PROLEGOMENA. CXXIX. 



I was however unaware, till lately, of the 

 completely philosophical defence which might be 

 made of a monastic life, and which I shall submit 

 to further consideration. 



It is a principle proved by M. Malthus, in 

 his book on Population, and acknowledged by 

 all able writers, that i»> n, in common with other 

 animals, has a power and tendency to multiply 

 beyond the means of sustenance which the earth 

 produces ; there must be, therefore, checks to 

 fecundity. Various have been the endeavours to 

 make this principle out to be fallacious, but none 

 have succeeded. For if alone every couple could 

 produce four children, and this is a small allow- 

 ance to young, natural, and healthy persons, the 

 time must come when there would be too many 

 people in the world. For let even the whole 

 surface of the earth be cultivated, its annual 

 produce is, after all, only a constant quantity ; 

 while population, though not unlimited, proceeds 

 on an arithmetical ratio of increase. Various 

 means have been devised for checking an undue 

 advance of population ; and wars, diseases, and 

 vice, have been shown to be the natural source of 

 that untimely devastation of human life and 

 fecundity, which everywhere thins the inhabitants 

 of the globe. 



Now, in proportion as moral and physical 

 knowledge may be promoted, it may be hoped 



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