Wesley Corpus

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? Perhaps it exceeds all the wisdom of man to tell: But it may not be amiss to offer a few hints on the subject. II. 1. What remedy is there for this sore evil,--many thou sand poor people are starving? Find them work, and you will find them meat. They will then earn and eat their own bread. 2. But how can the masters give them work without ruining themselves? Procure vent for what is wrought, and the masters will give them as much work as they can do. And this would be done by sinking the price of provisions; for then people would have money to buy other things too. 58 TIIoUGHTs ox THE PRESENT SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS. 3. But how can the price of wheat and barley be reduced?" By prohibiting for ever, by making a full end of that bane of health, that destroyer of strength, of life, and of virtue, -distil ling. Perhaps this alone might go a great way toward answer ing the whole design. It is not improbable, it would speedily sink the price of corn, at least one part in three. If anything more were required, might not all starch be made of rice, and the importation of this, as well as of corn, be encouraged? 4. How can the price of oats be reduced ? By reducing the number of horses.