of controversy, which I shall pursue, without, I hope, personal rancour; but, certainly, without that compromise of either feelings or principles, which is now denominated candour,-a sacrifice, which, I confess, I cannot think is due to those who advocate the contrary system, notwithstanding their mutual compliments to each other on this head; and, more especially, if we advert to their treatment of the real objects of the dispute, the poor and destitute, who, notwithstanding the dogmas of Political Economy, it is impossible, in the nature of things, can ever cease out of the land. To this subject, however, I shall more particularly advert on another occasion; in the mean time I intend to pursue the argument now entered upon in the following order :-In the present Book of this treatise (the First), I purpose to state the principles of the theory I am opposing, together with something of its history, shewing that, as now propounded, it is irreconcileable with itself in all its main positions, and especially with those checks which it announces as solely regulating the redundant numbers of mankind, each of which will be particularly considered. The Second Book will be exclusively devoted to the consideration of the population of the United States of America and of China; the increase in the former country having been long appealed to as the one triumphant demonstration of the geometric ratio so often advanced. In this section of the work it will be proved, beyond the possibility of contradiction, that the data on which that demonstration is founded are utterly erroneous, both as it regards the number of inhabitants at the period from which it dates its calculations, and the circumstances which have mainly contributed to its rapid increase. Respecting China, the empire in which, as we have been long instructed to believe, the principle of population has finally produced those evils which are asserted to be its inevitable consequence, the fallacies put forth as to the number of its inhabitants and their condition will be fully exposed, and the deductions of the anti-populationists consequently overturned. In the Third Book, the numerous and fundamental errors in those calculations on which the system has chiefly relied will be clearly exhibited, when a series of mistakes will be exposed, which, it is believed, have been but rarely paralleled, at least in works professedly scientific, and which, I cannot but think, must, of themselves, be fatal to the entire theory. The succeeding Book will be devoted to the development and demonstration of an essentially different, and, I trust, true principle of Population, established by references to every national register of human existence which has hitherto been published in any part of the world, and one, moreover, in perfect unison with the nature, interests, and duties of mankind, under all possible circumstances of society; to which will be added, a dissertation on the balance of food and numbers throughout animated nature, which will still further illustrate and extend the principle of reproduction in human beings, as enunciated and proved throughout the treatise. The Fifth Book will comprise an examination of different countries of the world, in reference to the principles at issue; in which it will be shewn, contrary to the position maintained in the prevailing theory, that as the population of each has increased, the general prosperity has been still more advanced, and that a corresponding improvement has taken place in regard to the moral and intellectual character of the species. It will be also shewn, that no country upon earth contains at present anything approaching to the number of inhabitants for which nature has evidently contemplated to provide. The Sixth and last Book will consist chiefly of deductions from the law of population thus established, touching the interests, rights, and duties of mankind; wherein will be discussed several important principles of political philosophy, in reference, especially, to our own country. In conclusion, a view will be taken of the future progress and improvement of society, as suggested by the preceding principles, and which reason and religion equally warrant us in anticipating. Such are the principal heads of the argument on which I now proceed to enter. 33 CHAPTER II. OF THE THEORY OF HUMAN SUPERFECUNDITY. TO ORIGINALITY REFUTED. (1) "THE necessity of setting down, in the very be"ginning, the definitions of our words and terms'," especially in an inquiry like the present, induces me, in the first place, to explain the principle I am about to controvert, and this I shall do in the constantly repeated, and sufficiently significant, language of its principal advocate-it is that of a natural "tendency," and "constant effort in population to increase beyond the means of subsistence:" which I shall generally express throughout by an expressive term, not in general use, though not of my creation3,- superfecundity. (2) In proceeding to disprove that there is any such principle in nature as this superfecundity, in reference to the means of subsistence, I must premise that the argument has nothing whatsoever to do with such acts or institutions as have at any time spread misery amongst mankind: if these were to be recognized as the laws of nature, then indeed it would be no difficult task to shew that human beings have been, alas, redundant in every age and country of the world. It is obvious, however, that these inflictions have no more to do with the principle of population than, for instance, the first murder, or the miseries of the siege of Jerusalem. But it is unnecessary to dwell 'Bacon's Works, vol. ii. p. 144. Malthus, pp. 3, 12, &c. VOL. I: See Paley's Natural Theology. Ꭰ on this point; the author who will be most frequently alluded to, in attempting to prove the evils resulting from that principle, has expressly treated the subject as totally distinct from such considerations1; nay, it is not attempted to be denied, that, according to the theory of the anti-populationists, the most perfect institutions would but accelerate that dreadful catastrophe with which it threatens the human race, were their excessive numbers not checked, and their natural prolificness restrained. (3) The proposition is, therefore, totally unembarrassed by extraneous considerations; and, as before stated, it is that there is a natural "tendency," and constant effort, in population, to increase beyond the means of subsistence; and that this active tendency, therefore, has always produced numbers redundant and excessive in reference to those means; occasioning evils and demanding checks which will be enumerated and examined hereafter. (4) This principle of population, which is as ancient as the history of human selfishness and ignorance, it is strange to observe, is at present hailed by many as some new and important discovery; whereas its only claims to novelty are those pretended mathematical demonstrations which render it ridiculous, and those deductions which make it disgusting. In past times, the notion was principally advocated by the ignorant, and opposed by the intellectual, part of mankind now, indeed, we are told, it has changed hands, and is warmly espoused by "the most thinking persons, as they describe each other to be, and rejected only by the most incompetent. The doctrine, however, which is now received as a new light, is 1 Malthus, Essay on Population, 1 p. 367. 2 Ibidem, p. 493. Wallace, Various Prospects of Mankind, ch. iv. 3 Malthus, Essay, &c. pp. 3, 12, &c. &c. |