HIStORV OF VERMONT. 425 



Which are reduced to servitudCj and rendered 

 incapable of supporting families, with the impi- 

 ous institutidns of celibacy, have nearly de- 

 stroyed the natural increase of mankind ; or at 

 least they have rendered it extremely slow, and 

 uncertain. " In Great Britain, and most other 

 liluropean countries, they are not supposed to 

 double in less than five hundred years."* In 

 vain do politicians go about to celebrate the 

 Wisdom of a slate of society^ which destroys the 

 noblest fruit and production of nature : It must 

 be essentially and fundamentally bad. The 

 surest proof of the prosperity of any country, is 

 a rapid increase of the people. 



* Smith's Wealth of Nation*, Vol. I. 94. 

 VOL. II E 3 



