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CHAP. XIV. 



General Observations. 



It has been observed, that many countries at the 

 period of their greatest degree of populousness 

 have lived in the greatest plenty, and have been 

 able to export corn ; but at other periods, when 

 their population was very low, have lived in con- 

 tinual poverty and want, and have been obliged to 

 import corn. Egypt, Palestine, Rome, Sicily and 

 Spain are cited as particular exemplifications of 

 this fact ; and it has been inferred that an increase 

 of population in any state, not cultivated to the 

 utmost, will tend rather to augment than diminish 

 the relative plenty of the whole society : and that, 

 as Lord Kaimes observes, a country cannot easily 

 become too populous for agriculture ; because 

 agriculture has the signal property of producing 

 food in proportion to the number of consumers.* 

 The general facts, from which these inferences 

 are drawn, there is no reason to doubt ; but the 

 inferences by no means follow from the premises. 

 It is the nature of agriculture, (as it has before been 

 observed,) particularly when well conducted, to 



* Sketches of the History of Man, b. i. sketch i.p. I OH, 107. 

 8vo. i788. 



