And to this end we open these schemes, that a wise Government under
which we live, not having any designs to become arbitrary, may see
what materials they have to work upon, and how far our native wealth
is able to second their good intentions of preserving us a rich and
a free people.
Having said something of the number of our inhabitants, we shall
proceed to discourse of their different degrees and ranks, and to
examine who are a burden and who are a profit to the public, for by
how much every part and member of the commonwealth can be made
useful to the whole, by so much a nation will be more and more a
gainer in this balance of trade which we are to treat of.
Mr. King, from the assessments on births and marriages, and from the
polls, has formed the scheme here inserted, of the ranks, degrees,
titles and qualifications of the people. He has done it so
judiciously, and upon such grounds, that is well worth the careful
perusal of any curious person, from thence we shall make some
observations in order to put our present matter in a clearer light.
First, this scheme detects their error, who in the calculation they
frame contemplate nothing but the wealth and plenty they see in rich
cities and great towns, and from thence make a judgment of the
kingdom's remaining part, and from this view conclude that taxes and
payments to the public do mostly arise from the gentry and better
sort, by which measures they neither contrive their imposition
aright, nor are they able to give a true estimate what it shall
produce; but when we have divided the inhabitants of England into
their proper classes, it will appear that the nobility and gentry
are but a small part of the whole body of the people.
Pages:
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108