第 4 节
作者:
无边的寒冷 更新:2021-02-21 11:55 字数:9322
with a greater Charge of Labour thereon; whence; if the same Quantity of Produce must thus cost a great deal more; than all the 20 pounds Rent; by which it was first inhanced; the Parts must cost more too in such Proportion; so that; I think; I need not scruple to assert; that 140 l。 could not in this Case purchase what 100 l。 now doth; whence Gentlemen; who are consumers in common with others; would thus evidently be much the poorer for so raising their Estates; and therefore I think it an undeniable Consequence; that they wou'd be the richer for lowering their Estates 20 or 30 l。 per cent per annum since it must be equally certain; that 70 or 80 l。 would purchase more in this case; than 100 l。 now doth; as it is certain 120 l。 in the other case; would not purchase so much as 100 l。 now doth。 And this both accounts for; and verifies an Observation; I have heard some Gentlemen make; and wonder at; that they find they can't live so well and hospitably on the same Estates; as their Ancestors did; who had vastly less Income from them; than their Successors; who make this Observation; now have。 If therefore; Gentlemen; find themselves streighten'd; by raising Rents above what the Money circulating amongst the People will well enable them to pay; how great must the Streights and difficulties be which are brought on the People; out of whom such heavy Rents are raised! But perhaps it may be objected; that this Argument concludes too much: Since; if 70 l。 will in this Case purchase more than 120 l。 why will not nothing purchase more than something? To which I answer; There is a proper Point; at which it will stop of itself; which is this: Whenever the Wages of the Labouring Man; and Price of Necessaries are mad so near equal; that he can; suitably to that low Rank in Life; support such a Family as he; in common with all the human Kind; chiefly came into this World to raise; (which Things I hope to shew may be brought much nearer together than they now are); I say; when the Labouring Man's Wages will do this; the Rent the Lands will then bear; is that proper and fit Rent; which will enable the Gentlemen to purchase more of every Thing; than any larger Rents can enable them to do; which I prove thus: Suppose the Rents rais'd so much; as necessarily to carry the Price of Goods to the Consumers in general; to higher Rates than the Money they can get will enable them to purchase what they really want: this makes a Kind of unnatural Plenty of Goods; presenting themselves for buyers; who; though they really want them; can't find Money to purchase them;and therefore are forced to abridge their necessary Wants as much as they can; and this depresses the Value of those Goods (which thus in the End must want buyers) below the Rates which the Rents have made necessary; and this will necessarily keep the Produce of the Ground which the Farmers bring to Market; so low; that they can't make it answer to bear all Charges; and pay their Rents; whence the Gentlemen must find it difficult; if not impossible; to get their Rents; whilst at the same Time; whatever they buy; as hath been prov'd; will necessarily be dearer in a greater Proportion than ever the Rents in a greater Proportion than ever the Rents can be raised; whence; I think; it must be plain; that such Rents of Lands in general; as will nearest comport with the Point above…mention'd; will always purchase most of every Thing。 But there is yet another strong Argument to induce Gentlemen to make Money plentiful; viz。 a due Regard to the Happiness of their own Families。 For let it be consider'd; that Men come into this World to raise a new Generation; and depart out of it。 Now the Term of Life; Men will be found to have one with another; from the Time of Marriage to their Death; is very little more than 20 years; in which Time; one Marriage with another; I suppose; produces about 4 Children who live to Man's Estate: Now suppose a Gentleman of 1000 l。 per Annum; to make Provision for his Children; lays up 500 l。 per Annum; which in 20 years will be 1000 l。 sav'd for them; which divided into 4 parts; including the Widow's Share; which must often happen; can be but 2500 l。 for each Child's share: And since this is not only much inferior to the Estate it was sav'd out of; but hardly sufficient; viz。 the Interest thereof; to maintain a single Person handsomely; most of the Children must be introduced to Trade; to improve their Money for their Families; or they will soon reduce it to nothing。 Now if Trade be languishing and distress'd; it can't be expected but many such will sink in the general Difficulties Trade lies under。 