CONTENTS. 



CHAP. V. 



Cf the Population of Spain In antient and modern times: — In Cicero's time very great; 

 — but now, notwitbftanding the addition of Goths, Vandals, Heruli, and IVloors, its 

 Population very fmall. — France fuppofed about 30 years ago, when the Author was 

 there, to have decreafed 2 millions fince the days of Lewis XIV. — The Author par- 

 ticularly informed about the thinncfs of the Population of France at that time, and 

 of the caufes of it. — Not likely that their numbers are of late increafed. p. 270. 



C H A P. VI. 



Of the Population of Britain. — Population one of the three great Articles of the Poli- 

 tical Syftem. — i/?, the Population of England confidered j not fo great now as when 

 Julius Caefar was in the Ifland : — According to him England was very Populous, and 



even more Populous than Gaul. — Our great towns, no proof of great Population : 



—They, on the contrary, confume great numbers of people. — Little knowledge of 

 the ftate of Population during the Saxon Government. — Reafons for concluding, 

 that after the Norman conqueft, the Population was greater than at prefent : — The 

 feudal fyftem introduced by it, favourable to Population —Our wars, trade, and ma- 

 nufadlures, attended with great wafte of men. — An inquiry, therefore, into the Po- 

 pulation of England at prefent, and whether it be increasing or decreafing, a quertion 

 of the greateft political importance: — Oppofite opinions on this point maintained by 

 Mr Howlet and Dr Price. — Mr Howlet contends, that we have doubled our num- 

 bers fince 1740 i — arguments againft this opinion :^--Dr Price holds, that ever fince 

 the revolution in i(588, we have been decreafing in numbers : — Probable that the 

 Dodtor is in the right, from the caufes he affijns. — Enumeration of thefe. p. 273. 



CHAP. VIL 



Impofllble to dlfcover, but by an aclual numeration of the people, whether they are at 

 prefent increafing or diminilhing in numbers. — No Cenfus in Britain : — Not likely 

 that fuch a meafure would fhow that we are at prefent on the incrcafe, like the 

 kingdoms of Sweden and Naples, which have, of late, been adlually numbered. — 

 The queftion only to be anfwered by an inveftlgation into its caufes ; — advantages of 

 this mode of inquiry, that if we are decreafing in numbers we Ihall difcover a re- 

 medy for the evil.— Numbers of a people depend upoTi their morals, health, and oc- 

 cupations. — 



