove. A marriage implies two persons, consequently, if there be in a town 50 annual marriages, and 150 annual births, 50 of the born die unmarried. But can it, from this statement, be ascertained that they do not die in infancy. According to Mr. M., in Norway, only 34 of every 130 of the born, die unmarried; and in Holland, only 36 of 128.

By such statements, he shows a remarkable equality in the proportion of marriages; a remarkable similarity in the number of those who die in childhood, and in celibacy; which is the reverse of what he designed.

OF THE

CHECKS TO POPULATION

In various Countries.

BESIDES the chapters I have noticed, Mr. Malthus's work contains many others, none of which have any thing either sufficiently striking or novel to recommend them to particular attention; I shall therefore pass them hastily over.

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The first chapter treats of the checks to population in the lowest stage of human society; particularizing the natives of Terra del Fuego, of Van Diemen's land, of the islands of Andaman, and of New Holland; and to the lovers of the marvellous, it affords a rich feast.--Among other strange stories, we are told, that the people of New Holland are so pinched with want, that "they are compelled to climb the tallest trees after honey, and the smaller animals, such as the flying squirrel and the opossum.

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When the stems are of great height, and without branches, which is generally the case, in thick forests, this is a process of great labour, and is effected by cutting a notch with their stone hatchets for each foot successively, while their left arm embraces the tree. Trees were observed notched in this manner to the height of eighty feet before the first branch, where the hungry savage could hope to meet with any reward for so much toil."*

Can Mr. M. credit such tales. Is not a tree. of eighty feet without a branch too large to beat clasped with one arm, while the hungry Hol Jander cuts notches with the other? Are not all savages disinclined to such severe labour; a and are they not too cunning to be made dupes of? The flying squirrel, in all probability, reached s the branches by jumping from another tree, and might very easily jump back again: but sup pose this was not the case, who could approach * near enough the extremity of the branches to catch it. Thus it appears, after all his toil, the hungry Hollander would be in danger of losing his reward. But our acquaintance with these countries is very slight; and as but little is known, 1 Yubion

any thing is credited by certain readers; it is with them the age of the marvellous, and Mr. M. has availed himself of their credulity in support of his theory. When we are better informed, the thin population of these countries will, I have no doubt, be more rationally accounted for.

Our author next describes the miseries of the American Indians, and then directs his course to the islands of the South Sea, of which Otaheite attracts his greatest attention. The first check to the population of that people, is the systematic licentiousness of the higher orders; by whom societies are formed, under the name of Earecoie, for the express purpose of promiscuous intercourse among the members and under the engagement, that, all the children Born in the society be murdered.

Giving full credit to the account, the object ♦f our attention is, the extent of the abominable practice, and its influence, as a check to the population of the island, which must necessarily be very small, for these societies are limited to the higher classes. n stare po to

The next check mentioned, is that of infan ticide. Here Mr. M. argues with Mr. Hume, "that the permission of infanticide generally con

tributes to increase the population of a country. By removing the fears of too numerous a family, it encourages marriage, and the powerful yearnings of nature prevent parents from resorting to` so cruel an expedient, except in extreme cases."* But Mr. M. thinks, in Otaheite there are mo yearnings of nature, and that it is probable children are murdered rather as a fashion, than a resort of necessity. Such a surmise is beneath a reply. It is a gross insult to the human The fashion of one country may have

race.

been, or may become, the fashion of another. Had Mr. M. been a father, he would not have thought so meanly of parental feelings.

The next check noticed by our author, is, the wantonness of the women; and there is something, not quite agreeable to Mr. M's. notions, in the marriage ceremony, which consists of a present from the man to the parents of the girl. "The checks to population from such a state of society would alone appear sufficient to counteract the effects of the most delightful clie mate and the most exuberant plenty.".

Let my readers ask themselves, whether the vices of the great, which the bulk of the people

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P. 52. P. 53.

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