Ch. xiv. General Observations. 239 



population has been raised to such a height, that 

 this produce is meted out to each individual in 

 the smallest portions that can support life, no 

 stretch of ingenuity can even conceive the possi- 

 bility of going farther. 



It has appeared, I think, clearly, in the reviev^^ 

 of ditferent societies given in the former part of 

 this work, that those countries, the inhabitants of 

 which were sunk in the most barbarous ignorance, 

 or oppressed by the most cruel tyranny, however 

 low they might be in actual population, were very 

 populous in proportion to their means of subsis- 

 tence ; and npon the slightest failure of the sea- 

 sons generally suffered the severities of want. 

 Ignorance and despotism seem to have no ten- 

 dency to destroy the passion which prompts to 

 increase ; but they effectually destroy the checks 

 to it from reason and foresight. The improvident 

 barbarian who thinks only of his present wants, 

 or the miserable peasant who, from his political 

 situation, feels little security of reaping what he 

 has sown, will seldom be deterred from gratifying 

 his passions by the prospect of inconveniences, 

 which cannot be expected to press on him under 

 three or four years. But though this want of 

 foresight, which is fostered by ignorance and 

 despotism, tends thus rather to encourage the 

 procreation of children, it is absolutely fatal to the 

 industry which is to support them. Industry 

 cannot exist without foresight and security. The 

 indolence of the savage is well known ; and the 

 poor Egyptian or Abyssinian farmer without 



