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61 and must therefore in general be accumulated with the old.

Mr. Malthus, in describing the prevalence of the preventive check in England, observes, that "the sons of tradesmen and farmers are exhorted not to marry, and generally find it necessary to comply with this advice, till they are settled in some business or farm which may enable them to support a family." "These events," he further remarks, "may not perhaps occur until they are far advanced in life."

Observe now the principle, to which, in the case of these persons, he refers the operation of the preventive check. It is clearly their state of dependence. The sons of labourers are themselves, suo jure, labourers. But the sons of tradesmen and farmers are the sons of tradesmen and farmers, and nothing more. They are not themselves tradesmen and farmers. Hence their prudence is described as an effect of exhortation, and not of the original workings of their own minds. They are dependent on others who are interested in their welfare, and who through this dependence have a powerful influence over them.

I have already observed, that the