Selected quad for the lemma: land_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
land_n	estate_n	hereditament_n	tenement_n	1,902	5	10.2775	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55328	A vindication of some assertions relating to coin and trade from the reflections made by the author of the essay on ways and means, in his book, intituled, Discourses on the publick revenues, and on the trade of England,&c. part. II.	Davenant, Charles, 1656-1714.; Pollexfen, John, b. ca. 1638, attributed name.	1699 (1699)	Wing P2780A; ESTC R218299	74,792	187

publick use will appear to be inconsiderable in value compared with those Species therefore if we have consumed our Gold and Silver it will justifie the assertion that has occasioned much of this discourse That we have decreased our Riches by Trade since the year 1666. As from those instances it may be inferred that the Author's Computations are very uncertain so upon a further consideration it will appear that to take our informations as to what is past or our measures for the management of our Trade or for the increase of our Wealth for the future from such Computations will be dangerous What he pretends to make out Pag. 3 as to the annual income of Land Trade the expence of the whole People both in War and Peace how much the Natioal's Stock increased in time of Peace and impairs in time of War and what he asserts P. 27. as to the general rental P. 49. as to the Stock of England from time to time P. 106. the State of Holland as to debts incomes c. P. 366. how people may be sustained by the Rents of Land Trade and Labour in England France and Holland and his several affirmations and accounts of Gains made by Trade As it appears upon the first view that such things are difficult if not impossible to be Computed so it cannot be expected that any man in his senses should give Credit to such Computations without a sight of vouchers or proofs which would consist of so many Articles and be so Voluminous that few would think it worth their Labour to peruse them and then either allow such Calculations to be true for much the same Reason as some do strange stories told by Travellers of Foreign Countries because they will not take long journeys to disprove them or rather not believe them at all which will be found the safest way and to judge of such things according to reason or by what we see or find by Experience Tho' it is not doubted but that Mr. King's Schemes upon which the Author sets up have been perfected with great Labour and deserve to be esteemed as great Curiosities and that they may be of use in inquiries about Rentals Wealth Stock Trade or Coin and to make Conjectures where there is a necessity that some guess must be made and that the Author has fairly quoted some parts of them and that there is matter in them to be a Foundation for Writing large Volumes and that they may serve as a means to bring those matters they contain under debate yet they ought not to be admitted as a Rule to make Conclusions Therefore if we should follow the Authors Opinions which are most grounded upon these Schemes because he gives them the lofty Title of his Political Arithmetick we shall be in as much danger to be mislead as a man that in a dark night follows A Will with a Wisp But tho' the Schemes and Computations from which he has taken his measures and his assertions grounded on them are liable to these objections yet some of his advertisements have a better Foundation especially that Pag. 68. and the Landed Gentlemen should not be mislead by narrow minded Persons who raise objections against particulars and make conclusions in single instances without having looked into the whole and considered how the general balance stands This being a very good caution Nothing shall be added to it but that as some men have narrow thoughts so others have too wide and are too apt to run up Castles in the Air without minding Foundations and that tho' it be the interest of every Landed Man to encourage all Improvements at home and all Foreign Trades whatsoever that are carried on or bottomed upon the Exportation of our Products and Manufactures or Goods procured in Exchange for them Yet to be careful how they encourage Trades that are carried on by the Exportation of Bullion least at last they find their Pockets emptied of their Money while a fair story is telling them to their face When they send Money to the markets to purchase Goods that have been fabri●●● at home with their own Wooll or have been procured from abroad in return of our own Product such Money sent to London or any other Market for that or any such use will circulate in a short time and return to the Country again to purchase more Wooll or to carry on those Fabricks But when it is sent out of the Country to be laid out in Goods that are purchased abroad with our Money That Money will be exported to purchase more of the same sort of Goods abroad and never return to them and that if they depart from such Rules and Maxims and according to the Authors two propositions laid down in his Essay on the East India Trade P. the 