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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow CHAP. XXVII.: Of the Law made in France to encourage the Propagation of the Species. - Complete Works, vol. 2 The Spirit of Laws

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CHAP. XXVII.: Of the Law made in France to encourage the Propagation of the Species. - Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, Complete Works, vol. 2 The Spirit of Laws [1748]

Edition used:

The Complete Works of M. de Montesquieu (London: T. Evans, 1777), 4 vols. Vol. 2.

Part of: Complete Works of Montesquieu, 4 vols.

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CHAP. XXVII.

Of the Law made in France to encourage the Propagation of the Species.

LEWIS XIV. appointed* particular pensions to those who had ten children, and much larger to such as had twelve. But it is not sufficient to reward prodigies. In order to communicate a general spirit, which leads to the propagation of the species, it is necessary for us to establish, like the Romans, general rewards, or general penalties.

[* ]The edict of 1666, in favour of marriages.