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be a deserter either of the domestic, or political, or 

 divine Vestal hearth. 



For those who are not entirely connected with 

 each other for the sake of begetting children, in- 

 jure the most honourable system of convention. 

 But if persons of this description procreate with 

 libidinous insolence and intemperance, their off- 

 spring will be miserable and flagitious, and will be 

 execrated by gods and demons, and by men, and 

 families, and cities. 



Those, therefore, who deliberately consider 

 these things, ought not, in a way similar to irra- 

 tional animals, to engage in venereal connections, 

 but should think copulation to be a necessary 

 good. For it is the opinion of worthy men, that 

 it is necessary and beautiful, not only to fill houses 

 with large families, and also the greater part of 

 the earth *, (for man is the most mild and the best 

 of all animals,) but, as a thing of the greatest con- 



* This observation applies only to well regulated cities, but in 

 London and other large cities, where the population is not re- 

 stricted to a definite number, this abundant propagation of the 

 species is, to the greater part of the community, attended with ex- 

 treme misery and want. Plato and Aristotle, who rank among 

 the wisest men that ever lived, were decidedly of opinion, that the 

 population of a city should be limited. Hence, the former of these 

 philosophers says, " that in a city where the inhabitants do not 

 know each other, there is no light, but profound darkness ;" and 

 the latter, " that as 10,000 inhabitants are too few for a city, so 

 100,000 are too many." 



