405 
tho’ he affirm y* in all his collection he never mett w™ any, 
for in the 1* and 3" year y* number of females yt dyed ex- 
ceeded y* of males, and the middle rate I found to be as 13 
to 13 and near 3 or 32; but in the christnings I found the pro- 
portion to be as 13 to 15 and near 2 or 33, soe y* I suppose 
the compound proportion will not be much different from 
y' of St W™ Petty’s of 13. 
*«¢Quere, whether an argument may not be hence drawn 
to prove y* poligamy is contrary to the law of nature, since the 
stock of females is already slenderer y” y‘ of males, soe y* if 
one man ingrost 10 females for his own use, of necessity 9 
males would be unprovided for, and since marriage is insti- 
tuted for the propagation of mankind, it seems reasonable 
y‘ every man should beare his equal share in y‘ grand work. 
**¢ Tt will be replyed by some y* mankind has by y* law of 
nature an equall right to other of natures productions w™ are 
nevertheless by custom and y° law of nations monopolized into 
a few private hands; but to this it may be answered, y* y° pro- 
prietor can apply but a single share to his own use, & all y® 
right he can preserve in y® rest is only a power to dispense 
y™ among y* rest of mankind according to his own free will 
& discregdn. Soe y' they may be said to have a derivative 
right to those goods to w* they may make out their title by 
some sort of services paid y® proprietor, therefore such an im- 
propriation seems highly advantageous to mankind, since in- 
dustry is thereby incouraged, and none but the slothfull fall 
short of their shares; but women are not such a kind of pos- 
session, for, not being fitt to be communicated as those other 
goods may, an overplus of y™ cannot w"out great injustice be 
impropriated by any single person. I know some will alleadge 
in favor of poligamy y' y° law of nature is better observed 
among creatures y* live by instinct y" such as act by reason, 
y’ noe species is multiplyed soe fast as the sheep & black cattle; 
but if all the other males were permitted as well as y° poliga- 
mists to herd with y° flock, we should quickly fall into y* in- 
