102 On the Comparative Population of the World, 



sible that if the French had finally succeeded in their attempt, its 

 only effect, on the Oriental and African nations, would have been 

 the exchange of one species of despotism for another. There i^, 

 however, a great difference between an ignorant and an enlight- 

 ened tyranny. The French expedition was accompanied by men 

 skilled in every department of knowledge, and, if they had been 

 permitted to remain, some beam of light from these luminaries 

 of science must have radiated in every direction. But that 

 eternal obstacle to the civilization of Asia and Africa, the mu- 

 tual jealousy of the powers of Europe, interposed its influence, 

 and all the possible consequences of this extraordinary scheme 

 were in a moment rendered abortive. As citizens of the world, 

 we cannot but lament the interference, though it is not to be 

 condemned on the principles of sound European policy. It may 

 be urged, that even if the French invasion had produced the 

 happy effect of introducing the arts and refinements of Europe 

 into the East, these gifts would have been presented at the point 

 of the sword. Such would, most probably, have been the case ; 

 but it may be doubted whether even the horrors of war and 

 conquest be not a happy exchange for the mournful repose of 

 slavery. The fetters which bind these unfortunate countries 

 are too strong to be shaken off without a violent concussion. 



After what has been said, it is scarcely necessary to remark 

 the fallacy with which Mr. Hume concludes his argument : 

 " Upon the whole," says he, " it seems impossible to assign any 

 just reason why the world should have been more populous in 

 ancient than in modern times. The equality of property among 

 the ancients ; liberty, and the small division of their states, were 

 indeed circumstances favourable to the propagation of mankind. 

 But their wars were more bloody and destructive ; their govern- 

 ments more factious and unsettled ; commerce and manufac- 

 tures more feeble and languishing ; and the general police more 

 loose and irregular." This summary conclusion may be an- 

 swered in the same style ; for some of his premises are plainly 

 false, and others inconclusive. In those regions of the earth 

 which were the great scenes of ancient population, the govern- 

 ments were not more factious and unsettled ; commerce was not 

 more feeble and languishing ; and the general police was not 

 more loose and irregular. The comparison is only valid, as be- 



