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(illegible text)s, their religion, their Arts and sciences, their size, ⟨shape⟩, &c. &c. &c. By means of such a metal ladder ⟨it would⟩ be very convenient for them to ascend, and ⟨descend⟩, to, and from the moon; and an end might ⟨be put⟩ to this controversy by ocular demonstration. (illegible text) we are at a great loss, for a market to dispose of (illegible text) manufactures, at present, we might open up a cor(illegible text)ondance with the Lunar inhabitants, and get our (illegible text)ds disposed of to them, and their productions, ⟨might⟩ be brought down to us. They would add ⟨greatly⟩ to the luxuries of the tables of our State Paupers.
⟨BLOCK⟩. You are very satyrical, Millar. However I must ⟨acknowledge⟩, that you have not studied arithmetic in vain. You have (illegible text)ished me with your wonderful calculations. I had no idea that ⟨the⟩ National Debt was such an immense sum, as the solution of (illegible text) questions shew it to be. But I am firmly of opinion, that as ⟨our⟩ Nation has jogged on with this burden of national debt, upon ⟨its shoulders⟩, for these hundred and twenty years past: So it may (illegible text)move on for ever without stopping for a single moment.
⟨MILLAR⟩. Your sophism, Mr. Block, will not go down with (illegible text) It brings to my mind a passage of scripture. As, "There (illegible text) come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, ⟨saying⟩, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fa(illegible text) ⟨fell⟩ asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning ⟨of the⟩ Creation": So you think, that because the nation has ⟨patiently moved⟩ on, without stopping, for these hundred and twenty years under the heavy pressure of the National Debt, that the in(illegible text)g load will never be able to break the Nation's back. If so, (illegible text) must be something supernatural about this Debt. There is a (illegible text) Maximum to which the National Debt may arrive at; but (illegible text)t must stop. In order to demonstrate the absurdity of your (illegible text)ing, for my next problem, I shall pitch upon some period, a (illegible text)er of years hence, and allow the National Debt to accumulate, ⟨at the⟩ same ratio, till that year, which it has done for these hundred ⟨and twenty⟩ years past. From the solution, it will appear evident, ⟨that the⟩ interest of the National Debt must either be reduced, or ⟨the whole⟩ system will explode. In either case, the Fund-Holders ⟨are the⟩ losers, for there is no alternative.
1. The present National Debt commenced, and was in 1697 5.000000.
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In 1702 £16,394,702 1740 48,3(illegible text)2,630 1747 64,593,797 1753 75,077,264 1765 146,982,844 |
In 1786 £266,725,097 1796 367,308,268 1807 638,451,373 1810 900,000,000 1817 1(illegible text)00,000,000 |
