CHAP. II.

Of the general Checks to Population, and the Mode of their Operation.

THE ultimate check to population appears then to be a want of food arising neceffarily from the different ratios according to which population and food increase. But this ultimate check is never the immediate check, except in cafes of actual famine.

The immediate check may be stated to confift in all thofe cuftoms, and all thofe diseases which feem to be generated by a scarcity of the means of fubfiftence; and all those causes, independent of this fcarcity, whether of a moral or phyfical nature, which tend prematurely to weaken and destroy the human frame.

Thefe checks to population, which are conftantly operating with more or lefs force in every fociety, and keep down the number to the level of the means of fubfiftence, may be claffed under two general heads, the preventive, and the pofitive checks.

The

The preventive check, as far as it is voluntary, peculiar to man, and arifes from that diftinctive fuperiority in his reafoning faculties, which enables him to calculate diftant confequences. The checks to the indefinite increase of plants and irrational animals are all either pofitive, or, if preventive, involuntary. But man cannot look around him, and fee the diftrefs which frequently preffes upon those who have large families; he cannot contemplate his prefent poffeffions or earnings, which he now nearly confumes himself, and calculate the amount of each fhare, when with very little addition they must be divided, perhaps, among feven or eight, without feeling a doubt, whether if he follow the bent of his inclinations, he may be able to fupport the offspring which he will probably bring into the world. In a ftate of equality, if fuch can exift, this would be the fimple queftion. In the prefent ftate of fociety other confiderations occur. Will he not lower his rank in life, and be obliged to give up in great meafure his former habits? Does any mode of employment present itself by which he may reafonably hope to maintain a family? Will he not at any rate subject himself to greater difficulties, and more fevere labour than in his fingle

ftate?

ftate? Will he not be unable to transmit to his children the fame advantages of education and improvement that he had himself poffeffed? Does he even feel fecure that, fhould he have a large family, his utmost exertions can fave them from rags and squalid poverty, and their confequent degradation in the community? And may he not be reduced to the grating neceffity of forfeiting his independence, and of being obliged to the fparing hand of charity for fupport?

These confiderations are calculated to prevent, and certainly do prevent, a great number of persons in all civilized nations from pursuing the dictate of nature in an early attachment to

one woman.

If this restraint do not produce vice, it is undoubtedly the least evil that can arife from the principle of population. Confidered as a restraint on a strong natural inclination, it must be allowed to produce a certain degree of temporary unhappiness; but evidently flight, compared with the evils which refult from any of the other checks to population; and merely of the fame nature as many other facrifices of temporary to permanent gratification, which it

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is

is the business of a moral agent continually to

make.

When this reftraint produces vic.. the - vil which follow are but too confpicuous. A promif cuous intercourse to fuch a degree as to prevent the birth of children feems to lower in the most marked manner the dignity of human nature. It cannot be without its effect on men, and nothing can be more obvious than its tendency to degrade the female character, and to destroy all its most amiable and distinguishing characteriftics. Add to which, that among thofe unfortunate females with which all great towns abound, more real diftrefs and aggravated.mifery are perhaps to be found, than in any other department of human life.

When a general corruption of morals with regard to the fex pervades all the claffes of fociety, its effects must neceffarily be, to poison the springs of domestic happiness, to weaken conjugal and parental affection, and to leffen the united exertions and ardour of parents in the care and education of their children; effects which cannot take place without a decided diminution of the general happiness and virtue of the fociety; particularly as the neceffity of art

in the accomplishment and conduct of intrigues, and in the concealment of their confequences, neceffarily leads to many other vices.

The pofitive checks to population are extremely various, and include every caufe, whether arifing from vice or mifery, which in any degree contributes to fhorten the natural duration of human life. Under this head therefore may be enumerated all unwholefome occupations, Tevere labour and expofure to the feafons, extreme poverty, bad nurfing of children, great towns, exceffes of all kinds, the whole train of 'common diseases and epidemics, wars, plague, and famine.

On examining thefe obftacles to the increase of population which I have claffed under the heads of preventive and pofitive checks, it will appear that they are all resolvable into moral restraint, vice, and mifery.

Of the preventive checks, the restraint from marriage which is not followed by irregular gratifications may properly be termed moral reftraint®.

Promifcuous

It will be obferved, that I here use the term moral in its moft confined fenfe. By moral restraint I would be underflood to mean a restraint from marriage, from prudential motives,

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