humanfaculty4 - page 231 of 305

Nay, a ship may be made to describe a half circle, and to end by following

a course exactly opposite to the first, without attracting the notice of the

Over-population and its attendant miseries may not improbably

become a more serious subject of consideration than it ever yet has been,

owing to improved sanatation and consequent diminution of the mortality

of children, and to the filling up of the spare places of the earth which are

still void and able to receive the overflow of Europe. There are no doubt

conflicting possibilities which I need not stop to discuss.

The check to over-population mainly advocated by Malthus is a

prudential delay in the time of marriage; but the practice of such a

doctrine would assuredly be limited, and if limited it would be most

prejudicial to the race, as I have pointed out in Hereditary Genius but may

be permitted to do so again. The doctrine would only be followed by the

prudent and self-denying; it would be neglected by the impulsive and self-

seeking. Those whose race we especially want to have, would leave few

descendants, while those whose race we especially want to be quit of,

would crowd the vacant space with their progeny, and the strain of

population would thenceforward be just as pressing as before. There

would have been a little relief during one or two generations, but no

permanent increase of the general happiness, while the race of the nation

would have deteriorated. The practical application of the doctrine of

deferred marriage would therefore lead indirectly to most mischievous

results, that were overlooked owing to the neglect of considerations

bearing on race. While criticising the main conclusion to which Malthus

came, I must take the opportunity of paying my humble tribute of

admiration to his great and original work, which seems to me like the rise

of a morning star before a day of free social investigation. There is

nothing whatever in his book that would be in the least offensive to this

generation, but he wrote in advance of his time and consequently roused

virulent attacks,