1831.] Mr. Sadler and the Political Economists. 535 



in -which the marriages, births, and deaths are separately given the 

 other pursuing the same inquiry in the rural divisions of the country 

 where the population is sparingly disseminated, and agriculture mainly 

 prevails. In the latter we find that the 



Annual proportion of marriages to baptisms, are as 100 to 477 

 In towns under 1,900 inhabitants (1 town) . . ; . . . 100 to 467 



From 1,900 to 2,000 (2) 100 to 422 



2,000 to 3,000 (10) 100 to 390 



3,000 to 4,000 (12) 100 to 360 



4,000 to 5,000 (11) 100 to 356 



5,000 to 10,000 (30) 100 to 327 



10,000 to 20,000 (22) 100 to 304 



20,000 to 50,000 (10) 100 to 282 



50,000 to 100,000 (4) 100 to 240 



100,000 & upwards (3) 100 to 234 



Another table of certain towns in Ireland follows this, proving still 

 more decisively the truth of the original proposition. It is hard to 

 believe that any credulity could exist after evidence of this irrefragable 

 character, yet there are such men as Mr. Macauley to be found in the 

 most enlightened times, and under all possible combinations of circum- 

 stances. Well may Mr. Sadler ask, " If the proofs adduced in this and 

 the preceding chapters are not sufficient to place this great and impor- 

 tant principle of nature beyond the reach of doubt or contradiction, can 

 any facts, however striking, numerous, and uniform, relating to any 

 subject whatever, be regarded as amounting to demonstration ?" Cer- 

 tainly not : and more, if Mr. Sadler could produce such proofs as are 

 only to be discovered in pure mathematics (and these approach them) 

 Old Blue-and- Yellow would refuse to assent to them ! 



Fifth. One of the benevolent corollaries from Mr. Sadler's main 

 principle is, that " growing members" have been the great means of 

 diffusing increasing plenty in every community, and on the contrary, 

 that et fewness of people" has ever been accompanied by real poverty 

 and destitution. This very consoling doctrine of the philosopher's creed 

 is abundantly proved throughout, and although perhaps not sufficiently 

 indicated by any individual fact, or facts, is placed beyond cavil by the 

 series of views afforded by the examination of the subject throughout. 

 The argument here appeals to time. It has hitherto drawn its witnesses 

 from space. The adjustment of numbers to food is shewn at different 

 periods in the history of each country. Here is a table to begin with, 

 shewing the diminishing fecundity of marriages in England, as its 

 population has increased. 



Periods. Population. Births to a Marriage. 



1680 .... 5,500,000 4-65 



1730 .... 5,800,000 .... 4-25 



1770 .... 7,500,000 .... 3-61 



1790 ... 8,700,000 .... 3-59 



1805 .... 10,678,500 .... 3-50 



In not a single instance have we as yet found these scales to contradict 

 the fundamental law of nature. We could multiply these tables if it 

 were necessary, for Mr. Sadler's indefatigable zeal has enabled him to 

 prosecute this branch of the examination through the statistical returns 



