An enquiry whether a general practice of virtue tends to the wealth or poverty, benefit or disadvantage of a people? : In which the pleas offered by the author of The fable of bees, or private vices publick benefits, for the usefulness of vice and roguery are considered. With some thoughts concerning a toleration of publick stews.

  • Blewitt, George.
Date:
1725
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry whether a general practice of virtue tends to the wealth or poverty, benefit or disadvantage of a people? : In which the pleas offered by the author of The fable of bees, or private vices publick benefits, for the usefulness of vice and roguery are considered. With some thoughts concerning a toleration of publick stews. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    220/234 (page 208)
    { 2GS ) Sgainft Charity Schools; and fo indeed may $ny thing clfe that he pleafes to offer. The true Reafon why Labour is dear in Engl and, and other Countries are enabled to underfell us in fo¬ reign Markets, is owing to what the Author of the Fable of the Bees was afraid to charge it upon. Other Coun¬ tries are content to live more Frugally than we ; and it will be found, that not only this, but all his other Complaints againft Charity Schools, are in a great Meafure owing to Luxury. The Dearnefs of Labour of all forts, the Largenefs of Wages and other Per- quifites to Servants, their Idlenefs andlnfolence, are all the Effects of Luxury; of which, as S\x William Temple obferves, though the Example arife among idle Perfons, yet the Imitation is run into all Degrees, even of thofe Men, by whofe Indufiry the Nation fubfifls. To this we owe the Scarcity of Seryants where they are really wanted : And from hence arifes that pro¬ digious Lofs to the Publick, that Draught of Iufly and able-bodied Men from Husbandry or Country Bufinefs, to add to the Number and Magnificence of Equipages : A fort of idle and rioting Kermin, by which (we are told) the Kingdom is almojl devoured, and which are every where become a publick Nufance. Now the fame Sa¬ gacity that helped any one to difcover the Nufance, fhould likewife, one would think, have pointed out the Caufe. Expence in every Rank of Life is vifibly increafed, and pray Heaven! the [national Stock may prove to be increafed in Proportion. But it is to be feared there is a fatal Miftake in the common Eftimati- ■ i on of our prefent Wealth- Either the Creditor of th? Publick has no fucfi real Property as he imagines, and lives up to ; or the landed Man is greatly miftaken in thinking the whole of his Eftate to be his own; I mean as,to the inheritance* as well as yearly Profit; and where