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/15

( 13 ) greater must be the distinction between these different ranks and orders: but I affirm, at the same time, that, if peace and good government can be preserved, the greater the equality that prevails among the people, and the less the governors lord it over the governed, the more happy, the more flourishing, and the more contented will that people be.

But our wealth, you say, has increased one-sixth since the commencement of the last war. With regard to the increase of our imaginary wealth, I mean of our paper-credit, by bank-notes, exchequer and navy-bills, &c. that amounts to the same thing as the increase of our national debt, which is, indeed, amazingly augmented, and the fatal consequences of which are but too apparent. Perhaps too it may be allowed, that our real wealth or specie has increased, in a degree beyond what ever happened in any former period of the same extent, by the rich