第 6 节
作者:
男孩不逛街 更新:2021-02-27 03:01 字数:9322
s new sort of Ingrossers or Forestallers; having the feeding and supplying this numerous Body of Workmen out of their Warehouses; (for they have now Magazines of all sorts of Wares) set the Price upon the poor Landholder。 So that the Markets now being destroyed; and the Farmer not finding vent there for his Butter; Cheese; Bacon; and Corn; &c。 for which he was wont to bring home ready Money; must sell it to these Ingrossers; on their own Terms of Time and Rate; and allow it to their own Day…Labourers under the true Market…price。 What kind of Influence this is like to have upon Land; and how this way Rents are like to be paid at Quarter…day; is easie to apprehend: And 'tis no wonder to hear every day of Farmers breaking; and running away。 For if they cannot receive Money for their Goods at Market; 'will be impossible for them; to pay their Landlord's Rent。 If any one doubt whether this be so; I desire him to enquire; how many Farmers in the West are broke and gone since Michaelmass last。 Want of Money being to this degree; works both ways upon the Landholder。 For first; the ingrossing Forestaller lets not the Money come to Market; but supplying the Workman; who is employed by him in Manufacture; with Necessaries; imposes his Price; and Forbearance on the Farmer; who cannot sell to the others。 And the Labourer;who is employed by the Landholder in Husbandry; imposes also his Rate on him; for the Commodities he takes。 For there being a want of Day Labourers in the Country; they must be humoured; or else they will neither work for you; nor take your Commodities for their Labour。 Secondly; as for the Landholder; since his Tenants cannot Coin their Rent just at quarter…day; but must gather it up by degrees; and lodge it with them till Pay…day; or borrow it of those; who have it lying by them; or do gather it up by degrees; which is the same thing; and must be necessarily so much Money for some time lying still。 For all; that is paid in great Sums; must somewhere be gathered up by the Retail Incomes of a Trade; or else lie still too in great Sums; which is the same stop of Money; or a greater。 Add to this; That to pay the Creditor; that lent him his Rent; he must gather up Money by degrees; as the Sale of his Commodities shall bring it in; and so makes a greater stop; and greater want of Money: Since the borowed Money that paid the Landholder the 25th of March; must be supposed to lye still some time in the Creditor's hand; before he lent it the Tenant; and the Money; that pays the Creditor three Months after; must lye still some time in the Tenant's。 Nor does the Landlord pay away his Rent usually; as soon as he receives it; but by degrees; as his occasions call for it。 All this consider'd we cannot but suppose; that between the Landlord and Tenant there must necessarily be at least a quarter of the Yearly Revenue of the Land constantly in their hands。 Indeed considering; that most part of the Rents of England are paid at our Lady…day and Michaelmas; and that the same Money; which pays me my Rent from my Tenant the 25th of March; or thereabouts; cannot pay my next Neighbour his Rent from his Tenant at the same time; much less one more remote in another Country; it might seem requisite to suppose half the yearly Revenue of the Land to be necessarily employed in paying of Rent。 For to say that some Tenants break and pay not their Rent at all; and others pay not till two; three; four; five; six; &c。 Months after quarter…day; and so the Rent is not all paid at one time; is no more than to say; That there is Money wanting to the Trade。 For if the Tenant fail the Landlord; he must fail his Creditor; and he his; and so on; till somebody break; and so Trade decay for want of Money。 But since a considerable part of the Land of England is in the Owners Hands; who neither pay nor receive great Sums for it at a certain Day; and because too; (which is the chief Reason) we are not to consider here how much Money is in any one man's; or any one sort of mens hands at one time; for that at other times may be distributed into other hands; and serve other parts of Trade; but how much Money is necessary to be in each man's hands all the Year round; taking one time with another; (i。e。) having Three hundred pounds in his Hand one month; is to be reckoned as One hundred pound in his Hand three months; (and so proportionably) I think we may well suppose a quarter of the Yearly Revenue to be constancy in the Landlords or Tenants Hands。 Here; by the by; we may observe; That it were better for Trade; and consequently for everybody; (for more Money would be stirring; and less would do the business) if Rents were paid by shorter intervals than six months。 