But on the other hand, is a country unexpectedly discovered in which there is abundance of unappropriated land, affording a fair prospect of support and improvement of their condition to new adventurers? There are many prepared to embrace the prospect, and dissatisfied with the reward their labour can attain at home, to transfer their exertions and affections to an adopted land. And there is already, in human nature, an

inherent prin

ciple, which, now freed from prudential restraints, in a short period will people the vacant space with intelligent existence, with millions of beings possessed of all the improvable faculties which distinguish mankind, and heirs to all the hopes which religion opens to our view.

Thus, when population has answered its purpose, and it becomes expedient that it should be checked for a while, the foreseen difficulty of procuring support retards it, silently, but effectually. And if the expedience lies the other way, there is a natural power at

hand by which the advantage attained by civilization in one country is quickly communicated to another.

It appears, then, that the principle of population, prescribed by the Deity as an instrument for peopling the world with a successive stock of intelligent inhabitants, and keeping it in that state which was most agreeable to his plan in its formation, not only fills but civilizes the globe, and contains in itself a provision for diffusing the beneficial effects which it originally generates. To trace the power of such a principle, and to discover, on inquiry, that an object so extensive as the replenishment and civilization of the globe is accomplished by the silent operation of a single natural law, empowers us to pronounce that the designs of the Creator are carried into execution with infinite wisdom. Neither should it be forgotten, that the law itself, by which these ends are attained, is neither harsh nor coercive, but forms an important part of our earthly happiness it is not written in characters of severity,

but promulgated by the gentle voice of persuasion. The first fruit of that instinctive principle which terminates in the results we have deduced and contemplated, is the passion of love; which, among the most rational and improved part of mankind, refines, chastens, and animates the soul; encourages the noblest exertions, and inspires the sublimest sentiments. Even in lower stages of civilization, love has been found to cherish feelings elevated far above the general standard, to soften the severity of severity of pastoral habits, and disarm the ferocity of the conqueror. Among the rude and uneducated classes, the principle of which I have traced the effects, is both the source and the pledge of domestic union : and by the "charities of father, son, and brother," which it introduces, affords a voluntary support to the imbecility of the weaker sex, and to the helpless condition of infancy and childhood. To enlarge, however, upon this head, would be to encroach on a subject more properly belonging to that part of this work which treats of the goodness of the Cre

ator. I shall accordingly conclude the present chapter, by a concise recapitulation of the general argument.

It appeared then, first, to be the design of the Creator to people the world with rational and improvable beings, placed there, it should seem, in a state preparatory to some higher sphere of existence, into which they might hereafter be removed. With this view, he implanted in the first progenitors of the species a passion transmitted by them to their descendants; which in the outset prompts the finest feelings of the mind, and leads to that close union of interests and pursuits, by which the domestic comfort and harmony of the human race is most effectually promoted. The operation of this principle, filling the world with competitors for support, enforces labour and encourages industry, by the advantages it gives to the industrious and laborious at the expense of the indolent and extravagant. The ultimate effect of it is, to foster those arts and improvements which most dignify the character and

refine the mind of man; and lastly, to place mankind in that situation which best enables them to improve their natural faculties, and at the same time best exercises, and most clearly displays, their virtues.

The collateral benefits derived from the same principles were shown to be the promotion of universal comfort, by ensuring the most effective disposition of labour and skill: and the diffusion of the civilization thus attained, by a gradual and steady progress, throughout the various regions of the habitable globe.

Such is the view of the omniscience and comprehensive wisdom of the Creator, deducible from the facts respecting population, and its tendency to a quicker increase than the supply of food can keep pace with, which have been first explained to the present generation, and added to the stock of physical truths unfolded by modern inquiry.* The particular effects.

*The final cause of such an universal law, viz. to stimulate energy and industry, has been succinctly hinted by the