第 4 节
作者:
男孩不逛街 更新:2021-02-27 03:01 字数:9321
For Money; as necessary to Trade; may be doubly considered。 First; as in his Hands that pays the Labourer and Landholder; (for here its motion terminates; and through whose Hands soever it passes between these; he is but a Broker) and if this Man want Money; (as for Example; the Clothier) the Manufacture is not made; and so the Trade stops; and is lost。 Or Secondly; Money may be considered as in the Hands of the Consumer; under which Name I here reckon the Merchant who buys the Commodity when made; to Export: And if he want Money; the value of the Commodity when made is lessened; and so the Kingdom loses in the Price。 If therefore Use be lessened; and you cannot tye Foreigners to your Terms; then the ill effects fall only upon your Landholders and Artisans: If Foreigners can be forc'd by your Law to Lend you Money only at your own Rate; or not Lend at all; is it not more likely they will rather take it home; and think it safer in their own Country at Four per Cent。 than abroad in a decaying。 Country? Nor can their over…plus of Money bring them to Lend to you; on your Terms: For when your Merchants want of Money shall have sunk the price of your Market; a Dutchman will find it more gains to buy your Commodity himself; than Lend his Money at Four per Cent。 to an English Merchant to Trade with。 Nor will the Act of Navigation hinder their coming; by making them come empty; since even already there are those who think; that many; who go for English Merchants; are but Dutch Factors; and Trade for others in their own Names。 The Kingdom therefore will lose by this lowering of Interest; if it makes Foreigners withdraw any of their Money; as well as if it hinders any of your People from Lending theirs; where Trade has need of it。 In a Treatise writ on purpose for the bringing down of Interest; I find this Argument of Foreigners calling away their Money to the prejudice of our Trade; thus Answer'd; That the Money of Foreigners is not brought into the Land by ready Coin or Bullion; but by Goods or Bills of Exchange; and when it is paid must be returned by Goods or Bills of Exchange; and there will not be the less Money in the Land。 I could not but wonder to see a Man; who undertook to write of Money and Interest; talk so directly besides the matter in the business of Trade。 Foreigners Money; he says; is not brought into the Land by ready Coin or Bullion; but by Goods; or Bills of Exchange。 How then do we come by Bullion or Money? For Gold grows not; that I know; in our Country; and Silver so little; that One hundred thousandth part of the Silver we have now in England; was not drawn out of any Mines in this Island。 If he means that the Monied Man in Holland; who puts out his Money at Interest here; did not send it over in Bullion or Specie hither: That may be true or false; but either way helps not that Authors purpose。 For if he paid his Money to a Merchant his Neighbour; and took his Bills for it here in England; he did the same thing as if he had sent over that Money; since he does but make that Merchant leave in England the Money which he has Due to him there; and otherwise would carry away。 No; says our Author; he cannot carry it away;for; says he; when it is paid it must be returned by Goods; Or Bills of Exchange。 It must not be paid and exported in ready Money; so says our Law indeed; but that is a Law to hedge in the Cookoe; and serves to no purpose。 For if we Export not Goods; for which our Merchants have Money due to them in Holland; How can it be paid by Bills of Exchange? And for Goods; One hundred pounds worth of Goods can no where pay Two hundred pounds in Money。 This being that which I find many Men deceive themselves with in Trade; it may be worth while to make it a little plainer。 Let us suppose England Peopled as it is now。 and its Woollen Manufacture in the same State and Perfection; that it is at present; and that we; having no Money at all; trade with this our Woollen Manufacture for the value of Two hundred thousand pounds Yearly to Spain; where there actually is a Million in Money: Further let us suppose that we bring back from Spain Yearly in Oyl; Wine; and Fruit; to the value of One hundred thousand pounds; and continue to do this Ten Years together: 'Tis plain we have had for our two Millions value in Woollen Manufacture carried thither; one Million returned in Wine; Oyl; and Fruit: But what is become of t'other Million? Will the Merchants be content to lose it? That you may be sure they would not; nor have Traded on; if they had not every Year Returns made answering their Exportation。 How then were the ' Returns made? In Money it is evident。 