and exemptions for such a number of children, and by denying certain
offices of trust and dignities to all unmarried persons; and where
it is once made a fashion among those of the better sort, it will
quickly obtain with the lower degree.

Mr. King, in his scheme (for which he has as authentic grounds as
perhaps the matter is capable of) lays down that the annual
marriages of England are about 41,000, which is one marriage out of
every 134 persons. Upon which, we observe, that this is not a due
proportion, considering how few of our adult males (in comparison
with other countries) perish by war or any other accident; from
whence may be inferred that our polity is some way or other
defective, or the marriages would bear a nearer proportion with the
gross number of our people; for which defect, if a remedy can be
found, there will be so much more strength added to the kingdom.

From the books of assessment on births, marriages, &c., by the
nearest view he can make, he divides the 5,500,000 people into
2,700,000 males and 2,800,000 females; from whence (considering the
females exceed the males in number, and considering that the men
marry later than women, and that many of the males are of necessity
absent in the wars, at sea, and upon other business) it follows that
a large proportion of the females remain unmarried, though at an
adult age, which is a dead loss to the nation, every birth being as
so much certain treasure, upon which account such laws must be for
the public good, as induce all men to marry whose circumstances
permit it.

From his division of the people it may be likewise observed, that
the near proportion there is between the males and females (which is