money answers all things-第6节
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hence all Trades； Occupations； Manufactures and Profession； are overstock'd with Numbers； and embarrassed。 and hence Rents have been advanced by the Demand the Increase of People hath occasion'd for Land； and hence Living is become much more chargeable than formerly； and the People less able to support themselves； besides； the inhancing the Price of Necessaries hath either advanced our Commodities； or made them so much worse； that our Neighbour Nations have not taken so many of them as they would otherwise have done； and we probably must have taken more Commodities of them for this Reason。 And thus； I doubt not； the Ballance of Trade is against us； that is； the Gold and Silver this Nation have by this Means been really diminished； and the prodigious Exportation of Gold and Silver of late Years is a strong Indication of it； whatever Pretences may be advanced concerning it to the contrary。 Beside that the Exchange； especially for Holland； hath of late Years been considerably below the Value of our Coin； as the Exchange with every Nation will always be； whenever they have the Ballance upon us。（3*） And though this may be some small Encouragement to the Exportation of our Commodities； because they come so much cheaper to the Markets
abroad；yet if our Trade goes on so； we shall certainly have very little Cash left。 But if； to prevent this dreadful Evil； we do as fast as possible put a very great Quantity of Land into Use； more than at present is cultivated； our Poor will be employ'd； the empty Houses soon filled； and our Manufactures become much cheaper and better； and this will both increase our Exportations to the Nations we now trade with； and give Rise to other foreign Markets to vend our Goods at； and prevent the excessive Importation of foreign Goods amongst ourselves； and thus the Ballance of Trade will become in our Favour； and increase the Cash of the Nation； or Money will certainly by this Method become plentiful enough amongst the People in general。 But there is no other Way in Nature to compass this End； or recover the Trade of the Nation： For those Nations that can work cheapest； must have the Money； as sure as they always will have the Trade； to which I add； that the People will always flow into those Nations that get the Money （i。e。 have the Ballance of Trade in their Favour） because Trade； which is the Means of getting the Money； is that which employs and subsists them。 But before I dismiss this Point； I can't help taking Notice of an Article inserted in the Daily Courant of January 3； 1731 from Berlin； where； it seems； an exact Register is kept of the Births； Deaths； and Marriages； by which it appears； 3331 Persons were born； and 2691 died； so that the Increase is 641 Persons that Year in that City。 Now I have tried the Par of human Life from our Bills of Mortality； which doth not amount to 25 Years； one with another： But； however； multiply the Deaths by 25； the Product will be 67275 Persons in that City； which divided by 641； the Increase gives 104； the Number of Years in which Mankind will double。 And if we take this for the Rule； there must be near 300 square Miles of land more taken in and cultivated； every Year in England； or the Increase must fall into the several Professions； Trades； and Manufactures； and over…do； and absolutely spoil them all； which is the necessary and unavoidable Consequence of the Increase of Mankind； if Land； in proportion to the Increase be not every Year added and improved； to employ and support them。 Another Thing； which undoubtedly is of the utmost Importance to the Trade of this Kingdom； is the making Timber so plentiful； that we may build our Ships so much cheaper； that no Nation may be able to sail for less Freights than the English。 If this be sufficiently done； together with making Labour considerably cheaper； Ships may soon be buildt here than now can be； and this will employ abundance of People of many Trades； besides the still greater Numbers who will be imployed in navigating them。 And as the Riches of this Kingdom do undoubtedly very much depend on maritime Affairs； so the Strength of it is chiefly its Navy： Wherefore if Timber be made very plentiful； and Labour cheaper too； which would make a mighty Difference in the Expence the Government are now at for the Navy； beside that they will be mann'd； and fitted to Sea at so much less Expence likewise。 This will infallibly be the Consequence of sufficiently executing this Proposal in all its Parts。 Thus will much less Money serve all the Affairs of the Government； and soon make a Surplus arise； to reduce the national Debts； and ease the Taxes； without any Inconvenience to the Government or the Nation。 