For supposing I let a Farm at Fifty two pounds per An。 if my Rent be paid half Yearly; there is required Twenty six pounds to be employed in the Payment ofit in one entire Sum; (if it be paid well; and if it be not paid well; for want of so much Money to be spared to that purpose; there is so much want of Money; and Trade is still endamag'd by it) a great part whereof must necessarily lie still before it come out of my Tenants Chest to my Hands: If it be paid once a quarter Thirteen pound alone will do it; and less Money is laid up for it; and stop'd a less while in its course: But should it be paid every Week; one single wenty Shillings will pay the Rent of Fifty two pounds per Annum; whence would follow this double benefit。 First; That a great deal less Money would serve for the Trade of a Country。 And Secondly; That less of the Money would lie still; the contrary whereof must needs happen; where growing Debts are to be paid at larger distances; and in greater Sums。 Thirdly; As for the Brokers; since they too must lay up the Money coming in by Retail; either to go to Market; and buy Wares; or to pay at the day appointed; which is often six Months; for those Wares which they have already; we cannot suppose them to have less by them; one with another; than One twentieth part of their yearly Returns。 Whether the Money be their own; or they be Indebted so much or more; it matters not; if it be necessary they should have constancy by them; comparing one time with another; at least One twentieth part of their yearly Return。 Indeed in some great Towns; where the Bankers are ready at hand to buy Bills; or any other way to lend Money; for short time at great Interest; there perhaps the Merchant is not forced to keep so much Money by him; as in other places; where they have not such a Supply: But if you consider; what Money to do this must necessarily be constantly lodged in the Bankers Hands the case will be much the same。 To these Sums; if you add; what part of the Money of a Country Scholars of all sorts; Women; Gamesters; and great Mens menial Servants; and all such that do not contribute at all to Trade; either as Landholders; Labourers; or Brokers; will unavoidably have constantly in their Hands; it cannot well be thought; that less than One Fiftieth part of the Labourers Wages; One Fourth part of the Landholders yearly Revenue; and one Twentieth part of the Brokers yearly Returns in ready Money; will be enough to drive the Trade of any Country。 At least; to put it beyond exception low enough; it cannot be imagin'd that less than one moiety of this; i。e。 less than One hundredth part of the Labourers yearly Wages; One Eighth part of the Landholders yearly Revenue; and One Fortieth part of the Brokers yearly Returns; in ready Money; can be enough to move the several Wheels of Trade; and keep up Commerce in that Life and Thriving posture it should be; and how much the ready Cash of any Country is short。 of this proportion; so much must the Trade be impair'd and hindred for want of Money。 But however these measures may be mistaken; this is evident; that the multiplying of Brokers hinders the Trade of any Country; by making the Circuit; which the Money goes; larger; and in that Circuit more stops; so that the Returns must necessarily be slower and scantier; to the prejudice of Trade: Besides that; they Eat up too great a share of the Gains of Trade; by that means Starving the Labourer; and impoverishing the Landholder; whose Interest is chiefly to be taken care of; it being a settled unmoveable Concernment in the Commonwealth。 If this be so; it is past question; that all Encouragement should be given to Artificers; and things so order'd; as much as might be; that those who make; should also Vend and Retail out their own Commodities; and they be hindred as much as possible from passing here at home; through divers Hands to the last Buyer。 Lazy and Unworking Shopkeepers in this being worse than Gamesters; that they do not only keep so much of the Money of a Country constantly in their Hands; but also make the publick pay them for their keeping of it。 Though Gaming too; upon the account of Trade (as well as other Reasons) may well deserve to be restrain'd: Since Gamesters; in order to their Play; keep great Sums of Money by them; which there lies Dead。 For though Gamesters Money shift Masters oftener than any; and is tumbled up and down with every cast of a Die; yet as to the publick it lies perfectly still; and no more of it comes into Trade; than they spend in Eating or Wearing。 Here too we may obse