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CHAP. III.: The 6 first mention'd Points are proved out of the 20 Suppositions or Assertions next before-going. ( vizt ) - Sir William Petty, The Economic Writings of Sir William Petty, vol. 2 [1681]

Edition used:

The Economic Writings of Sir William Petty, together with The Observations upon Bills of Mortality, more probably by Captain John Graunt, ed. Charles Henry Hull (Cambridge University Press, 1899), 2 vols.

Part of: The Economic Writings of Sir William Petty, 2 vols.

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CHAP. III.

The 6 first mention'd Points are proved out of the 20 Suppositions or Assertions next before-going. (vizt)

AS to the first Point or Advantage: Which is that, granting the Catholicks in Ireland are to all others as 8 to one, or rather as 1157 Thousand to 143 Thousand, the whole People being 1300 Thousand Souls: We say that when a Million are Transported out of Ireland into England, the Proportions now and then are, and will be, as in the Table following. vizt

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So as the Non-Catholicks left in Ireland will be as now about image of the whole, or ⅛ of the Catholicks; And in England, after the Transportations of a Million, the Catholicks will be 915 Thousand, and the others 7185 Thousand; which differs little from the above-mention'd Proportions in Ireland. And having thus made this great Transplantation in Paper and Conceit, it remains to shew by what Means or Methods the same may be really executed.

I forbear to say that the Conquerors of ancient Times and even now in the Oriental Countreys, do execute their Conquest, by Carrying away Captives into their own Countreys, and not by Maintaining great Armies, in the Conquer'd Countreys, to keep the Conquer'd Party in Subjection, which Overplus of Number and Reputation will doe at home, especially, when the Conquerors have Land enough, to employ all the Hands both of their Conquering and Captive Subjects. Nor do we insist upon an Act of Parliament in Ireland, to force a Million of People to Remove out of their Native Countrey; or an Act of Parliament in England to force them hither: Which may be interpreted, in a Case between Catholicks and others, to be a Breach of the Liberty of Conscience lately granted by his Majestie1 . Wherefore, we shall rather shew, That it will be the Profit, Pleasure, and Security of both Nations and Religions to Agree herein. In Order whereunto we shall consider the Present Inhabitants of Ireland, not as old Irish, or such as lived there about 516 Years ago, when the English first medled in that Matter; Nor as those that have been added since, and who went into Ireland between the first Invasion and the Change of Religion; Nor as the English who went thither between the said Change, and the Year 1641, or between 1641 and 1660; Much less, into Protestants and Papists, and such who speak English, and such who despise it.

But rather consider them

1° As such as live upon the King's Pay.

2° As owners of Lands and Freeholds.

3° As Tenants and Lessees to the Lands of others.

4° As Workmen and Labourers.

As to the first, the King may command them to Dwell and Reside where he pleases.

As for Land-Owners, the King is able, and it would be his Profit, to buy a great Part of them out, at the present-full-Market-Rate. But without Compulsion. If the propounded Transplantation will raise the Prices from the present 10 Years Purchase or less, to about 20 as in England; And if the possess'd Landlords, not selling their Lands in Ireland, should make more Benefit of the said Lands and Stocks, by putting them under the new Method of Plantation, whilst themselves do withal become Farmers in England, for the Equivalent to their own Estates in Ireland.

As for the Tenants, Farmers, and Lessees now in Ireland, they may well remove into England to be Farmers there, to1 live in a more cultivated Countrey, and in more Elegant Company, and Variety of Entertainments; and where the Landlords of England shall see Cause to Lett them good Bargains and bid them Welcom.

And as for Labourers, it is manifest they live in Ireland cheaper than in England but by ⅓ Part; whereas their ordinary Wages is near double in England. But how these Tempting Profits shall arise, is the next Point of this Discourse.

[1]James II.'s Declaration of Indulgence had been issued 4 April, 1687.

[1]‘to’ inserted by Petty.