CHAP. XI.

_Of Monopolies and Offices._

Monopoly (as the word signifies) is the sole selling power, which

whosoever hath can vend the commodity whereupon he hath this power,

either qualified as himself pleases, or at what price he pleaseth,

or both, within the limits of his Commission.

2. The great example of a Monopoly is the King of _France_ his

Gabel upon Salt, whereby he sells that for sixty which costs him

but one; now Salt being a thing of universal use to all degrees

of men, and scarce more to the poor then the rich, it seems to be

of the same effect with the simplest Poll-money abovementioned,

in case all men spent equally of it, or if men be forced to take

it whether they spend it or not, as in some places they are. But

if men spend or eat Salt unequally, as they commonly do, nor are

bound to take or pay for more then they spend, then it is no other

then an accumulative Excize, especially if the salt be all of one

uniform goodness, otherwise it is a distinct species of Leavy,

_viz._ a Monopoly.