365 CHAPTER VI. OF THE LAW OF POPULATION, AS PROVED BY THE VARYING PROLIFICNESS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. (1) I PROCEED, secondly, to prove the law of population, as previously explained by a comparison of human prolificness in different countries, variously peopled, but otherwise placed under somewhat similar circumstances. (2) But I must first remark, that independently of the variations in the soil and surface, in their respective climates, and in the prevailing ratios of mortality in different nations, all of which, as it has been already observed, and will be subsequently shewn, have a direct influence on the principle of human fecundity, and consequently rendering this branch of the argument one of some complexity: there are other circumstances of a perfectly distinct character, which have to be taken into consideration before the results, about to be appealed to, can be fairly appreciated. (3) The circumstances to which I principally allude are these: first, the inaccuracies in the statistical documents of the few countries which have hitherto collected and published the data on which alone the particular proof now under consideration can rest. Were these inaccuracies proportionate every where, so as to balance each other, the relative correctness of the whole would be secured, at least so as to answer the purpose of the present argument; but a variety of important considerations forbids us to hope that this can be the case. That the statistics of several different countries are relatively incorrect, I could give, were it necessary, several incontrovertible proofs; the fact, however, is too obvious to render any necessary. (4) But, second, were these various statistical data not only relatively but absolutely accurate, still there remains a variety of important causes, local and limited in their existence and operation, which must sensibly vary the fecundity of marriages in different countries, and, perhaps, not always conformably to the law of population contended for; which aberrations, under such circumstances, by no means disprove its existence as a principle of Nature, where her operations are left to their unconstrained development. These disturbing causes, if I may so express myself, are various, and need not be here enumerated; they will be found to class themselves under those inveterate customs, immoral habits, or pernicious regulations, which interfere with the virtuous propensities, and, consequently, with the due increase of the human race. When, therefore, we consider the probable inaccuracy of the facts upon which this branch of the argument rests, the modifications they receive, from those causes which the principle explained itself requires, as well as from others extraneous to it, and, above all, their paucity; we shall be prepared for a degree of obscurity which will not, however, attend the future and more important steps of the demonstration. Here, only, in the absence of more certain information, we must often depend upon the not unsatisfactory evidence of general observation and assent. (5) If, then, we commence with the lowest gradation in the scale of population, when in a state of civilization, and ascend to the highest, where similar habits prevail, and, moreover, where the climate and rate of mortality are not, perhaps, materially dissimilar, inserting in their proper positions those other countries with whose state of prolificness we have been made at all acquainted, and which, also, are nearly equal in other respects, we shall have the proof now under consideration as fully before us as our present limited information admits; which we cannot, however, anticipate should exhibit arithmetical precision, no two countries being perhaps alike as to those circumstances, which, as before explained, influence the final result. While, therefore, in this part of the inquiry, we may expect to find general indications of the theory in question, still it would be subversive of it not to meet with them accompanied by such variations as its very principle demands; which variations cannot, as in many other cases, be rectified by forming them into general averages, the instances being far too limited in number to admit of such a method. (6) The two extremes of the argument, then, I take to be New Holland, as the most thinly, and the mother country, England, as the most densely, populated countries, where the circumstances which affect the question, as before expounded, are sufficiently similar. As to the former, no dispute can be raised; and, regarding England, it is unquestionably the most densely peopled of any considerable country upon earth, excepting the kingdom of the Netherlands, which only just exceeds it in that respect; and which I reserve for distinct consideration, as one of those exceptions to the general rule which, it will be found, proves and exemplifies the entire system and principle at issue. (7) As to New Holland, it would be more curious than necessary to the argument, to trace the progress of the colonial population there from its first establishment to the present time, were I in possession of the facts necessary for the attempt; which, however, I do not believe exist. It will fully suffice to shew its surprising increase, for a few years only, in the five principal settlements there, which I give on the authority of Mr. Oxley, whose work now lies before me'. It is as follows. TABLE LIX. EXHIBITING THe Increase, fOR THREE SUCCESSIVE YEARS, IN THE FIVE PRINCIPAL SETTLEMENTS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. Years. Sydney. Paramatta Windsor. Liverpool. Newcastle. Total. Annual per Cent. (8) From these numbers there must, of course, be deducted the convicts and emigrants which were added to the population during these three years, over and above those which had returned to Europe within that period; but still, after these rectifications, the increase which took place from procreation only must have been without parallel in the European or American world. And this increase is the more wonderful when it is recollected that the convicts are, from a policy of the most mistaken kind, almost exclusively males; a circumstance which, were we to give heed to certain authorities on the subject of population, is fatal to the increase of incomers even in America, where there is the reverse of a paucity of single females at the marrying age; but here, where that scantiness exists to a most lamentable degree, and is constantly increased, as before observed, it forms, one would have thought, Oxley, Journal of Two Expeditions into New South Wales, p. 392. 1 an insurmountable obstacle to the growth of population. Such, however, is not the case; the astonishing fecundity of marriages more than counterbalances the effects of that deficiency; and the growth of the population, even under circumstances so disadvantageous, is probably greater than in any other country upon earth. (9) No registers, it is true, exist, by which the fact now under notice can be numerically substantiated; but its reality rests upon quite as satisfactory a foundation, namely, the unanimous declarations of all who have witnessed the circumstance and have adverted to it. Amongst these, Hunter, as quoted by Malte-Brun, states New Holland to be very favourable to generation'. Another early writer on that country, the notorious Barrington, observes, that such is the force of the principle of population there, that, contrary to what is the known case in the Old World, the very prostitutes are prolific. Wentworth, a later writer, has adverted to the fact of the "amazing fecundity of the colonists" there3; and Dr. Reid, the last authority I shall quote, declares the natural increase to be" unquestionably without parallel, even in the records of American colonization." It is unnecessary to multiply proofs when authorities are unanimous. (10) But should it be objected that this extraordinary fecundity is developed in consequence of the absence of those checks which, it is argued, uniformly keep down the population in more crowded districts and countries; in contradiction to such an assertion, I need only refer the reader to the history Hunter, on the Origin, &c., p. 375. 2 Barrington, History of New South Wales, vol. ii., p. 512. VOL. II. 3 Wentworth, New South Wales, p. 184. Dr. Reid, Two Voyages to New South Wales, p. 304. 2 B |