An Essay on the State of England / In Relation to Its Trade, Its Poor, and Its Taxes, for Carrying on the Present War Against France

The essay argues that national prosperity and the means to finance a costly war rest on strengthening land, manufactures, and foreign trade. It urges securing colonial commerce and channeling valuable commodities through the home market, retaining wool and encouraging domestic manufacture, and developing industries such as clockmaking, paper and powder mills. It favors shifting taxation away from burdensome duties on merchants toward unobtrusive consumer levies so trade and navigation flourish, employment for the poor increases, and public revenue becomes steadier. Recommendations are addressed to both the crown and Parliament.