of the People of Victoria. 125 



gladly turn to other piu'suits than those to Avhich they 

 are confined by the circumstances of being ])achelors. 

 jNlost unquestionably the moral character of our population, 

 Avhich should be a primary object of legislation, would be 

 greatly improved by such an increase of the adult female 

 popidation as would enable the relative proportion of the 

 married men to be increased ; and it is a question worthy of 

 consideration whether the industrial efficiency of the ex- 

 isting male population may not be equally augmented 

 by an accession of females, as by the addition of some 

 thousands to the number of unmarried men. But be this 

 as it may, it would be far better as regards the permanent 

 prosperity and greatness of our country to legislate for an 

 increase of virtue rather than for an increase of immbers ; 

 for an increase of human happiness rather than for a facti- 

 tious appearance of wealth. Exports and imports, though 

 they may be mercantile deities and have their worshippers, 

 are not everything ; and it would be well if those who would 

 remedy excessive importation by introducing male con- 

 sumers, could realise the fact that they would thereby 

 aggravate some of our social evils ; it would be well if they 

 could recognise, with ]Miehclet, that the aim of political 

 economy " is not riches ; even comfort is a secondary con- 

 sideration, the more completely acquired when the aim is 

 higher. The aim of political economy and all policy is to 

 make men — men intelligent, benevolent, courageous, and 

 robust. This is riches in the highest sense of the word." 



