money answers all things-第4章
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l sense of the Word； including Landlords of Houses as well as of Land； Gainers？ I answer； that the Rents are now raised above their proper Value； for the proper Value of any thing； is really no other； than what the Money circulating among the People will well enable them to pay； nor can any greater Value be long supported by any Means whatsoever。 But it will be asked； How we shall know when the Prices of Things are at this proper Value？ I answer； that as the Price of Labour is always constituted of the Price of Necessaries； and the Price of all other things chiefly of the price of Labour； whenever the Price of Necessaries is such； that the labouring Man's Wages will not； suitably to his low Rank and Station； as a labouring Man； support such a Family； as is often the Lot of many of them to have； the Price of Necessaries being then evidently so much too high； every thing else is so too； or then may the Prices of Things justly be said to be above this proper Value； which will more clearly appear in the Course of this Essay。 But I will proceed to shew； that the Gentlemen will be the richer for falling all the Lands in the Kingdom 20 or 30 per cent per annum； provided this Fall be effected only by the Addition； and Cultivation of so much more Land； as will make Farms so plentiful； as to reduce the Rents of Lands so much。 For if it shall appear； that the Gentlemen would be the poorer； if all the Lands in the Kingdom were raised 20 per cent per annum； I think the Reverse must follow； that they would be the richer if all the Lands were fallen 20 or 30 per cent per annum； that is 70 or 80 l。 would certainly buy more； if all the Lands were so fallen； then 120 l。 would do； if all the Lands were so raised； which I shall endeavour to prove。 If all the Lands were raised 20 per cent per annum it's certain they would not produce more； but perhaps less； than they now do； by putting it； in some Degree； out of the Farmers Power to use so much Skill and Charge to cultivate them； as they could do before their Rents were so raised： I say； since the Land could however produce no more than it now doth； all the Produce； whatever it consists of； must be sold not only for all the 20 pounds more； but there must be Profits likewise on all those 20 Pounds； to enable the Farmers to buy whatever they want at higher prices； which every thing must needs be advanced to from thus raising the Produce； which； as it passeth through every Hand and Manufacturing； must still have proportionably increased Profits on the thus raised prime Cost； before it comes to the Consumer； who； therefore； must thus certainly； in the End； not only pay all the advanced 20 pounds Rent； but likewise the necessary Profits thereon through all the several Hands it must pass： And since the Labour； which adds the greatest Value to every thing； must in this Case be inhanced likewise； it's evident； the same Quantity of Produce must be dearer by all the first advanced 20 Pounds Rent； and by suitable Profits to all the several Hands through which it must pass； together with a greater Charge of Labour thereon； whence； if the same Quantity of Produce must thus cost a great deal more； than all the 20 pounds Rent； by which it was first inhanced； the Parts must cost more too in such Proportion； so that； I think； I need not scruple to assert； that 140 l。 could not in this Case purchase what 100 l。 now doth； whence Gentlemen； who are consumers in common with others； would thus evidently be much the poorer for so raising their Estates； and therefore I think it an undeniable Consequence； that they wou'd be the richer for lowering their Estates 20 or 30 l。 per cent per annum since it must be equally certain； that 70 or 80 l。 would purchase more in this case； than 100 l。 now doth； as it is certain 120 l。 in the other case； would not purchase so much as 100 l。 now doth。 And this both accounts for； and verifies an Observation； I have heard some Gentlemen make； and wonder at； that they find they can't live so well and hospitably on the same Estates； as their Ancestors did； who had vastly less Income from them； than their Successors； who make this Observation； now have。 If therefore； Gentlemen； find themselves streighten'd； by raising Rents above what the Money circulating amongst the People will well enable them to pay； how great must the Streights and difficulties be which are brought on the People； out of whom such heavy Rents are raised！ But perhaps it may be objected； that this Argument concludes too much： Since； if 70 l。 will in this Case purchase more than 120 l。 why will not nothing purchase more than something？ To which I answer； There is a proper Point； at which it will stop of itself； which is this： Whenever the Wages of the Labouring Man； and Price of Necessaries are mad so near equal； that he can； suitably to that low Rank in Life； support such a Family as he； in common with all the human Kind； chiefly came into this World to raise； （which Things I hope to shew may be brought much nearer together than they now are）； I say； when the Labouring Man's Wages will do this； the Rent the Lands will then bear； is that proper and fit Rent； which will enable the Gentlemen to purchase more of every Thing； than any larger Rents can enable them to do； which I prove thus： Suppose the Rents rais'd so much； as necessarily to carry the Price of Goods to the Consumers in general； to higher Rates than the Money they can get will enable them to purchase what they really want： this makes a Kind of unnatural Plenty of Goods； presenting themselves for buyers； who； though they really want them； can't find Money to purchase them；and therefore are forced to abridge their necessary Wants as much as they can； and this depresses the Value of those Goods （which thus in the End must want buyers） below the Rates which the Rents have made necessary； and this will necessarily keep the Produce of the Ground which the Farmers bring to Market； so low； that they can't make it answer to bear all Charges； and pay their Rents； whence the Gentlemen must find it difficult； if not impossible； to get their Rents； whilst at the same Time； whatever they buy； as hath been prov'd； will necessarily be dearer in a greater Proportion than ever the Rents in a greater Proportion than ever the Rents can be raised； whence； I think； it must be plain； that such Rents of Lands in general； as will nearest comport with the Point above…mention'd； will always purchase most of every Thing。 But there is yet another strong Argument to induce Gentlemen to make Money plentiful； viz。 a due Regard to the Happiness of their own Families。 For let it be consider'd； that Men come into this World to raise a new Generation； and depart out of it。 Now the Term of Life； Men will be found to have one with another； from the Time of Marriage to their Death； is very little more than 20 years； in which Time； one Marriage with another； I suppose； produces about 4 Children who live to Man's Estate： Now suppose a Gentleman of 1000 l。 per Annum； to make Provision for his Children； lays up 500 l。 per Annum； which in 20 years will be 1000 l。 sav'd for them； which divided into 4 parts； including the Widow's Share； which must often happen； can be but 2500 l。 for each Child's share： And since this is not only much inferior to the Estate it was sav'd out of； but hardly sufficient； viz。 the Interest thereof； to maintain a single Person handsomely； most of the Children must be introduced to Trade； to improve their Money for their Families； or they will soon reduce it to nothing。 Now if Trade be languishing and distress'd； it can't be expected but many such will sink in the general Difficulties Trade lies under。 Therefore； if there be any Way practicable to make Money plentiful amongst the People in general； which never fails to make Trade flourish； it ought to be done； not only from a common Principle of Affection to the publick Good； but for the particular Benefit of every Gentleman's own immediate Offspring； many of whom are sure to be affected； just as Trade is in a flourishing or distress'd Condition。 But the languishing condition of Trade is ascribed to the Luxury of the People； concerning which let it be consider'd。 That it is expected of every Man； that
