The rights of all., 1829-10-09


the earth and lis Inhabitants to some important
consummation.-Ifw we suppose, that before the
close Of time, as many human beings will be
brought into existence, as have already existed,
during the by-past ages Of the world, there
will, Of course, be found at the general resur-
rection, 9O,OO0, 100000 ofmankind. Vast as
such an assemblage would be, the whole Of
human beings here supposed, allowing 6
square feet ior every individual could be as
senbled within the space Of 62,4O0 square
miles, or on a tract OF land not much larger
than that Of England, which contains, accord
ing to the most accurate calculation, above
$4,000 square miles.
Our world is capable Of sustaining much
greater number Of inhabitants than has ever
yet existed upon it at any one time. And,
since we are informed in the Sacred Oracles,
that God " created it not in vain, but tormcdH
to be inhabied," we have reason to believe,
that, in future ages, when the physical and
moral energies Of mankind shall be fully ex-
erted, and when Peace shall wave her olive
branch over the nations, the earth will be
much more populous than it has ever been,
and those immense deserts, where Eavenous
animals now roam undisturbed, will be trans
formed into scenes Of fertility aad beauty. If
~ UC dt4LILtNCNl, llICt VI VI
land is sufficient to maintain family consist
ing Of six persons, and if we reckon only one
fourth Of the surface Of the globe capable Of
cultivation, it can be proved, that the earth
could afford sustenance for is, 6,O00O00,O0O
millions Of inhabitants, or tlgenty times the
nunpbe, chat is presently supposed 10 exist.
SO that we have no reason to fear that the
world will be over stocked with inhabit-
+Ionk
period may soon arrive when the increase of
population will surpass the means OF sub.
sistence, as some Of the disciples of NAL
thus have lately insinuated 10 suppose,
as s0De Of these gentlemen seem to do,
that wars and diseases, poverty and pestllence,
are necessary evils in order to prevent the in
crease Of the human race beyond the means
orsubsistence which nature can atIOrd--Whlle
the immense regions Of New Holland, New
Guinea, Borneo, and the greater part Of Africa
and America, are almost destitute oil lnhablt-
ants-is both an insult on the dignity Of hu-
man nature, and a reflection on the wisdom
and benevolence Of Divine Providence. The
Creator is benevolent and bountilul, and "his
tender mercies are over all his works" but
man, by his tyranny, ambition, and selfish
ness, has counteracted the streams Of Di-
vine benefcence, and introduced, into the
social state, poverty, disorder, and misery,
with all their attendant train Of evils and
it is not before such demoralizing princi.
pies be in some measure eradicated, and
the principles Of Christian benevolence
brought into active operation, that the So
cial state of man will be greatly ameliorat-
ed, and the bounties Of heaven fully enjoy
ed by the human race. If, in the present
deranged state Of the social and political
world, it be found difficult, i'll any particu.
lar country, to find sustenance for its in
habits, emigration is the obvious and ma.
tural remedy and the rapid emigration:
which are now taking place to the Cape