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most wholly on fish。＇17＇ If this be the case； certain monastic rules； which oblige the monks to live on fish； must be contrary to the spirit of the legislator himself。
14。 Of the Productions of the Earth which require a greater or less Number of Men。 Pasture…lands are but little peopled； because they find employment only for a few。 Corn…lands employ a great many men； and vineyards infinitely more。
It has been a frequent complaint in England＇18＇ that the increase of pasture…land diminished the inhabitants； and it has been observed in France that the prodigious number of vineyards is one of the great causes of the multitude of people。
Those countries where coal…pits furnish a proper substance for fuel have this advantage over others； that not having the same occasion for forests； the lands may be cultivated。
In countries productive of rice； they are at vast pains in watering the land： a great number of men must therefore be employed。 Besides； there is less land required to furnish subsistence for a family than in those which produce other kinds of grain。 In fine； the land which is elsewhere employed in raising cattle serves immediately for the subsistence of man； and the labour which in other places is performed by cattle is there performed by men； so that the culture of the soil becomes to man an immense manufacture。
15。 Of the Number of Inhabitants with relation to the Arts。 When there is an agrarian law； and the lands are equally divided； the country may be extremely well peopled； though there are but few arts； because every citizen receives from the cultivation of his land whatever is necessary for his subsistence； and all the citizens together consume all the fruits of the earth。 Thus it was in some republics。
In our present situation； in which lands are unequally distributed； they produce much more than those who cultivate them are able to consume； if the arts； therefore； should be neglected； and nothing minded but agriculture； the country could not be peopled。 Those who cultivate； or employ others to cultivate； having corn to spare； nothing would engage them to work the following year； the fruits of the earth would not be consumed by the indolent； for these would have nothing with which they could purchase them。 It is necessary； then； that the arts should be established； in order that the produce of the land may be consumed by the labourer and the artificer。 In a word； it is now proper that many should cultivate much more than is necessary for their own use。 For this purpose they must have a desire of enjoying superfluities； and these they can receive only from the artificer。
The machines designed to abridge art are not always useful。 If a piece of workmanship is of a moderate price； such as is equally agreeable to the maker and the buyer； those machines which would render the manufacture more simple； or； in other words； diminish the number of workmen； would be pernicious。 And if water…mills were not everywhere established； I should not have believed them so useful as is pretended； because they have deprived an infinite multitude of their employment； a vast number of persons of the use of water； and great part of the land of its fertility。
16。 The Concern of the Legislator in the Propagation of the Species。 Regulations on the number of citizens depend greatly on circumstances。 There are countries in which nature does all； the legislator then has nothing to do。 What need is there of inducing men by laws to propagation when a fruitful climate yields a sufficient number of inhabitants？ Sometimes the climate is more favourable than the soil； the people multiply； and are destroyed by famine： this is the case of China。 Hence a father sells his daughters and exposes his children。 In Tonquin；＇19＇ the same causes produce the same effects； so we need not； like the Arabian travellers mentioned by Renaudot； search for the origin of this in their sentiments on the metempsychosis。＇20＇
For the same reason； the religion of the Isle of Formosa does not suffer the women to bring their children into the world till they are thirty…five years of age：＇21＇ the priestess； before this age； by bruising the belly procures abortion。
17。 Of Greece and the Number of its Inhabitants。 That effect which in certain countries of the East springs from physical causes was produced in Greece by the nature of the government。 The Greeks were a great nation； composed of cities； each of which had a distinct government and separate laws。 They had no more the spirit of conquest and ambition than those of Switzerland； Holland； and Germany have at this day。 In every republic the legislator had in view the happiness of the citizens at home； and their power abroad； lest it should prove inferior to that of the neighbouring cities。＇22＇ Thus； with the enjoyment of a small territory and great happiness； it was easy for the number of the citizens to increase to such a degree as to become burdensome。 This obliged them incessantly to send out colonies；＇23＇ and； as the Swiss do now； to let their men out to war。 Nothing was neglected that could hinder the too great multiplication of children。
They had among them republics； whose constitution was very remarkable。 The nations they had subdued were obliged to provide subsistence for the citizens。 The Laced？monians were fed by the Helotes； the Cretans by the Periecians； and the Thessalians by the Penestes。 They were obliged to have only a certain number of freemen； that their slaves might be able to furnish them with subsistence。 It is a received maxim in our days； that it is necessary to limit the number of regular troops： now the Laced？monians were an army maintained by the peasants： it was proper； therefore； that this army should be limited； without this the freemen； who had all the advantages of society； would increase beyond number； and the labourers be overloaded。
The politics of the Greeks were particularly employed in regulating the number of citizens。 Plato fixes them at five thousand and forty；＇24＇ and he would have them stop or encourage propagation； as was most convenient； by honours； shame； and the advice of the old men； he would even regulate the number of marriages in such a manner that the republic might be recruited without being overcharged。＇25＇
If the laws of a country； says Aristotle； forbid the exposing of children； the number of those brought forth ought to be limited。＇26＇ If they have more than the number prescribed by law； he advises to make the women miscarry before the foetus be formed。＇27＇
The same author mentions the infamous means made use of by the Cretans to prevent their having too great a number of children a proceeding too indecent to repeat。
There are places； says Aristotle again＇28＇ where the laws give the privilege of being citizens to strangers； or to bastards； or to those whose mothers only are citizens； but as soon as they have a sufficient number of people this privilege ceases。 The savages of Canada burn their prisoners； but when they have empty cottages to give them； they receive them into their nation。
Sir William Petty； in his calculations； supposes that a man in England is worth what he would sell for at Algiers。＇29＇ This can be true only wit