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England than in France and Holland; but when wheat is very Dear the French poor eat but little bread and content themselves with roots, whilst our manufacturers cry out they are starving, unless they can eat the finest bread in as great quantities as when wheat is very cheap; the difference therefore lies in the manner of living.

Luxury undoubtedly ought to be defined an indulgence in unnecessary things, and is carried to a very extraordinary height in this Kingdom for the manufacturing populace consume brandy, gin, tea, sugar, foreign fruit, strong beer, printed linnens, snuff, tobacco &c. whilst they can have these superfluities no one can think the price of labour too low; it is said that in one little manufacturing town in the West of England, of about three thousand Inhabitants, Excise is paid for two thousand hogsheads of strong beer, besides what is spent in spirituous liquors, a strong proof of exorbitant wages. Our manufacturing poor instead of being the strength and riches of the state are become a burthen to it, the poors rates is increase within the last Century from £700,000. to £2,500,000. per Annum.

The only method of preventing the French and Dutch from underselling is to establish a good police by which the poor would be kept to work, and less given to luxury, idleness and debauchery, the making laws to answer their object are difficult

The landed and trading interests must go hand in hand, mutually support each other, an increase of trade enhances the value of Land, Doctor Davenant says that in 1600. the whole rental of England did not exceed £6,000,000. and the price of Land twelve years purchase; in 1688. the rental was £14,000,000. and the price of Land eighteen years purchase; so that the land rose from 72. to 2,52,000,000. and is now supposed to amount to 700,000,000. The