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ssed； and more than he knew what to do with； or his industry could reach to。 Sec。 35。 It is true； in land that is common in England； or any other country； where there is plenty of people under government； who have money and commerce； no one can inclose or appropriate any part； without the consent of all his fellow… commoners； because this is left common by compact； i。e。 by the law of the land； which is not to be violated。 And though it be common； in respect of some men； it is not so to all mankind； but is the joint property of this country； or this parish。 Besides； the remainder； after such enclosure； would not be as good to the rest of the commoners； as the whole was when they could all make use of the whole； whereas in the beginning and first peopling of the great common of the world； it was quite otherwise。 The law man was under； was rather for appropriating。 God commanded； and his wants forced him to labour。 That was his property which could not be taken from him where…ever he had fixed it。 And hence subduing or cultivating the earth； and having dominion； we see are joined together。 The one gave title to the other。 So that God； by commanding to subdue； gave authority so far to appropriate： and the condition of human life； which requires labour and materials to work on； necessarily introduces private possessions。 Sec。 36。 The measure of property nature has well set by the extent of men's labour and the conveniencies of life： no man's labour could subdue； or appropriate all； nor could his enjoyment consume more than a small part； so that it was impossible for any man； this way； to intrench upon the right of another； or acquire to himself a property； to the prejudice of his neighbour； who would still have room for as good； and as large a possession （after the other had taken out his） as before it was appropriated。 This measure did confine every man's possession to a very moderate proportion； and such as he might appropriate to himself； without injury to any body； in the first ages of the world； when men were more in danger to be lost； by wandering from their company； in the then vast wilderness of the earth； than to be straitened for want of room to plant in。 And the same measure may be allowed still without prejudice to any body； as full as the world seems： for supposing a man； or family； in the state they were at first peopling of the world by the children of Adam； or Noah； let him plant in some inland； vacant places of America； we shall find that the possessions he could make himself； upon the measures we have given； would not be very large； nor； even to this day； prejudice the rest of mankind； or give them reason to complain； or think themselves injured by this man's incroachment； though the race of men have now spread themselves to all the corners of the world； and do
infinitely exceed the small number was at the beginning。 Nay； the extent of ground is of so little value； without labour； that I have heard it affirmed； that in Spain itself a man may be permitted to plough； sow and reap； without being disturbed； upon land he has no other title to； but only his making use of it。 But； on the contrary； the inhabitants think themselves beholden to him； who； by his industry on neglected； and consequently waste land； has increased the stock of corn； which they wanted。 But be this as it will； which I lay no stress on； this I dare boldly affirm； that the same rule of propriety； （viz。） that every man should have as much as he could make use of； would hold still in the world； without straitening any body； since there is land enough in the world to suffice double the inhabitants； had not the invention of money； and the tacit agreement of men to put a value on it； introduced （by consent） larger possessions； and a right to them； which； how it has done； I shall by and by shew more at large。 Sec。 37。 This is certain； that in the beginning； before the desire of having more than man needed had altered the intrinsic value of things； which depends only on their usefulness to the life of man； or had agreed； that a little piece of yellow metal； which would keep without wasting or decay； should be worth a great piece of flesh； or a whole heap of corn； though men had a right to appropriate； by their labour； each one of himself； as much of the things of nature； as he could use： yet this could not be much； nor to the prejudice of others； where the same plenty was still left to those who would use the same industry。 To which let me add； that he who appropriates land to himself by his labour； does not lessen； but increase the common stock of mankind： for the provisions serving to the support of human life； produced by one acre of inclosed and cultivated land； are （to speak much within compass） ten times more than those which are yielded by an acre of land of an equal richness lying waste in common。 And therefore he that incloses land； and has a greater plenty of the conveniencies of life from ten acres； than he could have from an hundred left to nature； may truly be said to give ninety acres to mankind： for his labour now supplies him with provisions out of ten acres； which were but the product of an hundred lying in common。 I have here rated the improved land very low； in making its product but as ten to one； when it is much nearer an hundred to one： for I ask； whether in the wild woods and uncultivated waste of America； left to nature； without any improvement； tillage or husbandry； a thousand acres yield the needy and wretched inhabitants as many conveniencies of life； as ten acres of equally fertile land do in Devonshire； where they are well cultivated？ Before the appropriation of land； he who gathered as much of the wild fruit； killed； caught； or tamed； as many of the beasts； as he could； he that so imployed his pains about any of the spontaneous products of nature； as any way to alter them from the state which nature put them in； by placing any of his labour on them； did thereby acquire a propriety in them： but if they perished； in his possession； without their due use； if the fruits rotted； or the venison putrified； before he could spend it； he offended against the common law of nature； and was liable to be punished； he invaded his neighbour's share； for he had no right； farther than his use called for any of them； and they might serve to afford him conveniencies of life。 Sec。 38。 The same measures governed the possession of land too： whatsoever he tilled and reaped； laid up and made use of； before it spoiled； that was his peculiar right； whatsoever he enclosed； and could feed； and make use of； the cattle and product was also his。 But if either the grass of his enclosure rotted on the ground； or the fruit of his planting perished without gathering； and laying up； this part of the earth； notwithstanding his enclosure； was still to be looked on as waste； and might be
the possession of any other。 Thus； at the beginning； Cain might take as much ground as he could till； and make it his own land； and yet leave enough to Abel's sheep to feed on； a few acres would serve for both their possessions。 But as families increased； and industry inlarged their stocks； their possessions inlarged with the need of them； but yet it was commonly without any fixed property in the ground they made use of； till they incorporated； settled themselves together； and built cities； and then； by consent； they came in time； to set out the bounds of their distinct territories； and agree on limits between them and their neighbours； and by laws within themselves； settled the properties of those of the same society： for we see； that in that part of the world which was first inhabited； and therefore like to be best peopled； even as low down as Abraham's time； they wandered with their flocks； and their herds； which was their substance； freely up and down； and this Abraham did； in a country where he was a stranger。 Whence it is plain； that at least a great part of the land lay in common； that the inhabitants valued it not； nor claimed property in any more than they made use of。 But when there was not room enough in the same place； for their herds to feed together； they by consent； as Abraham and Lot did； Gen。 xiii。 5。 separated and inlarged their pasture； where it best liked them。 And for the same reason Esau went from his father； and his brother； and planted in mount Seir； Gen。 xxxvi。 6。 Sec。 39。 And thus； without supposing any private dominion； and property in Adam； over all the world； exclusive of all other men； which can no way be proved； nor any one's property be made out from it； but supposing the world given； as it was； to the children of men in common； we see how labour could make men distinct titles to several parcels of it； for their private uses； wherein there could be no doubt of right； no room for quarrel。 Sec。 40。 Nor is it so strange； as perhaps before consideration it may appear； that the property of labour should be able to over…balance the community of land： for it is labour indeed that puts the difference of value on every thing； and let any one consider what the dif