SECOND EDITION. V 



has been treated in such a manner by some 

 of the French Economists, occasionally by 

 Montesquieu, and, among our own writers, 

 by Dr. Franklin, Sir James Stewart, Mr. 

 Arthur Young, and Mr. Townsend, as to create 

 a natural surprise that it had not excited more 

 of the public attention. 



Much, however, remained yet to be done. 

 Independently of the comparison between the 

 increase of population and food, which had 

 not perhaps been stated with sufficient force 

 and precision, some of the most curious and 

 interesting parts of the subject had been 

 either wholly omitted or treated very slightly. 

 Though it had been stated distinctly, that 

 population must always be kept down to the 

 level of the means of subsistence; yet few in- 

 quiries had been made into the various modes 

 by which this level is effected; and the prin- 

 ciple had never been sufficiently pursued to its 

 consequences, nor had those practical infe- 

 rences drawn from it, which a strict exami- 

 nation of its effects on society appears to sug- 

 gest. 



These therefore are the points which I have 

 treated most in detail in the following Essay. 

 In its present shape it may be considered as a 



