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！
osed； as near London as such a Quantity of Land is to be had； because the labouring People may； I believe； be more easily drawn from hence to cultivate it； than from any other Parts； and because the Cities of London and Westminister will； I imagine； sooner feel the Effects in the Cheapness of Provision of all Kinds； which will soon put the Inhabitants into Circumstances to occupy more Houses； and cause others to flow to them； and thereby fill the empty Houses； for where the Trade is； the People will come。 Again； I would most humbly submit it to the Consideration and Goodness of His most Gracious Majesty； whether his Majesty might not； by giving his Crown Lands in proper Parcels on quit Rents； or any proper Acknowledgments for a Term of Years； begin this good Work； and relieve the poor Artificiers and Manufacturers； for whom His Majesty hath from the Throne most graciously expressed great Compassion。（37*） And if His most Gracious Majesty shall please to continue to add； for some Years； such a Quantity of Crown Lands； in several Parts of the Kingdom； to be cultivated on like easy Terms； there will be People enough that will accept and improve them。 And if at the End of any proper Term； when such Possessors shall pay Rent for them； an Incouragement be given； by allowing such Parcels of Lands on easy Rents； for some further Term of Years； this Incouragement will be attented with the utmost Improvement of such Lands； and Wealth to every prudent and industrious Possessor of them； and will； in a few Years； be a very considerable Estate to the Crown； arising by these Rents； and hereby； the dismal； and otherwise irremediable Calamity of many will be alleviated and relieved； Tears wip'd from many Eyes； and may broken Hearts heal'd； and Multitudes saved from Imprisonment； Transportation； and the Gallows； besides preventing many from deserting the Kingdom； as they are now continually doing； to seek that Bread； which they can't find in their native Country； to support them with Comfort。 Thus will His most Gracious Majesty become a Kind of Deity to his People； whilst he is thus imitating the Beneficence of our heavenly Father； whose Representative on Earth he will thus be； in the most exalted Sense。 I must； indeed； own myself a Stranger to the Quantity of Crown Lands； that are at present uncultivated； though I can't doubt that there are enough to set this useful； and； as I believe； absolutely needful to set this useful； and； as I believe； absolutely needful Proposal at Work； which will be found to be an inexpressible Benefit to all Ranks and Degrees of Men amongst us； if fully and sufficiently executed。 But perhaps it may be thought； such an Addition of Land every Year may reduce the Rents of Lands too much。 In answer to which I shall only say that； when the Necessaries of Life are reduced so low that we can work as cheap as the Nations round about us； and that the Wages of a working Man will purchase enough to support such a Family； as the Estimate is made for； in the Station of a labouring Man's Family； as none of them can then want Work； which I think I have proved by shewing how great the Wants of the People are； so the Rent the Lands will then bear； is really that proper and fit annual Rent； which will be found best for all Ranks and Stations of Men。 But if Things must not be put on so good a Foot； I cannot help thinking； that it would be much happier for the People； that they were in a state of Nature； where all Men being born equal； have a natural Right to any Quantity of Land they think fit to use； and to put it to what Use they please； provided it be not occupied by any other： For whoever occupies any Land in this Case； is the rightful Possessor and Proprietor； so long as he continues to occupy and use it。 For though I don't think a State of nature to compare with the State of Civil Government； if the Plenty be made great enough to support the People comfortably； yet if the Bulk of Mankind be made miserable by the Oppression of the rest； as they undoubtedly are； when the Wages of the Labourer； and Price of Necessaries for such a Family as he must often sustain； and which indeed he was chiefly sent into this World to raise； are not very near equal： I say； such an unhappy State of Mankind is； in my Opinion； worse than a State of Nature itself。 