Page:An answer to a pamphlet, intitled, "Thoughts on the causes and consequences of the present high price of provisions" in a letter, addressed to the supposed author of that pamphlet.djvu/13

( 11 ) dox, surely! and more wonderful than that of the half being greater than the whole. For my own part, Sir, I was never afraid to undertake the solution of any mathematical problem; but this quite staggers my resolution: I must, therefore, leave it to be solved by yourself. I will, however, take upon me to affirm, that, if you mean, as by the whole strain of your reasoning you seem to mean, that the increase of our national debt increases the wealth of the nation in general, you mean a most glaring absurdity; as the transferring of property from one person to another, and still more the transferring it from the laborious and the poor to the idle and the rich, can never increase the general wealth of the kingdom. But if you mean, as, indeed, if you mean any thing that has the least shew of reason, you must mean, that the increase of our national debt increases the wealth of a few individuals, you are certainly in the right: it increases the wealth