sertion; for we suspect, from Mr. M.'s description of those countries in his chapter on Turkey, that if once laid waste, it would take a considerable period to re-people, them under the present system of government. That those countries are not much less populous, solely on account of the plague, is probably correct; and the author very justly observes, that "the reduced number of their present population is to be attributed to the tyranny and oppression of the government under which they groan, and the consequent discouragement to agriculture," and almost every other species of industry.

Among the causes of epidemics, famines, dearths, &c., we ought certainly to rank crowded houses, and insufficient or unwholesome food, which are the consequences of any cause that excites an increase of population beyond the degree in which the accommodations of a country, with respect to habitation and food, are obtainable by them."-" We know, from constant experience, that fevers are generated in our jails, our manufactories, our crowded workhouses, and in the narrow and close streets of our large towns, all which situations appear to be similar in their effects to squalid poverty; and we cannot doubt that causes of this kind, aggravated in degrees, (by ignorance and oppression) contributed to the production and prevalence of those great wast

ing plagues, formerly so frequent in Europe, but which now, from the mitigation of those causes, are every where considerably abated, and, in many places, appear to be completely extirpated."

"Of the other great scourge of mankind, famine," it may be observed, that, so far is it from being caused by the natural increase of population, that such increase (next to that of artificially preserving the redundant produce of plentiful seasons, for the supply of scarce ones,) is the principal antidote to the frequency and severity of that scourge.

But the unnatural excitement of the power of procreation, although "it cannot absolutely produce a famine, because the increase, though it may be rapid, is, necessarily, gradual, and as the human frame cannot be supported, even for a very short time, without food, it is evident, that no more human beings can grow up than there is provision to maintain; yet it prepares the way for a famine in the most complete manner." For the population by being otherwise engaged, are prevented from providing their own means of subsistence; and when the artificial provision for their maintenance fails, or is withdrawn, they fall upon the rest of the community, who must divide with them their own means of support. Thus, the circumstance of ultimately obliging all the immediate-labour

"class to subsist on the smallest quantity of food that will support life, turns even a slight deficiency, from the failure of the seasons, into a severe dearth; and may be fairly said, therefore, to be one of the principal causes of famine."

Of the different descriptions of unnatural excitement, which have ever been, or may be, applied to the principle of population, none are so pre-eminently mischievous and disastrous as war; and particularly so, if carried on by national capital, borrowed for that purpose; for, in such case, numbers of people are excited into existence. At the end of the war, they are thrown upon the rest of the community for subsistence, and, at the same time, a great part of the income of the remaining national capital, instead of being applied solely to the support of productive labour, is diverted to the support of idleness, by making up an income for the owners of the borrowed capital destroyed during the war.

What consequences, besides tremendous misery and vice, can be expected to flow from such a course of proceeding? Misery and vice fully proportioned in duration and intensity to the predisposing causes. Nations, therefore, who frequently engage and obstinately persevere in war, "will be more subject to periodical epidemics and famines than those" where, all

other circumstances being similar, the increase of population and subsistence are either simultaneously encouraged, or suffered to proceed regularly and naturally; and where, of course, the population will be more nearly accommodated to the average produce,* as, in some degree, is apparent in the situation of the Norwegian peasantry.

"For

Instead, therefore, "of war preventing population from out-running the means of subsistence," it is, in itself, the greatest and most frequent cause of such an occurrence. these reasons, no estimates of future population or depopulation, formed from any existing rate of increase or decrease, can be depended upon." Although the births to deaths in New Jersey should really be " 300 to 100," and in England "120 to 100," there would not be any thing strange or astonishing in the facts. We We presume, that Mr. M. will admit, that the principle of population is as strong in Terra Del Fuego, or the Andamans, as in North America, or England; but we know that it does not increase the numbers of the people, for want of the natural excitements furnished by knowledge and good government.

It might not be very difficult to shew, that the inequality of the seasons is wisely designed as an excitement to prudence, industry, and gradual increase of population.

According to the sense in which Mr. M. occasionally uses the term "redundant population," the whole population of Terra Del Fuego, Van Dieman's Land, Andamans, &c. &c. is redundant, since it is evident, that a reduction of its numbers would by no means improve its condition. Such an idea is, therefore, manifestly incorrect and unmeaning; and we may be certain, that redundant population, in the true sense of the words, can only arise from improper, and therefore unnatural excitements being applied to the principle of population. "It accords with the spirit of (true) philosophy, to believe that no stone can fall to the ground, or plant rise, without the immediate agency of Divine Power. But we know, from experience, that those operations of Divine Power, which we usually express by the vague term-Nature, have been conducted, almost invariably, by fixed laws; and, since the world began, the causes of population and depopulation have, doubtless, been governed by laws as fixed and constant as any other with which we are acquainted;" that is to say, these effects have been uniformly caused by knowledge and freedom, or ignorance and tyranny.

The particular modes by which a redundant (that is, impoverished) population may be extinguished, (if not enabled, or permitted, to provide for themselves,) may not appear to us