money answers all things-第18章
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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 and Queen Anne's Wars； as without doubt it must in a great degree； or that the balance of Trade since that Time hath been against us； and contributed to this Diminution； it's evident the State of the Nation； being now so vastly different in respect of real Specie we can call our own； must have a malignant Influence on our Trade； whilst the Prices of most Commodities and Necessaries of Life； by the Operation of Paper…Effects； are maintain'd at higher Rates than those Things bore before the Year 1688。 Therefore I conclude； Since we have so much less Specie we can call our own； and such a vast Value of Paper…Effects operating as Money； and are indebted to Foreigners such a great Sum； the Interest of which they are continually drawing from us； besides a vast national Debt； that the State of Trade is as much worse than it was in the Year 1688； as the State of the Nation is so： For the Relation between these are such；if rightly consider'd； that they ought to be esteem'd as but one and the same Thing； notwithstanding we seem to distinguish them by different Names。 Another Point； whence I argue that the Trade of this Nation is in a worse State than it was about the Year 1688； is the different Increase of the People since that Time to the Increase in the preceding 44 Years。 In the Year 1730； there were 17118 Christen'd and 26761 Buried。 In 1689； （which I stopt at；） 14777 Christen'd and 23502 Buried。 The difference increased is； Christen'd 2341 and Buried 3259； or about 1/7 Part of the Number of the Year 1689； which shews the Increase of the People since that Time to be about so much： Which being so far short of the preceding Period of 44 Years； shews that our Trade is in as much worse State； as the Increase is less in near the same Length of Time。 But the great Increase； in the before…mention'd 44 Years； will be greatly ascribed to the great Number of French Refugees； that came and settled here in that Period。 But I think they could not have found a Settlement with us； if our Trade had not been in a very flourishing State； without improving so much waste Land as their Numbers required； and thereby reducing the Prices of our Produce and Manufactures in such Proportion： Whereas it's certain no such Fall happen'd； and therefore it follows we had so much greater Exports of our Produce and Manufactures； as were equal to the Imployment so great an Addition of Hands did require to support them。 And the great Quantity of Money coin'd in this Period of doubling； which was perhaps equal to all we had before circulating amongst us； shews that this was the Case； since nothing but so much greater Exports than Imports； could have brought us such a Balance of Gold and Silver； or have supported the Prices of Things。 This therefore shews； that the Increase or Decrease of the People in any Nation； depends more on the Balance of Trade than on any other Consideration whatsoever。 For where the Balance is considerably in favour of any Nation； there the People finding Employment do always flow； and contrarywise； if the Balance be considerably against a Nation； the People must foresake it； a melancholy Proof of which some of our Colonies do furnish； many People of all Degrees； if we can rely on our News…Papers； abandoning them。 Nor can they ever be recover'd but by their raising Corn and Cattle； which includes almost every Thing； instead of their Staple of Sugar； etc。 which they find will not produce enough of the Necessaries and Comforts of Life for all the People。 But if they were to raise these necessary Things； and make them so plenty as to inable them to Work full as cheap as the French； who have now got the Staple of Sugars from them； and thereby that Trade from this Nation； our Plantations would soon bring that Staple back again； or at least come in for their Share in it； and all other Branches of Trade which their Soil and Climate are by Nature most adapted to。 And since I have digress'd so far about our Plantations； which I have done for their sakes； I must say； I can't think it good Policy to carry our People to them； whilst we have waste Land enough at home to improve and employ them； since by carrying the People away； we lose so many Consumers of our Produce； etc。 and Occupiers of Rooms； if not of Houses； which necessarily brings a proportionable Loss to the Revenue with it； besides the Charge of transporting and settling them。 Instead of which； did we but cause the Trade of our Colonies to be put on such a Foot as I am pointing out； People enough would soon forsake arbitrary and oppressive Governments； to find so happy a Settlement； as such a State of Trade in our Plantations would of itself produce； and is necessarily connected with。 And this I am as certain of； as that Mr Corbert in his Answer to the French King （Guardian No。 52） was certainly in the right； when he told his Majesty； That the People will never stay and starve in any Country； if they know of any other where they can subsist themselves comfortably。 Another Point； whence I argue the State of Trade to be worse than it formerly was； is the great Number of empty Houses； not only in the Suburbs and new Buildings； but in the Strand； Fleet…Street； Ludgatehill； Cheapside； and Cornhil： For I think Houses shut up in Cheapside and Cornhil； ar an unanswerable Proof of the bad State of Trade in this City； and I suppose； if the new Buildings were extended further than they are like to be； Cornhil could hardly be affected by them； since so long as the Royal Exchange stands there； and Ships can't sail thro' London Bridge； it should； I think； be the Seat of Trade； as it is certain it hath heretofore been。 