Page:An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798).djvu/199

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PRINCIPLE OF POPULATION.
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CHAP. X.

Mr Godwin's system of equality.—Error of attributing all the vices of mankind to human institutions.—Mr Godwin's first answer to the difficulty arising from population totally insufficient.—Mr Godwin's beautiful system of equality supposed to be realized.—It'sn utter destruction simply from the principle of population in so short a time as thirty years.

In reading Mr Godwin's ingenious and able work on Political Justice, it is impossible not to be struck with the spirit and energy of his style, the force and precision of some of his reasonings, the ardent tone of his thoughts, and particularly with that impressive earnestness of manner which gives an air of truth to the whole. At the same time, it must be confessed that he has not proceeded in his enquiries with the caution that sound philosophy seems to require. His conclusions are often un-

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