按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
y shift； without intention of continuing it。 16。 The third inconvenience is； that abovementioned； viz。 the necessity of another way of Tax； to take in the Manufactures of those Commodities which pay the Tax of Tythes； whereas possibly there is a way of Tax equal in its own nature； and which needs not to be pieced up by any other； so as the Officers about that may have a full employment； and none others wanted； whose wide intervals of leasure shall make them seem Drones； as they are also the Caterpillars of any State。
Chapter 13
Of Several smaller wayes of levying Money
When the people are weary of any one sort of Tax； presently some Projector propounds another； and gets himself audience； by affirming he can propound a way how all the publick charge may be born without the way that is。 As for example； if a Land…tax be the present distasted way； and the people weary of it； then he offers to do the business without such a Land…tax； and propound either a Poll…money； Excize； or the institution of some new Office or Monopoly； and hereby draws some or other to hearken to him； which is readily enough done by those who are not in the places of profit relating to the way of Levies in use； but hope to make themselves Offices in the new Institution。 2。 I shall enumerate a few of the smaller wayes which I have observed in several places of Europe； viz。 First； in some places the State is common Cashier for all or most moneys； as where Banks are； thereby gaining the interest of as much money as is deposited in their hands。 Secondly； Sometimes the State is the common Usurer； as where Loan Banks； and montes pietatis are in use； and might be more copiously and effectively where Registers of Lands are kept。 Thirdly； Sometimes the State is or may be Common Ensurer； either upon the danger onely of Enemies at sea； according to the supposed primitive end of our Customs in England； or else of the casualties of the Enemy； Weather； Sea； and Vessel taken together。 Fourly； Sometimes the State hath the whole sale and benefit of certain Commodities； as of Amber in the Duke of Brandenburghs Countrey； Tobacco formerly in Ireland； Salt in France； etc。 Fifthy； Sometimes the State is common Beggar； as 'tis almost in Holland； where particular Charity seems only to serve for the relief of concealed wants； and to save these wanting from the shame of discovering their poverty； and not so much to relieve any wants that are declared； and already publickly known。 Sixthly； In some places the State is the sole Guardian of Minors； Lunaticks； and Idiots。 Seventhly； In some other Countreys the State sets up and maintains play…houses； and public Entertainments； giving Sallaries to the Actors； but receiving the bulk of the profit to themselves。 Eightly； In some places Houses are ensured fromfire by the State at a small Rent per annum upon each。 Ninthly； In some places Tolls are taken upon passage over Bridges； Causeys； and Ferries built and maintained at the Publick Charge。 Tenthly； In some places men that dye are obliged leave a certain pittance to the publick； the same is practised in other places upon Marriages； and may be in others upon Births。 Eleventhly； In some places strangers expecially Jews； are particularly taxed； which may be good in over…peopled Countreys； though bad in the contrary case。 3。 As for Jews； they may well bear somewhat extraordinary； because they seldom eat and drink with Christians； hold it no disparagement to live frugally； and even sordidly among themselves； by which way alone they become able to under…sell any other Traders； to elude the Excize； which bears but according to mens expences； as also other Duties； by dealing so much in Bills of Exchange； Jewels； and Money； and by practising of several frauds with more impunity then others； for by their being at home every where； and yet no where they become responsible almost for nothing。 4。 Twelfthly； There have been in our times； wayes of levying an aliquot part of mens Estates； as a Fifth； and Twentieth； viz。 of their Estates real and personal； yea of their Offices； Faculties； and imaginary Estates also； in and about which way may be so much fraud； collusion； oppresion； and trouble； some purposely getting themselves taxed to gain more trust； Others bribing to be taxed low； and it being impossible to check or examine or trace these Collections by the print of any foot…steps they leave （such as the Harths of Chimneys are） that I have not patience to speak more against it； daring rather conclude without much ado； in the words of our Comick to be naught； yea exceeding naught； very abominable； and not good。
Chapter 14
Of raising； depressing； or embasing of Money
Sometimes it hath hapned； that States （I know not by what raw advice） have raised or embased their money； hoping thereby； as it were； to multiply it； and make it pass for more then it did before； that is； to purchase more commodity or labour with it： All which indeed and in truth； amounts to no more then a Tax； upon such People unto whom the State is indebted； or a defalkation of what is due； as also the like burthen upon all that live upon Pensions； established Rents； Annuities； Fees； Gratuities； etc。 2； To explain this fully； one might lanch out into the deep Ocean of all the Mysteries concerning Money； which is done for other ends elsewhere； nevertheless I shall do it the best I can； by expounding the reasons pro & contra for embasing and raising of Money： and first of embasing。 3。 Copper or Tin Money mad ad valorem in its matter； is no embasing； the same being onely cumbersom and baser then silver money； onely because less convenient and portable。 And Copper money ad valorem in workmanship and matter both together； （such as on which the Effigies and Scutcheon are so curiously graven and impressed； as the moneys seem rather a Medal。） is not embasing； unless the numbers of such pieces be excessive； （the measures whereof I shall not set down； until I shall hereafter propound the fittest Sections of the abstracted pound into which I would have money coyned； and determine how many pieces of each Section should be in an hundred pound） for in case of such excess； the workmanship being of no other use but to look upon； becomes base by its being too common。 4。 Nor are such Tokens base as are coyned for Exchange in retailing by particular men； （if such men be responsible and able to take them back；and give Silver for them。） 5。 But that Gold I count to be embased； which hath more ally either of Copper or Silver in it； then serves to correct its too great natural softness and flexibility； whereby it wears too fast in Money： And that Silver I reckon also embased； wherein is commixed more Copper then will sufficeintly toughen it； and save it from cracking under the Hammer； Press； or Mill that must coin it； or the like。 6。 Base Money is therefore such as Ductch Shillings； Stivers； French Soulz； Irish Bon…galls； etc。 and for the most part considting great pieces；though of small value。 To answer the first reason or pretence of making them； which is； that the said Pieces might be more bulky； handleable； and the silver in them less apt to be lost or worn