It might be expected that Gentlemen； for their own Advantage； and the Benefit of their Families； should plant Timber enough； but we find it so much otherwise； that Laws have been made to oblige this to be done； and yet the End hath not been attained； which I ascribe to these Causes： First； the Rents having been rising of late Years； from the considerable Demand there hath been for Land； hath been one Reason that planting Timber hath not been sufficiently regarded。 Secondly； Planting Timber regards Posterity rather than ourselves immediately； and this hath occasioned the Neglect of it； and if we continue to go on thus； an Observation the Spectator No 583 recites； that the Nation if a few Years will be at a Loss to supply itself with Timber sufficient for the Fleets of England； will certainly be verified。（4*） Wherefore； to make Plenty of Timber； I would propose； that a Law be made； which shall effectually provide； and oblige all the Lands throughout the whole Kingdom； at all times； to maintain a Timber Tree in every Hedge and Bank； at 100 Feet Distance or thereabouts； which Distance I suppose sufficient to admit the Sun and Wind； so that the Fruits of the Earth may receive no Prejudice by the Trees that should thus grow in the Hedges and Banks。 Further； all Lands that are infertile； or not so fit for Cultivation； and likewise all waste Land； as far as it's possible to effect if； should be well planted with Timber。 For it's well known that all Lands； where Woods have been cut and grubb'd up； are always fruitful； for a Wood； by the Fall of the Leaves； etc。 and retaining the Rain much longer on the Ground than otherwise it would； always renders the Ground it grows on more fruitful； besides that Woods always produce the finest and best Timber； Whilst the Hedges produce the strongest and crookedest； which therefore would be exceedingly useful for shipping； and especially for small Vessels。 Thus Timber may be made plentiful enough； and then； if Labour be made cheaper； Ships may be built so cheap； as to enable us to cope with any Nation in the World in all maritime Affairs。 But there is no other Way in Nature to do this； and till 'tis done； we must be content； not only to see the Ships of other Nations the principal Carriers of the World； but to employ many Ships ourselves which are not built in this Kingdom。 But it will be objected； This can't be effected presently； because Timber takes many Years to grow to any Perfection。 So much the more Need is there that it be done； and if effectual Provision be made for Futurity； the present Stock of Timber in the Kingdom will answer the End sufficiently； whilst the Supply is growing to prevent any future Inconvenience； provided Labour be； as speedily as possible； made cheap enough to contribute to that End： For the same Means which alone can make Labour cheaper； will make every other Thing cheaper。 And this may be fully effected in a very few Years； and will be sensibly felt by all； from its very first Attempt； if Land enough be； as fast as may be； put into Cultivation to answer the Purpose。 For with this； every Trade will infallibly flourish； without any Inconvenience but falling the Rents； which I have before shewn will be really the present Interest of every Gentleman； besides the sure Foundation of the Happiness of his immediate Offspring。 And as to the Purchase of Estates；which is always governed by the Interest of Money； they will be valued at as many Years Purchase as they would if Rents had not fallen； and tho' the Sums they sell for must be less； in proportion as the Rents shall be lowered； yet the Money will have； at least； all the same Effects； apply it how you please。 The Spectator No 200； asserts； That if the Fruits of the Earth could be increased one Tenth above all Possibility of Consumption； it would reduce the Price of them half。 But such an Increase is absolutely impossible； the World having never yet； I believe； produced an Instance of it。 Besides that the Author of the World hath； undoubtedly； observed as nice and exact a Proportion in the Wants of Mankind； and what the Earth will produce to supply them； as he hath done in all the rest of his Works； and then such an Excess； as I said before； is impossible； and this I shall prove hereafter。 But a greater Excess than this is become a Fact； as to the Houses within the Bills of Mortality；（5*） and will certainly be attended with that Consequence； of reducing the Rents one half； if the Method I propose be not applied to prevent it。 And if； as he reasons in another Part of the same Spectator； the Cities of London
