Page:William Petty - Economic Writings (1899) vol 1.djvu/411

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Land Banks.
313

Employments under Noblemen, and Prelates: will, all of them put together, furnish livelyhoods of above 300l. per annum, to three thousand of the said ten thousand younger Brothers: whereof it remains that Trade alone must supply the rest. But if the said seven thousand Gentlemen, be applyed to Trade, without increasing of |[116]| Trade; or if we hope to increase Trade, without increasing of Stock, which for ought appears is only to be done, by imbanking a due proportion of Lands, and Mony; we must necessarily be disappointed. Where note, that selling of Lands to Foreigners for Gold and Silver, would inlarge the Stock of the Kingdom: Whereas doing the same between one another, doth effect nothing. For he that turneth all his Land into Mony, disposes himself for Trade; and he that parteth with his Mony for Land, doth the contrary; But to sell Land to Foreigners, increaseth both Mony and People, and consequently Trade. Wherefore it is to be thought, that when the Laws denying Strangers to Purchase, and not permitting them to Trade, without paying extraordinary Duties, were made; that then, the publick State of things, and Interest of the Nation, were far different from what they now are.

Having handled these Ten Principal Conclusions, I might go on with others, ad infinitum; But what hath been already said, I look upon as sufficient, for to shew what I mean by Political |[117]| Arithmetick and to shew the uses of knowing the true State of the People, Land, Stock, Trade, &c.   2. That the Kings Subjects are not in so bad a condition, as discontented Men would make them.  3. To shew the great effect of Unity, industry, and obedience, in order to the Common Safety, and each Man's particular Happiness[1]. ||


FINIS.


  1. R, Petty adds the incomplete sentence 'other then wch I have no other,' and then cancels the last word. Cf. the end of the Author's Preface to the Political Anatomy, p. 130.