of commerce-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


plenty　of　the　common　people　amongst　the　former；　yet　the
government　of　the　two　kingdoms　was；　at　that　time；　pretty　much
alike。　Where　the　labourers　and　artisans　are　accustomed　to　work
for　low　wages；　and　to　retain　but　a　small　part　of　the　fruits　of
their　labour；　it　is　difficult　for　them；　even　in　a　free
government；　to　better　their　condition；　or　conspire　among
themselves　to　heighten　their　wages。　But　even　where　they　are
accustomed　to　a　more　plentiful　way　of　life；　it　is　easy　for　the
rich；　in　an　arbitrary　government；　to　conspire　against　them；　and
throw　the　whole　burthen　of　the　taxes　on　their　shoulders。
　　　　It　may　seem　an　odd　position；　that　the　poverty　of　the　common
people　in　FRANCE。　ITALY；　and　SPAIN；　is；　in　some　measure；　owing　to
the　superior　riches　of　the　soil　and　happiness　of　the　climate；　yet
there　want　not　reasons　to　justify　this　paradox。　In　such　a　fine
mould　or　soil　as　that　of　those　more　southern　regions；　agriculture
is　an　easy　art；　and　one　man；　with　a　couple　of　sorry　horses；　will
be　able；　in　a　season；　to　cultivate　as　much　land　as　will　pay　a
pretty　considerable　rent　to　the　proprietor。　All　the　art。　which
the　farmer　knows；　is　to　leave　his　ground　fallow　for　a　year；　as
soon　as　it　is　exhausted；　and　the　warmth　of　the　sun　alone　and
temperature　of　the　climate　enrich　it；　and　restore　its　fertility。
Such　poor　peasants；　therefore；　require　only　a　simple　maintenance
for　their　labour。　They　have　no　stock　or　riches；　which　claim　more；
and　at　the　same　time；　they　are　for　ever　dependant　on　their
landlord；　who　gives　no　leases；　nor　fears　that　his　land　will　be
spoiled　by　the　ill　methods　of　cultivation。　In　ENGLAND；　the　land
is　rich；　but　coarse；　must　be　cultivated　at　a　great　expence；　and
produces　slender　crops；　when　not　carefully　managed；　and　by　a
method　which　gives　not　the　full　profit　but　in　a　course　of　several
years。　A　farmer；　therefore；　in　ENGLAND　must　have　a　considerable
stock；　and　a　long　lease；　which　beget　proportional　profits。　The
fine　vineyards　of　CHAMPAGNE　and　BURGUNDY　that　often　yield　to　the
landlord　above　five　pounds　per　acre；　are　cultivated　by　peasants；
who　have　scarcely　bread：　The　reason　is；　that　such　peasants　need
no　stock　but　their　own　limbs；　with　instruments　of　husbandry；
which　they　can　buy　for　twenty　shillings。　The　farmers　are　commonly
in　some　better　circumstances　in　those　countries。　But　the　grasiers
are　most　at　their　ease　of　all　those　who　cultivate　the　land。　The
reason　is　still　the　same。　Men　must　have　profits　proportionable　to
their　expence　and　hazard。　Where　so　considerable　a　number　of　the
labouring　poor　as　the　peasants　and　farmers　are　in　very　low
circumstances；　all　the　rest　must　partake　of　their　poverty；
whether　the　government　of　that　nation　be　monarchical　or
republican。
　　　　We　may　form　a　similar　remark　with　regard　to　the　general
history　of　mankind。　What　is　the　reason；　why　no　people；　living
between　the　tropics；　could　ever　yet　attain　to　any　art　or
civility；　or　reach　even　any　police　in　their　government；　and　any
military　discipline；　while　few　nations　in　the　temperate　climates
have　been　altogether　deprived　of　these　advantages？　It　is　probable
that　one　cause　of　this　phenomenon　is　the　warmth　and　equality　of
weather　in　the　torrid　zone；　which　render　clothes　and　houses　less
requisite　for　the　inhabitants；　and　thereby　remove；　in　part；　that
necessity；　which　is　the　great　spur　to　industry　and　invention。
Curis　acuens　mortalia　corda。　Not　to　mention；　that　the　fewer　goods
or　possessions　of　this　kind　any　people　enjoy；　the　fewer　quarrels
are　likely　to　arise　amongst　them；　and　the　less　necessity　will
there　be　for　a　settled　police　or　regular　authority　to　protect　and
defend　them　from　foreign　enemies；　or　from　each　other。





the　End