&c. Fit persons these for accredited agents, but far too numerous, as also are the last mentioned.

Number 32,-Aquatic labourers in the Merchants' service, Fisheries, Rivers, Canals, &c. The employment of these persons would remain the same, but, under the Social System, they would be much better remunerated than they are at present.

Numbers 33, to 39, inclusive,— Manufacturers, Warehousemen, Shopkeepers, Clerks, Shopmen, &c. A much smaller number of these persons would be very desirable: some would become agents, whilst others would be elevated to the rank of producers under the Social System.

Number 40,-Artisans, Handicrafts, Mechanics, and Labourers, to be noticed last, with number 26.

Number 41,-Hawkers, and Pedlars. These men are productive only of mischief, and are of no use on earth.

Numbers 42, to 45, inclusive,-Persons employed in Universities and Schools, Dissenting Clergymen, and Players. These occupations are all professional see the Chapter on Professions.

Numbers 46, and 47,-Relating to Lunatics. The Social System proposes to provide for

lunatics, at the expense of the nation: see the fourth item of national charges, page 115.

Number 48,- Persons confined in prisons for debt. This is a curious specimen of the present system, which first puts it into the power of 17,500 individuals to get into debt, and then puts them into prison to prevent the possibility of their getting out of debt. Although the Social System acknowledges no such character as either debtor or creditor, every advantage, capable of being derived from the most comprehensive system of credit ever devised, would be secured by it.

Number 49,-Vagrants, Gipsies, Rogues, Vagabonds, Thieves, Swindlers, Coiners of Base Money, and common Prostitutes, number 308,741. Education and profitable employment are the only effectual remedies that can ever be applied to these national maladies.

Number 50. A nondescript class this: see the index to the foregoing table, page 161.

Number 51. Paupers,-The existence of unmerited pauperism, in a country which is constantly complaining of over-production, is a libel upon common sense.

Numbers 26 and 40,-Labouring People. The condition of the productive classes would be so greatly improved by the establishment of a free system of exchange, that a true

picture of the alteration would only be looked upon as "fancy's sketch," by any person but superficially acquainted with our present enormous facility of production. Our text is commercial freedom: establish this, and demand will ever keep pace with production. Measure our resources they who can-it is not possible, indeed, to measure them with any accuracy; but, freedom of exchange being established, it may be safely asserted, that to supply mankind abundantly with the necessaries and comforts of life, would be a task as easy as to pump water from a neverfailing spring: yet could there never be any thing so absurd as over production, and neither could a market be sought in vain, for the space of a single hour, for any article that should ever be produced in accordance with the principles of the Social System.

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CHAPTER X.

Population-Theory of Mr Malthus-It is opposed to the plainest dictates of Nature-It is contradicted by the evidence to which Mr Malthus appeals for its support-The assumed facts on which it is. founded, are unreal-Even if it were true, it would be an additional argument for the establishment of the Social System- Theory of Mr Sadler- Some of his tables quoted-Effect of inequality in ages of parents on the sexes of their children- Animals are subject to the same law- Emigration.

the

AND how, says the disciple of Mr Malthus, will your general principle, as laid down in a former chapter, that a law of nature never can be wrong, be reconciled with the best established theory of population? And here I must premise, that I throw this difficulty in my own way, merely for the sake of removing it. The purpose with which I set out, has nothing to do with any theories of population it has to do with what will cause men of all denominations to be better supplied than they now are with the means of enjoying life; and if it is to be held as a valid

argument against all improvement in this particular, that it will increase population too rapidly, why then let legislators take a holiday just now, for all things must be prospering to their heart's content.

There are few theories, perhaps, that have been more abused, or more misrepresented, than that of Mr Malthus: his proposal to abolish the poor laws, is, in itself, a sufficient text upon which to write a whole volume of abuse; and the most unjust prejudices have been excited against his theory, by the quotation of selected passages from the Essay on Population. The only edition of that work which I have ever read, is the sixth, and the sum and substance of what Mr Malthus says upon the subject of the poor laws in that edition, is,―let us cease to attempt to do that which we cannot do effectually, because the attempt itself produces ten times more misery than it removes; and however much the philanthropist may differ from Mr. Malthus, as to what are the best means of removing pauperism, the object of both is precisely the same.

I am not, however, a disciple of Mr Malthus; I disagree with him entirely, and shall proceed to state, as concisely as possible, .my reasons for entertaining an opinion