Chapter I: Introduction

Of the three English writers whose work has become a portion of all Political Economy, Malthus is the second in time and in honour. His services to general theory are at least equal to Ricardo’s; and his full illustration of one particular detail will rank with the best work of Adam Smith.

In the following pages the detail will be the main subject, and general theory the episode. The _Political Economy_ and minor writings of Malthus (which are not few) will be noticed only in relation to the _Essay on Population_.

Accordingly, the First of these Five Books will deal with the genesis, history, and contents of the Essay, plunging the reader _in medias res_ and keeping him there, till the facts force him, in the Second Book, to recur with the author to Economical theory. The Third will show the mind of Malthus more clearly by adding to his economics his Ethics and Political Philosophy; and the Fourth, with the case now fully stated, will criticize the Critics of the Essay, and try to determine how much of its doctrine remains still valuable. The Fifth Book, with its Biography, may help the reader to associate the living personality of the man with his writings.

_London, June 1885._

CONTENTS.

PAGE
INTRODUCTION vii

BOOK I. THE ESSAY.
CHAP. I. FIRST THOUGHTS, 1798 1
„ II. SECOND THOUGHTS, 1803 45
„ III. THESES 60
„ IV. THE SAVAGE, BARBARIAN, AND ORIENTAL 85
„ V. NORTH AND MID EUROPE 119
„ VI. FRANCE 153
„ VII. ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND 170

BOOK II. ECONOMICS.
CHAP. I. THE LANDLORDS 207
„ II. THE WORKING MAN 254
„ III. GENERAL GLUTS 282
„ IV. THE BEGGAR 303

BOOK III. MORAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY 319

„ IV. THE CRITICS 355

„ V. BIOGRAPHY 399

INDEX 428

MALTHUS AND HIS WORK