Page:William Petty - Economic Writings (1899) vol 1.djvu/217

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Reasons for bearing Taxes.
117

CHAP. IX.

Motives to the quiet bearing of extraordinary Taxes.

HAving shewed how great and glorious things may be done with no less difficulty than what ¼ of the King's Subjects do already endure; I offer these further Rea-|20|sons to quiet mens Minds, in case this utmost 250,000l. per mensem should be ever demanded upon this Holland-War.

1. That of all Naval Expence, not 120 is for[1] Forreign Commodities, nor need it be 140[1], if the people would do their part, and the Governours direct them the nearest ways.

2. That Stoppage of Trade is considerable, but as one to eight; for we exchange not above five Millions worth per ann. for our 40.

3. That the Expence of the King, &c. being about 400,000l. per ann. is but 1100 part of the Expence of the Nation, who all have the Pleasure and Honour of it.

4. That the Money of the Nation being but about 5 Millions and ½, and the earning of the same 25; It is not difficult for them to encrease their Money a Million per ann. by an easie advance of their Industry, applyed to such Manufactures as will fetch Money from abroad.

5. The Wealth of England lies in Land and People, so as they make five parts of six of the whole: But the Wealth of Holland lies more in Money, Housing, Shipping and Wares. Now supposing England three-|21|times as rich as Holland in Land, and People (as it is) and Holland twice as rich as we in other Particulars (as it scarce is); We are still upon the Balance of the whole near twice as rich as they: Of which I wish those that understand Holland, would consider and calculate.

  1. 1.0 1.1 By a slip of the types the 1691 ed. transposes the 'f' of 'for' and the '140' which stand at the beginning of successive lines. The obvious mistake is corrected above.