第 14 节
作者:
无边的寒冷 更新:2021-02-21 11:55 字数:9322
s much as will provide for such a middling Family; as the Estimate is made for。 But I must observe; that the Produce of the Earth could not be doubled; unless the Quantity of Land in Use were also doubled; for the Land in Use doth certainly; generally; produce as much as it can well be made to bear; therefore it follows; there must be twice as much Land to bear twice the present Quantity of Produce; which the Estimate shews would be consumed; without altering the several Ranks and Stations of Man in any Respect; but that of being comfortably supported in the several Ranks and Stations of Life。 But to double the Produce; there must be double the Number of People employed in Cultivation of Land。 Now; I think it self…evident; that Trade; Manufactures; etc。 could not possibly spare half such a Number of People out of them; without making Trade; Manufactures; etc。 much too profitable; and encouraging; to suffer half so many People to employ themselves any other Way。 For as it is the Demand; which governs and fixes the Price of every thing; if so many People were to be taken out of Trade; Manufactures; etc。 as half the Quantity of Land; we have now in Use; would require to cultivate and improve it; and go through all the Parts of Business arising thereby; the Manufacturers; Traders; etc。 would undoubtedly be able to exact almost what Price they pleased for their Work and Business。 Upon the whole then; we may see; that all the Produce of the Earth and Manufactures would be wanted and used; if Things were to be put on so happy a Foot; as I am pointing out; and that the Wants of Mankind are full as great; as both their Abilities; and the Earth too; are capable of supplying; whence it follows; that any Want of Employment or Trade amongst the People; is solely owing to this; that we have not Land enough in Use to employ and support them。 Again; I would observe; that if the present Quantity of Produce were to be augmented only one Fourth at most (and perhaps People enough might be spared out of Trade; Manufactures; etc。 to do this) it would certainly fall the Price of the Produce half。 For since Farms must; in this Case; be one Fourth more numerous than they are; the Rents of Lands would thereby necessarily be considerably lowered; and if the Produce of the Earth would; in this Case; be augmented to so great a Degree; as a fourth Part also; as I suppose it certainly would; these Things taken together; I think; could not fail to lower the Price of the Produce half; and then Labour would of Necessity be lowered also; because the working of Necessity be lowered also; because the working People would be under no less Necessity than they are now; to work as cheap as they possibly can。 For if; as it hath been shewn; the Produce can't be doubled; to enable the working People to be double the Consumers they now are; as the Estimate shews they certainly would; if they could get it; and that without bringing them at all out of the Rank and Condition of working People: Nay; if the Produce can't be increased half; nor perhaps hardly one Fourth neither; would not absolute Necessity oblige the working People to work as cheap as they possible can; that they may be able to supply their Wants as far as they can; which yet; it appears by the Estimate; must be considerably abridged; notwithstanding the Plenty; which a fourth Part more Land than we now have in Use would produce; and notwithstanding too; that there would; in this Case; be so much more Employment for the working People; as would fill up the whole Time they have to labour in: So true is the Proverb; and so true 'twill always be; That nothing is cheap; but poor Folks Labour。 But this Estimate shews; how much the Necessaries of Life ought to be lowered in Price; in order to reduce the Wages of the labouring People; so as to make much more Employment for them; and at the same time increase the Consumption of every thing to such a Degree; that there may be a great deal more Business amongst the trading Part of the People。 The labouring People; I am sure; and do insist on it; notwithstanding my Estimate; can make about 16 Shillings per Week support such a Family; as the Estimate is made for; though I know not; nor desire to know; how to make an Estimate thereof; and I have heard them that have such Families; declare they should think themselves happy; wherefore it appears to me; that in order to reduce Labour; the Necessaries of Life should be lowered at least one Fourth; and the labouring People be enabled; notwithstanding; to purchase near half as many more Necessaries as their present Wages of 10 or 12 Shillings per Week will do; at the Rates these Things now go; and; I think; any one who considers the Pittances allowed in the Estimate; must think it fit; that the labouring People; if they will be industrious; should notwithstanding any manner of Pretences or Suggestions to the contrary; have it in their Power to obtain half as many more Necessaries for their Support and Comfort; as their present Wages will now purchase; and then there would be almost half as many more Trade and Business amongst the People in general; as there now is; or can be till this be done; besides all other mighty Advantages; inseparably connected with it; of which; the Removal of many of those Temptations; which contribute to the Destruction of the Poor; and which would; in this Case; in a great Measure be certainly removed; is no small one。 For I take the great Number of Brandy…shops and Ale…houses; which have multiplied so mightily of late Years; to be one of the greatest Snares and Temptations that could be laid in the Way of the labouring People;and which introduces most of the Calamities and Vices they fall into; these which are so great a Snare to the poorer Sort; as Taverns also are to many in better Stations; would; I think; soon be very much reduced in their Numbers (though I suppose we shall always have enough of them) if so much new Employment were produced for the People in general; as would arise by the Execution of this Proposal。 For since it hath been shewn; that the full Execution of this Proposal will create as much Employment and Trade as the People can possibly perform; I think the trading People would soon find more honourable; if not more profitable Ways to subsist; than by enticing and encouraging the working People to spend the Money they know should be saved for and laid out on their Families; and instead of suffering them to disorder themselves; and waste that Time; which should be employed to gain a Support for their Families; or if they have none; to provide against the Infirmities of Age; and other Accidents of Life; or for near and helpless Relations; they would even turn such disorderly People out of their Houses; or at least not sell them Liquors so vastly injurious to them; and all the Relations they stand in to others。 For there are Instances of Brandy…Shops and Publick…houses; who having pretty good Trades will not suffer such Excesses in their Houses; notwithstanding the many Examples; and State of Trade in general are bad enough to justify any Means of attaining a Livelihood; not absolutely unlawful。 But there is a Necessity to lower the Necessaries of Life to about half the present Price; if we would reduce Labour only one fourth Part lower than it now goes; for as it is the Demand alone; which gives the Value; and fixes the Price to every thing; any slender attempts to employ the Poor; and make more Business this way arise to others; would by encreasing the Demand for Labour; etc。 rather tend to raise the wages of the labouring People; and augment the Profits of the trading Part; than to lower either of them; for I believe the trading People in general (and their numerous Complaints to the Parliament; shew as much; as well as an Estimate I have subjoined) stand in need of larger Profits; as the first Estimate also shews the labouring People do of larger Supplies; than their present Wages will now procure them。 But perhaps it may be asked; How Labour can be reduced the Way I propose; since the Demand for it (which always advances the Price of every thing) will be greater: To which I answer; that it is the present Rates of Labour only that will be reduced my Way; but its Value; according to the above Maxim will be greater; when the Necessaries of Life are rendered so much cheaper; that a fourth part less Wages will purchase near half as many more Necessaries as the present Rates of Labour will do; and as this is all the Reduction of Labour I am aiming at; or which in the Nature of the Thing is possible; so; that I may be clearly understood; let it be supposed; that such a labouring Man's Family can be decently maintained (as it most certainly may) with about 16 Shillings per Week; and that the Necessaries of Life were lowered to half their present Price; as 8 Shillings would then purchase as much as 16 will now do; which is at least a third more than their present Wages of 10 or 12 Shillings will now purchase; so Labour would then really be about 1/3 Part more valuable than it is now; though its Rate at the same time be lowered about 1/3 Part also。 But if we would really effect this; we must undoubtedly; as fast as possible; improve such large Tracts of w