Volume 1

The economic writings of Sir William Petty together with the Observations upon the bills of mortality, more probably by Captain John Graunt / edited by Charles Henry Hull.

  • Petty, William, Sir, 1623-1687.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The economic writings of Sir William Petty together with the Observations upon the bills of mortality, more probably by Captain John Graunt / edited by Charles Henry Hull. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    it would be the advantage of England to throw up their Husbandry, and to make no use of their Lands, but for Grass Horses, Milch Cows, Gardens, and Orchards, &c. which if it be so, and if Trade and Manufacture have increased in England (that is to say) if a greater part of the People, apply themselves to those faculties, than there did heretofore, and if the price of Corn be no greater now, than when Husbandmen were more numerous, and Tradesmen fewer ; L-d It follows from that single || reason (though others may be Reasons added) that the Rents of Land must fall : As for example, do faH.entS suppose the price of Wheat be 5 .y. or 60 pence the Bushel ; now if the Rent of the Land whereon it grows, be the third Sheaf; then of the 60d. 20d. is for the Land, and 40d. for the Husbandman; But if the Husbandmans Wages, should rise one eighth part, or from 8 d. to 9 d. per Diem, then the Husbandmans share in the Bushel of Wheat, rises from 40d. 0 to 45 d. And consequently the Rent of the Land must fall from 20 d. to 15 d. for we suppose the price of the Wheat still remains the same: Especially since we cannot raise it, for if we did attempt it, Corn would be brought in to us, (as into Holland) from Foreign Parts, where the State of Husbandry was not changed. And thus I have done with the first principal Conclusion, that, A small Territory, and even a few People, may by Situa- tion, Trade, and Policy, be made equivalent to a greater; and that convenience for Shipping, and Water-carriage, do most eminently and fundamentally conduce thereunto. j| [35] Chap. II. That some kind of Taxes and Publick Levies, may rather increase than diminish the Wealth of the Kingdom. What T F the Money or other Effects, levyed from the People by Money*°f ^ waT Tax, were destroyed and annihilated ; then ’tis from hand clear, that such Levies would diminish the Commonwealth : bie ofnot. Or if the same were exported out of the Kingdom without