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第9章

treatise on taxes and contributions-第9章

小说: treatise on taxes and contributions 字数: 每页4000字

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ally; unto him that eats these things there (suppose in Taverns) shall be added the charge of all the circumstancial appurtenances of House…rent; Furniture; Attendance; and the Cooks skill as well as his labour to accompany the same。     6。 Hence it comes to pass; that Lands intrinsically alike near populous places; such as where the perimeter of the Area that feeds them is great; will not onely yield more Rent for these Reasons; but also more years purchase then in remote places; by reason of the pleasure and honour extraordinary of having Lands there; for      Omne tulit penctum qui miscuit utile dulci。     7。 Having finished our digression upon the measures of the Rents and Values of Lands and Moneys; we now return to our second way of leavying Publick Charges; which ws the taking of aproportion of the Rent (commonly called Assessment) it follows next to speak of the way of computing the said Rents; otherwise then according to the bargains which a few men make one with another; through ignorance; haste; false suggestion; or else in their passion or drink: Although I acknowledge; that the medium or common result of all the bargains made within three years (or other such Cycle of time; as within which all contingencies of Land revolve) may be very sufficient to this purpose; being but the summe synthetically computed by casual opinions; as I would endeavour to cast up analytically by a distinct particularizing of the Causes。     8。 1。 Therefore I propound a Survey of the Figures; Quantities and Scituations of all the Lands both according to the civil bounds of Parishes; Farms; etc。 and the natural distinctions thereof by the Sea; Rivers; ridges of Rocks; or Mountains; etc。     9。 2。 I propound that the quality of each denomination were described by the Commodities it had usually born; in some Land; some sort of Timber; Grain; pulse or root growing more happily then in others: Also by the encrease of things sown or planted; which it hath yielded; communibus annis; and withall; the comparative goodness of the said Commodities not unto the common Standard money; but to one another。 As for example; if there be ten acres of Land; I would have it judged whether they be better for Hay or Corn; if for Hay; whether the said ten Acres will bear more or less of Hay then then other Acres; and whether an hundred weight of the said Hay will feed or fatten more or less; then the same weight of other Hay; and not as yet comparing it to money; in which the value of the said Hay will be more less; according to the plenty of money; which hath changed strangely since the discovery of the West Indies; and according to the multitudes of people living near this Land; together with the luxurious or frugal living of them; and besides all; according to the Civil; Natural; and Religious Opinions of the said people: As for example; Eggs in the fore…part of Lent (because their goodness and delicacy decayes before Lent be done) being worth little in some Popish Countreys; nor Swines flesh among the Jews; nor Hedgehogs; Frogs; Snails; Mushrooms; etc。 to those that fear to eat them; as poisonous or unwholesome; nor Currans and Spanish Wines; if they were all to be destroyed as the great thieves of this Nations; by an Edict of the State。     10。 This I call a Survey or Inquisition into the intrinsick Values of Land; that of extrinsick or accidentall follows。 We said; that the change of the store of money would change the rates of commodities according to our reckoning in names and words; (pounds; shillings; and pence being nothing else) as for example:     If a man can bring to London an ounce of Silver out of the Earth in Peru; in the same time that he can produce a bushel of Corn; then one is the natural price of the other; now if by reason of new and more easie Mines a man can get two ounces of Silver as easily as formerly he did one; then Corn will be as cheap at ten shillings the bushel; as it was before at five shillings caeteris paribus。     11。 It behoves us therefore to have a way; whereby to tell the money of our Countrey (which I think I have; and that in a short time; and without cost; and (which is more) without looking into particular mens pockets; of which hereafter。) Now if we know what Gold and Silver we had in England two hundred years ago; and could tell it again now; and though we also knew the difference of our denominations then; when thirty seven shillings were made out the same quantity of Silver as sixty two are now; also that of the alloy; labour in Coinage; remedies for weight and fineness; and duties to the King; nay; if we also knew the labourers wages then and now; yet all this would not shew the difference of the Riches of our Nation even in money alone。     12。 Wherefore we must adde to the premises; the knowledge of the difference of the numbers of the people; and conclude; that if all the money in the Nation wre equally divided amongst all the people both then and now; that that time wherein each Devisee had wherewith to hire most labourers; was the richer。 So that we want the knowledge of the People and Bullion which is now in this Land; and which was heretofore; all which I think may be found out even for the time past; but more probably for the time present and to come。     13。 But to proceed; suppose we had them; then we would pitch the accidental values upon our Lands about London; as thus; viz。 We would first at hazzard compute the materials for food and covering; which the Shires of Essex; Kent; Surrey; Middlesex and Hartford; next circumjacent to London; did communibus annis produce; and would withal compute the Consumptioners of them living in the said five shires; and London。 The which if I found to be more then were then the Consumptioners living upon the like scope of other Land; or rather upon as much other Land as bore the like quantity of Provisions。 Then I say; that Provisions must be dearer in the said five Shires then in the other; and within the said Shires cheaper or dearer; as the way to London was more or less long; or rather more or less chargeable。     14。 For if the said five Shires did already produce as much Commodity; as by all endeavour was possible; then what is wanting must be brought from a far; and that which is near; advanced in price accordingly; or if by the said Shires by greater labour then now is used; (as by digging instead of Ploughing; setting instead of sowing; picking of choice feed instead of taking it promiscuously; steeping it instead of using it wholly unprepared; and manuring the ground with salt instead of rotten straw; etc。) then will the Rent be as much more advanced; as the excess of encrease exceeds that of labour。     15。 Now the price of labour must be certain; (as we see it made by the Statutes which limit the day wages of several work men;) the non…observance of which Laws; and the not adapting them to the change of times; is by the way very dangerous; and confusive to all endeavours of bettering the Trade of Nation。     16。 Moreover; the touchstone to try whether it be better to use those improvements or not; is to examine whether the labour of fetching these things even from the places where they grow wilde; or with less Culture; be not less then that of the said improvements。     17。 Against all this will be objected; that these computations are very hard if not impossible to make; to which I answer onely this; that are so; especially if none will trouble their hands or heads to make them; or give authority for so doing: But withall; I say; that until this be done; Trade will be too conjectural a work for any man to employ his thoughts about; for it will be the same wisdom in order to win with fair Dice; to spend much time in considering how to hold them; how much to shake them; and how hard to throw them; and on what angles they should hit the side of the Tables; as to consider how to advance the Trade of this Nation; where at present particular men get from their neighbours (not from the earth and sea) rather by hit then wit; and by the false opinions of others; rather then their own judgements; Credit every where; but chiefly in London; being become a meer conceit; that a man is responsible or not; without any certain knowledge of his Wealth or true Estate。 Whereas I th

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