For as Men form themselves into Societies or Governments； to make themselves more happy than they would be in a State of Nature； it is but just； that as they； for that End； give up their natural Right to the Land； which by this Principle； that all Men by Nature are born equal； they have an indefeasable Right to take and possess； wherever it lies unoccupied by any other； I say； it is but just； so much Land be continually added and improv'd amongst them； that every Thing thereby be render'd so plentiful； and consequently so cheap； that the Wages of the labouring Men； and Price of Necessaries become so equal； that they may all comfortably support such a Family； as they were sent into this world to raise； and therefore ought to support； unless through Sickness or Weakness such an one becomes unable to labour for them； and then his and his Family's Support becomes a just Debt on the Publick； so long as they really stand in need of it。 And； I further say； if so much Land were continually added； and so well improv'd as to keep these Points （viz。 the Wages of the labouring Man； and Price of Necessaries for the Support of a Family） together； Trade could never stand in need of any other Care or Concern of any government； let the Subjects carry it on in whatever Way or Manner they possibly could。（38*） For if the Trade were so gainful； as to increase the Cash amongst the People； in greater Proportion than the People increase； the Prices of Things would only become higher in such Proportion。 And if the Cash decreased （which； by the way； I believe would be impossible） as then more of the People must fall into Tillage； etc。 from a Want of Business； which is the necessary Consequence of a much greater Importation of Foreign； than Exportation of our own Commodities； so employing the People this Way； would bring down the Prices of Things to the cash amongst them （i。e。 to their proper value）； and would soon； by making their Produce and Goods so much cheaper； enable them to export more of their own； and import less foreign Goods； and thereby recover their foreign and maritime Trade。 Thus the Flux and Reflux of Trade； which we hence see is all govern'd by Money； or； in other Words； by the Prices Goods of all Kinds bear in each Nation； with respect to the Prices of the same Kinds of Goods in each other Nation； would infallibly furnish as much Employment and Happiness； as the State of Mankind is capable of。 And thus would Government answer up to the Felicity； Mankind wisely sought by uniting themselves into such Bodies and Societies。 Nor could this possibly fail of making Mankind thus happy； unless the Defect be in the Constitution of the World it self to answer the End。 And I think none； that have any just Sentiments of the Perfections of the Deity； will ever suppose that。 O happy Time！ when shall it once be； that Princes and great Men of the World will let Mankind thus naturally employ； and make themselves happy！ And thus suffering them to support themselves； remove much of the Misery of the World； and together introduce Knowledge； and Prudence； and Virtue in much larger Degrees than at present！ For Ignorance and Vice are almost inseparably connected with Poverty and Want。 The Destruction of the Poor is their Poverty。
Finis
NOTES：
1。 William Nichols； D。D。 in his Conference with a Theist； Page 64。 says； To consider farther； how mightily this Nation of ours hath increased within a Century or two； notwithstanding the many civil and external Wars； and those vast Drains of People that have been made into our Plantations since the Discovery of America： How the City of London hath doubled itself within these forty Years； notwithstanding the last great Plague； and how the Country hath increased； though not in the like； yet in a considerable Proportion； etc。
2。 I take this from Dr Nichols。
3。 This is a certain Rule to know when the Ballance of Trade is for or against us with any Nation。
4。 Timber hath been pretty reasonable these 2 or 3 Years past； which I suppose to be entirely owing to an extraordinary Destruction of it； the Gentlemen cutting it down in greater Quantities than usual； because the Farmers in general have not been able to pay their Rents as formerly。
5。 By the Bills of Mortality of the Year 1730； which by the preceding and succeeding Years appears to be a moderate Year； there died in London and Westminister and the Suburbs thereof； under 2 Years old： 10368 persons； the medium which age is 1 year makes amongst them 10368 years。 between 2 and 5： 2448； 3 1/2； 8568 5 and 10： 1092； 7 1/2； 8190 10 and 20： 901； 15； 12515 20 and 30； 2048； 25； 51100 30 and 40； 2471； 35； 86485 40 and 50； 2373； 45； 106785 50 and 60； 1713； 55； 94215 60 and 70； 1577； 65； 102505 70 and 80； 1601； 75； 75075 80 and 90； 622； 85； 52870 90 and 100； 138； 95； 13110 ； 2； 101； 202 ； 1； 102； 102 ； 2； 103； 206