20 Of the general Checks to Population, Bk. i. 



clearer insight into the internal structure of human 

 society from the progress of these inquiries. But 

 the science may be said yet to be in its infancy, 

 and many of the objects, on which it would be 

 desirable to have information, have beeneithe r 

 omitted or not stated with sufficient accuracy. 

 Among these, perhaps, may be reckoned the pro- 

 portion of the number of adults to the number of 

 marriages; the extent to which vicious customs 

 have prevailed in consequence of the restraints 

 upon matrimony ; the comparative mortality 

 among the children of the most distressed part of 

 the community, and of those who live rather more 

 at their ease; the variations in the real price of 

 labour; the observable differences in the state of 

 the lower classes of society, with respect to ease 



that part of the island, do him the highest honour; and these ac- 

 counts will ever remain an extraordinary monument of the learning, 

 good sense, and general information of the clergy of Scotland. It 

 is to be regretted that the adjoining parishes are not put together 

 in the work, which would have assisted the memory both in at- 

 taining and recollecting the state of particular districts. The re- 

 petitions and contradictory opinions which occur are not in my 

 opinion so objectionable ; as, to the result of such testimony, more 

 faith may be given than we could possibly give to the testimony 

 of any individual. Even were this result drawn for us by some 

 master hand, though much valuable time would undoubtedly be 

 saved, the information- would not be so satisfactory. If, with a 

 few subordinate improvements, this work had contained accurate 

 and complete registers for the last 150 years, it would have been 

 inestimable, and would have exhibited a better picture of the in- 

 ternal state of a country than has yet been presented to the world. 

 But this last most essential improvement no diligence could have 

 effected. 



