how the malthusians depopulated ireland

8/16/2019 How the Malthusians Depopulated Ireland

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THE NEW FEDERALIST January 16, 1995 Page 8

American Almanac

How the Malthusians Depopulated Ireland

by Paul Gallagher

Prints an P!"t"gra#!s Di$isi"n%Li&rary "' ("ngress

The second William Petty, Earl o !helburne, whose agent Thomas Malthus

populari"ed the idea that the earth has a inite #carrying capacity$# The irstWilliam Petty pioneered population studies as a co%er or &ritish imperial

policies in the se%enteenth century$

T!e )"rst e$i*s against !u+an ignity an nati"na* s"$ereignty "$er

t!e+se*$es as -#"#u*ati"n #"*iies- an -e.#ert #"#u*ati"n stuies/- Su!

-#"#u*ati"n stuies,- &y &"ies *i0e t!e S Nati"na* Seurity ("uni*, !a$e


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2usti'ie +ass steri*i3ati"ns, '"re a&"rti"ns, an e$en )ars against T!ir

W"r* nati"ns/ T!e N4s "ng"ing series "' )"r* g"$ern+ent "n'erenes

in*uing t!e (air" Internati"na* ("n'erene "n P"#u*ati"n an De$e*"#

+ent, )ante t" reue t!e !u+an #"#u*ati"n &y !a*' in 1 years/

W!ere i t!is ia&"*ia* -'ie* "' e.#ertise- "+e 'r"+7

Eny*"#eias an !ist"ries "' t!e s"a**e -siene "' e+"gra#!y,- agree

t!at it )as #ri+ari*y t!e in$enti"n "' Sir Wi**ia+ Petty 16168:;/ T!e

1 #u&*is!e *etures, t!at Petty '"une

-#"#u*ati"n stuies- a*"ng )it! !is 'riens Sir J"!n


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s#arse*y #"#u*ateC a&"$e a**, t!e e'eat "' L"uis I an ("*&ert4s Frane

&y an a**iane "' ?ritain an H"**an/ In Ire*an, a (at!"*i #e"#*e a**ie t"

Frane, t!e ?ritis! i+#eria*ists *as!e "ut against a e'ense*ess #"#u*ati"n,

essentia**y as a surr"gate '"r t!eir a$ersaries in Frane an t!e

atian/Fr"+ these #ur#"ses a+e )!at a


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Later, in t!e eig!teent! entury, t!e enetian +"n0

1:9; in$ente t!e "g+a t!at t!e Eart! !a a 'i.e -arrying a#aity- '"r

!u+an &eings, &eause '"" #r"uti"n #er #ers"n "u* n"t &e inrease/

T!is 'rau=-Ba*t!usianis+-=)as "#ie 'r"+ rtes &y T!"+as Ba*t!us

an &y +any "t!er agents "' Sir Wi**ia+ Petty4s greatgrans"n a*s" na+e

Wi**ia+ Petty;, t!e se"n Ear* "' S!e*&urne 1:>:185;, Eng*is! Pri+e

Binister 'r"+ 1:8 t" 1:8> uner


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Wit!"ut n"ting t!at Petty )as "n t!e sene, sur$eying t!ese e+#tie *ans,

