BY R. M. JOHNSTON, F.L.S. 55 



up to the limits of subsistence (F or G), but by the laws of 

 nature it can never go beyond them, meaning, of course, 

 by these limits the lowest quantity of food which will main- 

 tain a stationary population. Population, therefore, can 

 never, strictly speaking, precede food." This clear expression 

 on the part of Malthus casts aside the whole of Mr. George's 

 ratiocinations as worthless. His inability to grasp the most 

 important elements of the problem is still further made 

 manifest by his query, p. 17, "How is it, then, that this 

 globe of ours, after all the thousands, and it is thought mil- 

 lions, of years, that man has been upon the earth, is yet so 

 thinly populated ?" 



I can hardly conceive that a man of Mr. George's intelli- 

 gence could put forward such a plea in proof of his con- 

 tention that the natural tendency of population (I) is not 

 towards an increase in the direction of the limits of 

 subsistence. 



His query indicates unmistakably that he confounds the 

 product with the ever-varying factors j^Zms and minus I, T, 

 and C, which make the product (P). There is no argument 

 necessary to sliow the absurdity of ignoring the value and 

 tendency of I, because the product P does not disclose a 

 similar value and tendency. 



For example, the query entirely ignores the whole burden 

 of Malthus' problem by the eifects of the checks T and C. 

 The mere fact, notwithstanding the powerful influence checks 

 T and C, which have always been in operation — the human 

 race is now, after a million years, still vigoi'ous, and niuubers 

 over 1,480 million souls, is in itself the strongest proof that 

 the natural tendency to increase has been the powerful 

 influence counteracting the terrible effects of C, which we 

 too well know have always exerted a most powerful and dire 

 influence in preventing a large increase of population. 



The fallacy of Mr. George's arguments is more clearly 

 appreciated by stating the problem thus : 



Let. I. — Natural tendency to increase (birth rate). 



D. — A.ctual rate of increase or decrease of popu- 

 lation (a) surplus of births over deaths : 

 (h) stationary state, etc.; (c) surplus of 

 deaths over births. 

 T. — Death as the full termination "^ 



of a natural healthy life ^ Death Rate. 



C. — Death from prcventible causes } 



M. — Moral influence lowering the value of I. 



S. — Prosperity heightening th<' effect of I. 



P. — The result upon the population (a) increase ; 

 (h) stationariness ; (c) decline. 



