Page:William Petty - Economic Writings (1899) vol 1.djvu/210

110 seasonable discharge of its Pestilent humours: to clear which difficulty, I say,

7. If the Plague discerned well, between the well and the ill-affected to Peace and Obe-|9|dience, or between the Bees and the Drones, the Fact would determine the Question: But if it destroy promiscuously, the Loss is proportionable to the Benefit we have by them that survive; for 'tis they that make England worth above 600 millions, as aforesaid: It being certain, That if one person only had escaped: the whole Territory, and all that is in it, had been worth but a livelihood for that one; and he subject to be a prey to the next two that should invade him.

8. It seems reasonable, that what we call the Wealth, Stock, or Provision of the Nation, being the effect of the former or past labour, should not be conceived to differ from efficiencies in being, but should be rated alike, and contribute alike to the common necessities: And then of all and every summ to be raised, the Land and Stock must pay 3 parts; and the People considered without any Estate at all, 5 more; the whole into 8 divided.

9. If the expence of the Nation be 40 Millions; it seems but the same hardship to set apart 4. viz. $1/10$ of the whole for the publick use, as what now lies upon many already: But 4 Millions would afford one for the ordinary Expence, and |10| three for the extraordinary Wars, that is 25000l. per mensem; that is 3½ as much as 70. For the raising whereof, many now pay above a $1/10$ of their whole Estates, for want of Method and Proportion.

10. Labouring men work 10 hours per diem, and make 20 meals per week, viz. 3 a day for working-days, and two on Sundays; whereby it is plain, that if they could fast on Fryday nights, and Dine in one hour and an half, whereas they take two, from eleven to one; thereby this working $1/20$ more, and spending $1/20$ less, the $1/10$ abovementioned might be raised, at least with more ease, than to take up Arms, and resist it.