"ne !ist"rian says t!at -Sir Wi**ia+ Petty, t!e +"st re*ia&*e "nte+#"rary

#"#u*ati"n e.#ert, esti+ate t!at / / / +"re t!an !a*' t!e #"#u*ati"n "' Ire*an

ie, +"st*y "' star$ati"n "r isease/- In 'at, &"t! Petty4s a*u*ati"n "' t!e

t"ta* Iris! #"#u*ati"n &e'"re 165, 1,,, an !is esti+ate "' t!e eat!s

'r"+ t!is gen"ia* #"*iy, )ere unreliable, *i0e +"st "' Petty4s #"#u*ati"n

statistis/ ?ut !is sur$ey -ause a** t!e su&seuent stages in t!e "+#*eti"n

"' t!e sett*e+ent "' Ire*an t" &e #ratia**y entruste t" !is su#er$isi"n/ / / /

He )as t!e #ratia* !ea "' t!e "++ittees )!i! suessi$e*y istri&ute

t!e *ans/ / / / an a*+"st un*i+ite ra#aity istinguis!e !i+/-

Ire*an4s #"#u*ati"n ensity 'e** t" :8 #ers"ns #er 0i*"+eter suare/ T!e

Iris! !ist"rian J"!n Prenergast )r"te@ -T!e &"ies "' +any )anering

"r#!ans )!"se 'at!ers !a e+&ar0e '"r S#ain an )!"se +"t!ers !a ie

"' 'a+ine, )ere #reye u#"n &y )"*$es/ In t!e years 165 an 165> a +an+ig!t tra$e* t)enty "r t!irty +i*es an n"t see a *i$ing reature/-

Wi**ia+ Petty returne 'r"+ !is 'irst stay in Ire*an )it! t)" t!ings/ He !a

#r"ue -T!e D")n Sur$ey "' Iris! Lans,- t!e 'irst ?ritis! i+#eria*

sur$ey "' an entire "nuere nati"n/ F"r t!is sur$ey, Petty )as gi$en great

reit as a #i"neer &y t!e R"ya* S"iety an &y *ater -s!"*ars!i#/- ?ut in

t!e 165s, Petty )as !arge )it! 'rau in t!e sur$ey, &y se$era* +e+&ers

"' Par*ia+ent=i**ustrating t!at t!is sur$ey in$"*$e '"rtunes '"r s#eu*at"rs

an reit"rs "' t!e (r"+)e** g"$ern+ent/ T!us, Petty4s se"n triu+#!@

&y 1658, )!en (r"+)e** ie, Petty ")ne s" +u! Iris! *an t!at !eessentia**y ")ne "unty Kerry/

In Ire*an as a )!"*e, &et)een 158 an 1:8 t!e inrei&*e t"ta* "' 8

#erent "' a** ara&*e Iris! *an )as '"ri&*y "n'isate &y Eng*is! "r

S"ttis! *an*"rs=1 +i**i"n "ut "' 15 +i**i"n ares/ ?y t!e ear*y 18s,

+i**i"n ares, "r 5 #erent "' t!e ara&*e *an, )as unuse '"r any #ur#"se

=a $irtua* -)i**i'e #reser$e,- a*t!"ug! its '"rests !a &een ut ")n &y t!e

?ritis! *an*"rs

S!"rt*y a'ter t!e Rest"rati"n "' t!e Stuart +"nar!y in 166, (!ar*es IIa##"inte t!e n") MSir Wi**ia+ Petty sur$ey"rgenera* "' Ire*an/ Petty

+ae re"++enati"ns "n !") t" raise t!e *argest ta. an greatest +i*itary

su##"rt '"r t!e ?ritis! (r")n 'r"+ t!e e$astate nati"n, an !") t" -re

#e"#*e- it "r -re#*ant- it )it! Eng*is!/ A** t!ese )ere #u&*is!e in t!e

Treatise "' Ta.es an ("ntri&uti"ns 16:1;, an #raise as t!e '"unati"n

st"ne "' e"n"+i t!e"ry &y its R"ya* S"iety a+irers/ Its ta. an +i*itary


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Prints an P!"t"gra#!s Di$isi"n%Li&rary "' ("ngress

!tar%ing Irish armers demand bread during the Potato /amine o the 0123s,

brought on by more than a century o the looting policies perected by Petty$

re"++enati"ns, an in #art t!e #"#u*ati"n #"*iy *in0e t" t!e+, &ea+e

?ritis! (r")n #"*iy "$er t!e #eri" t!r"ug! t!e 1688 insta**ati"n "' t!e

H"use "' range "n t!e ?ritis! t!r"ne/

Petty #r"#"se@ 1; "ntinu"us i++igrati"n an -re#*anting- "' Eng*is!

