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money answers all things-第7章

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ied to prevent it。 And if; as he reasons in another Part of the same Spectator; the Cities of London and Westminister pay a Fifth of the whole Revenue of the Crown; beside the Rent and Taxes they enable the Country to pay; what Care ought to be taken to make Money plentiful amongst the People in general; which alone can make Trade flourish; and fill the Houses; and prevent so great and certain a Diminution as the Revenue must suffer in all Parts of the Kingdom for want of this Care!     But I am sensible the great Number of empty Houses is ascribed to the Increase of Building since the Peace。 But whoever considers; that there are not less then 6 or 700000 People in the Bills of Mortality; and that; according to the natural Increase of Mankind; at the lowest Computation of doubling in 360 Years; the Increase will be near 40000 People since that Time;(6*) he will be necessarily obliged to ascribe the empty Houses to other Causes; and not to the Increase of Building solely。 But however since they are built; and their being inhabited; or standing empty; will certainly have such an Influence on the Rents of the Kingdom; and the Revenue likewise; it behoves us to take the proper Methods to fill them; which I am confident will soon be effected by cultivating Land enough to make a Plenty of Money amongst the Trading Part of the People in general; but not otherwise。     But further; if the People increased; as Dr Nichols says they did; so as to double themselves in London in 40 Years; notwithstanding the last great Plague which happened within the Period he wrote of; and the Country increased; tho' not in the like yet in a considerable Proportion (and I hope his Authority is sufficient to bear me out); then the Building since the Peace; which hath by no means I think been in proportion to one Fourth of such and Increase of People; can't be the Reason to which the Vast Number of empty Houses can be ascribed。     But the empty Houses must be ascribed to such a Diminution of Trade; and consequently of Cash amongst the People; which makes it so difficult for the People to get Money to support them; that many are become incapable to pay the Rents; and many must have forsaken us on this Account。 For the People will diminish; where the Means of getting a Livelihood is not well to be attained; suitable to their several Ranks and Stations; which is a necessary Consequent; where the Balance of Trade becomes considerably against any Nation (unless the Means I contend for be taken to prevent it)。     For it's evident; such a Nation hath amongst them just so much Business less than their own several Wants create; as the Amount of the Ballance against them is; which lessening their Cash at the same time just so much too; brings a double Inconvenience with it; viz。 Want of Money and Employment: And if Things are suffered to go on so; the People must disperse and diminish。 And therefore this Maxim; well known amongst Merchants; appears will founded; it being only the Reverse of what is shewn above; That the People always increase in whose Favour the Balance of Trade is considerable; as it must needs have been in ours; in that Period of Time Dr Nichols wrote of; since; notwithstanding so great an Increase of the People; the Prices of every thing; as is well know; rather advanced all the Time; which they could not have done if the Cash of the Nation had not increased in yet greater Proportion than the People increased; as I think the Illustration of my fourth Maxim evinces。     Hence therefore it appears; that every Nation ought to keep Trade on such a Foot; as always; on the whole; to have the Balance in their Favour: For if Mankind double themselves only in 360 Years; if the Cash of the Nation be not augmented every Year a 360th Part; the People must in a few Years be distressed for want of Money; unless all things be made at least so much cheaper to prevent it。 And as the Means of doing this is in the Power of every Nation; that have waste Land enough to improve to increase their Plenty;(7*) and thereby reduce the Price of Things; so the improving so much waste Land as answers this End; will furnish Employment; and consequently a livelihood for the People; and will always; not only prevent any considerable Number of Houses from standing long empty; but will continually cause more to be added all over the Kingdom; as the vast Increase Dr Nichols asserts there was; particularly in London; within forty Years; besides the great Increase in the Country in the same Time; doth fully shew。     But that I may put this past all doubt; let it only at present be granted; which I will shew hereafter; that the People in London and Westminister were really doubled in about 40 Years; since this; nor any thing like this; could be the Effect of the natural Increase of Mankind;(8*) it must have some other most powerful Cause: This Cause I assert was a flourishing Trade; which I thus prove; viz。     The People were doubled in this Town; and increased too in the Country; though not in the like; yet in a considerable Proportion; and yet the Prices of Necessaries; and all other Things in general; were higher than those Things were 40 Years before: Now this; by my fourth Maxim; was absolutely impossible; if the Cash of the Nation had not been vastly increased also。 Wherefore; as we have no Mines; the Cash could be increased only by exporting so many more Goods in value than we imported。 And as this is; in itself; that which constitutes a flourishing Trade in any Nation; so we see the Effect was the doubling the People in London as aforesaid; wherefore let our Trade be again put on such a Foot; that we may be able to raise our Produce; and Commodities of every Kind; as cheap as any Nation can raise; or make any thing whereby they may any way interfere in any Branch of our Trade; and the same Effect will again arise; and consequently not only fill the empty Houses; but cause more to be added; as I said above。     And as it hence appears absolutely needful to keep Trade on a Foot; whereby the Balance may always; on the whole; be in our Favour; so it's certain; the Mines which are continually giving Gold and Silver; do give sufficient to supply such a needful Balance to every Nation。 For the Gold and Silver; which the Mines; since the Europeans have possess'd them; have furnished Europe in general with; have not only furnished Quantities equal to the Increase of Mankind since that Time; but so much more Gold and Silver; as to inhance the Price of all Kinds of Commodities in Europe in general; but especially in those Nations who have; either directly or indirectly; had the most considerable Trade with the Countries where the Mines are; and this in all Probability they will always continue to do; but if not; I have and shall shew how to do that which will be always equivalent。     And as to the Countries; which are thus continually furnishing this Ballance to the rest of the World; they having the Mines; have that which is equivalent to such a Balance in their Favour。     I shall now proceed to some Observation concerning Prohibitions on Trade; and also concerning prohibiting the current Coin to be exported。     It was before observed; that it is reasonably expected; every Man should; some way or other; maintain himself and Family honestly; and that; to this End; the Affairs of the World must be so wisely constituted in their own Nature; as to furnish sufficient Employment for every Body; since any considerable Defect in this Respect must leave some unimploy'd and consequently without Maintenance: And further; that there is no Employment in the World; but what the People mutually cause each other。     These Employments arise solely out of the several Wants; etc。 of Mankind; which constitute all the various Trades; Professions; and Occupations of Men; to which I will add; and hereafter prove; that these are so wisely  proportioned; as fully to employ all that need or will be employed; and therefore these are the natural Foundations of all commerce amongst Mankind and sufficient to subsist them all; if not obstructed by any Means。     All Nations of the World; therefore; should be regarded as one Body of Tradesmen; exercising their various Occupations for the mutual Benefit and Advantage of each other。     A very considerable Part of these Employments relate to maritime Affairs and Commerce; by transporting the Commodities of the several Nations from one Nation to another。     This makes ships needful; which; considering all things that any way relate to them; furnish Employment for a prodigious Part of Mankind; besides the inland Carriage of the Goods which the ships are loaded with; and the Merchants; and Writers; and all the Trades that depend on them; which must needs enable every Nation to support a prodigious Number of Inhabitants; more than the same Territory could support; if there were not this Commerce between the several Nations to employ the People。     Now since Mankind never complained of having too much Trade; but many do really want Business sufficient to get a Livelihood; Prohibitions do; in the very Nature of them; cut off so much Employment from the People; as there would be more; if there were no such Prohibitions。 And though this will; I think; chiefly affect the Nations w
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