382 Heredity. 



been adjusting itself, is adjusting itself now, and will continue to 

 adjust itself ? And how do they necessitate a higher evolution of 

 the organism ? 



' Civilization, everywhere having for its antecedent the increase 

 of population, and everywhere having for one of its consequences 

 a decrease of certain race-destroying forces, has for a further con- 

 sequence an increase of certain other race-destroying forces. 

 Danger of death from predatory animals lessens as men grow more 

 numerous. Though, as they spread over the earth and divide into 

 tribes, men become wild beasts to one another, yet the danger of 

 death from this cause also diminishes as tribes coalesce into nations. 

 But the danger of death which does not diminish, is that produced 

 by augmentation of numbers itself the danger from deficiency of 

 food. Manifestly, the wants of their redundant numbers constitute 

 the only stimulus mankind have to obtain more necessaries of 

 life ; were not the demand beyond the supply, there would be 

 no motive to increase the supply. .... 



' This constant increase of people beyond the means of subsistence 

 causes, then, a never-ceasing requirement for skill, intelligence, and 

 self-control involves, therefore, a constant exercise of these and 

 gradual growth of them. Every industrial improvement is at once 

 the product of a higher form of humanity, and demands that 

 higher form of humanity to carry it into practice. The application 

 of science to the arts is the bringing to bear greater intelligence 

 for satisfying our wants ; and implies continued progress of their 

 intelligence. To get more produce from the acre, the farmer must 

 study chemistry, must adopt new mechanical appliances, and must, 

 by the multiplication of processes, cultivate both his own powers 

 and the powers of his labourers. To meet the requirements of the 

 market, the manufacturer is perpetually improving his old machines 

 and inventing new ones ; and by the premium of high wages 

 incites artisans to acquire greater skill. The daily-widening rami- 

 fications of commerce entail on the merchant a need for more 

 knowledge and more complex calculations ; while the lessening 

 profits of the ship-owner force him to build more scientifically, to 

 get captains of higher intelligence, and better crews. In all cases, 

 pressure of population is the original cause. Were it not for the 

 competition this entails, more thought and energy would not daily 



