money answers all things-第20章
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our Trade； that the Nations round us have； in less than half a Century； enter'd on； and set up the Fabricating many Manufactures； which they before that Time had from us only： Which hath not been observed； but lamented by many of our Merchants and Tradesmen； etc。 And at length； as is notoriously know； the Dearness of Labour hath been found so burthensome to our Farmers； that the Gentry and Justices of the Peace； in their open Quarter Sessions； have lately； in several Places in the Kingdom； attempted to redress this Evil； by regulating the Rates of Servants Wages。 Now this attempt； though it be unnatural； and impossible to answer the End； is however a publick Acknowledgment； that our Trade is in a very bad State。 For if our Labour be really too dear； as it most certainly is； then all our Commodities must be so too； which must necessarily greatly lessen the Vend and Consumption of them。 And hence it will follow； that this publick Attempt to reduce the Rates of Labour； amounts to a publick Declaration that our Trade is in a very bad State。 But after all I have offer'd； which I think abundantly sufficient to prove that our Trade is in a much worse State than it formerly was； I know it will be objected； that we have； at this Time； as much Trade amongst us in the Nation as we ever had； and that therefore our Trade is not so bad； as I have shewn it to be。 Now； tho' I should allow the Objectors their Assertion； yet； I think； I can notwithstanding produce several Reasons； to shew that our Trade is in a much worse State than it formerly was； as； First； That the People in this Kingdom have increased considerably within the last half Century： For I have before shewn that this Town is increased about 1/7 part； in the Space of about forty Years。 And Sir William Pettis says； A Nation will double itself in 200 Years； if it be free from War； Pestilence； or Draining for distant Colonies。 Now 40 Years being 1/5 of the Period he asserts a Nation will double in； it follows； by this Authority； that the People in this Kingdom must be increas'd 1/5 within the last forty Years： If therefore our Trade be not 1/5 Part greater than it was about forty Years ago； which I am sure cannot be shewn； it follows； that as our Trade is less； in Proportion to this Increase of People； than it formerly was； it therefore must be so much worse。 I am sensible it may be objected； that we have； within half a Century； had two Wars with France； as well as one in Ireland upon King William's coming in； and that therefore this Authority will not support so great an Increase as I have deduced from it。 But I answer； That we had so good a Trade about the Revolution； and during both those Wars with France； as drew more People from abroad to us； than these Wars did probably destroy。 Again； Secondly； allowing that we have now as much Trade in this Kingdom as we formerly had； yet it must also be allow'd； that if Trade be now carried on for less Profit； than it formerly was； as it undoubtedly is； and this I fear now will be generally granted； besides； that I think； what I have said under the last Estimate； doth sufficiently prove as much： I say； if Trade be now carried on for less Profits； and if the Charge of Living be likewise grown much greater than it formerly was； which I know will easily be allow'd me too； surely then Trade must necessarily be much worse than it formerly was； notwithstanding we may have as much Trade is certainly in a much worse State than it formerly was； especially in this Metropolis； I think it will not be unnecessary to shew how Trade stands in the Country in this respect。 Now it hath been long asserted； that many Farmers； in several Parts of the Kingdom； from the Cheapness of the Produce of the Ground； and from the Dearness of Labour have been obliged to throw up their Farms to their Landlords。 And of late this is grown so generally the Case； that the News…Papers（33*） have assured us； that most of the Farmers all over the Kingdom must inevitably have been ruin'd； had not Corn； etc。 taken a sudden considerable and unexpected Rise； which the War now broke out in Italy hath occasion'd。 And this seems to be allow'd to be Fact； even by the most sanguine of those that contend for the present most flourishing State of our Trade； whilst they content themselves with assigning this Cause for it； viz。 That the Gentry truly do not now live； and spend their Money in the Country； as formerly。 Now this； if it be true； seems to me a very inadequate Cause； either of the late Cheapness of the Produce； or present Dearness of Labour； to which Causes the Farmers justly attribute the unhappy Dilemma they have for some Time labour'd under。 But however； Fact it seems it is； that the Farmers； generally； were so near inevitable Ruin as is above asserted： Now I would fain know what the State of Trade must be in the Country； when the Farmers in general were in so dreadful a Condition： For the Trade in the country； I think； turns chiefly； if not entirely； upon the general Prosperity of the Farmers； for I believe the Country People would be able to raise but few Manufactures； if the Farmers in general were so reduced； as to be unable to raise the Principles out of the Ground； for them to work on； and yet this must be the Case； if the Farmers were generally ruin'd。 For the Gentlemens employing their Farmers themselves； would not mend the Matter； since they find by Experience； those Farms always bring them in Debt； on which the Farmers find they can't get a Livelihood； which therefore in the End； must ruin the Gentlemen as well as the Farmers。 