Wesley Corpus

of power, is every way indefensible. It is absolutely over turned by the very principle on which it is supposed to stand; namely, that a right of choosing his Governors belongs to THoUGHTs on THE PRESENT scARCITY of PRovisions. 53 every partaker of human nature. If this be so, then it belongs to every individual of the human species; conse quently, not to freeholders alone, but to all men; not to men only, but to women also; nor only to adult men and women, to those who have lived one-and-twenty years, but to those who have lived eighteen or twenty, as well as those who have lived threescore. But none did ever maintain this, nor probably ever will. Therefore this boasted principle falls to the ground, and the whole superstructure with it. So common sense brings us back to the grand truth, “There is no power but of God.” MANY excellent things have been lately published con cerning the present scarcity of provisions; and many causes have been assigned for it, by men of experience and reflec tion. But may it not be observed, there is something wanting still, in most of those publications? One writer assigns and insists on one cause, another on one or two more. But who assigns all the causes that manifestly concur to produce this melancholy effect? at the same time pointing out, how each particular cause affects the price of each particular sort of provision? I would willingly offer to candid and benevolent men a few hints on this important subject; proposing a few questions, and subjoining to each what seems to be the plain and direct anSWer. I. 1. I ask, First, Why are thousands of people starving, perishing for want, in every part of the nation? The fact I know; I have seen it with my eyes, in every corner of the land. I have known those who could only afford to eat a little coarse food once every other day. I have known one 54 ThouGHTS ON THE PRESENT in London (and one that a few years before had all the conveniencies of life) picking up from a dunghill stinking sprats, and carrying them home for herself and her children. I have known another gathering the bones which the dogs.