150 On the Sap of the Rose Tree, 



it is advisable to examine such productions in their most re- 

 cent condition. 



September 6th, 1828. 



Statistical Notices suggested by the actual State of the British 

 Empire, as exhibited in the last Population Census, By 

 Mr. Merritt. 



(Read before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool.) 



The Essay of Mr. Malthus, hke the immortal work of Adam 

 Smith, for some years after its appearance, rose slowly and 

 almost imperceptibly into public estimation. Like its great 

 precursor, it has at length attained the dignity of a class-book, 

 and is now studied in schools and colleges ; quoted by sena- 

 tors, and appealed to by writers, as an authority which scarcely 

 any living author has hitherto reached. I am far from doubt- 

 ing the grounds on which this consent of public opinion has 

 been obtained. I am satisfied that he has made out his main 

 propositions with a certainty more nearly approaching to the 

 demonstrative evidence of the exacter sciences, than can often 

 be attained, or, indeed, expected, in subjects which are in their 

 nature so controvertible. I am equally forward to admit that 

 his dignified and dispassionate candour is equal to his clear 

 and logical precision. The arguments of Mr. Malthus, how- 

 ever, it is well known, have been repeatedly and violently 

 opposed, both here and abroad. It would have been wonder- 

 ful if they had not. When we consider that the most assi- 

 duous and persevering research of some of the ablest men in 

 Europe have scarcely established a single axiom in political 

 economy which is not disputable, it is less surprising that his 

 system has been attacked, than that his opponents have been 

 so few and feeble as scarcely to merit the trouble of refu- 

 tation. 



This concession, however, is to be understood as applying 

 only to the leading positions on which the system is founded : 

 such as the natural tendency of population to increase beyond 

 the ratio of subsistence ; the consequence of this disproportion ; 

 and the inevitable alternative of preventive or positive checks, 



