The Enjoyment Of The Peasantry Was Drinking Brandy And Coffee,
Before The Latter Was Prohibited, And The Former Not Allowed To Be
Privately Distilled, The Wars Carried On By The Late King Rendering
It Necessary To Increase The Revenue, And Retain The Specie In The
Country By Every Possible Means.
The taxes before the reign of Charles XII.
Were inconsiderable.
Since then the burden has continually been growing heavier, and the
price of provisions has proportionately increased - nay, the
advantage accruing from the exportation of corn to France and rye to
Germany will probably produce a scarcity in both Sweden and Norway,
should not a peace put a stop to it this autumn, for speculations of
various kinds have already almost doubled the price.
Such are the effects of war, that it saps the vitals even of the
neutral countries, who, obtaining a sudden influx of wealth, appear
to be rendered flourishing by the destruction which ravages the
hapless nations who are sacrificed to the ambition of their
governors. I shall not, however, dwell on the vices, though they be
of the most contemptible and embruting cast, to which a sudden
accession of fortune gives birth, because I believe it may be
delivered as an axiom, that it is only in proportion to the industry
necessary to acquire wealth that a nation is really benefited by it.
The prohibition of drinking coffee under a penalty, and the
encouragement given to public distilleries, tend to impoverish the
poor, who are not affected by the sumptuary laws; for the regent has
lately laid very severe restraints on the articles of dress, which
the middling class of people found grievous, because it obliged them
to throw aside finery that might have lasted them for their lives.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 30 of 189
Words from 7827 to 8119
of 50703
