The political anatomy of Ireland with the establishment for that kingdom when the late Duke of Ormond was Lord Lieutenant ... : to which is added Verbum sapienti, or, An account of the wealth and expences of England, and the method of raising taxes in the most equal manner ... / by Sir William Petty ...

CHAP. I. Containing several Computations of the Wealth of the Kingdom.

1. THERE are of Men, Women, and Children, in England and Wales, about six Millions, whose Expence at 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. per Annum, or near 4½ d. per Diem, for Food, Housing, Cloaths, and all other necessaries, amount to 40 Millions, per Annum.

2. There are in England and Wales, of Acres of Land (worth 6 l. 1 s. 8 d. per Acre, and 18 years purchase) 24 Millions, that is, which yields 8 Millions per Annum Rent, and which are worth 144 Millions to be sold.

3. There be 28000 Houses within the Liberties of the City of London, worth 15 l. per Annum, and twelve years purchase (viz. which yield 420,000 l. per Annum, and are worth 5,040000 l.

There are without the Liberties, but within the Bills of ••ortality ¼ more in number, perhaps not of greater value, viz. 5,040000 l.

4. There is in all England and VVales near ten times as many Chimneys as with∣in the Liberties of London, as appears by the Returns; Whereof those within the Bills are ⅓ of the whole.

5. 'Tis probable, that the Housing of all the Cities and Market-Towns, are double in number to those of all London, though of no more worth.

6. 'Tis also probable, that the Housing without the Cities and Towns, are more in number than those within (London except∣ed) but of no more value.

7. So as the Housing of England may be estimated worth 30 millions; and that if their values be estimated by Chimneys, those of London are worth 12 d. per Chim∣ney; those in the Suburbs 10 d. other Cities and Market-Towns 6 d. and those without both, about 4 d.

8. The Shipping of England, &c. is a∣bout 500 000 Tuns, which at 6 d. per Tun, including their Ordnance, Apparel, &c. is worth three millions.

9. The Stock of Cattel on the afore∣mentioned 24 millions of Land, and the Waste thereunto belonging, is worth ¼ of the said Land, viz. 36 millions compre∣hending Horses, Oxen, Sheep, Swine, Deer, Fisheries, Parks and Warrens.

10. The Coined Gold and Silver of the Kingdom, is scarce worth six millions

11. The Wares, Merchandizes, and Uten∣sils of Plate, and Furnitures, may be estima∣ted at 31 millions to make the Ships and Money 40. and the whole 250 millions.

12. The most uncertain part of this Esti∣mate, seems to be rating personal Estates at above 30 Millions, which I make probable thus.

• (1) First it is not unlikely that what is con∣tained in all the Shops, Warehouses, Cellars, Barns, and Graineries, together with House∣hold Furniture, Cloaths, Ornaments, &c. should be less worth than Housing it self that contains them.
• (2) If the value of all the Cattel, viz. 36 millions, were added to the 31 personal Estates, making 67 together; both will not make up 1¾ years Provision for the whole Nation, whose Expence we estimated at 40 millions per annum; and poorer than so, we hope it is not.
• ...

• (3.) I find by the particular estimate of the values of all the Plate, Lead, Iron, Copper and Tin, and of all the Timber, Planks, and Woods, and of all Silks, Linnen, and Callicoes; of all Clothes, Stuffs, and Lea∣thers; of all Grains, and Salts, and of all Wines, Oyles, and other Liquids; of all Grocery and Spicery, and Drugs; of Jew∣els, and Hangings, Beds, and other Orna∣ments, (too troublesome to particularize) that this general Account may stand.
• (4.) The City of London being commonly esteemed and rated at the 15th part of the whole, which we reckon at 250 Millions, that is 16 ⅔. I think the sum may be well made up by reckoning 5 ⅙ Millions for the Housing as aforesaid, and 1 ½ for the Shipping (half the Shipping of the Nation belonging to London) and about the double of the va∣lue of the Housing for what is contained in them. The which upon considering many several Houses, I find not unreasonable.
• (Lastly,) supposing that in the Houses within the Liberties of London (worth 5 Millions) there be 10 Millions worth of Goods; I conceive that to allow about as much more, viz. 21 Millions) to all the rest of the Houses in the Kingdom, which are ten times as many as aforesaid, will not overcharge them.

13. Now if the Land worth 144 Mil∣lions, yield 8 Millions per annum, the other Estate converted into the like Species must yield 5 8/9 more; but because Money and other personal Estates yield more per annum than Land; (that is) doubles it self under 17 years purchase at 6 l. per centum, then in∣stead of 5 8/9, suppose it to yield 7, making the whole Annual Proceed 15.