ON FE CORN: LAWS. 241

fertility. The population of Hindoftan when under an effci- ent government, and the prefent ftate of China, are a ftriking proof of the obfervation. It is obvious, however, that if thefe nations were to alter their manner of life, and fubfift in a great meafure on animal food, like the people in England, the countries could not afford provifion for their numerous inhabitants; and that if they could not procure an addi- tonal quantity from other countries, their population would foon be confiderably diminifhed.

Im order to fhow the effet which living on vegetable or on animal food will produce on population, or the abundance or fcarcity of fubfiftence which it may occafion to the inhabi- tants of a country, their numbers remaining ftationary, I fball calculate the population, which a farm of$04 acres of

fertile land will maintain, when under a judicious mode of

* cultivation, the inhabitants living entirely on vegetable food;

and the numbers which can be fupported on animal food bv F4

the produce of a like farm when in pafture.

With a view to afcertain this point with as much precifon as the nature of the calculation will admit of, I called at the fami- lies of feveralJabourers and mechanics in this place, who live en- tirely on vegetable food, to learn if poflible the exact amount of their confumption, which{ knew, that, out of policy, they are always at pains to exaggerate. In the firft houfe I entered, I luckily found the kettle full of potatoes, juft ready to be put upon the fire, to be boïled for dinner; the family confifted of one man, his wife, and one child, a remarkable ftout boy

FER

EPTE TR Cu)