PRINCIPLES OF POPULATION, &c. PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. HAVING thus briefly stated the principles of Political Economy, or rules which should govern the internal and external conduct of a well regulated national, family, in the pursuit of acquiring the largest possible quantity of subsistence and comforts by honest industry and its free exertion; which is, at once, the safest and the most productive mode of acquiring it; we proceed to investigate the principles which should govern the conduct of such a community in the increase of their numbers, and the due distribution of their means of subsistence and comfort. This is a subject on which a celebrated work has been written by Professor Malthus, which, although it appears to us founded on error and misrepresentation, has obtained unlimited credence among the interested-the unthinking— the uninquisitive-and the imitative thinkers and reasoners. We, therefore, conclude, that the most effectual mode of investigating and stating those principles, which should regulate our conduct on this subject, will be that of an examination of the aforesaid work, which bears the following remarkable title-"An Essay on the Principle of Population; or, a View of its past and present Effects on Human Happiness; with an Inquiry into our Prospects respecting the future Removal or Mitigation of the Evils which it occasions.-By T. R. Malthus, A.M., late Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and Professor of History and Political Economy, in the East India College, Hertfordshire."-5th Edition, 3 vols., 1517 pages. 66 We are the more induced to adopt this mode of investigating and stating the principles of population, in consequence of the Edinburgh "feelosofers" having declared to Mr. Cobbett, in the course of their "booing" to him over his "Cottage Economy," that Mr. Malthus is a great and good man," and expressed their earnest desire that Mr. Cobbett would cease to expose and ridicule their tutor in political economy, on their simple assurance that their tutor's principles are not so different from those of the Political Registrar as the latter has hitherto supposed. An M. D. Historian of a certain country has also taken occasion to state in his work, that Mr. Malthus is an "ingenious philosopher," &c.; and similar opinions appear to have been held by a large portion of the "collective wisdom," when the late notorious marriage act was passed, and Scarlet and Co". bills were introduced and discussed, &c. &c. We cannot, therefore, doubt, that, in our examination of the "Essay," &c. we shall find numerous and brilliant specimens of the "greatness, goodness, and ingenious philosophy" possessed by the very learned author, and which specimens we will not fail to exhibit in the strongest light which our common-sense lamp will afford. We also hope to elicit something satisfactory on the subject of population, something which (to borrow Mr. Malthus's elegant simile) will, at least, indicate the most effectual modes whereby a grazier (or government and higher classes) can most certainly stock a farm (or country) with the greatest number of well conditioned cattle (or labouring population). It is not our business to know any thing of Mr. M. beyond what his book may make manifest for all besides, "the annals of philosophy," will, doubtless, place upon record his ingenious discoveries in that department. His 66 greatness" will be advantageous to his country of course, while his "goodness" will be for himself and his pupils. Of his unpublished sentiments or conduct, we are neither able nor willing to take cognizance. |