Consumption of Corn hi Great Britain, Sec. 327 



Whether a full community, or population nearly equal to the average possible 

 produce of the whole territory, is or may be a desirable object, either in a moral 

 or political view, seems problematical, and of somewhat difficult soluiioti. The 

 example of China, where population is supposed to have been long stationary, pre- 

 sents no very agreeable picture of this state of society ; scarcities and famines the 

 most dreadful are there described, as matters of course, succeeding an unkindly 

 season, or deficiency of crop. The exposure of infants to perish, and death of 

 multitudes for want of food at such crisises, are the means taken by nature to thin 

 the redundancy of mankind, and bring the demand for food within the means of 

 supply; and these occurrences arc there said to be not unfrequent. 



That the superior energies of European intellect and exertion might provide 

 better against the effects of such events may be supposed, but there is a point of 

 contact betv/eemproduce and consumption, supply and demand, beyond which no 

 human conduct or management could prevent the devastations of want and misery, 

 and which can only be prevented by foresight and prudence, both in the body po- 

 litic and the individual ; whose duty should be strongly impressed to practise that 

 moral restraint which shall prevent his being accessary to bringing beings into the 

 world without previously considering his means to maintain and support them, and 

 their own probable means of obtaining future subsistence. There is no doubt but 

 this moral restraint has now great influence in preventing an overflowing redundancy 

 of the human species j and will continue and increase with circumstances, so long 

 as caution and prudence exist amongst mankind. 



Mr. Malthus has enumerated, amongst other checks to population in England, 

 amongst persons of limited income. 



The unpleasant " idea of being obliged to retrench former enjoyments, in con- 

 sequence of an increased family." 



Clerks who have a limited income, fear increased expences. 



Sons of farmers and tradesmen, induced not to marry till they are settled in some 

 business or farm. 



The labourer is deterred from marriage by the fear of want and misery. 



Servants in rich families, by the plenty they live in, and dread of being unable 

 to maintain a family. 



The annual marriages in England and Wales are, to the whole population, as 



1 to 123-f. 



