THOUGHTS

ON THE

CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES

OF THE

PRESENT HIGH PRICE

OF

PROVISION S.

Privatus illis cenfus erat brevis

Commune magnum.

Ff

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THOUGHTS

ON THE

CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES

OF THE

Prefent High Price of PROVISIONS.

THE

HE high price of provifions, and all the neceffaries of life, is an evil fo inconvenient to all conditions of men, and fo intolerable to fome, that it is not furprifing that all should fuffer it with much difcontent, and many be drove by it into defpair, or into riots, rapine, and all kinds of diforders. The latter, indeed, we cannot but expect, if we confider, that the enemies of all government and fubordination, fo numerous in this country, will not fail to avail themfelves of this favourable opportunity, to fpread univerfal diffatisfaction, and inflame the minds of the people to seek redress by fuch infamous and dangerous methods. This they endeavour, too fuccefsfully, Ff 2

to

to effect, by daily representing in the public papers, that this calamity arifes from the artifices of monopolizers, regraters, foreftallers, and engroffers, encouraged, or at least connived at, by minifters defirous of oppreffing the people, and parliaments unattentive to their complaints. It is hard to fay, whether the ignorance of thefe writers, or their malevolence, is fuperior; or, whether the abfurdity of their principles, or the mifchief of, them, is the greateft: but one may venture to affirm, that our people, notwithstanding the prefent scarcity, are ftill better fed than taught. This undoubtedly makes it neceffary, at this time, that the true caufes of this evil fhould be explained to them; which, if it leffens not their wants, may in fome measure abate their ill-founded indignation.

To this end I fhall endeavour to fhew, as concifely as poffible, that the present high price of provifions arifes principally from two fources; the increase of our national debts, and the increase of our riches; that is, from the poverty of the pub-. lic, and the wealth of private individuals. From what caufes thefe have been increafed, and what have been the effects of that increase, fhall be the fubject of the few following pages.

Ir will furely be unneceffary to inquire into the caufes of the late immenfe increase of our national debt; whoever remembers the many millions an

nually