第 11 节
作者:嘟嘟      更新:2021-04-30 16:07      字数:9322
  purpose to which a revenue levied in this manner ought ever to be
  applied。 If the meanness and poverty of the trustees of turnpike
  roads render it sometimes difficult at present to oblige them to
  repair their wrong; their wealth and greatness would render it
  ten times more so in the case which is here supposed。
  In France; the funds destined for the reparation of high
  roads are under the immediate direction of the executive power。
  Those funds consist partly in a certain number of days' labour
  which the country people are in most parts of Europe obliged to
  give to the reparation of the highways; and partly in such a
  portion of the general revenue of the state as the king chooses
  to spare from his other expenses。
  By the ancient law of France; as well as by that of most
  other parts of Europe; the labour of the country people was under
  the direction of a local or provincial magistracy; which had no
  immediate dependency upon the king's council。 But by the present
  practice both the labour of the people; and whatever other fund
  the king may choose to assign for the reparation of the high
  roads in any particular province or generality; are entirely
  under the management of the intendant; an officer who is
  appointed and removed by the king's council; and who receives his
  orders from it; and is in constant correspondence with it。 In the
  progress of despotism the authority of the executive power
  gradually absorbs that of every other power in the state; and
  assumes to itself the management of every branch of revenue which
  is destined for any public purpose。 In France; however; the great
  post…roads; the roads which make the communication between the
  principal towns of the kingdom; are in general kept in good
  order; and in some provinces are even a good deal superior to the
  greater part of the turnpike roads of England。 But what we call
  the cross…roads; that is; the far greater part of the roads in
  the country; are entirely neglected; and are in many places
  absolutely impassable for any heavy carriage。 In some places it
  is even dangerous to travel on horseback; and mules are the only
  conveyances which can safely be trusted。 The proud minister of an
  ostentatious court may frequently take pleasure in executing a
  work of splendour and magnificence; such as a great highway;
  which is frequently seen by the principal nobility; whose
  applauses not only flatter his vanity; but even contribute to
  support his interest at court。 But to execute a great number of
  little works; in which nothing that can be done can make any
  great appearance; or excite the smallest degree of admiration in
  any traveller; and which; in short; have nothing to recommend
  them but their extreme utility; is a business which appears in
  every respect too mean and paltry to merit the attention of so
  great a magistrate。 Under such an administration; therefore; such
  works are almost always entirely neglected。
  In China; and in several other governments of Asia; the
  executive power charges itself both with the reparation of the
  high roads and with the maintenance of the navigable canals。 In
  the instructions which are given to the governor of each
  province; those objects; it is said; are constantly recommended
  to him; and the judgment which the court forms of his conduct is
  very much regulated by the attention which he appears to have
  paid to this part of his instructions。 This branch of public
  police accordingly is said to be very much attended to in all
  those countries; but particularly in China; where the high roads;
  and still more the navigable canals; it is pretended; exceed very
  much everything of the same kind which is known in Europe。 The
  accounts of those works; however; which have been transmitted to
  Europe; have generally been drawn up by weak and wondering
  travellers; frequently by stupid and lying missionaries。 If they
  had been examined by more intelligent eyes; and if the accounts
  of them had been reported by more faithful witnesses; they would
  not; perhaps; appear to be so wonderful。 The account which
  Bernier gives of some works of this kind in Indostan falls very
  much short of what had been reported of them by other travellers;
  more disposed to the marvellous than he was。 It may too; perhaps;
  be in those countries; as in France; where the great roads; the
  great communications which are likely to be the subjects of
  conversation at the court and in the capital; are attended to;
  and all the rest neglected。 In China; besides; in Indostan; and
  in several other governments of Asia; the revenue of the
  sovereign arises almost altogether from a land tax or land rent;
  which rises or falls with the rise and fall of the annual produce
  of the land。 The great interest of the sovereign; therefore; his
  revenue; is in such countries necessarily and immediately
  connected with the cultivation of the land; with the greatness of
  its produce; and with the value of its produce。 But in order to
  render that produce both as great and as valuable as possible; it
  is necessary to procure to it as extensive a market as possible;
  and consequently to establish the freest; the easiest; and the
  least expensive communication between all the different parts of
  the country; which can be done only by means of the best roads
  and the best navigable canals。 But the revenue of the sovereign
  does not; in any part of Europe; arise chiefly from a land tax or
  land rent。 In all the great kingdoms of Europe; perhaps; the
  greater part of it may ultimately depend upon the produce of the
  land: but that dependency is neither so immediate; nor so
  evident。 In Europe; therefore; the sovereign does not feel
  himself so directly called upon to promote the increase; both in
  quantity and value; of the produce of the land; or; by
  maintaining good roads and canals; to provide the most extensive
  market for that produce。 Though it should be true; therefore;
  what I apprehend is not a little doubtful; that in some parts of
  Asia this department of the public police is very properly
  managed by the executive power; there is not the least
  probability that; during the present state of things; it could be
  tolerably managed by that power in any part of Europe。
  Even those public works which are of such a nature that they
  cannot afford any revenue for maintaining themselves; but of
  which the conveniency is nearly confined to some particular place
  or district; are always better maintained by a local or
  provincial revenue; under the management of a local or provincial
  administration; than by the general revenue of the state; of
  which the executive power must always have the management。 Were
  the streets of London to be lighted and paved at the expense of
  the treasury; is there any probability that they would be so well
  lighted and paved as they are at present; or even at so small an
  expense? The expense; besides; instead of being raised by a local
  tax upon the inhabitants of each particular street; parish; or
  district in London; would; in this case; be defrayed out of the
  general revenue of the state; and would consequently be raised by
  a tax upon all the inhabitants of the kingdom; of whom the
  greater part derive no sort of benefit from the lighting and
  paving of the streets of London。
  The abuses which sometimes creep into the local and
  provincial administration of a local and provincial revenue; how
  enormous soever they may appear; are in reality; however; almost
  always very trifling in comparison of those which commonly take
  place in the administration and expenditure of the revenue of a
  great empire。 They are; besides; much more easily corrected。
  Under the local or provincial administration of the justices of
  the peace in Great Britain; the six days' labour which the
  country people are obliged to give to the reparation of the
  highways is not always perhaps very judiciously applied; but it
  is scarce ever exacted with any circumstances of cruelty or
  oppression。 In France; under the administration of the
  intendants; the application is not always more judicious; and the
  exaction is frequently the most cruel and oppressive。 Such
  Corvees; as they are called; make one of the principal
  instruments of tyranny by which those officers chastise any
  parish or communaute which has had the misfortune to fall under
  their displeasure。
  Of the Public Works and Institutions which are necessary for
  facilitating particular Branches of Commerce。
  The object of the public works and institutions above
  mentioned is to facilitate commerce in general。 But in order to
  facilitate some particular branches of it; particular
  institutions are necessary; which again require a particular and
  extraordinary expense。
  Some particular branches of commerce; which are carried on
  with barbarous and uncivilised nations; require extraordinary
  protection。 An ordinary store or counting…house could give little
  security to the g