gent*e+en in Ire*an -unti* it s!"u* !a$e 5 +i**i"n in!a&itants,- )it! 'urt!er

e+igrati"n t" A+eria ee+e unesira&*e e.e#t '"r s*a$e")ning are

reuire in Ja+aia an ?ar&a"s an (ar"*ina; )!i*e Ire*an )as &eing

-re#e"#*e-C ; a ne) #"**ta. in "rn an '*a. t!r"ug!"ut Ire*anC >; a

#"**ta. in !erring "n a** S"ts, an in *inen "n a** Eng*is! an We*s!C an

; ea! nati"n &e reuire t" raise a +i*itia/

*A Perect Poll.Money*

Petty4s #"**ta. #r"#"sa*s re'*ete !is "&sessi$e *ai+s=re#eate in "3ens

"' !is -statistia* trats-=t!at !e "u* use !is #"#u*ati"n statistis inau

rate as t!ey usua**y )ere; t" ena&*e t!e "**eti"n "' a +a.i+u+ ta. re$enue

'"r t!e (r")n at +ini+u+ "st/ His #"*iy, )!i!, &y t!e en "' t!at en

tury, )as &e"+ing ?ritis! #"*iy, )as t" e*i+inate t!e uties "n trae an


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+"n"#"*ies )!i! t!e Tu"r 0ings !a re*ie u#"n=t" e*i+inate any ta.

)!i! in"n$eniene t!e East an West Inia ("+#anies= an re#*ae

t!e+ )it! regressi$e #"**ta.es !ea ta.es; )!i! )"u* raise +"re +"ney

'"r ?ritis! +i*itary #")er/ Petty4s -Pr"#"sa* '"r a Per'et P"**B"ney-

Statistia* Trat N"/ 5;, '"r e.a+#*e, )as t" &e su##"rte &y -t!e 'i$e

&""0s "' statistis "' t!e #e"#*e an *ans,- an )as t" &e #ai &y all, e$en

!i*ren uner se$enC su! t!at t!e (r")n "u* "**et t!e ta. -at !a*' t!e

!arge, an &e reay t" en*arge t!e sa+e, i' neessary/- Petty4s t!ree +a2"r

-#"#u*ati"n stuies-= Political Arithmetick, t!e Treatise on Taxes an The

Anatomy of Ireland =)ere a** "rere t" &e #u&*is!e again &y King

Wi**ia+ "' range in 169 an 1691, a'ter Petty4s eat!/

Petty *ai+e t!at rent "n *an, #*us t!e sur#*us #r"ue &y agricultural

)"r0ers "$er t!eir ")n in"+es "r )ages, "nstitute t!e su+ "' nati"na*

)ea*t!, e.e#t '"r t!at earne in internati"na* trae/ He *ai+e t!at !e"u* a*u*ate #"#u*ati"ns 'r"+ &irt!, eat!, an ta. re"rsC use t!ese

#"#u*ati"n 'igures #*us rue -$a*ueae- an interest"n*an a*u*a

ti"ns t" "+#ute t!e a$erage $a*ue in #"unsSter*ing; "' ea! #ers"nC an

t!ere'r"+ "+#ute -#er'et- #"**ta.es/ His ru*e )as t!at -it +ust &e agree

t!at t!e s"unest &asis '"r a ta. is t!e "++"n an +"re nu+er"us 0in "'

t!e #e"#*e/-

Petty4s #"**ta. in "rn an '*a. !a t!e '"**")ing e''et "n t!e re+aining

Iris! #"#u*ati"n, a"ring t" Ra*i''e Sa*a+"n4s )e**0n")n &""0, The

History and ocial Influence of the Potato. Ire*an4s s!i##ing an trae )it!Frane an S#ain, e$e*"#e in t!e si.teent! an ear*y se$enteent! en