29. in order to have their Wooll sold cheap they may soon see the price of their Wooll and Products brought low and the people very poor for want of Coin to imploy them and be at as great a loss to find out any Treasure gotten by such foreign Traffick as the Author is to find out his one hundred and fifty Millions of the Bullion that has come from the West Indies in his said Book p. the 12. or the Executors and Legattees of Esquire Wickham what was left them by that Famous Will B●t the Author for fear this caution should not be sufficient to the Landed men to secure them against being misled by wrong Notions has thought good to press the matter further by Arguments grounded on Interest to make this caution effectual Page 324. When the young Nobility and Gentry employ their time and thoughts carefully to inspect and consider the Kingdoms foreign traffick they will evidently see how much their Land-interest depends upon it they will find as Trade brought land from 12 to 25 and the general rental from 6 to 14 Millions and the Kingdoms capital from 72 to 252 Millions reckoning Lands Tenements Hereditaments and personal Estates 18 years purchase at a medium so it may bring Land from 25 to 50 years purchase and Lands Tenements and Hereditaments c. from 18 to 36 years purchase the general rental from 14 to 28 Millions and the Kingdoms Capital from 252 to above 1000 Millions The Author did very wisely to direct this paragraph and others p. 322 to the young Nobility and Gentry for the Assertions are such that he had reason to prefume they would not be believed by those that were of age there being so many visible causes for the advance of Lands and increase of the Kingdoms Capital besides the advantages we have by foreign traffick for without detracting from the just merits of foreign Trade much of the cause must be attributed to the alterations made in our Coin which has been altered in several Reigns and advanced the Silver Money from the making of 20 s. 3 d. out of a pound troy to be 62 s out of a pound troy as it now stands also to

the increase of People improvements by length of time and the increase of Riches arising from our labour and industry at home for Riches so gotten did of course occasion an increase of purchasers and many bidders in all cases will advance the price of any Commodity that is to be sold And what more particularly has been the cause of the advance of Lands and Rents was the increase of out Coin which is solely due to foreign Trade but it was gotten when we exported in goods more than we imported and thereby kept our Coin at home instead of sending it out but if we should now be mislead to go the contrary way and by such methods decrease it in a short time Lands and Rents as well as all other concerns will soon find the effect of it By the Kingdoms Capital it is not very clear what he means in this Paragraph For Page 27 28. Where he computes the Kingdoms Capital to be 252 Millions he enumerates only Lands Tenements or real Estates Page 49. He found by his Political Arithmetick that we had anno 1688 in Stock consisting of Gold Silver and all other things usually reckoned Personal Estates 88 Millions But now page 325 to make up his 252 Millions for the young Nobility and Gentry he reckons Lands Tenements Hereditaments Personal Estates and computes all at 18 years purchase whether our 88 Millions be not lost or sunk by those words and all included in the 252 Millions or whether we have 252 Millions and 88 Millions in all 340 Millions is not plain nor how the Kingdoms Capital can be advanced by his method from 252 Millions to one thousand Millions But it is supposed the young Nobility and Gentry will not conclude that the increase from 72 Millions to 252 Millions or to 340 Millions or what he means to be the sum total of the Kingdoms stock and Capital Stock is all owing to foreign traffick untill it be made out and ascertained what Stock or Treasure there is now or was in the Nation 1688 of any considerable value that has been gotten from Foreigners by Foreign Traffick excepting our Coin wrought Plate or Jewels and that they will wisely distinguish between the help that Foreign Trade has afforded towards advancing the value of Lands by the Consumption it has given to great quantities of our products abroad and by Gold and Silver brought home and what is owing to our natural advantages and improvements made by the labour of our people and the care and industry of their Ancestors And being the Author has acquainted the Landed-men page 168. after a long inquiry into this matter we have reasons to think that the sums out upon land security has for some years been about 20 Millions and and that about one 15th part of the Lands and other Hereditaments of England are in Mortgage Tho it be hoped that the Authors computing faculty has fail'd him in this at least three quarters of the sum mentioned yet the young Nobility and Gentry whose Estates are in Mortgage should conclude that if their Lands can only be discharged by the payment of Coin that the best way will be to keep in the Nation what we have unless