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Show [GR] REMARKS 0N THETHOUGHTS, «Sec. 13 hints in the twenty-firi't feé‘tion, to trouble you Exfrafir of a Letterfrom-R. J. Efg; of London, with fome thoughts on the influence Manner: to Benjamin Franklin, Efg; at Philadelphia; have always had, and are always likel y to have containing Remarks on firm of tile foregoing Oé/érvntianr. on the numbers of a people, and their political profperity in general 9*. DEAR SIR, creafing apeople, is manifet'c from the infiance The powerful efficacy of Mnnnerr in en- IT is now near three years fince I received your excellent Obfervations on the Increnfe ofMankind, 5%. in which you have with f0 much fa- gacity and accuracy fhewn in what manner, and by what caufes, that principal means of political grandeur is belt promoted ; and have {0 well {up-- ported thofe juf'c inferences you have occafionally drawn, concerning the general Prate of our flincriazn colonies, and the views and conduct of fome of the inhabitants of Grant Britain. You have abundantly proved that natural fe- cundity is hardly to be confidered; becaufe the fuir generandi, as far as we know, is unlimited, and becaufe experience ihews that the numbers of nations are altogether governed by collateral caufes 3 and among thefe none is offo much force as quantity of fubfif'tence ; whether arifing from climate, foil, improvement of tillage, trade, fifheries, fecure property, conquef't of new coun- tries, or other favourable circumftances. As I perfediy concurred with you in your fentiments on theie heads, I have been very de- firous of building fomewhat on the foundat ion you have there laid; and was induced by your hints you mention, the Qizaéerr; among them induftry and frugality multiplies and extends the ufe of the neceifaries of life. To manners of a like kind are owing the populoufnefs of Hal/and, Switzerland, Cninn, japan, and moil: parts of Int/(flan, €9'c. in every one of which the force of extent of territory and fertility of foil is multiplied, or their want compenfated by indu flry and frugality. Neither nature nor art have contributed much to the production of fubfiitence in Switz erland, yet we fee frugality preferves, and even incre afes families that live on their fortunes, and which, in England, we call the Gentry; and the obfer- vation we cannot but make in the Santnrrn part q/‘tnir kingdom, that thofe families, including all fuperior ones, are gradually becoming extine ‘t, affords the cleareft proof that luxury (that is, a greater expence of fubfii'tence than in prudence aman ought to confume) is as defiruc'tive as a proportionable want of it; but in SCUf/dfili, as in Switzerland, the Gentry, though one with another 3‘ [The following pafTage fiands infer-ted at this place in the original : " The end of every individual is its own private good. " The rules it obferves in the purfuit of this good, are a i} Item of " propofluons, |