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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

The Law of Population I

By
Michael Thomas Sadler

‘It [Malthus’s theory] pronounces that there exists an evil in the principle of population; an evil, not accidental, but inherent; not of occasional occurrence, but in perpetual operation; not light, transient, or mitigated, but productive of miseries, compared with which all those inflicted by human institutions, that is to say, by the weakness and wickedness of man, however instigated, are light: an evil, finally, for which there is no remedy save one, which has been long overlooked, and which is now enunciated in terms which evince any thing rather than confidence. It is a principle, moreover, preeminently bold, as well as ‘clear’. With a presumption, to call it by no fitter name, of which it may be doubted whether literature, heathen or Christian, furnishes a parallel, it professes to trace this supposed evil to its source, ‘the laws of nature, which are those of God’; thereby implying, and indeed asserting, that the law by which the Deity multiplies his offspring, and that by which he makes provision for their sustenance, are different, and, indeed, irreconcilable.’

Michael Thomas Sadler

Volume Contents

Front Matter
Introduction By Chuhei Sugiyama; Andrew Pyle
The Law Of Population: A Treatise, In Six Books.: Part I
- Prelims
- Of the Theory of Human Superfecundity: The Principle Stated and Disproved.
  - I
    
    Introductory.
  - II
    
    Of The Theory of Human Superfsecundity.: The Principle Stated, and Its Claims to Originality Refuted.
  - III
    
    Of the Theory of Human Superfecundity; Its Geometric Ratio Considered.
  - IV
    
    Of the Theory of Human Superfecundity; Its Arithmetical Ratio.
  - V
    
    Of the theory of Human Superfecundity: The Geometric and Arithmetical Ratios Combined.
  - VI
    
    Of the Condition on Which the Means of Subsistence are Bestowed, and The Precedence of Population to Production.
  - VII
    
    Of the Precedence of Population to Production, and Its Beneficial Effects on the Character and Condition of Mankind, Concluded.
  - VIII
    
    Of the Precedence of Population To Production, as A Main Cause of Peopling The Earth; With Remarks on Emigration.
  - IX
    
    Of the checks to population, enunciated in the prevailing theory.—war.
  - X
    
    Of The Wars, Migrations, and Colonizations of Ancient Greece, as Affected By Population.
  - XI
    
    Of Ancient Greece. The Checks to Population proved to be unnecessary and Pernicious in that Country.
  - XII
    
    Of the Wars and Irruptions on the Roman Empire. Their causes Irreconcileable with the theory of Human Superfecundity.
  - XIII
    
    Of The Wars and Irruptions On The Roman Empire; Their Causes Irreconcileable With The Theory of Human Superfecundity.
  - XIV
    
    Of the Opinions of the Philosophers and Legislators of Antiquity, Concerning the Principle of Population.—Plato.
  - XV
    
    Of The opinions of The Philosophers and Legislators of antiquity concerning the principle of Population.—aristotle.
  - XVI
    
    Of The Remaining Direct Checks To Population.
  - XVII
    
    Of the Diminution in the Operation of the Checks as Population Increases.
  - XVIII
    
    Of The “Preventive Check,” Or “Moral Restraint;” Its Imposition Unnatural, Unlawful, And Wicked.
  - XIX
    
    Of the Preventive Check: Its Partiality and Injustice.
  - XX
    
    On the Preventive Check: Its Cruelty.
  - XXI
    
    Of The Preventive Check: Its Impolicy.
  - XXII
    
    Of the Preventive Check: Its Diminution as Population has Increased.
  - XXIII
    
    On the Checks to Population: Their Moral Defence Considered and Refuted.
- Of the Theory of Human Superfecundity: Its Principle as Founded Upon the Population of the United States of America and of China, Stated and Disproved.
  - I
    
    Introductory.
  - II
    
    Of the Erroneousness of the Supposed facts and Deductions relative to particular states of America, on which the Geometric theory is founded.
  - III
    
    Of the erroneous statements relative to the amount of the early population of america. That of the new england states ascertained.
  - IV
    
    Of the Amount of the Early Population of the North American Colonies, Now the United States, Generally.
  - V
    
    Of emigration to north America. its historical proofs.
  - VI
    
    Of Emigration to North America. Its Historical Proofs Concluded.
  - VII
    
    Of Emigration to North America, Proved by its Effects on the Manners, Customs, and Language of the Community.
  - VIII
    
    Of Emigration To North America: Proved By Sundry Statistical Facts And Records.
  - IX
    
    Of Emigration to North America, Proved from the Censuses of the United States Generally, as Divided Into Sexes and Ages.
  - X
    
    Of Emigration to North America, Proved by The Law of Mortality, As Applied To The Numbers In Successive Censuses.
  - XI
    
    Of Emigration to North America, Proved by Its Effects on the Relative Numbers of the Different Sexes and Ages, in the Censuses of the Various States.
  - XII
    
    Of Emigration to North America: Proved by the Bills of Mortality of that Country.
  - XIII
    
    Of Emigration to North America: Its Effect on The General Increase ofthe Population.
  - XIV
    
    Of Emigration to America: calculated on the admission of those who assert it to be “immaterial.”
  - XV
    
    Of The Population Of China: The General Arguments Founded On Its Supposed Density, Stated And Disproved.
  - XVI
    
    Of China: the Assertion that Infanticide Regulates Its Population, Disproved.
  - XVII
    
    Of China: The Argument Of Its Excessive Population Founded On The Supposed Indigence And Distress Of Its Inhabitants, Disproved.
  - XVIII
    
    Of China: its Actual Population Stated from Official Documents.