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strative Truth, that "exorbitant Trade and Wealth are most dangerous to private Virtue and therefore to public Freedom." The Topic is too large, to be here insisted on. He therefore refers to what he hath already written on this Subject;[1] which hath been much clamoured against, indeed; but never confuted.[2]
- ↑ See Estimate, Part iii. passim.
- ↑ For the Conviction of Those who chuse rather to attend to present than future Consequences, the following Circumstance may deserve Notice. Much hath been said "on the Cause of the present exorbitant Price of Provisions, and general Distress of the Poor:" Every Cause hath been assigned except the true one, which seems to be "the sinking Value of Money, arising necessarily from the exorbitant Increase of Trade and Wealth." If this be so, it follows, that the Evil is incurable, excepting only by a general Augmentation of the Wages of the Poor.—Now This, which is the necessary Effect of the Exorbitancy of Commerce, naturally tends (by the increased Price of Manufactures) to the Destruction of Commerce. If the Exorbitancy of Trade should still run higher, this Evil will be aggravated in Proportion. The Consequences which must follow, are such as the Writer chuseth not to enlarge on; because he knows, the Spirit of the Times would not bear it.
