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xxii they would have had in this space. To avoid all dispute add only to the generative number, a number equal to it, and you will find that they would be equal to all Europe. What would they be, if you were to attempt to calculate the progressive course of generations. Your imagination would create immense multitudes which celibacy has annihilated. What would they be if you considered this subject with the eye of faith, according to this principle, that all the people upon earth, who are commonly computed an hundred millions, are all descended from one man, created about six thousand years ago; you will very readily find, that even a dozen men who at the beginning of Christianity embraced celibacy, might very well deprive the world of as many millions of inhabitants as it at this day contains."

These are some of the principal objections that have been made to the Spirit of Laws; objections which however weak and trifling, have been uttered with the zeal of a blind bigot, who seeks to pervert what he does not understand, Truth and good sense always meet Rh