And therefore it follows； that； allowing the above Fact to be true； the Trade in the Country； as well as the Trade in London； is in a much worse Condition than it was formerly； when the Prosperity of the Farmers； and other Circumstances； enabled the Gentlemen almost universally to raise their Rents； as it's well known they have done very considerably； within the Space of 30 or 40 years last past。 But I shall now proceed to obviate an Objection； which； as Things are now circumstanced； may seem to lie against this Proposal； viz。 'Tis objected； that the Plenty is now so great； as to reduce the Price of the Produce so low； that the Farmers can pay no Rent； and therefore it follows； that we have already broke up and improv'd too much Land； since such Plenty can arise only from having too much Land in Use。 In answer to which； I shall first observe； that the Price of Things may be reduced too low to answer and turn to Account； not only from the Plenty of those Things consider'd in themselves； but from the Inability of the People in general to purchase them； in such Quantities as their Wants may require； since a consideration Abatement of the Consumption of any Thing； will operate to the Reduction of its Price； more than even Plenty of any Thing； consider'd with due Regard to the Wants of the People； will do；（34*） and whoever considers the two Estimates I have produced； which shew how much greater the Wants of the People are； than they can in general be supposed to get； must ascribe the present low Rates of the Produce； at least as much to an Abatement of the Consumption； as to the Plenty consider'd as aforesaid； since by those Estimates it plainly appears； the Wants of the People are mightily abridged。 Again； this Objection is contrary to the Nature of the Thing itself； since it suggests that Plenty is so enormous an Evil； as in general to ruin the Farmers and Gentlemen。 For if the Farmers can't pay their Rent； they will certainly one time or other be seized on； and torn to Pieces； and the Gentlemen must also be ruin'd； if they can get no Rent for their Lands； as this Objection suggests。 Now since Plenty is in its own nature a general Good； and a universal Blessing； always promoting and increasing the Consumption thereof； nor can possibly ever be otherwise； this objection； which suggests that Plenty is an Evil； and so great a one too； must be contrary to the Nature of the Thing itself。 Again； if it were true； as this Objection suggests； that we have already so much Land in Use； as makes the Plenty so great； as to reduce the Price of the Produce so low； that the landlords can get no Rent for the lands； yet if it can be made appear （as I think by what I have said in this Essay it doth） that more Land is wanted to give full Employment to all the People； and thereby to supply their reasonable Wants； it will follow； whether Gentlemen can or cannot get any Rent for their Lands； that the People have a just and reasonable Right to have so much more Land put to Use； as shall be needful and sufficient to give them full Employment； and subsist them comfortably； because every Person is； by Nature； as much intitled to all the Land he can cultivate and use； as he is to the Air in which he breathes： For he can no more live without cultivating the Ground to supply his Wants； than he can breathe without Air。 And therefore； since Mankind are all by Nature born equal in this respect； it can never be reasonable to abridge any Part of Mankind of this their natural Right； unless it can be clearly prov'd； that it is for the Good of every Individual to be thus abridged； and therefore； that they ought either to purchase； or pay Rent for the Land they shall use and enjoy。 And this indeed； I doubt not； I could clearly make appear； if I were to shew the Preference of Civil Government； rightly administer'd； to a simple State of Nature without Government； of which the Hottentots seem to me to be the chief； if not the only Instance we have now perhaps in the World； and yet； I believe； I should prefer their abject Condition to any arbitrary or oppressive Government on Earth。 But I deny that there is； or ever was such a Plenty as this Objection suggests； because the Produce of the Ground； when brought to Market by the Farmers； is always sold for ready Money。 Now it is impossible that any Thing can properly be said to be too plentiful； for which the Demand is always so great； as to make it a ready Money Commodity。 For if the Plenty were really too great for the Demand； it would； as we know many sorts of Goods and Manufactures are； necessarily be sold for Time。 And since nothing but a greater Plenty of any Thing； than the Demand for it requires； is the Foundation and Cause of selling such Things on Credit； it follows that the Produce is not too plentiful； since it's always sold for ready Money； Nay； Victuals and Drink； which are the only Things in this Objection I am properly concern'd with； are so far from being too plentiful； that they are generally sold for ready Money； even down to the meanest Consumer。 For the Number of those who do not pay present Money for these immediate Necessaries； are not only few in Comparison； but even those Persons； generally speaking； always pay for these immediate Necessaries in a very short time； unless when such a one happens to be trusted； that is not able to pay at all。 And this； I believe； is so generally known to be true； that I need not fear having the Concurrence of the People in general on my side； by which the Truth of this Argument must stand or fall； no other Proof being possible in this Case。 If therefore it be not the Plenty of the Produce； that is the Cause that it is at present sold so cheap； that the Farmers can pay