turies, !a &een )i#e "utC its +ines an ir"n )"r0s *"se "r estr"yeC

its #re$i"us*y )ies#rea att*eraising !a &een e$astateC an &y 169,

t!e Pena* La)s "''iia**y #r"!i&ite att*eraising an (at!"*i #riests/

T!us, t!e #"**ta. in "rn an '*a. t""0 a)ay t!e "n*y re+aining agr"

inustria* ati$ity, asie 'r"+=t!e #"tat"/ Sa*a+"n re#eats Petty4s esti+ate

t!at 5 #erent "' t!e Iris! ie in t!e (r"+)e**ian Sett*e+ent/ He u"tes

Petty4s Anatomy of Ireland! -T!eir '"" is &rea an #"tat"es 'r"+ August

ti** BayC t!ey se*"+ eat &ee', e$en !a$ing 0i**e a ") t!ey ann"t

#reser$e it '"r t!e *a0 "' sa*t/- An !e u"tes an"t!er Eng*is! gent*e+an

)!" arri$e )it! (r"+)e**, Sir War!a+ St/ Leger@ -T!is "untry ("unty

("r0 is s" ruine, as it !as &e"+e )e** near un#e"#*e/- Inustria*

)"r0ers *e't t!e t")ns an )ent &a0 t" t!e $i**ages, &ut t!e t"ta* $a*ue "'

!"uses r"##e &y 8 #erent in t!e 165s, an seure tenure in *an )as

&arre '"r (at!"*is/ Again Petty@ -An )!y s!"u* t!ey esire t" 'are


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&etter, )!en t!ey are taug!t t!at t!is )ay "' *i$ing is +"re *i0e t!e Patriar!s

an Saints7 / / / An )!y s!"u* t!ey &ree +"re (atte*, sine 4tis Pena* t"

i+#"rt t!e+ int" Eng*an7-

Sa*a+"n, )riting !is &""0 in t!e 195s, sti** a**s Sir Wi**ia+ Petty -t!e

'"re+"st Eur"#ean e.#ert "n #"#u*ati"n "' t!e ti+e/-

*)eplantation*

Oet Petty t!"ug!t t!at t!e #"#u*ati"n "' Eng*an an Wa*es +ig!t &e 'a**ing/

Inee, t!e )!"*e !"st "' ?ritis! R"ya* S"iety -#"#u*ati"n e.#erts,- 'r"+

Petty,


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re+ain in e''et unti* su! ti+e as Ire*an, as )e** as Eng*an, s!a** !a$e 5

+i**i"ns "' #e"#*e-=S"t*an )as t" !a$e > +i**i"n/ T!ese t!ree targets

)ere t!e "&2eti$es '"r t!e inrease "' t!e Eng*is! #e"#*e an t!eir -re#*an

tati"n- "' )!at )as '"r+er*y Ire*an an S"t*an, as )e** as t!eir -su''i

ient #*antati"n- "' t!e West Inies an (ar"*ina/

T!e si.+"nt! "$enants "u* &e rene)e as t!ey #r"$e 'erti*e, &ut i' n"t

rene)e, any resu*ting !i*ren "u* &e &r"ug!t u# )it! t!e ai "'=a

uni$ersa* ta. "n a** +en 18 t" 6 an a** )"+en 15 t" 5, a*s" t" su##"rt

-*yingin #*aes- '"r !i*&irt!/

An n"t 2ust any -Eng*is!+en/- Petty #r"#"se t!at s#eia* +arriages=!e

a**e t!e+ -(a*i'"rnia Barriages- t" #reten t!at t!e #reeent a*reay

e.iste in S#anis! A+eria=s!"u* &ring t"get!er t!e )ea*t!iest an +"st

&eauti'u* )"+en )it! t!e -!er"es- a+"ng Eng*is! +en, in "rer t" &ree

*arge nu+&ers "' su#eri"r !i*ren at t!e 'astest rate/ Ea! -


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an 'e) #e"#*e, &y its situati"n, trae an #"*iy, +ay &e eui$a*ent "r

greater in )ea*t! an strengt!, t" a 'ar greater Pe"#*e an Territ"ry/- A en

tury *ater, t!e target "' t!e -#"#u*ati"n t!e"rists- "' t!e Se"n Ear* "'