But how is its State of Trade alter'd！ How many Milliners； Pastry…Cooks； and other inconsiderable Trades fill the Houses； where opulent wholesale Dealers dwelt； whilst several other Houses have been shut up for some Time！ And to me it appears absurd； to impute this to any other Cause than the different State of the Trade of this Metropolis；（31*） which I shall always regard as an Index of the State of Trade of the whole Kingdom。 I have before taken Notice； that the great Number of empty Houses is ascribed to the new Buildings of late Years。 But I can't conceive the Buildings in the last forty Years； to have been near equal to what they must have been in the preceding forty Years； when the Buildings must have been so numerous as to equal the whole Number standing in London； Westminister； and the Suburbs thereof before that Time； because the People having doubled in the next forty Years （as appears by the Bills of Mortality） must needs have double the Habitations to reside in。 and here I wave the Buildings which the Fire of London occasion'd； tho' that must have been prodigious； for it happen'd in this Period of doubling。 Nay； it must be evident； the Building this last forty years； can't have been near equal to the Buildings in the preceding forty years； because abundance more Houses wou'd now be empty than there are； if this were the Case； since the People have not increased above 1/7； or thereabout in the last forty Years； tho' they doubled in the preceding 40 Years； or thereabouts； as hath been shewn。 Another Point； whence I argue； that Trade is in a much worse state than it formerly was； is that we send Money to Spain； whence we ought most certainly to receive it： For Spain having the Mines of Peru and Mexico； and being so very careful to keep the Riches of them to themselves； that they search all Ships in those Parts； and if they find any Money on Board； confiscate them； and bring all the Treasure of those Mines home to Old Spain； in the King's Ships call'd Galleons； Register…Ships； etc。 Therefore Spain being the great Receiver of this vast Treasure； consequently must have the Prices of all Commodities at as much higher Rates than other Nations； as the Wealth of these Mines continually furnish； is greater than any other nation can receive； who have no Mines but their Trade。 And as it is this which doth； and which in the very Nature of the Thing should give us and other Nations； who have no Mines； the Advantage of vending Goods to Spain； so as to have the Balance on them； and every Country that hath Gold and Silver Mine： so it will follow； that our Trade is really in a bad condition； if we pay them any Money at all。 And yet by our Bills of Entries it appears； that we Exported to Cadiz in Spain； September 7； 1732。。。。 2000 Ounces of Gold 9； 2000 Novemb。 4 2000 Decemb。 16 3000 19 1000 January 7 3000 In all 13000 Ounces of Gold or about L。 50；00 in so short a time。 I could produce many more instances from the bills of Entry； but these are sufficient to prove that the State of our Trade is not only worse than it formerly was； when we undoubtedly had the Balance in our favour on Spain； but that the Trade of this Nation is in a very bad Way indeed； unless it can be proved that Gold in Spain is so much more valuable in respect of Silver； than it is with us； that it will purchase so more more Silver in Spain than it will do here； as is sufficient to pay the Freight of the Gold out； and of the Silver home； and the Insurance for the Hazard of the Sea out and home； with Postage of Letters； and Commission to the Merchants in Spain； and a Profit sufficient to induce our Merchants to export Gold to bring home Silver for it。 And since the Merchants in Portugal understand getting Money as well as others； can we imagine their Gold would come to us； as we find by its Circulation amongst us it doth； if they could buy Silver with it as such cheaper Rates in Spain； as would enable them to send us Silver at so much higher Rates in respect of Gold； as the Silver would thus cost them less than it is worth with us； in respect of Gold？ Hence therefore I conclude； that nothing but Spain's having such a Balance upon us； can be the Cause of our sending them this Money。 And； I think； nothing but our Paper Effects； which are almost immense； if we consider the publick Securities of every Kind； and Bank Notes； etc。 which have the Operation of Money amongst us； could possibly raise and keep our Markets so high； as to cause us to receive more Goods in Value from Spain than they
take of us。 And yet； I think； this must be our Case； tho' we carry them only Gold。 And thus it may be said； we carry Coals to Newcastle； nor can the Event be different； if we go on so； except that this Matter is of so much more Importance； as Gold is more valuable than Coals。 I must own I have hear it supposed； that the Merchants in Spain； to avoid the Delays that of late Years have attended the Delivery of the Money from on Board the King's Ships； and also to elude paying the Indulto thereon； have found means to convey their Money by our Ships to England； and that this occasions the Exportation of Gold to Spain； but I think this Trade so dangerous； both to the Merchants in Spain； and our Ships too； that I know not how to admit this for a sufficient Reason。 Another Point； from whence I shall argue that our Trade is in a much worse State than i
