ESSAY, 



BOOK I. 



OF THE CHECKS TO POPULATION IN THE LESS 



CIVILIZED PARTS OF THE WORLD AND 



IN PAST TIMES. 



CHAP. I. 



Statement of the Subject. Ratios of the Increase of 

 Population and Food. 



In an inquiry concerning the improvement of 

 society, the mode of conducting the subject which 

 naturally presents itself, is, 



1 . To investigate the causes that have hitherto 

 impeded the progress of mankind towards happi- 

 ness ; and, 



2. To examine the probability of the total or 

 partial removal of these causes in future. 



To enter fully into this question, and to enume- 

 rate all the causes that have hitherto influenced 

 human improvement, would be much beyond the 

 power of an individual. The principal object of 



VOL. I. B 



