TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 165 



game, and rabbits. Agricultural statistics had, from a very early period, be< n 

 considered the means of averting scarcity, famine, and disease; and instead of 

 the returns being merely permissive, they would most probably eventually, of 

 necessity, become positive and compulsory. 



On tlw Growth of Population with Relation to the. Means of Subsistence. 

 By Stephen Bourne, F.S.S. 



[Ordered to be printed in extenso.] 



From the time when Malthus propounded his theories on population, the minds 

 of many have been concerned with the question whether such a growtli as ho 

 deprecated is not indeed an evil to be warred against. 



These theories appear to have been : — 



1. The growth of population must follow or be regulated by the means of 

 sustenance. 



2. That the tendency of population was to increase in geometrical, that of sub- 

 sistence in arithmetical, progression, and therefore that without some corrective 

 the one must of necessity outstrip the other, and the world become unable to support 

 the lives thus produced. 



3. That this correction wa3 found in the natural or unnatural occurrence of 

 famine, pestilence, and war, at the cost of much misery, which it would be wise to 

 prevent by restraining the natural increase of population through the avoidance of 

 early marriages. 



In later times our sense of decency has been shocked by the outspoken denuncia- 

 tion, not of marriage, but of its consequences, and the bold inculcation of means 

 whereby the gratification of natural inclinations may be conjoined with the viola- 

 tion of nature's laws and the frustration of nature's ends. Upon the consideration 

 of such a question it would be manifestly improper to enter here. If, indeed, any 

 place or time be fitted for such discussion, it must be some other than this one. 

 But whatever opinion may exist as to the means thus proposed for our adoption, 

 it is a thoroughly legitimate subject for inquiry, whether the growth of population 

 is, as these so-called philosophers assume, an evil to be averted; or, as others assert, 

 a burden to be borne ; or, as many believe, a source of wealth to be prized. 



Ao-ain, looking at the trepidation which Malthus felt at the misery certain to 

 follow upon any large accession to the seven millions of inhabitants which England 

 then supported, and comparing the condition in which it now holds and maintains 

 more than three times that number, we may smile at the folly of his forebodings. 

 Yet the question is still an open one, whether the limits of sustenance may not 

 have been reached, and the time have arrived when to follow his counsels would 

 be true wisdom. It is a desire to see what light can be thrown upon these two 

 subjects for investigation that has suggested the attempt made in this paper to 

 ascertain how the various sections of our population are distributed as to occupa- 

 tions, and the proportions engaged respectively in providing food, other necessaries, 

 and luxuries. 



Taking as a basis in our inquiry the Census Beports for the year 1871, we, shall 

 find the population for the three divisions of the United Kingdom thus stated : — 



England and Wales 22,712,266 



Scotland 3,3(30,018 



Ireland 5,412,377 



31,484,601 



Since that date it is estimated to have increased by 1,604,-576, so that at present 

 it amounts to slightly more than 33 millions. But as there are no means of dis- 

 tributing these additional inhabitants amongst the several occupations, it will be 

 necessary to confine our attention to the figures furnished for the census year. 

 These are divided by the Begister-Gcneral into six classes, in this order : — 