the Author can give better assurance than he has yet proposed that if it be sent out it shall certainly be brought back again with an increase As the Author seems to conster every thing that tends to hinder the Exportation of Bullion to be a dangerous Notion and contrary to the Welfare of this Country so what tends to make out that we have decreased our Riches by Trade since an 1666 he would have it amount to an affirmation that we have always rather lost than got by Trade and as he makes no scruple to stretch so not to misquote words The little Tract he mentions after having enumerated the uses of Gold and Silver says p. 7. That Jewels Lead Tin or Iron tho durable do not so well deserve to be esteemed Treasure The Author prints and reflects p. 61. We can by no means agree with the principles our Lisbon Friend would establish That Lead Tin or Iron tho durable do not deserve to be esteemed Treasure which is grounded upon a misquotation so gross as that it shall not be imputed to the Author but to some fault in the prints Page 435. The Author returns to the Book mentioned intituled A discourse of Trade and Coin and taking notice of six pages in which our good Trades were only named that they might be improved and encouraged and omitting to take notice of fifty pages that immediately followed where the same Subject is pursued upon such Trades as were supposed to have an over balance and that therefore they deserved more consideration he insults p. 336. We have here from his own words set down the Map he has drawn of our Foreign Traffick to shew what an ill rising ground the City of Lisbon is to stand upon for one who pretends to give a View of the whole Commercial World If the Author had pursued the 50 pages that followed he would have found that the Map was drawn larger and also p. 153 that nothing but short hints was design'd by that Tract and no such thing pretended as to give a Veiw of the Whole Commercial World As to the City of Lisbon it is supposed that the City or the ground it stands upon is as good to take a view or to make a judgment of Trade as the Authors Closet tho never so well furnished For as good ●ooks cannot help some mens understanding in any case So neither all mens understanding in all cases nor be made a security against all mistakes A Famous Author gives an instance in Don Quixot who after he had filled his head with Notions of Valour and a great opinion of himself by reading Books of Chivalry yet in the pursuit of his Knight Errantry mistook Windmills for Gyants The Authors Closet it may be presumed by his writings is best furnisht with History and Books relating to Politicks and Government which tho they may have enabled him at least in his opinion to correct and direct great Ministers and all managers of the Publick Affairs Yet as the crowding in of such matters with his discourses about Trade could not be without perplexing his thoughts so that may be the occasion he has made so many mistakes in his computations and opinions about Trade Tho learning ought to be admired as a great advantage to them that have it yet as the reading of Books only never made a compleat Lawyer or Physician so not a compleat Merchant There being in all professions a practical or Mechanick part which cannot be reached but by the help of Experience Tho the Author takes notice of some books he has in his Closet upon the Subject of Trade particularly Britannia Languens and Mr. Fortreys which have many good and true Notions and Observations yet it appears that the Author has made little use of them

always past in time of Peace at par What then may be expected from any kind of Paper Credit in case of an Exigency or pressing Occasion for a greater Priviledge than what was given to the Exchequer Bills cannot well be invented All arguments for discrediting the use and value of Coin and to persuade us that Paper Credit will supply the want of it as they may occasion a lavish Exportation of what we have and make us careless in getting of more appear much like the Methods Practised by those that have a mind to make a prey of some young Heir first they perswade him that his Money will do him no good nor be any Comfort to him if he keep it by him next that he is Rich and his Estate inexhaustible and that he need not fear any want because all that he can spend will be soon supplied from his Lands or Incomes and when they have thus wrought him up into a careless and expensive temper and got some share of his Estate and Wealth if Money do not come in as fast as he may have occasion for it than they perswade him to make use of Paper Credit Bonds Judgments or Mortgages for the stopping of clamours and demands and to support him in his Luxurious way of living There is so near a resemblance between the circumstances of private Families compared with each other and the affairs of a Nation compared with another Nation that those that have not time to consider all the Circumstances that may be necessary to make a Judgment what ought to be esteemed the most usefull Treasure of a Nation or how Nations may grow Rich or be Impoverished