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CHAPTER XVIII.

OF THE "PREVENTIVE CHECK," OR "MORAL RESTRAINT;" ITS IMPOSITION UNNATURAL, UNLAWFUL, AND WICKED.

(1) THE last general check to population which remains to be considered is the " preventive" one, or, as it is occasionally denominated, Moral Restraint.

(2) In estimating the importance of this check, we must advert to the effects it has to produce. The immense and constantly increasing disparity, said to exist naturally between the increase of human beings and that of their food, has been already stated, amounting, according to the theory which professes to pronounce very precisely upon the subject, in a single century, to four times the number that could be sustained; in two centuries, exceeding the level of the means of subsistence in the proportion of 256 to 9; and in three, in that of 4096 to 13; and so on, in a perpetually augmenting disproportion'. It is confessed, on all hands, that the other checks have so diminished as to be now almost totally inefficient, many of them indeed having disappeared altogether; the preventive check has, therefore, to effectuate, almost unaided, what all the others, when in full operation, could barely accomplish. How important then its office! How powerfully must it act in pressing down the mighty spring of human increase to its due level! How active, how constant, how palpable must be its operation! And, moreover, as this check has to reconcile, in some measure, the system of population to the laws of Na

1 Malthus, Essay on Population, p. 8,

ture, to the perfections of an all-wise and merciful Creator, and to his providence, (which, seen either in the light of nature or of revelation, appears to be a system of equal and everlasting benevolence,) how clear ought it to be in its principle; how equal and impartial in its impositions; how fully should it harmonize with the physical laws of our existence, and the best and purest feelings of the human heart! and, lastly, how certainly ought it to accomplish those results on which the theory which invokes its influence represents the well being of mankind essentially to depend!

(3) As the work under notice has several chapters devoted to the consideration of this check, and as its influence and effect are dwelt upon throughout as the redeeming feature of the system, I may be allowed to speak somewhat at large on a point which is thus considered, on all sides, as being of the highest importance; and I shall speak plainly.

(4) The first circumstance which shall be noticed relative to this check (and it is certainly one of a very extraordinary nature) is this: that, all important and redeeming to the theory in question, as it is now held to be, it was nevertheless nothing more than a mere after-thought. The general principle of population was stated with equal confidence, and the checks by which it is declared to be regulated were enumerated as decisively and authoritatively, before this had a place amongst them, as now that it is made a corner stone of the entire theory. A system which is declared to be so "pre-eminently clear," thus to change not merely the form and order, but the very matter of its proofs, and which is made to accommodate itself to every change, with equal ease and certainty, is scarcely reconcileable with our ideas of obvious and simple truth.

(5) But it is still more important to remark, that when this check was announced, it was propounded in such terms as to convey the idea that its author himself doubted its importance, if not its very existence. It is hardly conceivable, therefore, that it could have been contemplated as destined to supplant the "positive checks," as they are termed, in the great work of repressing population. At least I gather this from the author's own words. When speaking of his second and larger work compared with his first one upon the same subject, he says, "Throughout the whole of the "present work, I have so far differed in principle "from the former, as to suppose another check to population possible, which does not strictly come under "the head either of vice or misery." This language, in the very exordium of his work, seems, in my apprehension, to betray considerable doubts as to the very existence of this new recruit to the phalanx of those former checks previously mustered, the vices and the miseries of mankind. And many incidental expressions throughout his enlarged treatise indicate any thing rather than confidence, as it regards the very check which is now ostensibly put forth as the main support and apology of the entire system.

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(6) I shall not attend to the difference which is occasionally made between the preventive check and moral restraint. Theoretically a distinction may be maintained, practically there is none; they are, and ever will be, as it respects the great mass of mankind, identified. Physically speaking, we may hold that it is possible for mankind to remain chaste, without marriage; morally considered, it is impossible. And it is worse than idle-it is immoral, indecent, and false, to assert otherwise. It contradicts nature, reason, scrip

1 Malthus, Essay on Population, Pref., p. vii,

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ture, and common sense, in order to build up a theory contrary to them all. But it is useless to enforce so obvious a truth: even Mr. Malthus himself admits it. He says, of this "virtue, I believe, few of my "readers can be less sanguine in their expectations "of any great change in the general conduct of men, "on this subject, than I am1;" and adds also, in his concluding chapter, that "knowing how incompletely “this duty has hitherto been fulfilled, it would certainly be visionary to expect any very material change for the better, in future." He has, indeed, as we have seen, "allowed himself to suppose;" yet he intimates, that he has not given an equal latitude to his hope, for on this very head, he assures us, "few can be less sanguine than he." Indeed, he represents the passion between the sexes like a fixed algebraic quantity, as having a constant and definite force3; and asserts, that there are few countries where the common people have so much foresight, as even to defer marriage from prudential motives. As to our own, the whole of his treatise, practically considered, is founded upon a contrary opinion; hence, the tremendous expedient he recommends, in order to enforce the preventive check, moral restraint, or whatever it may be called, namely, the utter abrogation of the natural right of poverty and destitution to support, so long and happily established in this and almost other Christian country. (7) It appears, however, that this latter addition to the theory of population was made as an endeavour to "remove any imputation on the goodness of the Deity." But how these imputations, which he seems conscious the theory naturally generates, and 1 Malthus, Essay on Population, p. 504. 2 Ibid., p. 598.

every

3 Ibid., p. 347.

4 Ibid., p. 241.

which it most certainly does, whether it be acknowledged or not, should be removed, by allowing ourselves to hope what we do not believe, appears inexplicable. Such a method of defending or honouring GOD requires little comment.

(8) But whether the author in question admits the necessary consequences of the universal operation of the preventive check, or not, is immaterial; they are certain. To reconcile it in its effects, with general morality, is impossible. Under certain circumstances, or in exempt cases, its existence, accompanied by purity of conduct, is supposable. To these, a few words may be devoted.

(9) Concerning instances of natural defect, which are clearly alluded to by the Author of our religion', no dispute can arise. And again, the natural propensity is in some others, perhaps, so slight and manageable, as readily to yield in balancing the conveniences and supposed inconveniences of the marriage state. Furthermore, I believe purity of conduct may be preserved in celibacy, even when the constitutional propensity remains in its ordinary state, when some strong duty or great obstacle interposes, and the conduct is influenced by high moral principle, guarded by the most vigilant circumspection. But I must say, that I fear the chance is slight indeed, when the motive, put forth by Mr. Malthus, alone operates; namely, the fear of an inconvenience, or of a descent in "the ladder" of life. It is rare, indeed, that pride and purity of conduct, in our sex, at least, are convertible terms. This subject, however, will be shortly resumed hereafter.

(10) But a case of continence far commoner (would that it were universal!) is that which it is to

1 St. Matthew xix. 12.