Wesley Corpus

If a person of quality will boil down three dozen of meats' tongues, to make two or three quarts of soup, (and so proportionably in other things,) what wonder that provisions fail? Only look into the kitchens of the great, the nobility and gentry, almost without exception; (considering withal, that “the toe of the peasant treads upon the heel of the courtier;”) and when you have observed the amazing waste which is made there, you will no longer wonder at the scarcity, and conse quently dearness, of the things which they use so much art to destroy. 7. But why is land so dear? Because, on all these accounts, gentlemen cannot live as they have been accus tomed to do without increasing their income; which most of them cannot do, but by raising their rents. And then the farmer, paying an higher rent for the land, must have an higher price for the produce of it. This again tends to raise the price of land; and so the wheel runs round. 8. But why is it, that not only provisions and land, but well nigh everything else, is so dear? Because of the enormous taxes, which are laid on almost everything that can be named. INot only abundant taxes are raised from earth, and fire, and water; but, in England, the ingenious Statesmen have found a way to lay a tax upon the very light! Yet one element remains: And surely some man of honour will find a way to tax this also. For how long shall the saucy air strike a gentleman on the face, nay, a Lord, without paying for it? 9. But why are the taxes so high 7 Because of the national debt. They must be so while this continues. I have heard that the national expense, seventy years ago, was, in time of peace, three millions a year. And now the bare interest of the public debt amounts yearly to above four millions ! to raise which, with the other stated expenses of government, those taxes are absolutely necessary. To sum up the whole: Thousands of people throughout the land are perishing for want of food. This is owing to various causes; but above all, to distilling, taxes, and luxury. Here is the evil, and the undeniable causes of it. But where is the remedy?