money answers all things-第17章
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sually see them put themselves in Mourning on such Occasions； it must be plain that the working People not only can； but would do a great deal more Work than they do； if they were but somewhat better encouraged by their Wages to do so。 Lastly； The full and sufficient Execution of this Proposal is the only natural Way to extend Dominion； and introduce Liberty amongst Mankind。 For wherever so much Land is continually put to use； as will call for all Land is continually put to use； as will call for all the Hands； Trade； and Manufactures will suffer to employ themselves this Way； as this will necessarily give full employment to all the People； and make such Plenty of every Thing； that the meanest of the People will certainly find a comfortable Subsistence for themselves and Families； so it will infallibly draw the People out of every Nation round us； that doth not attend to this Point in the same Degree； and consequently cause the People to forsake every arbitrary and oppressive Government； to find such a Settlement； as the Business so much Land continually added and improv'd will necessarily provide for them。 'Tis true； this will in time fill this Island with Inhabitants； and improve every Spot of Ground in it。 And I suppose it must be this Way that Benjamin Motte Computes that the People may be doubled； in so short a Time as 24 or 25 Years： If this be not the Way； I am not able to conjecture how so great an Increase of People should arise； in the small Space he assert they may be doubled and quadrupled； for I am sure the natural Increase of Mankind will require a vastly longer Term； only to double in。 But however； if my 9th and 10th Principles are true； and I think them self…evident； then the full and sufficient Execution of this Proposal must be a great Advantage to the Government； by increasing the Number and Riches of their Subjects； and their Revenues together with them； which Things are inseparably connected。 Nay； this matter ought most certainly to be carried so far as to fill Ireland with Inhabitants； by granting for a considerable Term； on small Acknowledgments； a proper Quantity of any waste Land； that any Person shall choose； and be able to undertake the full Improvement of。 And this； I think； these Kingdoms would soon become vastly more powerful； since 'tis probable； that in less than a Century there would be double the present Number of People found in them。 Nor could this possibly fail； I think； unless the Nations round us； to prevent the Loss of their Subjects； should take the same Measures； and then the Increase of each Nation would be only such as the natural Increase of Mankind will produce。 but this great Advantage wold arise to Mankind by this Means； that Happiness and Liberty wold be as general and extensive； as the Method I prescribe shall be practised。 And this may shew the Folly and Absurdity of making War； on the ambitious Principle of extending Dominion； since War； if it be continued a few Years； commonly ruins the Generality of the People of such Nations as are vanquish'd； as we know the late War did France； and what we who conquer'd got by it； the Taxes we at present groan under； and from which perhaps we shall never be reliev'd； will amply testify。 But the Folly of making War； to extend Dominion； appears； in what War lays waste and depopulates Countries； and thereby puts such Nations to great and extraordinary Charges and Difficulties； to preserve and defend such unpeopled Territories from the easy Inroads and Invasions of their Neighbours； who have as many more Opportunities of Entrance； as the extended unpeopled Territory of any Potentate doth necessarily afford。 If therefore it be absurd to make War to extend Dominion； I should say Territory； for that is all that can be got by it；（27*） and if； as I have before shewn； it be unnecessary on the Account of Trade also； it will follow that War； except in our own necessary Self…defence； is unnatural and wicked； since these ordinary Causes； viz。 extending Dominion or Trade will not justify it。 Yet I think there is one Case； in which making War on other Nations may be justifiable； viz。 Fighting for Territory when we are over…people； and want Land for them； which our Neighbours have； but will not part with on amicable and reasonable Terms。 And as this； and necessary Self…defence is all the just Foundation War can ever have； so War for any other Causes is Murder； aggravated by the horrible Addition of all the Thousands that are destroy'd on both Sides。 This must be so； because it's monstrous to imagine； the Author of the World hath constituted Things so； as to make it any Ways necessary for Mankind to murder and destroy each other： And yet he must have constituted Things thus monstrously； if War be necessary on any other Foundation whatsoever。 I will not proceed to shew； that the State of the Nation； in Respect of the Trade thereof； is really very different； and much worse than it was about the Year 1688。 Erasmus Phillips says； Page 15； that the Year above mentioned was perhaps the Time； when England was in Possession of the greatest Quantity of Wealth she ever did enjoy； She was then inrich'd with the Treasure she had been accumulating for about 150 Years； for so long we may date the Progress of Trade in this Nation。 And Page 17； he says；As to the Specie of the Nation； the Recoining 3 Years afterwards makes that sum almost apparent as to the Silver； for from 1691 to 1697； there was brought to the London and Country Mints； 8；400；000 l。 of clipt； light； and hammer'd Money； and in all Probability there might be a great Sum standing out。 The mill'd Silver coin'd in King Charles IId； and King James IId's Reign； might be 2；200；000 l。 so that we may suppose subsisting in Silver Money； at that Time； about 11 Millions； And the Gold we may reckon thus：
