money answers all things-第29章
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bour； and the Subsistence of the Farmers； so much； that the Price； the Produce of the Earth will fetch at Market； may be sufficient to bear all Charges； and leave an Overplus to pay such Rents as the Lands will then be found to bear。 For whilst the necessary Charges of the Labour； etc。 and the Subsistence of the Farmers continue so great； as to equal the Price the Produce of the Ground fetches at Market； it is impossible the Gentlemen should have any Rents paid them。 The Objection suggests this to be the Case at present； and I am sure that a Scarcity of the Produce will not mend the Matter； whatever they may think of such a Calamity。 Now that the necessary Charges of the Labour； etc。 and the Subsistence of the Farmers may be so much lower'd； as to leave an Overplus out of the Price the Produce of the Ground fetches at Market； sufficient to pay some Rent； is certain； because； when the Produce of the Ground did hardly fetch 1/30 Part of its present Rates； some Rent was as certainly paid； as that we always had Gentlemen in the Kingdom who liv'd on their Estates。 And if； as I have before sufficiently made out； the lowering the Rates of Labour will make every Thing fall； in much greater Proportion than the Rents； it must be evident that an Overplus must； in this Case； remain to pay Rent； and that the Gentlemen will be the richer too； for persuing such Measures； as shall be effectual to reduce the present Rates of Labour； etc。 And now； I hope； it doth fully appear； that the Gentlemen have no Reason to fear improving so much waste Land as I am contending for； since perhaps they are not like to get any Rent any other way； except that I must add； that the taking the Taxes intirely off Goods； would mightily help them in this Point； since it's pretty certain； the Taxes； and Charges of collecting them； together with the Advance on the Price of Goods they occasion； do now absorb near half the Rent of the Kingdom； as hath been before shewn。 Nay； I do verily believe； that taking the Taxes intirely off the Things the working People consume； is so absolutely needful； that Labour can hardly be reduced without it。 And that which makes me think so； is the prodigious Augmentation of the Price of Goods by Taxes； an undeniable Instance of which； the taking the Duty off Salt； and laying it on again hath produced。 For Salt； when the Duty was taken off； was cried about Street three Pounds for five Farthings； and no sooner was the Duty laid on again； but the Price became to the Consumer （as it was before the Duty was taken off） five Farthings for one Pound。 so the Duty on Salt hath trebled its Price to the Consumer。 This Instance therefore makes me think it impossible to reduce the Rates of Things by Tillage； etc。 alone； so much as to reduce the Rate of Labour； except taking the Taxes intirely off the Things the working People consume and use； be also brought in Aid。 And I dare say this will be found so too； if ever it's tried。 But there remains a Difficulty or two； which perhaps it may also be needful to remove； viz。 First； That since a great many Estates in this Kingdom are mortgaged； if the Rents of Lands； by the Execution of this Proposal； should be considerably lower'd； many such Estates will hardly be worth more than they are mortgaged for； which may be a very great Hardship to abundance of People。 I would therefore most humbly propose that； whenever the Wisdom of Parliament shall think fit to make an Act to inclose； and improve so much common and waste Land as shall be needful； and may be effectual to the Purposes this Essay sets forth； （for I believe it can hardly be effected without such an Act of Parliament；） I say； I would most humbly propose； that a Clause be added； that all Mortgagees shall be obliged annually； or in any other Manner that may seem meet； to strike off such Sums from the Principal Money lent on such Estates； as shall hold Proportion to the Fall of the Rents of Lands。 This can be no Hardship to the Mortgagees； since the Residue of their Money and Interest will do； at least； all the same Things which their whole Sums； with the Interest； would have done if no such Alteration were made； as the full and sufficient Execution of this Proposal will effect。 The Mortgagees will be so far from being singular in this Case； that this is what must happen to every Tradesman； whose Stock in Hand being our Produce； or Manufactures of any Kind； will be continually falling； as fast as such Produce or Manufactures shall from Time to Time； by the Plenty of them； be made cheaper。 Now will this be any Prejudice to any Tradesman； since every Time they buy； in this Case； such Goods will be as much cheaper than when they bought last； as those Commodities have fallen on their Hands； and the remaining Sums every way as powerful to buy what they may have Occasion for； as the whole sums would have been if no such Alteration had happen'd； as this Proposal； if executed； will effect。 As to foreign Commodities；their Prices depending on the Markets whence they are brought； will hardly be affected by this Proposal； and as to Book Debts and Notes； the Credit of this Kind being never intended to be of any long Duration； I think no Alteration should be made； respecting them。 But if this Proposal should be executed； a Hardship will fall on many who have Leases of Lands； unless a Clause be likewise made； to give such Tenants Leave to surrender their Leases to their Landlords； but this must only be at the Option of such Tenants； because if they think fit to hold their Leases； the Covenants must be fulfilled； even as if no Alteration were made by the Execution of this Proposal。 And if another Clause were made to this Purpose； that any Person being willing to inclose； and improve any reasonable and proper Quantity of waste Land； fit for one Person to undertake the Improvement of； whereever such waste or uninclosed Land is to be found；（35*） such Person should have Power to do so； on Condition only of giving Notice in Writing to the Proprietors of such waste Land； or； if such waste Land belong to a Parish； to the Vestry； who should receive（36*） such Rents as shall be agreed by two Persons indifferently chosen； one by the Proprietors or Vestry； the other by the Incloser of such Lands： And if they can't agree； a third Person should be obliged to fix and determine the Rents for any proper Term： And it should be recommended by the same Act； that the Referees always have all due Regard to the Good of the Person inclosing and improving such waste Land； because the Riches； Strength； and Honour of a Nation depend on the utmost Improvements of their Lands； all other Things being only Consequences of this： I say； if such a Clause were further added； this whole Affair； and all the Benefits I have been representing； would thenceforth execute themselves； so long as we have any waste or unimprov'd Land left。 And when we have no more； the People must remove themselves where they can have Land enough to support them； or our country will certainly become weak and miserable； by its being more numerous； than the Continent we have can support in an happy Condition。 I shall conclude with offering something about the Execution of this Proposal。 But shall premise； that since all Trade and Commerce is founded in the Wants of Mankind solely； and that these can be supplied only by Cultivation and Tillage； all other Things depending intirely thereon； it must clearly appear to what Causes to attribute that Decay of Trade； of which such great Complaints have been made from all Parts of the Kingdom； even to the Parliament； and that those have not rightly consider'd the Nature and Foundation of Trade； who have so vilely traduced as wise and good a Government as this Nation ever had； when they have insinuated； at least； that this Decay of Trade is owing in any Degree to their Conduct。 For； I hope； I have shewn that a Decay of Trade will unavoidably arise from the Course of Things themselves； where such an Addition of Land is not annually cultivated； as shall at least hold Proportion to the natural Increase of Mankind； and likewise that a Decay of Trade is the necessary and undeniable Consequence of a Decrease of the Nation's Cash； since the Consumption of every Thing must lesse
