The Book called the State of France, maketh that King- dom to consist of Twenty Seven thousand Parishes; and another Book written by a substantial Author, who professedly inquires into the State of the Church and Churchmen of France, sets it down as an extraordinary case, that a Parish in France should have Six Hundred Souls; wherefore I suppose that the paid Author (who hath so well examined the matter) is not of opinion that every Parish, one with another, hath above Five Hundred; by which reckoning the whole People of France, are about Thirteen Millions and a half; Now the People of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the lslands adjoyning, by computation from the numbers of Parishes; which commonly have more People in Protestant Churches, than in Popish Countries; as also from the Hearth- money, Pole-money, and Excise, do amount to about Nine Millions and 1/2.
There are in New-England, about 16000 Men mustered in Arms; about 24000 able to bear Arms; and consequently about 50000 in all: And I see no reason why in all this and the other Plantations of Asia, Africa, and America, there should not be half a Million in all. But this last I leave to every Mans conjecture; and consequently, I suppose, that the King of England hath about Ten Millions of Subjects, ubivis Terrarum Orbis ; and the King of France about Thirteen and a ½ as aforesaid.
Although it be very material to know the number of Subjects belonging to each Prince, yet when the Question is concerning their Wealth and Strength; It is also material to examin, how many of them do get more than they spend, and how many less.
In order whereunto it is to be considered, that in the King of Englands Dominions, there are not twenty Thousand Church-men; But in France, as the aforementioned Author of theirs doth aver, (who sets down the particular number of each Religious Order) there are about Two Hundred and Seventy thousand, viz. Two Hundred and Fifty thousand more than we think are necessary, (that is to say) Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand withdrawn out of the World.
Now the said number of adult and able bodied Persons, are equivalent to about double the same number, of the promis- cuous Mass of Mankind. And the same Author says, that the same Religious Persons, do spend one with another about 18 d. per diem, which is triple even to what a labouring Man requires.
Wherefore the said Two Hundred and Fifty thousand Church-men (living as they do) makes the King of France's Thirteen Millions and a half, to be less than Thirteen: `Now if Ten Men can defend themselves as well in Islands, as Thirteen can upon the Continent; then the said Ten being not concerned to increase their Territory by the Invasion of others, are as effectual as the Thirteen in point of Strength also; wherefore that there are more Superlucrators in the English, than the French Dominions, we say as followeth.
There be in England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Kings other Territories above Forty Thousand Seamen; in France not above a quarter so many; but one Seaman earneth as much as three common Husbandmen; wherefore this difference in Seamen, addeth to the account of the King of England's Subjects, is an advantage equivalent to Sixty Thousand Husbandmen.
There are in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and all other the King of England's Territories Six Hundred thousand Tun of Shipping, worth about four Millions and a ½ of Money and the annual charge of maintaining the Shipping of England, by new Buildings and Reparations, is about 1/3 part of the same summ; which is the Wages of one Hundred and Fifty thousand Husbandmen, but is not the Wages of above part of so many Artisans as are employed, upon Shipping of all sorts; viz. Shiprights, Calkers, Joyners, Carvers, Painters Block-makers, Rope-makers, Mast-makers, Smiths of several sorts; Flag-makers, Compass-makers, Brewers, Bakers, and all other sort of Victuallers; all sorts of Tradesmen relating to Guns, and Gunners Stores. Wherefore there being four times more of these Artisans in England, &c. than in France; they further add to the account of the King of England's Subjects, the equivalent of Eighty Thousand Husbandmen more.
The Sea-line of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the adjacent Islands, is about Three thousand Eight hundred Miles; according to which length, and the whole content of Acres, the said Land would be an Oblong, or Parallelogram Figure of Three thousand Eight hundred Miles long, and about Twenty four Miles broad; and consequently, every part of England, Scotland, and Ireland, is one with another, but twelve Miles from the Sea: Whereas France containing, but about one Thousand Miles of Sea line, is by the like method or computation, about Sixty Five Miles from the Sea side; and considering the paucity of Ports, in comparison of what are in the King of England's Dominions, as good as Seventy Miles distant from a Port: Upon which grounds it is clear, that England can be supplied, with all gross and bulkey commodities of Foreign growth and Manufacture, at far cheaper rates than France can be, viz, at about 4s. per cent. cheaper; the Land carriage for the difference of the distance between England and France from a Port, being so much or near thereabouts. Now to what advantage this conveniency amounteth, upon the Importation and Exportation of Bulkey Commodities, cannot be less than the Labour of one Million of People, &c. meaning by bulkey Commodities all sorts of Timber, Plank, and Staves for Cask; all Iron, Lead, Stones, Bricks, and Tyles for building; all Corn, Salt, and Drinks; all Flesh and Fish, and indeed all other Commodities, wherein the gain and loss of 4s. per Cent, is considerable; where note that the like Wines are sold in the inner parts of France for four or Five Pound a Tun, which near the Ports yield 7 1.
Moreover upon this Principal, the decay of Timber in England is no very formidable thing, as the Rebuilding of London, and of the Ships wasted by the Dutch War do clearly manifest;