S!e*&urne, in*uing Ba*t!us, )as t!e nite States "' A+eria=-t!e *an

)!ere #"#u*ati"n "u&*e ge"+etria**y e$ery 5 years/- T!e target "' Sir

Wi**ia+ Petty )as Frane/ He ai+e t" #r"$e t!at Eng*an an H"**an

t"get!er )ere su#eri"r t" ("*&ert4s Frane, )!"se 5 +i**i"n #"#u*ati"n )as

+"re t!an t)ie t!eir "+&ine t"ta* #"#u*ati"n/

Again, Petty "+#*ete*y e.*ue "nsierati"n "' te!n"*"gia* !ange an

#r"gress/ He insiste t!at H"**an4s strengt! an #r"gress -"+es "+

#*ete*y )it!"ut su! Ange*ia* Wits an Juge+ents as s"+e attri&ute t" t!e

H"**aners/- He )r"te t!at a nati"n4s strengt! -"+es u#"n a"unt "'

natura* an intrinsi a$antages "n*y/-

He ne$er +enti"ne, in P"*itia* Arithmetick, H"**an4s $ery !ig! #"#u*ati"n

ensity, n"r its '"r+er*y s)a+#y an #""r s"i*/ Rat!er, Petty sai t!at "n*y

-&etter s"i*- +ae '"r +"re #e"#*e "n t!e sa+e areage, )!" are t!ere'"re

!ea#er t" e'en, t" ta., t" +inister t", an t" esta&*is! "urts "$er=t!e

'unti"ns "' g"$ern+ent Na$iga&*e )ater)ays )ere, !e sai, a -natura*

en")+ent "' H"**an an s"+e)!at "' Eng*an/-

T!ese )ere a** Ba*t!us argu+ents 1> years *ater/

As t" t!e #"*iy '"r t!"se -s+a** nati"ns )it! intrinsi a$antages,- Petty

e*are t!at t!e !ig!est "&2eti$e "' a nati"n )as t" "+inate )"r*s!i##ing trae an t!e s!ares in t!e East an West Inia ("+#anies/

It )as a "g+a "' Petty=an &ea+e "g+a "' t!e R"ya* S"iety *ine "'

-#"#u*ati"n stuies- e$er sine=t!at ur&ani3ati"n )as an e$i* an t!at

gr")t! "' ities *e t" #"#u*ati"n "**a#se, -e$"uring- atastr"#!es/ Petty

state t!at ur&ani3ati"n raise )ages "' 'ar+ *a&"r an t!ere'"re reue

rent an nati"na* )ea*t!C an t!at it #ut +"re +anu'aturing )"r0ers t" t!e

sa+e a#ita* st"0, reuing t!eir e''iieny Ba*t!us4s t!e"ry "' +argina*

uti*ity;/ S", )it! a&s"*ute*y n" te!n"*"gia* !ange, Petty=*i0e t!e R"+an

E+#er"r Di"*etian, )!"se re'"r+s 'r"3e a** te!n"*"gia* #r"gress=s"ug!t

-a #ar &et)een *ans an !ans- )it! 2ust en"ug! *e't '"r t!e ar+y, na$y,

an #riest!""/ T!is )as !is -#"siti$e #"#u*ati"n #"*iy/-


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#ne !ole Disease#

In t!e 1:s, J"!ann Sss+i*!, a Prussian '"**")er "'

how the malthusians depopulated ireland

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