Volume 2

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.

  • Malthus, T. R. (Thomas Robert), 1766-1834.
Date:
1807
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: 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. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

    484/560 (page 472)
    ing the letter of the poor laws would appear. It is of importance therefore to be aware, that it is not becaufe this or any other fociety has really the power of employing and fupporting all that might be born, that we have been able to continue the pre- fent fyftem ; but becaufe by the indirect operation of this fyftem, not adverted to at the time of its eftablifhment, and frequently reprobated fince, the number of births is always very greatly limited, and thus reduced within the pale of poffible fupport. The obvious tendency of the poor laws is cer- tainly to encourage marriage, but a clofer attention to all their indirect: as well as direct effects may make it a matter of doubt how far they really do this. They clearly tend, in their general operation, to difcourage fobriety and economy, to encourage idlenefs and the defertion of children, and to put virtue and vice more on a level than they othervvife would be ; but I will not prefume to fay positively, that they tend to encourage population. It is certain, that the proportion of births in this country com- pared with others in limilar circumftances is very fmall i but this was to be expected from the fuperi- ority of the government, the more refpectable ilate of the people, and the more general fpread of a tatie for cleanlinefs and conveniences. And it will readily occur to the reader, that owing to thefe caufes, combined with the twofold operation of the poor laws, it mull be extremely difficult to afcer- taina