Access to the full content is only available to members of institutions that have purchased access. If you belong to such an institution, please log in or find out more about how to order.

Malthus and the Population Controversy 1803-1830

Published: 1994
DOI: 10.4324/9780415105033
Set ISBN: 9780415105033

Set Contents

Volume I. The Law of Population I
Volume II. The Law of Population II
Volume III. An Examination of Opinions maintained in the ‘Essay on the Principles of Population’ & Two Lectures on Population
Volume IV. Illustrations and Proofs of the Principle of Population & New Ideas on Population
Volume V. A Few Doubts As to the Correctness of some Opinions generally Entertained on the Subjects of Population and Political Economy
Volume VI. An Inquiry Concerning the Population of Nations: Containing A Refutation of Mr Malthus’s Essay on Population
Volume VII. An Inquiry into the Principle of Population
Volume VIII. The Principles of Population and Production
Volume IX. A Reply to the ‘Essay on Population’ by the Rev. T. R. Malthus In a series of Letters
Volume X. Remarks on A Late Publication & Effects of Civilization on the People in European States

An Inquiry into the Principle of Population

By
James Grahame

‘There is established near the threshold of life an ordeal…which every candidate for admission into every human community is compelled to undergo… naturally severer to the poor than to the rich; and it is proper that it should be so. It is, to every individual, a faithful rehearsal of his probable part in the great drama of after life.’

James Grahame

Volume Contents

Front Matter
Introduction By Chuhei Sugiyama; Andrew Pyle
An Inquiry Into the Principle of Population
- Prelims
- Introduction.
- I
  
  Of the Law of Human Increase.—Of Marriage and Polygamy.—Of the Moral and Political Duties relative to Marriage and Celibacy.—Of the necessary Tendency of Communities to Redundance of Population, arising from the natural Progress of Society, and the Influence of Wealth and Poverty on the Increase of Mankind.
- II
  
  Of the Appearance of a Tendency to Redundance of Population in the earliest Stages of Society.—Of Emigration, the original Remedy presented by Nature to this Pressure, and tending to the Replenishment and complete Cultivation of the Earth.—Adequacy of this Remedy, and historical Views of Emigration.—Of the Resources of Room and Produce possessed by the Earth for the Support of additional Numbers of Mankind.
- III
  
  Of the Causes which have obstructed the Progress and Efficacy of Emigration, and retarded the Replenishment and complete Cultivation of the Earth.—Irregularities and Inequalities in the Progress of different Societies, and their Effects on Population.— 1st, Conquest and Slavery.—2d, Hunting and other degenerate Modes of Life—Influence of ill-regulated Emigration, unappropriate Institutions, and other Causes of National Degeneracy.—3d, Pastoral Pursuits— Emigrations of Shepherds—German Emigrations.—4th, Agricultural Life.—5th, Commerce and Manufactures— Influence of Commercial System on Agriculture and Resources—Commercial Wars, and the Influence of War on Produce and Population—Commercial Colonies.
- IV
  
  Of the Positive Check by which Population is regulated in the actual State of Human Societies.—Of the Influence of Luxury and Charity in relaxing this Check.—Of the Treatment of the Poor in various Ages and Countries—by the Greeks, the Romans, the Jews, and Modern Nations,—Of Infanticide, and certain other artificial Checks on Population.
- V
  
  Of charitable Establishments in general. Of the Principle of a System of Poor-Laws.—Relation between this System and other Institutions of civilized Society—An Order of Nobility, a Law of Entails, &c. Of Foundling Hospitals, and other similar Institutions. Tendency of opulent and posthumous Establishments to Abuse.
- VI
  
  Of a Preventive Check on Population by Restraint of Marriage in humble Life, and abolition of all legal Establishments for Relief of the Indigent. Comparison between this Preventive Check and the Positive Check unfolded in Chapter IV, and superior Advantages of the latter. Of the Virtue and Happiness of the Poor as affected by Marriage and Celibacy-Recent Doctrines of the Inefficacy of Marriage in restraining Licentiousness, and of the Utility and Respectability of Celibacy. Influence of Education on the Principle of Population, and of the Marriages of the Poor on their frugality and Industry, and on the Resources of a Country.
- VII
  
  Of the State of ancient and modern Times, and of various modern Countries, in respect of Population, Marriage, and Celibacy. Of the Influence of War in modern Times on Marriage and Celibacy.
- VIII
  
  Recapitulation.—Increase of Numbers, the Cause oftener than the Effect of Increase of the Means of Subsistence.—Of the Increase of the Lower Classes of Society.—Of Poverty and Mendicity, and the Means of bettering the Condition of the Indigent—Duties of Government and of Individuals.—Of the Influence of Government and Public Policy, on the Condition and Numbers of the Inhabitants of a Country.
- Notes.