The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Malthus, An essay on the principle of population, etc. CUL-DAR85.A58-A59. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).

Malthus, Rev. T. R. An essay on the principle of population. 6th ed. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1826.

[A58]

Malthus on Population Bk. iii Ch 1 p 18

As the human race however cd not be improved in this way without condemning all the bad specimens to celibacy, it is not probable that an attention to breed shd ever become general; indeed I know of no well-directed attempts of this kind except in the ancient family of Bickerstaffs who are said to have been very successful in whitening the skins & increasing the height of their race by prudent marriages, particularly by that very [illeg] cross with Maud the milk-maid

[A59]

by which some capital defects in the constitutions of the family were corrected.

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)