For the Spaniards having in such a Trade; no Debts; nor the possibility of any Debts in England; cannot pay one Farthing of that other Million by Bills of Exchange: And having no Commodities that we will take off above the value of One hundred thousand pounds Per Annum; they cannot pay us in Commodities。 From whence it necessarily follows; that the Hundred thousand pounds per Ann。 wherein we over…ballance them in Trade; must be paid us in Money; and so at the Ten years end; their Million of Money; (though their Law make it Death to export it) will be all brought into England; as in truth; by this over…ballance of Trade; the greatest part of our Money hath been brought into England out of Spain。 Let us suppose our selves now possessed of this Million of Money; and Exporting Yearly out of England; to the several parts of the World; consumable Commodities to the value of a Million; but Importing Yearly in Commodities; which we consume amongst us to the value of Eleven hundred thousand pounds。 If such a Trade as this be managed amongst us; and continue Ten Years; it is evident; that our Million of Money will at the end of the Ten Years be inevitably all gone from us to them; by the same way that it came to us; that is; by their overballance of Trade。 For we Importing every Year One hundred thousand pounds worth of Commodities more than we Export; and there being no Foreigners that will give us One hundred thousand pounds every year for nothing; it is unavoidable; that One hundred thousand Pounds of our Money must go out every Year to pay for that over…plus; which our Commodities do not pay for。 'Tis ridiculous to say; that Bills of Exchange shall pay our Debts abroad: That cannot be; till Scrips of Paper can be made current Coin。 The English Merchant; who has no Money owing him abroad; cannot expect to have his Bills paid there。 Or if he has Credit enough with a Correspondent; to have his Bills answered: This pays none of the Debt of England; but only changes the Creditor。 And if upon the general ballance of Trade; English Merchants owe to Foreigners One hundred thousand pounds; or a Million; if Commodities do not; our Money must go out to pay it; or else our Credit be lost; and our Trade stop; and be lost too。 A kingdom grows Rich; or Poor just as a Farmer doth; and no otherwise。 Let us suppose the whole Isle of Portland one Farm; and that the Owner; besides what serves his Family; carries to Market to Weymouth and Dorchester; &c。 Cattle; Corn; Butter; Cheese; Wooll; or Cloth; Lead and Tin; all Commodities produced and wrought within his Farm of Portland; to the value of a Thousand Pounds; yearly; and for this; brings whome in Salt; Wine; Oyl; Spice; Linnen and Silks; to the value of Nine hundred Pounds; and the remaining Hundred Pounds in Money。 'Tis evident he grows every year a hundred Pounds Richer; and so at the end often years will have clearly got a Thousand Pounds。 If the Owner be a better Husband; and contenting himself with his Native Commodities; buy less Wine; Spice; and Silk; at Market; and so bring home Five hundred Pounds in Money yearly; instead of a Thousand Pounds; at the end of ten years he will have Five thousand pounds by him; and be so much Richer。 He Dies; and his Son succeeds; a fashionable young Gentleman; that cannot Dine without Champane and Burgundy; nor Sleep but in a Damask Bed; whose Wife must spread a long Train of Brocard; and his Children be always in the newest French cut and Stuff。 He being come to the Estate; keeps on a very busie Family。 the Markets are weekly frequented; and the Commodities of his Farm carried out; and Sold; as formerly; but the Returns are made something different; the fashionable way of Eating; Drinking; Furniture and Clothing for himself and Family; requires more Sugar and Spice; Wine and Fruit; Silk and Ribons; than in his Fathers time; so that instead of Nine hundred Pounds per Annum; he now brings home of consumable Commodities; to the value of Eleven hundred Pounds yearly。 What comes of this? He lives in Splendor; 'tis true; but this unavoidably carries away the Money his Father got; and he is every year an Hundred Pounds Poorer。 To his Expences; beyond his Income; add Debauchery; Idleness; and Quarrels amongst his Servants; whereby his Manufactures are disturbed; and his Business neglected; and a general Disorder and Confusion through his whole Family and Farm: This will tumble him down the Hill the faster; and the Stock; which the Industry; Frugality; and good Order of his Father had laid up; will be quickly brought to an end; and he fast in Prison。 A Farm and a kingdom in this respect differ no more than as