money answers all things-第2章
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as enacted； that Butchers should sell their Meat by Weight； Beef at an Half…penny； and Mutton at Three…farthings per Pound： And if we look back to the Reign of King Edward the Third； we find Wheat was sold at two Shillings per Quarter； a fat Ox for a Noble； a fat sheep for Six…pence； six Pidgeons for a Penny； a fat Goose for Two…pence； a Pig for a Penny； and other Things in Proportion。 See Baker's Chronicle。 Now； since the great Difference of the Prices of these Things now； to what they then sold for； is undoubtedly owing solely to the great Quantity of Gold and Silver； which since that Time hath been brought into this Kingdom by Trade； which hath furnished us with so much more Money； to pay such a vast deal more as we now must； and do give for them； it follows； that the Prices of Things will certainly rise in every Nation； as the Gold and Silver increase amongst the People； and； consequently； that where the Gold and Silver decrease in any Nation； the Prices of all Things must fall proportionably to such Decrease of Money； or the People must be distress'd； unless the Number of People decrease in as great Proportion as the Cash decreaseth in any such Nation。 V。 Banking； so far as one is paid with the Money of another； that is； where more Cash Notes are circulated； than all the Cash the Bankers are really possessed of will immediately answer and make good； I say； so long as this Credit is maintain'd； it hath the same Effect； as if there was so much more Cash really circulating and divided amongst the People； and will be attended with these Consequences； that as the Price of Things will hence be rais'd； it must and will make us the Market； to receive the Commodities of every Country whose Prices of Things are cheaper than ours。 And though we should lay on Duties； or prohibit such Goods； this will not prevent the Mischief； because we shall not be able to carry our Commodities thus raised to any Nation； where Things are cheaper than ours； and because such Nations will hence be enabled to set up many of our Manufactures； etc。 and by their Cheapness so interfere in our Trade at all other foreign Markets； as to turn the Balance of Trade against us； which will diminish the Cash of the Nation。 The same Thing must be understood of all publick Securities whatever； that operate as Money amongst us。 VI。 The Plenty or Scarcity of any Particular Thing； is the sole Cause when any Commodity or Thing can become higher or lower in Price； or； in other Words； as the Demand is greater or less in Proportion to the Quantity of any Thing； so will such Thing； whatsoever it is； be cheaper or dearer。 Nor can any Arts or Laws make this otherwise； any more than Laws or Arts can alter the Nature of Things。 VII。 All Things； that are in the World； are the Produce of the Ground originally； and thence must all Things be raised。 The more Land therefore shall be improv'd and cultivated； etc。 the greater will the Plenty of all things be； and the more People will it also imploy。 And as the Produce will hence be increased； so will the Consumption of all Things increase too； and the greater the Plenty becomes this Way； the cheaper will every Thing be。 And thus will Money become plentiful； because less Money will purchase every Thing； in just the same Proportion as the Plenty of every thing shall reduce the Prices； by the Increase of every Thing in Respect of the Demand。 And if this Method be sufficiently persued； the Plenty may be increased so much as to make Victuals and Drink half the Price that they are at now； which will make the Price of the Labour of Working People much lower； for the Rates of Labour are always settled and constituted of the Price of Victuals and Drink： And all Manufactures will be vastly cheaper； for the Value of all Manufactures is chiefly constituted of the Price or Charge of the Labour bestowed thereon。 This therefore shew how to make Money plentiful； viz。 First； By thus making the Necessaries of Life cheaper； to such a Degree as shall be found effectual to reduce the present Rates of Labour； and thereby the Price of every Thing else； so much； that the Money； now circulating amongst the People； may extend a vast deal further than it now will do。 Secondly； We shall hence be enabled to make； and export our Manufactures at much lower Prices； and this must needs cause us to export abundance more of them to those Nations that now take them of us； besides that it will enable us to carry our Produce； etc。 further and cheaper； to induce other Nations to take them of us； who now perhaps do not take any of our Goods； whence the Cash of the Nation will certainly increase； by raising the Value of our Exports above the Value of our Imports； that is； the Balance of Trade will thus be in our Favour； or Money will thus be made plentiful。 VIII。 Plenty of Money never fails to make Trade flourish； because； where Money is plentiful； the People in general are thereby enabled； and will not fail to be as much greater Consumers of every Thing； as such Plenty of Money can make them： Therefore Trade is always found to flourish （i。e。 increase） as Money grows more plentiful amongst the People。 The Year 1720； was a Proof in Fact of this Maxim。 And hence the Revenue must needs increase likewise； since the Duties are always levied on the Things which the People consume and use。 IX。 Where Trade flourishes （i。e。 where the Ballance of Trade is considerably in Favour of any Nation） there the People always increase greatly； and become generally happy； when such Nations ever grow potent and formidable。 This hath always been found true in Fact； and is almost self…evident。 X。 'Tis the Strength； Honour； and Interest of every Government； that their Subjects be as numerous； as the Continent； that their Subjects be as numerous； as the Continent they govern will support in an happy Condition； and as the Happiness （i。e。 the Riches） and Numbers of the Subjects； are greater or less； so will the Strength； Honour； and Revenue of every Government be greater or less。 XI。 A Kingdome or State may have more People in it； than the Land it contains can well support； the People therefore must be wretched； and that Government weak； til so many of the Poor People； as distress each other by their Numbers； are remov'd where they can have Land to support them。 The Case is the same exactly in every Nation； where the Land which is cultivated doth not afford enough to make all Things very plentiful； for this alone can make the People happy。 XII。 The Quantity of Land； to be further put to Cultivation and Tillage； must be so great； as to increase the Plenty of every Thing to such a Degree； that the Price of every Thing may by that Plenty be so greatly lower'd that the Rates of Labour may also thereby be lower'd； till Money thence come to be plentiful amongst the People in general。 'Till this End be answer'd； nothing material is effected； nor can Trade be enlarged abroad； or relieved at home： For the Cultivation of Land is the sole natural Encouragement Trade can possibly receive； because all Things must first come out of the Ground； and； according as the Produce of the Earth is more or less plentiful； so will the Consumption of all Things be greater or less； that is； so much more or less Trade will there be amongst the People。 On this the Revenue of the Nation doth so much depend； that the whole Amount of it will be greater or less； as this is； or is not duly encouraged； besides that the same Sums will effect more or less accordingly。 XIII。 The Cash of any Nation will always decrease； and become scarce； in Proportion as the Rents are raised； above what the Plenty of Money circulating in Trade amongst the People； will well enable them to pay； and where there is not Land enough cultivated to keep down the Rents； and thereby to remedy this Mischief； and support the People； it may go to such an Extream； as to leave very little Money in the Nation。 For where Rents are raised； every Thing else must and will rise too： Whence other Nations will be able to supply our Market； and as most of our Commodities will hence become too dear to be taken by them in return； so we shall vent much less of our Goods at other foreign Markets； and so the Balance of Trade will turn against