Therefore; if there be any Way practicable to make Money plentiful amongst the People in general; which never fails to make Trade flourish; it ought to be done; not only from a common Principle of Affection to the publick Good; but for the particular Benefit of every Gentleman's own immediate Offspring; many of whom are sure to be affected; just as Trade is in a flourishing or distress'd Condition。 But the languishing condition of Trade is ascribed to the Luxury of the People; concerning which let it be consider'd。 That it is expected of every Man; that he provide for himself and Family a Support; but this Expectation is unreasonable; if Things are not so wisely constituted in their own Nature; that every one may attain this End。 The Ways Men have to attain this Support; are the Exercise of their several Occupations。 These arise solely out of the mutual wants; etc。 of Mankind。 Children who can do little or nothing towards supplying themselves; make about half the Business of the World; since more than half the human Race die under 17 Years of Age。 Now if the People must retrench; they must do some or all of these Things; viz。 wear fewer and worse Cloaths; etc。 eat less and worse Victuals; imploy fewer or no Servants; occupy less House…room; and use less Light and Fewel; and spend little or no Money in any Pleasure or Diversion; and instead of Wine or Strong Beer; drink small Beer or Water; and avoid Marriage; as many certainly do; because it creates a greater Expence than they can support。 Now wou'd not this lessen the Consumption of every Thing; and hinder many from supporting themselves and Families; by making so much less Business amongst the People; and thereby greatly increase the Number of Poor; who; if no other Way be found to imploy them; which tillage alone in this Case can do; must become a much greater Burthen than they are? Besides that where the Poor increase; the Profits of Trade will be still more and more reduced; through Losses; and Want of Trade; and the Efforts of such great Numbers of indigent People; as must be striving to support themselves in that business that remains。 And must not the Revenue be greatly diminish'd likewise; since in this Case the Consumption of Things; on which the Revenue intirely depends; must be lessen'd very much? Besides; 'tis certain a poor People can't pay great Taxes; any more than they can pay great Rents。 Therefore; instead of urging the People to be less Consumers; Things should be made so plentiful; that they might be greater Consumers; that Business might increase; and not abate amongst the People。 And then Luxury would find its natural and proper bounds; which if any Man transgressed in any extraordinary Measure he would be sufficiently whipt with his own Rod。 But farther; as to Luxury; those that are not influenced by the natural Motives to Frugality; will not easily be restrained by any other whatsoever。 The natural Motives to Frugality are these; present Provision for Families; and Fortunes for Children。 They who neglect the first; must soon suffer Want; and they who would provide for the latter; must consider what the Term of Life is which they may reasonably hope for; and take care that their Gains and Expences are proportioned to the End designed。 Now as Persons must; generally at least; have handsome Fortunes themselves; who shall provide Fortunes for their Children; let it be supposed; that a Man sets out with 2000 l。 and by skilful and prudent Management he gains; one Year with another; about 500 l。 If Men who have such Fortunes must not live a little decently; I can't see whence Trade; which intirely depends on; and terminates wholly in the Consumption of things; can arise; nor how Landlords can expect any considerable Rents for their Houses; etc。 and I am certain that to pay Rent; and Taxes; and all other Charges; and maintain a middling Family in London; 250 l。 per annum; is but a scanty Pattern; even where all Things are managed with the utmost Frugality。 Nay 50 or 60 l。 more per annum; as the Rents and the Rates of Things now go; shall hereafter be shewn to be but a very moderate Expence。 But suppose; in this Case; such a Man should lay up; one Year with another; 200 l。 and that for 20 years; which is I believe much about the Term Men have to raise and provide for Families; he then would add 4000 l。 to his first 2000 l。 which makes 6000 l。 together; to be divided amongst four Children; which I take to be the Number of one Marriage with another raises; this Sum therefore will be but 1200 l。 for each Child's Share; if a like Sum be reserved for the Widow; and if there