804 Remarks on Mr. Godwin's-Reply to Dr. Parr and thers. [Nov. 
ought to take for a maufoleum the pyra- 
mid which is near Vienne, fuftained. by 
sour pillars, adorned with four columns 
that fupport a vault of eighteen feet ele- 
vation; on the-vaule rifes a pyramid of 
from twenty-five to thirty feet ; the whole 
may ftand from forty to fifty feet high.” 
This defcription, continues the Profeffor, 
is doubtlefs made at random, fer here are 
neither pillars nor vault in the body of the 
architecture that fupports the pyramid} 
and Montfaucon is miftaken by twenty- 
four feet in the whole height,—he forgets 
the entablature, ard fuppofes, in his de- 
fign, elliptic arches, which were never yet 
feen in antique meriuments. It is fur- 
prifing, that both Spon and Montfaucon 
fhould have been fo negligent in verifying 
fo fine a fragment of antiquity ; and Spon 
efpecially, who was fome time at Vienne; 
But probably he fpoke or wrote of it when 
he was no longer in the country. The 
Profeflor terminates thefe obfervations by 
fome general refleGtions on the object and 
principal utility of this fort of works, 
— ea 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 3 
a queftion which will principally 
engage the attention of thofe who 
feel themielves interefted in the fabje&ts of 
Mr. Godwin’s late pamphlet, is whether 
he has fuccefsfully combated the objec- 
tions advanced againft his theory by the 
author of the much-applauded Effay on 
Population. It appears fo me, that Mr. 
Godwin has mot lamentably failed in the 
defence of his favourite pofitions. He 
would have merited well of mankind had 
he fucceeded; for there is no benevolent 
mind which would not rejoice in the belief, 
that all moral evil might, and will, be 
rooted from the face of the earth. 
I proceed to fate my reafons for affert- 
ing that Mr. Godwin has not defended 
the practicability of his fpeculation againtt 
the obfacles arifing from a tco-extended 
population. ‘To obviate the evils that 
would {pring from this fource, we find two 
expedients fuggefted; but, at the fame 
time, rejected : one, the expofing of-in- 
tants ; the other, a certain method of pre- 
venting their appearance in the world. 
Now, if it were not intended te advife the 
fubftituting of thefe checks cn population in 
hieu of thefe which at prefent exift, it 1s 
- dificult to account for the introduction of 
fuch unpleafant fubjects in the pamphlet 
betore us. Befides, the writer has men- 
tioned no others which carry in them any 
z 2 c é 
appearance of efficacy at all adequate to 
the end in view. I muft therefore fup- 
pofe, that Mr. Godwin defigned to recom- 
‘mend the above named expedients: and 
the queftion to be decided_will then be, 
Are thefe expedients (what they are ex- 
preffly faid to be) “ better than vice and 
mifery >” 
I am ftriving, Mr. Editor; to treat this 
fubjeé&t with as much coolnefs as if i€ 
were merely aa abftra& queftion, unconnect- 
ed with the beft feelings of the heart: and 
have already expunged twenty harfh epi- 
thets, which the very mention of the above 
practices had forced from my pen. But 
the matter may be fafely entruited to the 
calm decifions of the reafoning faculty. 
What could be Mr, Godwin’s opinions 
refpecting the nature of vice and mifery— 
where the perfpicacity and benevolent bias 
of the author of Political Juftice—when 
he was recommending, as fubftitutes for 
vice, the moft fhocking and revolting 
crimes? If it be vicious to invade the 
liberty, rights, or property of another—a 
too-frequent vice of poverty—is it lefs fo 
to take away his life? If it be miflerable, 
as Mr. Godwin remarks, ** to have the 
body maimed and diftorted by difeafe—to 
live under the fhelter of a hovel or a gar- 
ret—to exhibit to every fpeétator the 
wretchednefs of penury, and the meagre- 
nefs of a fhattered frame’*—is it lefs mi- 
ferable to ftifle and fubdue a parent’s 
yearnings- towards his heiplefs new-born 
—to inflict; or caufe to be inflifted, the 
ftroke of death on the engaging little-one, 
that from the moment of quickening has 
excited your tendereft hopes and fears, and 
is become; as well on its own account as on 
the mother’s, writhed and twifted round 
your heart by ten thoufand facred bonds of 
fympathy and-love? Who can afk thefe 
queftions, and not be pitied for his igno- 
rance? Are they not then vice and mife- 
ry which Mr. Godwin recommends as 
checks on increafing population? Nor are 
the vice and mifery inferior in extent to 
what refult from the prefent fubfifting 
checks. I prefume it is not neceflary to 
go into detail to prove that bodily fuffer- 
ings are more eafily endured than mental 
anguifh—or, that the man who is doomed’ 
to penury and diftrefs in outward circum. 
ftances, yet keeps alive an affectionate 
heart, full of good-will to his family and 
friends, has a more honourable and valu- 
able charaéter than his, who, though pef- 
feffed of fortune’s choiceft gifts, is yet un- 
adorned by the charms and graces of af-, 
fection, Nor can it be needful to thew, 
before 
