or knowledge may prevail, and as the people judge erroneously or correctly of public men, those who pursue fame and power, will, in the attainment of their objects, act mischievously or beneficially. Hence, according to the degree of wisdom and virtue which may generally prevail in any country,

The same ambition may destroy or save,
And make a patriot as it makes a knave.'

A moral people, and a vicious government, are things which cannot exist together.

The sketch just presented, of the moral effects of Economical banks, furnishes a striking illustration of the remarks with which we introduced this Article, and gives us a distinct and vivid perception of that system of compensation which pervades the world, and of those provisions of mercy which are every where at hand, rendering the existence of evil instrumental in the production of a greater sum of happiness than could otherwise have been obtained. As the power to increase and multiply must enable a thousand or a million to double their numbers as rapidly as a single pair, it follows, that population, if it advances at all, must necessarily have a tendency to go on in a geometrical ratio. Hence, it was impossible progressively to people a world of limited extent, without implanting a principle whose operation would, at some period or other, cause numbers to increase too rapidly for food. With respect to all old countries, this period has long since arrived. In these, the tendency of population to press beyond the limits of subsistence, has been the fruitful and perennial source of misery and crime, and has presented an obstacle hitherto insuperable, to improving the condition of the people. Now, this deep-rooted, and apparently irremediable evil, which so frequently plunged the philanthropist in despair, and from the contemplation of which the devout theist has turned away, lest it should suggest doubts respecting the Divine benevolence, is found, when we look narrowly into the structure of society and the nature of man, not merely to carry with it the principle of its own correction, but to be the appropriate and efficient cause of a much higher degree of improvement and civilization, than could, without its powerful stimulus, be brought into existence. This, recent facts abundantly establish. In the new settlements of North America, the evil of redundant population has not yet been felt. There is ample subsistence for all, and in consequence of the high value of labour, early marriages and large families are frequently sources of riches rather than of poverty. These circumstances are no doubt highly favourable to happiness and virtue; and accordingly we find, that in America the lower orders of the people enjoy

greater comforts, and commit fewer crimes, than in any other country of the world. But though the great abundance of her fertile and unappropriated land gives America such conspicuous advantages over old and redundantly peopled countries, yet the state of society there falls almost infinitely short of that degree of refinement, happiness, and virtue, which results from regulating the population by means of delayed and prudential marriages, and which, as we have endeavoured to shew, seems about to be realized in this enlightened land. In America there is no necessity for the exercise of that moral restraint which at once heightens and refines the feelings. The comforts of the marriage state are rendered indifferent, by becoming familiar before their value and importance can be understood. Persons of different tempers, and of unequal powers, enter into the conjugal union on the first coincidence of youthful sympathy; then, as their characters become formed, and their facul ties unfold, they recede further and further from each other, and 'paired not matched,' wear away an existence 'loveless, joyless, 'unendeared.' Thus, in a country where the abundance of subsistence and employment allows very early marriages, the feelings have not time to be deeply interested, the mutual mind too frequently is wanting, the purifying charities of the domestic scene are unawakened.

Hence, a harsh and selfish tone is given to character and manners, and there is a want of those delicate sensibilities and refined perceptions, which rouse the genius while they improve the disposition. Intellect will be at as low an ebb as sentiment; and the creations of art, and the discoveries of science, will belong to those countries in which necessity strikes forth the latent fires of the mind. America has had no poet; and her only philosopher received his education in Eng land. In all the higher endowments of intellect she is inferior tp Europe; and as she becomes more fully peopled, the physical com forts in which she is at present so superior, will gradually be diminished, until the pressure of want,by stimulating to perpetual activity and watchfulness, generates habits of providence and moral restraint; and at length, to use the expression attributed to Franklin, renders mind omnipotent over matter.' The Ame ricans must necessarily pass through a period of suffering before they can arrive at those higher degrees of happiness to which, even in this world, humanity seems destined. The example of what will have taken place in Europe, and the advanced state of economical science, will no doubt render their transition from redundant to justly apportioned numbers, much less severe than in other countries. But still, the dif ficulty of finding employment, and of procuring subsistence, must, more or less, be felt in America, before those habits of fore

thought and prudential control are formed, which, while they remove the causes of poverty, by preventing the population from increasing more rapidly than the means of subsistence, are essential to an exalted state of intellectual improvement and of moral feeling.

The great importance of the foregoing disquisitions has induced us to dwell much longer upon them than we had at first intended. It seems, indeed, that the view which we have presented of the principle of population, is not only necessary to the forming of just and adequate ideas of the possible improvements which may be effected in society, but is calculated to remove much of the difficulty respecting the origin of many of those evils of civilized society.

