There is no art which one government sooner learns of another than that of draining money from the pockets of the people. - Adam Smith

The value of money is in proportion to the quantity of the necessaries of life which it will purchase.

In reality, during the continuance of any one regulated proportion, between the respective values of the different values of the different metals in the coin, the value of the most precious metal regulates the value of the whole coin.

Lands for the purposes of pleasure and magnificence, parks, gardens, public walks, &c. possessions which are every where considered as causes of expence, not as sources of revenue, seem to be the only lands which, in a great and civilized monarchy, ought to belong the crown.