Dr. percival on Population . , 16-3 
Nor is this tyranny of man over the weaker, but more 
amiable fex favourable to population. For notwith- 
llanding the number of females in the world may confi- 
derably exceed the number of males, yet there are more 
men capable of propagating their fpecies, than women 
capable of bearing children. This painful office gra- 
dually becomes more dangerous and lefs frequent as the 
rigidnefs of the fibres increales, and ceafes intirely at the 
age of fifty. The fatality of it is thus wifely obviated, 
and the comforts of declining life are not interrupted by 
the arduous toil of nurfing. An inffitution, therefore, 
which confines in fervile bondage to one ufurper, many 
females in the prime of youth, muft leave numbers defii- 
tute of the means, which nature hath pointed out, lor per- 
petuating and increafing the race ot mankind. And it is 
a fa& well known, that Armenia, in which a plurality 
of wives is not allowed, abounds more with inhabitants 
than any other province of the Turkifh empire. 
P. S. Since the preceding paper was written, the rev. 
Mr. craddock hath favoured me with a furvey oi the 
town and parifh of Afhton under Line, diftant about 
eight miles from Manchefter. The inhabitants confifi of 
xnanufa6f urers and farmers. , 
' V) 0/b 1 ) ] ' \ | t t : 
Ah 