Coin'd in Queen Elizabeth's Time who reform'd most of the old Specie： L。 1；500；000 Coin'd in King James Ist's Time L。 800；000 Coin'd in King Charles Ist's Time L。 1；723；456 And in the Reigns of King Charles IId； and King James IId。 L。 6；500；000 In all L。 10；523；456
But allowing for Deficiencies and Wastes of all Kinds L。 3；000；000 The Gold Specie then remains L。 7；523；456 Silver Specie as above L。 11；000；000 Total of the Specie circulating in the Nation about the Year 1688 L。 18；523；456
And Page 18； he says； There is Reason to believe this was the State of the Nation in Respect to Trade and Money in the Year 1688。 And I will endeavour to shew； that the Trade of the Nation had really stood on such a Foot； during the whole Period of the Coinage above set forth； that is was not likely we had thereby diminished any Part of the Specie abovemention'd； on which however so large a Sum as 3 Millions is allow'd for Deficiencies and Waste。 In the Year 1645 there were 7966 Christen'd； and 11479 Buried。 In the Year 1789 there were 14777 Christen'd and 23502 Buried。 The Christenings and Burials； then； being at the Year 1689； about double the Number they were at the Year 1645； makes it evident that the People in London and Westminister； etc。 within the Bills of Mortality； were doubled in about 44 Years； notwithstanding that great Plague which happened in this Period。 And Dr Nichols hath assured us； that the Country increased in the same Time； though not in the like； yet in a considerable Proportion。 Not since the Prices of all things in general were as high； if not higher； when the People were so much increased； than the Prices of the same Things in general were when the Number of the People were so much less （and this I shall take for granted as a Thing sufficiently known；） therefore； since we had at the Year 1688 no considerable national Debts； or Paper Effects operating as Money； and thereby inhancing the prices of things above the Rates which the Specie itself would support them at； as every Thing which hath the operation of Money； though it be not such； will never fail to do； I say； this could be only the Effect of a vast Increase of real specie circulating； which thus supported； if not raised the Number of People； as there was in London； etc。 and in the Kingdom in general； or at about the Year 1688； above the Number there was about 44 Years before。 And since we （having no mines） could only have such an increase of specie arise； by the Balance of Trade being so mightily in our Favour； as to increase the Money so vastly in so short a time as about 44 Years； I think there can be no room to imagine； the Specie； coin'd as above； was at all lessen'd in this Period。 But it will still be a Question； whether the Specie was not diminish'd before the Year 1645； since the Beginning of the Coinage goes much further back。 To which I answer； that is is well know that our Trade at 1645 was but of about 100 Years Date； and therefore I shall say it was but in its Youth。 And as it is a Circumstance； always attending the Beginnings of foreign Trade in every Nation； to have the Balance in their Favour； because such Nations having no Mines； cannot have much Money amongst them；（28*） on which Account their Produce and Manufacturers must needs be low in their Price： And as this is the chief； if not the only Circumstance which lays the Foundation of the Exportation of the Commodities of any Country； so this being then our Case； must needs be the Means of increasing the Gold and Silver amongst us； from the Time of Reforming the old Specie by Queen Elizabeth； to the Time whence I begin that great Increase of the People。 But further to establish this Point； give me Leave again to make use of Dr Nichols's Authority in the beforecited Place； where he says； 〃To consider further how mightily this Nation of ours hath increased within a Century or two； notwithstanding the many civil and external Wars； and those vast Drains of People that have been made into our Plantations since the Discovery of America。〃 If the Nation did really increase so mightily within a Century or two； and it be an undeniable Fact that the Prices of Things advanced too during that Time； we must during that Time have had an Increase of the People and Prices of Things； as hath been before reason'd on this Point。 Therefore I think it appears more than probable； that the Specie coin'd as above； was not diminish'd； but really circulating amongst us about the Year 1688。 Let us now see how different the State of the Nation； and consequently the Trade thereof； now is in this Respect。
The Cash of the Nation is by most People； so far as I can learn； esteem'd to be about 10 or 12 Millions。 But Erasmus Phillips endeavours to she that it is（29*） L。 15；000；000 And in his Preface； he says； the National Debt is 53 Millions； a sixth Part of which； he says； Foreigners are generally supposed to have； which； allowing the Debt to be now somewhat lessen'd； can hardly be put lower than（30*） L。 8；000；000。 The Balance of Specie； which we may then call our own； will be L。 7；000；000。
That is 11 millions and a half less than we had about the Year 1688。 Now whether this great Diminution of our Species be attributed chiefly to the vast Expence of King William
