488 APPENDIX. ' 



come to a conclusion so diametrically opposite to expe- 

 rience. 



The fact already noticed, as it applies to the most ad- 

 vanced stage of society known in Europe, and proves incon- 

 •trovertibly that the actual checks to population, even in the 

 most in)proved countries, arise principally from an insuffi- 

 ciency of subsistejice, and soon yield to increased resources, 

 notwithstanding the increase of towns and manufactories, 

 may I think fairly be considered as quite decisive of the 

 question at issue. 



But in treating of so general and extensive a subject as the 

 Principle of Population, it would surely not be just to take 

 our examples and illustrations only from a single state. And 

 ,in looking at the other countries Mr. Weyland's doctrine on 

 population is, if possible, still more completely contradicted. 

 Where, 1 would ask, are the great towns and manufactories 

 in Switzerland, Norway and Sweden, which are to act as the 

 graves of mankind, and to prevent the possibility of a re- 

 dundant population.'' In Sweden the proportion of the 

 people living in the country is to those who live in towns as 

 13 to 1 ; in England this proportion is about 2 to 1 ; and 

 ■yet England increases much faster than Sweden. How is 

 this to be reconciled with the doctrine that the progress of 

 civilization and improvement is always accompanied by a 

 correspondent abatement in the natural tendency of popula- 

 tion to increase ? Norway, Sweden and Switzerland have 

 not on the whole been ill governed; but where are the ne- 

 cessary ''anticipating alterations," which, according to Mr. 

 Weyland, arise in every society as the powers of the soil 

 diminish, and " render so many persons unwilling to marry, 

 '' and so many more, who do marry, incapable of repro- 

 " ducing their own numbers, and of replacing the deficiency 

 " in the remainder."* What is it that in these countries 

 indisposes people to many, but the absolute hopelessness 

 of being able to support their families? What is it that 

 renders many more who do marry incapable of reproducing 

 their own numbers, but the diseases generated by excessive 

 poverty — -by an insufficient supply of the necessaries of life ? 

 Can any man of reflection look at these and many of the 

 other countries of Europe, and then venture to state that 

 there is no moral reason for repressing the inclination to 



• P. 124. 



