treatise on taxes and contributions-第17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！
ole sale and benefit of certain Commodities； as of Amber in the Duke of Brandenburghs Countrey； Tobacco formerly in Ireland； Salt in France； etc。 Fifthy； Sometimes the State is common Beggar； as 'tis almost in Holland； where particular Charity seems only to serve for the relief of concealed wants； and to save these wanting from the shame of discovering their poverty； and not so much to relieve any wants that are declared； and already publickly known。 Sixthly； In some places the State is the sole Guardian of Minors； Lunaticks； and Idiots。 Seventhly； In some other Countreys the State sets up and maintains play…houses； and public Entertainments； giving Sallaries to the Actors； but receiving the bulk of the profit to themselves。 Eightly； In some places Houses are ensured fromfire by the State at a small Rent per annum upon each。 Ninthly； In some places Tolls are taken upon passage over Bridges； Causeys； and Ferries built and maintained at the Publick Charge。 Tenthly； In some places men that dye are obliged leave a certain pittance to the publick； the same is practised in other places upon Marriages； and may be in others upon Births。 Eleventhly； In some places strangers expecially Jews； are particularly taxed； which may be good in over…peopled Countreys； though bad in the contrary case。 3。 As for Jews； they may well bear somewhat extraordinary； because they seldom eat and drink with Christians； hold it no disparagement to live frugally； and even sordidly among themselves； by which way alone they become able to under…sell any other Traders； to elude the Excize； which bears but according to mens expences； as also other Duties； by dealing so much in Bills of Exchange； Jewels； and Money； and by practising of several frauds with more impunity then others； for by their being at home every where； and yet no where they become responsible almost for nothing。 4。 Twelfthly； There have been in our times； wayes of levying an aliquot part of mens Estates； as a Fifth； and Twentieth； viz。 of their Estates real and personal； yea of their Offices； Faculties； and imaginary Estates also； in and about which way may be so much fraud； collusion； oppresion； and trouble； some purposely getting themselves taxed to gain more trust； Others bribing to be taxed low； and it being impossible to check or examine or trace these Collections by the print of any foot…steps they leave （such as the Harths of Chimneys are） that I have not patience to speak more against it； daring rather conclude without much ado； in the words of our Comick to be naught； yea exceeding naught； very abominable； and not good。
Chapter 14
Of raising； depressing； or embasing of Money
Sometimes it hath hapned； that States （I know not by what raw advice） have raised or embased their money； hoping thereby； as it were； to multiply it； and make it pass for more then it did before； that is； to purchase more commodity or labour with it： All which indeed and in truth； amounts to no more then a Tax； upon such People unto whom the State is indebted； or a defalkation of what is due； as also the like burthen upon all that live upon Pensions； established Rents； Annuities； Fees； Gratuities； etc。 2； To explain this fully； one might lanch out into the deep Ocean of all the Mysteries concerning Money； which is done for other ends elsewhere； nevertheless I shall do it the best I can； by expounding the reasons pro & contra for embasing and raising of Money： and first of embasing。 3。 Copper or Tin Money mad ad valorem in its matter； is no embasing； the same being onely cumbersom and baser then silver money； onely because less convenient and portable。 And Copper money ad valorem in workmanship and matter both together； （such as on which the Effigies and Scutcheon are so curiously graven and impressed； as the moneys seem rather a Medal。） is not embasing； unless the numbers of such pieces be excessive； （the measures whereof I shall not set down； until I shall hereafter propound the fittest Sections of the abstracted pound into which I would have money coyned； and determine how many pieces of each Section should be in an hundred pound） for in case of such excess； the workmanship being of no other use but to look upon； becomes base by its being too common。 4。 Nor are such Tokens base as are coyned for Exchange in retailing by particular men； （if such men be responsible and able to take them back；and give Silver for them。） 5。 But that Gold I count to be embased； which hath more ally either of Copper or Silver in it； then serves to correct its too great natural softness and flexibility； whereby it wears too fast in Money： And that Silver I reckon also embased； wherein is commixed more Copper then will sufficeintly toughen it； and save it from cracking under the Hammer； Press； or Mill that must coin it； or the like。 6。 Base Money is therefore such as Ductch Shillings； Stivers； French Soulz； Irish Bon…galls； etc。 and for the most part considting great pieces；though of small value。 To answer the first reason or pretence of making them； which is； that the said Pieces might be more bulky； handleable； and the silver in them less apt to be lost or worn away。 7。 The other reason （besides that of allay which we must allow in the Measures abovementioned） is to save it from being melted down by Goldsmiths and Bullioners； or exported by strangers； neither of which can happen but to their loss： for suppose a Stiver of two pence had a penny of pure silver； if the Bullioner melts it for the sake of the silver onely； in the separation he shall lose the Copper and charge of refining the Silver； nor will strangers export it into places where the local value of the Piece perisheth； the intrinsick leaving him to loss。 8。 Secondly； In case samll pieces of this Money； viz。 pieces of two pence should happen to be raised or depressed twelve； fifteen； or sixteen per cent then there will be a certain loss by reason of the fractions； which the vulgar cannot reckon。 As for example； if such Money were depressed but ten； eleven or twelve per cent then the two pence piece would be worth but three half pence； which is twenty five per cent and so of other proportions。 9。 Thirdly； In case the Inconvenience of this Money should be so great as to necissitate a new Coinage of it； then will happen all the losses we mentioned before in melting it down by Bullioners。 10 Fourthly； If the two pence piece contained but 1/8th part of the Silver usually in a shilling； then Dealers would have fifteen pence paid in this money for the same Commodity； for which they would take a shilling in Standard Silver。 11。 Raising of Money is either the cutting the pound Troy of Standard Silver into more pieces then formerly； as into above sixty； whereas heretofore the same was made but into twenty； and yet both sorts called shillings； or else calling the money already made by higher names： The reasons or pretences given for such raising are these； viz。 That the raising of Money will bring it in； and the material thereof more plentifully； for trial whereof suppose one shilling were proclaimed； for trial whereof suppose one shilling were proclaimed to be worth two what other effect could this have； then the raising of all Commodities unto a double price？ Now if it were proclaimed； That Labourers Wages； etc。 should not rise at all upon this raising of Money； then would this Act be as onely a Tax upon the said Labourers； as forcing them to lose half their wages； which would not be onely unjust but impossible； unless they could live with the said half； （which is not to be supposed） for then the Law that appoints such Wages were ill made； which should allow the Labourer but just wherewithall to live； for if you allow double； then he works but half so much as he could have done； and otherwise would； which is a loss to the Publick of the fruit of so much labour。 12。 But suppose the Quart d'Esen of France commonly esteemed worth eighteen pence were raised to three shillings； then 'tis true； that all the Moneys of England would be indeed Quart d'Esens pieces； but as true； that all the English Money would be carried away； and that our Quart d'Esens would contain but half so much Bullion as our own Money
