S3 



tion in seasons of scarcity, and the consequence 

 of their suspension in such an event. The scar- 

 city to which I at present allude, is that which 

 arises from deficient home produce, as I am 

 now considering the question abstracted from 

 the circumstance of importation. 



They who have given the attention which it 

 deserves to the excellent work of Mr Malthus, 

 must be aware of the uniform relation main- 

 tained between the population of any country 

 and its means of support ; of the constant ten- 

 dency of the former to encroach upon the latter; 

 and of the inadequacy of the utmost assignable 

 produce in any country to maintain the people 

 in plenty and happiness, unless the natural ten- 

 dency to increase be repressed by some forcible 

 check, either directly or indirectly, a certain 

 length below the means of subsistence. 



Whenever the means of subsistence, how- 

 ever, are, from any cause, unusually abundant, 

 and the people enjoy great comparative ease 

 and comfort, the disposition to early marriage 

 will speedily augment their numbers, which 

 will rise till they begin to press against the li- 

 mits of subsistence. This will bring a gradual 

 decrease in the comforts of the people, and a- 

 gain reduce their numbers, till they fall below* 

 the decreased means of support, and are then 



