32 Of Systtms of Equalitij. Godic'ui. Bk. iii. 



most perfect security of property, and every other 

 encouragement that could be thought of, the 

 greatest possible increase of produce were yearly 

 obtained, yet still the increase of food would by 

 no means keep pace with the much more rapid 

 increase of population ; that some check to popu- 

 lation therefore was imperiously called for ; that 

 the most natural and obvious check seemed to be, 

 to make every man provide for his own children ; 

 that this would operate in some respect as a 

 measure and a guide in the increase of population, 

 as it might be expected that no man would bring 

 beings into the world for whom he could not find 

 the means of support ; that, where this notwith- 

 standing was the case, it seemed necessary for the 

 example of others, that the disgrace and inconve- 

 nience attending such a conduct should fall upon 

 that individual, who had thus inconsiderately 

 plunged himself and his innocent children into 

 want and misery. 



The institution of marriage, or at least of some 

 express or implied obligation on every man to 

 support his own children, seems to be the natural 

 result of these reasonings in a community under 

 the difficulties that we have supposed. 



The view of these difficulties presents us with 

 a very natural reason, why the disgrace which 

 attends a breach of chastity should be greater in 

 a woman than in a man. It could not be ex- 

 pected that women should have resources suffi- 

 cient to support their own children. When there- 

 fore a woman had lived with a man who had 



