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arise from introducing a pure state of anarchy among them。 I
will represent the case； as it appears to me； very fairly and
impartially between the mob and their betters。 The whole
mischief which infects this part of our economy arises from the
vague and uncertain use of a word called liberty； of which； as
scarce any two men with whom I have ever conversed seem to have
one and the same idea； I am inclined to doubt whether there be
any simple universal notion represented by this word； or whether
it conveys any clearer or more determinate idea than some of
those old Punic compositions of syllables preserved in one of the
comedies of Plautus； but at present； as I conceive； not supposed
to be understood by any one。
By liberty； however； I apprehend； is commonly understood the
power of doing what we please； not absolutely； for then it would
be inconsistent with law； by whose control the liberty of the
freest people； except only the Hottentots and wild Indians； must
always be restrained。
But； indeed； however largely we extend； or however moderately we
confine； the sense of the word； no politician will； I presume；
contend that it is to pervade in an equal degree； and be； with
the same extent； enjoyed by； every member of society； no such
polity having been ever found； unless among those vile people
just before commemorated。 Among the Greeks and Romans the
servile and free conditions were opposed to each other； and no
man who had the misfortune to be enrolled under the former could
lay any claim to liberty till the right was conveyed to him by
that master whose slave he was； either by the means of conquest；
of purchase； or of birth。
This was the state of all the free nations in the world； and
this； till very lately； was understood to be the case of our own。
I will not indeed say this is the case at present； the lowest
class of our people having shaken off all the shackles of their
superiors； and become not only as free； but even freer； than most
of their superiors。 I believe it cannot be doubted； though
perhaps we have no recent instance of it； that the personal
attendance of every man who hath three hundred pounds per annum；
in parliament； is indispensably his duty； and that； if the
citizens and burgesses of any city or borough shall choose such a
one； however reluctant he appear； he may be obliged to attend；
and be forcibly brought to his duty by the sergeant…at…arms。
Again； there are numbers of subordinate offices； some of which
are of burden； and others of expense； in the civil
governmentall of which persons who are qualified are liable to
have imposed on them； may be obliged to undertake and properly
execute； notwithstanding any bodily labor； or even danger； to
which they may subject themselves； under the penalty of fines and
imprisonment； nay； and what may appear somewhat hard； may be
compelled to satisfy the losses which are eventually incident； to
that of sheriff in particular； out of their own private fortunes；
and though this should prove the ruin of a family； yet the
public； to whom the price is due； incurs no debt or obligation to
preserve its officer harmless； let his innocence appear ever so
clearly。 I purposely omit the mention of those military or
military duties which our old constitution laid upon its greatest
members。 These might； indeed； supply their posts with some other
able…bodied men； but if no such could have been found； the
obligation nevertheless remained； and they were compellable to
serve in their own proper persons。 The only one； therefore； who
is possessed of absolute liberty is the lowest member of the
society； who； if he prefers hunger； or the wild product of the
fields； hedges； lanes； and rivers； with the indulgence of ease
and laziness； to a food a little more delicate； but purchased at
the expense of labor； may lay himself under a shade； nor can be
forced to take the other alternative from that which he hath； I
will not affirm whether wisely or foolishly； chosen。
Here I may； perhaps； be reminded of the last Vagrant Act； where
all such persons are compellable to work for the usual and
accustomed wages allowed in the place； but this is a clause
little known to the justices of the peace； and least likely to be
executed by those who do know it； as they know likewise that it
is formed on the ancient power of the justices to fix and settle
these wages every year； making proper allowances for the scarcity
and plenty of the times； the cheapness and dearness of the place；
and that THE USUAL AND ACCUSTOMED WAGES are words without any
force or meaning； when there are no such； but every man spunges
and raps whatever he can get； and will haggle as long and
struggle as hard to cheat his employer of twopence in a day's
labor as an honest tradesman will to cheat his customers of the
same sum in a yard of cloth or silk。
It is a great pity then that this power； or rather this practice；
was not revived； but； this having been so long omitted that it is
become obsolete； will be best done by a new law； in which this
power； as well as the consequent power of forcing the poor to
labor at a moderate and reasonable rate； should be well
considered and their execution facilitated； for gentlemen who
give their time and labor gratis； and even voluntarily； to the
public； have a right to expect that all their business be made as
easy as possible； and to enact laws without doing this is to fill
our statute…books； much too full already； still fuller with dead
letter； of no use but to the printer of the acts of parliament。
That the evil which I have here pointed at is of itself worth
redressing； is； I apprehend； no subject of dispute； for why
should any persons in distress be deprived of the assistance of
their fellow…subjects； when they are willing amply to reward them
for their labor？ or； why should the lowest of the people be
permitted to exact ten times the value of their work？ For those
exactions increase with the degrees of necessity in their object；
insomuch that on the former side many are horribly imposed upon；
and that often in no trifling matters。 I was very well assured
that at Deal no less than ten guineas was required； and paid by
the supercargo of an Indiaman； for carrying him on board two
miles from the shore when she was just ready to sail； so that his
necessity； as his pillager well understood； was absolute。 Again；
many others； whose indignation will not submit to such plunder；
are forced to refuse the assistance； though they are often great
sufferers by so doing。 On the latter side； the lowest of the
people are encouraged in laziness and idleness； while they live
by a twentieth part of the labor that ought to maintain them；
which is diametrically opposite to the interest of the public；
for that requires a great deal to be done； not to be paid； for a
little。 And moreover； they are confirmed in habits of exaction；
and are taught to consider the distresses of their superiors as
their own fair emolument。 But enough of this matter； of which I
at first intended only to convey a hint to those who are alone
capable of applying the remedy； though they are the last to whom
the notice of those evils would occur； without some such monitor
as myself； who am forced to travel about the world in the form of
a passenger。 I cannot but say I heartily wish our governors
would attentively consider this method of fixing the price of
labor； and by that means of compelling the poor to work； since
the due execution of such powers will； I apprehend； be found the
true and only means of making them useful； and of advancing trade
from its present visibly declining state to the height to which
Sir William Petty； in his Political Arithmetic； thinks it capable
of being carried。
In the afternoon the lady of the above…mentioned mansion called
at our inn； and left her compliments to us with Mrs。 Francis；
with an assurance that while we continued wind…bound in that
place； where she feared we could be but indifferently
accommodated； we were extremely welcome to the use of anything
which her garden or her house afforded。 So polite a message
convinced us； in spite of some arguments to the contrary； that we
were not on the coast of Africa； or on some island where the few
savage inhabitants have little of human in them besides their
form。 And here I mean nothing less than to derogate from the
merit of this lady； who is not only extremely polite in her
behavior to strangers of her own rank； but so extremely good and
charitable to all her poor neighbors who stand in need of her
assistance； that she hath the universal love and praises of all
who live near her。 But； in reality； how little doth the
acquisition of so valuable a character； and the full indulgence
of so worthy a disposition； cost those who possess it！ Both are
accomplished by the very offals which fall from a table
moderately plentiful。 Tha