Now, whereas in arithmetic, out of two false positions the truth is
extracted, so I hope out of two extravagant contrary suppositions to
draw forth some solid and consistent conclusion, viz.:-
The first of the said two suppositions is, that the city of London
is seven times bigger than now, and that the inhabitants of it are
4,690,000 people, and that in all the other cities, ports, towns,
and villages, there are but 2,710,000 more.
The other supposition is, that the city of London is but a seventh
part of its present bigness, and that the inhabitants of it are but
96,000, and that the rest of the inhabitants (being 7,304,000) do
cohabit thus: 104,000 of them in small cities and towns, and that
the rest, being 7,200,000, do inhabit in houses not contiguous to
one another, viz., in 1,200,000 houses, having about twenty-four
acres of ground belonging to each of them, accounting about
28,000,000 of acres to be in the whole territory of England, Wales,
and the adjacent islands, which any man that pleases may examine
upon a good map.
Now, the question is, in which of these two imaginary states would
be the most convenient, commodious, and comfortable livings?
But this general question divides itself into the several questions,
relating to the following particulars, viz.:-
1. For the defence of the kingdom against foreign powers.
2. For preventing the intestine commotions of parties and factions.
Pages:
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38