XII. Of the Checks to Population in China and СНАР. І. JI. III. Of the Checks to Population in Norway 305 326 350 VI. Of the Checks to Population in France. 422 ESSAY, &c. BOOK I. OF THE CHECKS TO POPULATION IN THE LESS CIVILIZED PARTS OF THE WORLD AND IN PAST TIMES. CHAP. I. Statement of the Subject. Ratios of the Increase of Population and Food. In an inquiry concerning the improvement of fociety, the mode of conducting the subject which naturally presents itself, is 1. To investigate the caufes that have hitherto impeded the progress of mankind towards happiness; and 2. To examine the probability of the total or partial removal of these causes in future. To enter fully into this question, and to enumerate all the caufes that have hitherto influ VOL. I. B enced enced human improvement, would be much beyond the power of an individual. The principal object of the prefent effay is to examine the effects of one great cause intimately united with the very nature of man; which, though it has been conftantly and powerfully operating fince the commencement of fociety, has been little noticed by the writers who have treated this fubject. The facts which establish the existence of this caufe have, indeed, been repeatedly stated and acknowledged; but its natural and neceffary effects have been almost totally overlooked; though probably among these effects may be reckoned a very confiderable portion of that vice and mifery, and of that unequal diftribution of the bounties of nature, which it has been the unceasing object of the enlightened philanthropist in all ages to correct. The caufe to which I allude, is the conftant tendency in all animated life to increase beyond the nourishment prepared for it. It is obferved by Dr. Franklin, that there is no bound to the prolific nature of plants or animals, but what is made by their crowding and interfering with each others means of fubfiftWere the face of the earth, he fays, vacant of other plants, it might be gradually fowed ence. 7 fowed and overspread with one kind only, as for inftance with fennel: and were it empty of other inhabitants, it might in a few ages be replenished from one nation only, as for inftance with Englishmen. This is incontrovertibly true. Through the animal and vegetable kingdoms Nature has fcattered the feeds of life abroad with the most profufe and liberal hand; but has been comparatively sparing in the room and the nourishment neceffary to rear them. The germs of existence contained in this earth, if they could freely develope theinfelves, would fill millions of worlds in the courfe of a few thoufand years. Neceffity, that imperious all-pervading law of nature, reftrains them within the prefcribed bounds. The race of plants and the race of animals fhrink under this great reftrictive law; and man cannot by any efforts of reafon cfcape from it. In plants and irrational animals, the view of the fubject is fimple. They are all impelled by a powerful inftinct to the increase of their fpecies; and this instinct is interrupted by no doubts about providing for their offspring. Wherever there a Franklin's Mifcell. p. 9. B 2 fore, fore there is liberty, the power of increase is exerted; and the fuperabundant effects are repreffed afterwards by want of room and nourishment. The effects of this check on man are more complicated. Impelled to the increase of his fpecies by an equally powerful instinct, reason interrupts his career, and asks him whether he may not bring beings into the world, for whom he cannot provide the means of fupport. If he attend to this natural fuggeftion, the restriction too frequently produces vice. If he hear it not, the human race will be conftantly endeavouring to increase beyond the means of subsistence. But as by that law of our nature which makes food neceffary to the life of man, population can never actually increase beyond the lowest nourishment capable of fupporting it, a strong check on population, from the difficulty of acquiring food, must be conftantly in operation. This difficulty must fall fomewhere, and muft neceffarily be feverely felt in fome or other of the various forms of mifery, or the fear of mifery, by a large portion of mankind. That population has this conftant tendency to increase beyond the means of fubfiftence, and that it is kept to its neceffary level by these caufes, |