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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    by Gods ordinary blessing, defend this Nation, being an Island, against any Force in view: But the charge of Arming, Disciplining, and Rendezvousing all these Men, twice, or thrice a year; would be a very gentle Tax, Levyed by the people themselves, and paid to themselves. Moreover if out of the said number ± part were seledted, of such as are more than ordinarily fit and disposed1 for War, and to be Exercised, and Rendezvoused fourteen or fifteen times per annum; the charge thereof being but a fortnights Pay in the year, would be also a very gentle Tax. Lastly, If out of this last mentioned number, i again should be selected, making about twelve2 thousand Foot, [48] and near six thousand Horse, to be Exercised, || and Ren- dezvoused forty days in the year; I say that the charge of all these three Militias, allowing the latter six weeks Pay per annum; would not cost above one hundred and twenty thousand pound per annum; which I take to be an easie burthen, for so great a benefit. For sup- Forasmuch as the present Navy of England requires Navyf and thirty six thousand Men to Man it ; and for that the English Merchants Trade of Shipping, requires about forty eight thousand Men, with Sea- . . men. to manage it also; it follows, that to perform both well, there ought to be about seventy two thousand Men, (and not eighty four thousand) competently4 qualified for these Services: For want whereof we see, that it is a long while, before a Royal Navy can be manned ; which till it be, is of no effedlual use, but lies at charge. And we see likewise upon these occasions, that Merchants are put to great straights, and inconveniences; and do pay excessive rates for the carrying on their Trade. Now if twenty four thousand able bodyed Tradesmen, were by5 six thousand of them6 per annum, brought up and fitted for Sea-Service; and for || 1 S, ‘ and disposed ’ inserted by Petty. 2 S, R, 1691, ‘sixteen.’ Cf. errata? 3 S, R, omit ‘near.’ 4 S, ‘& not 84000’ inserted by Petty, R, ‘about 84000 completely,’ altered to ‘about 72000 completely,’ by Petty. 5 G, ‘whereby.’ The 1683 ed. probably was not printed from S or R, as the words ‘ were by ’ are plainly written in both. u S, ‘of them ’ inserted by Petty, not in R.