men at home, and the alarming
growth of celibacy amongst the peasantry which is its necessary
consequence, to say nothing of the same ruinous increase of celibacy in
higher ranks, threaten us with such a decrease of population, as will
probably equal that caused by the ravages of those scourges of heaven,
the sword, the famine, and the pestilence.

If this selfish policy continues to extend itself, we shall in a few
years be so far from being able to send emigrants to America, that we
shall be reduced to solicit their return, and that of their posterity,
to prevent England's becoming in its turn an uncultivated desart.

But to return to Canada; this large acquisition of people is an
invaluable treasure, if managed, as I doubt not it will be, to the best
advantage; if they are won by the gentle arts of persuasion, and the
gradual progress of knowledge, to adopt so much of our manners as tends
to make them happier in themselves, and more useful members of the
society to which they belong: if with our language, which they should
by every means be induced to learn, they acquire the mild genius of our
religion and laws, and that spirit of industry, enterprize, and
commerce, to which we owe all our greatness.

Amongst the various causes which concur to render France more
populous than England, notwithstanding the disadvantage of a less
gentle government, and a religion so very unfavorable to the increase
of mankind, the cultivation of vineyards may be reckoned a principal
one; as it employs a much greater number of hands than even agriculture
itself, which has however infinite advantages in this respect above
pasturage, the certain cause of a want of people wherever it prevails
above its due proportion.

Our climate denies us the advantages arising from the culture of
vines, as well as many others which nature has accorded to France; a
consideration which should awaken us from the lethargy into which the
avarice of individuals has plunged us, and set us in earnest on
improving every advantage we enjoy, in order to secure us by our native
strength from so formidable a rival.

The want of bread to eat, from the late false and cruel policy of
laying small farms into great ones, and the general discouragement of
tillage which is its consequence, is in my opinion much less to be
apprehended than the want of people to eat it.

In every country where the inhabitants are at once numerous and
industrious, there will always be a