The Happiness of States; Or, an Inquiry Concerning Population, the Modes of Subsisting and Employing It, and the Effects of All on Human Happiness (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1815. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. WILL POPULATION CONTINUE ALWAYS, ON THE WHOLE, 1NCREAS--ING? OR IS ITS PROGRESS, JN THE CIRCUMSTANCES NATURALLT CONNECTED WITH IT, INFINITE, OR LIMITED ONLY BY A FAILURE THE DUE QUANTITY OF SUBSISTENCE? Having answered the question, Has population been hitherto Always, on the whole, increasing? in the affirmative; we have next to answer, if we can, the other question, Will it always, oil the whole, hereafter increase, till subsistence fails? Some may think that the answer to this is naturally involved in that of the former, and that as we can only conjecture what will be from what has been, we are warranted in answering, that it will continue to increase, either till the present system of things is altered, or till it is checked by a deficiency of subsistence. This, however, is to take for granted, that the circumstances of population will always remain somewhat similar to what they have been: but this can by no means be admitted in one essential point. The most powerful of all the depopulating causes, which arises naturally out of an increase of population itsetf, will hereafter" continue increasing in influence in proportion as the population becomes more crowded, till it operates universally with a force never yet felt, but in some small highly-peopled states. On the other hand, some of the most powerful stimulative populating causes, as those arising from new colonizations, will in the same degree lose their vigour, till they entirely fail. Not only all the regular, but all the occasional depopulating causes, have hitherto been overpowed by the regular populating ones, assisted Ey the occasional. The various states of society, existing over the extent of the globe, admitted this. Population has been. able not only to oppose the effects of peace ...