Chap. Vr. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS* tyf 



CHAP. VI. 



Impojfible to difcover^ hut by an a&ual numeration of the people^ wbe* 



ther they are at prefent Increaftng or diminifiing in numbers. No 



Cenfus in Britain :-- Not likely that fuch a meafure would JJoow 

 that ive are at prefent on the increafe, like the kingdoms of Sweden 



and Naples, which have^ of late, been actually numbered. The 



queftion only to be anfwered by an inveftigation into its caufes ; • 



advantages of this mode of inquiry, that if w^ are decreafufr in 

 numbers we fhall dif cover a remedy for the evil. — Numbers of 



a people depend upon their morals, health, and occupations. Mtich 



co?ruption of morals in Efigland :^ Without good morals, no people 



. can be numerous : — Proof of the degeiieracy of morals in Britain 

 from our colonies of convicts at Botany Bay: — Our crimes proceed 

 not from bad natu-al dijpofittuus, but are the confequence of our 

 wealth: — Of the wealth of the people of ErglcJid.-^No country, in 

 the world, where there is more difea/e, —Of the fatal effeSfs of the 

 conlumpdon: — Li///^ known to the antients. G> eat mcrtality of 

 our children, particularly in London : — No fuch mortality in ant lent 

 times, as we karn from the wtitings of Mofcs, Homer, and Pti- 

 ny.^Of the occupatio?u of men in EngLnd ;-^all arts pra^ifcd 

 there ;-^many ofthefe very hurtful to health : ■ Injlaiices of the/} in 



■ mining and fmehing, glafs mcking^ gH^ing, and pin making. ^ 

 Our grtatefl confumption of men, ly manufiarires and foreign 



. trade —Better to be employed in agriculture, the mofl healthy of all 



. tccupations.-^Bad confequences at prejent of the negka of agricuU 



inrc. 



