money answers all things-第16章
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rhaps 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 waste Land； as will employ all the Hands； Trade； and Manufactures will possibly suffer to be employed this Way； for a Nation is a great Body of People； and if we would do things they may all feel the good Effects of； we must do great things indeed； and a very great Thing it will be to reduce the Price of necessaries half； which； I think； I have shewn to be absolutely needful to reduce the present Rates of Labour； and at the same time supply the labouring People with the Things needful to that Station of Life； and thereby make so much more Business amongst others； without which； Trade in general cannot flourish； because all Trade depends solely on the Consumption； and yet； I think it appears； by what I have said； that Trade will flourish； before the Poor will find in their Power to attain the Supplies I wish them； since the Labour of the Poor is the Wealth of the Rich； and if it was unreasonable to muzzle the Ox that trod the corn； what Name shall I give the Measures that render it so difficult for the Bulk of Mankind；（17*） to answer the great End of Life； that of raising Families to stand in their Room when they are removed； as all soon must be to give Place to succeeding Generations？ But there is another Thing； which would mightily contribute to the Reduction of Labour； which is； the bringing Fish out of the Sea at such cheap Rates； as that the Poor might be induced； by its being cheaper than Meat； to make it a good Part of their common Food； and as we are inviron'd by the Sea； which will furnish never the less； how much soever we fetch thence； beside； that this Food requires no Land； except to grow the Timber； etc。 to build the Vessels with； and this Food is no sooner caught； but it is fit for Use； and therefore requires neither the Time nor Labour； that all other Food Mankind use requires； to raise； and fit it for Use； I say； since we are inviron'd with the Sea； we might certainly bring Fish so cheap to a Multitude of inland Places； if the Charge of catching them； and carriage could be very much lessened； a