It is full time, however, that we should desist from speculation, and present our readers with some account of the principal publications which have appeared on the subject of Economical Banks. The pamphlet of the Right Honorable George Rose, with which we have headed this article, deserves the highest consideration from the public, and is beyond our praise. From this gentleman's great practical knowledge, from his habits of close attention to facts, and his long acquaintance with the actual conduct of affairs, he is probably of all living statesmen the least likely to wander out of the sober paths of reality, or to indulge visionary hopes respecting the future prospects of society. It is therefore in the highest degree satisfactory to find him sanctioning, by his authority, all the anticipations which have been formed of the advantages of Banks for Savings. He tells us, that under the persuasion that something might be done to meliorate the condition of the poor, he was a zealous co-operator with Mr. Pitt, in that minister's measure for improving the system of the Poor Laws; and though this, and several other similar projects failed. he did not despair, but continued to believe that some effectual means might yet be devised for the removal of poverty. He bails the system of Banks for Savings, as the means of fulfilling his prophetic hopes, and expresses his anxious desire of seeing it universally adopted. We cannot refrain from supporting the opinions we have expressed upon Economical Banks by one or two extracts from the admirable observations of Mr. Rose:

Nothing is so likely as the encouragement of a plan of this sort to prevent early and improvident marriages, which are the cause more than any other of the heavy burthen of the poor's rate. When a young single man shall acquire the habit of saving, he will be likely to go on till he shall get together as much as will enable him to make some provision to support a family, before he thinks of marying. This is an attainment which every man who has the good VOL. V. N.S. 3 B

of his country at heart must earnestly wish for. I may here ask if the mind of man can invent any thing more likely than this, to revive and to bring into action that old spirit of abhorrence to re ceiving parish relief?'

The success [of Banks for Savings] at Edinburgh and Bath; has been very considerable. It is on that experience I rely; morè confidently than I should have done upon the theory of the plan, excellent and unexceptionable as it is.'

The following hint deserves consideration.

In Scotland, I believe the pulpit has been found a very effica cious means of giving furtherance to the measure of the Banks, as well in the congregations of the Dissenters as in the Established Church; it being considered as one tending to the advancement of religion and good morals, as well as to great temporal advantages. How far the same practice may be adopted in places in this part of the United Kingdom where Societies are formed, or intended to be proposed, I must leave to more competent persons to decide. In any event, the exertions of the clergy amongst their parishioners may be of infinite use; and in a matter of such moment I cannot entertain a doubt but that they will be made.' Rose's Observations, pp. 23, 33.

The Essay on Parish Banks, by the Rev. Henry Duncan, of Ruthwell, is a publication of great merit; and we heartily recommend it to the attentive notice of our readers. It is excellent with respect both to matter and to style. The obser vations which it contains respecting the mode in which the business of Banks for Savings should be managed, are extremely judicious; and the rules and regulations of the establishment at Dumfries, are the best which we have seen. Mt. Duncan's history of Banks for Savings, in the establishment of which he has taken so leading and honourable a part, is very interesting, and is narrated in a spirit of the most perfect candour. He notices some facts which are to be classed among those striking coincidences which so frequently occur in the history of new inventions; and he unhesitatingly acknowledges the aids and suggestions he received in conducting the great moral experiment which, in his hands, has been attended with such complete and astonishing success. Following the precept of his Divine Master, he renders unto Cæsar the things "which are Cæsars ;" and by thus refusing to pirate another' fame, he heightens the splendour of his own.

Mr. Taylor's Summary Account of the London Savings "Bank," is interesting, and contains practical suggestions on the formation of Committees, and the modes of conducting the business of the Bank, which may be of much utility to those who are about to establish similar institutions. The constitution of the London Savings' Bank' is different from that of the London Provident Institution for Savings," of which

his Grace the Duke of Somerset is patron. The latter is an aristocracy; the former a pure democracy. To form a perfect institution would require a union of the principles of both. At is necessary, in order to give importance to Banks for Savings, as well as to afford a perfect guarantee for the security of their funds, that men of rank and fortune should be induced to become trustees; while, in order to win the confidence of the labouring classes, it seems expedient and reasonable that depositor should have some inspection and control over the administration of their own affairs. But Mr. Duncan, of Ruthwell, has treated this subject so ably, that it is unneces sary for us to say another word upon it.

Mr. Barber Beaumont's "Essay on Provident or Parish Banks," contains some useful observations upon the danger of spoiling the simple and cheap machinery which constitutes the perfection of these institutions, by attempting to introduce complited improvements. Mr. Davis's "Friendly Advice to #industrious and frugal persons," is an admirable little tract, and we are happy to perceive that it has already gone through three editions. Under the unassuming form of a sixpenny pamphlet, it contains lessons of inestimable value. We do not remember ever to have seen so much good sense condensed into so small a compass. This little tract should be universally distributed among the poor.

It would be an unpardonable act of injustice if, in noticing the writers who have contributed to impress upon the public the utility of Economical banks, we were to omit to mention the original author of these admirable institutions. Mr. Bone, in a tract entitled "The Rules and Regulations of Tranquillity," developed, in 1816, the principles of economical banking, which have lately been so extensively adopted. We are of opinion, for the reasons already stated, that he attributes too much importance to annuities commencing at a late period of life. But be this as it may, Mr. Bone's simple and unexpensive machinery, for preserving and accumulating the surplus earnings of labour, an invention of the highest utility and importance; and his name will go down to posterity as a benefactor of mankind.

Before we conclude this article, we must make a few observafions upon one or two points which seem essentially connected with the improvement and extension of the system of Economical b banks In the first place, it appears highly desirable that these institutions should, if it can be accomplished without rendering their machinery too complicated, or materially increasing The expense of management, embrace a scheme of insurance similar to that on which friendly societies or benefit clubs are founded. Without some union of this nature, it may frequently happen that the most industrious and frugal may be left desti