may yet make a Conclusion by their observations on Families or particular Persons and if it appear that Lands Houses Jewels Furniture Equipage or what else particular Persons may esteem and value as their Riches will be in danger to be taken from them for the payment of their Debts notwithstanding such Paper Credit tho' happily the best that can be invented if they do not make a Provision of Coin to prevent it so will the Glory Welfare and Riches of this Nation be in like danger without Coin to unite our Strength and make it serviceable for our defence If upon these Considerations it appear that Coin is the most usefull Treasure of a Nation as well for the Body Politick as for the use of particular Persons then it will follow that great care ought to be taken for the retaining of what we have and gaining of more for tho' it be of so great Importance yet nothing is more likely to creep upon us insensibly and not be perceived till felt Than the want of Coin therefore tho' we cannot see with our Eyes how it is carryed from us because a great value may lie in a little room yet we should endeavour to discover it by making a judgment on Causes and Effects and as it may insensibly decrease so it will not be regained without great difficulties and length of time What Quantities other Nations have or how we are provided in Comparison with our Neighbours is not easie to be computed but if while they are using all endeavours by their Treaties of Commerce and Edicts relating to Trade and otherwise to preserve and encrease what they have we should be mislead by erreneous Principles and Calculations to decrease ours we may give them such an advantage as may not be retrieved hereafter and Repent when it may be too late It is a common Maxim that what seems true to some may at least be allowed probable what is believed by most to be a further degree of probability but what has the approbation of general consent and agreement carries with it one of the greatest Evidences any thing is capable off and t is little less than pure Arrogance and Folly for any single person to prefer his own Judgment before the general suffrage of mankind That Gold and Silver were always had in great esteem is manifest by ancient Histories and as the converting it into Coin made it more useful so likewise more desirable by all Nations The Author of the Essay on Ways and Means being of a different opinion as to the Use and Ualue of Coin After having exprest his resentment in the first Leaf of his aforementioned Book against a certain person that had made a doubt whether all extended Traffick inriched the Nation and had discover'd the Vanity of his Thoughts in pretending to compute all manner of Expences Consumptions Exportations and Importations in distinct Articles as well as in his opinions upon Subjects relating to Trade Luxury and Gold and Silver He comes to the matter for which it is supposed his Book was chiefly design'd viz. to under value the Use of Coin that no stop may be put to the Exportation of it and therein to reflect upon those that are of a contrary Opinion picking out for those purposes some Words and parts of Paragraphs in a little tract intitled England and East-India inconsistent in their Manufacture And as the method he has taken to make room for his Reflections by picking out Words out of some Paragraphs and leaving out Words in others quoting what is not to be found in the Book and perverting the sense of other Paragraphs quite contrary to their true meaning is disingenious so his taking no notice of some whole Pages ought to be reckon'd a piece of Art to conceal the truth from his Reader this therefore has made it necessary that the whole Paragraphs upon which he builds his Reflections should be here recited at large England and East-India inconsistent in their Manufacturies Page 6. But before any argument should be enter'd upon which of these accounts is most justifiable it is requisite to agree upon matter of Fact and Principles particularly what may be called the Riches or Treasure of a Nation or what may be esteemed the most useful after what is absolutely necessary to supply the necessities of Nature some being of Opinion that nothing deserves that name or to be so esteemed but Gold and Silver because no other Metal is so lasting and durable or so fit to receive the Royal Stamp nor to be ascertained in value and divided into several denominations nor so convenient to pay Fleets and Armies and because it has a general esteem in all parts of Europe as fit for such uses and to be the Standard for the carrying on of Commerce and to be bartered off for all other Commoàities That Jewels Lead Tin or Iron though durable yet having not those other qualisications do not so well deserve to be esteemed Treasure Our Author picks out of these Paragraphs the words he thought most proper for his purpose and then asserts Page the 16. That in truth Money is at bottom no more than the Counters with which Men in their dealings have been accustomed to reckon Suppose the Hollanders should lend to some foreign State upon Jewels or the pledge of