To the READER, especially the Judicious, Loyal and Faithfull People of England.
MANY Notions and Propositions have been the Product of this Age, most of them being founded on sandy Ground, have rendred them altogether fruitless; others, that might have been usefull to the Publick, for want of due Incouragement, have been buried in Oblivion: To avoid the like Fate, I could have been content to have been silent, had not the present Necessity of Affairs oblig'd me to appear in this kind. For who can observe the great Undertakings of Their Majesties for the general Preservation of this Nation, and stand idle and mute at such time as the Publick Affairs require the Assistance of all its Members? As for my part, I do affirm that it is my Duty to appear in this general Cause, considering those Honourable Assemblies, the Lords and Commons in Parliament, whose great Care it is to raise Money to carry on the same. I therefore hope it will not look amiss in me, humbly to set forth these following Proposals, intended for the saving such considerable Sums, which may be of great Use in this Juncture, and will also avoid a great Inconveniency that attends the Impresting of Men for Their Majesties [Page 2] Yards, which by the ill Practice of some, is as terrible as Death it self. Which by an ill Custom used in the Management thereof, is become one of the Publick Grievances of this Nation; not that I do intend herein, to charge any particular Person or Persons with their Neglect of Duty, but rather submit in that Point to better Judgments. But so it is, let the whole Charge of performing that Work be what it will, it may be presumed, the full Half Part thereof, is wasted and consumed; all which, may seem very hard and grievous, that the Industrious Part should be Rent and Rack'd, to maintain others at so great Expence and Charge, in Idleness and Extravagancy: For by Impresting and Forcing so many Men into those Yards, Workmens Wages abroad is raised to an exorbitant Rate, and the Price of Building so highly advanced thereupon in these Parts, that the greatest Part of Building is of late carried from hence into the Country, and is ready to take Wing for Foreign Nations; all which is occasioned by means of the Press for those Yards, which may be more fitly called Oppression: For that Work may be sufficiently carried on, to the great Advantage of all, with a likely Possibility of saving 2 or 300000l. per Annum, as is more fully demonstrated in the following Proposals. These Publick Grievances, being acted in this lower Sphere, although very heavy-and oppressive, it may be suppos'd that the Noise and Sound thereof, may not have ascended the Ears or Knowledge of our Great Deliverers, Their Majesties, and others in Supreme Authority, from whom a Redress of all our Sufferings is desired and expected.
[Page 3] Having near Twelve Months since Presented to each Lord of the Admiralty, a Copy of my Proposals, and the same being now made Publick, have by their Noble Character of Truth and Strength, not only passed the general Applause of all their Judicious Inspecters, but are also become Acceptable to many Eminent Persons, who, as a Mark of their Favour, have been Pleased to Commend and Incourage the same; I did on the Second of this Instant February, Present to the Honourable, the Lords of the Admiralty, by way of Application, a Copy of these Lines following, viz.
HAving formerly Presented to your Honours some Proposals, wherein is set forth a sure and certain way for the more Speedy and Effectual Building and Repairing the Royal Navy, by such Methods as may be fairly saved 100000l. per Annum or more, to the great Benefit of Their Majesties and the whole Nation: And the same having been Communicated to many Worthy and Eminent Persons of several Ranks, who have given all due Incouragement thereunto, I humbly desire that a time may be assigned me, to lay the same before this Honourable Board, in Order to the Promoting so Great and Profitable an Ʋndertaking.
Their Honours in Answer thereunto, were then pleased to Appoint me a Hearing on Thursday the Eighth of this Instant, and did also direct, That I should give an Account in Writing, how Money should be Produced to carry on this Undertaking; which accordingly I did, which with my Proposals, [Page 4] was Read at the Admiralty-Board, in the Presence of the Right Honourable, the Lord Falkland, Sir John Lowther, and Captain Prestman; the Honourable Commissioners of the Navy being then Present, and was as followeth.
The Humble PROPOSALS of George Everett, Shipwright, in Rotheriff, in Behalf of Their Sacred Majesties, King William and Queen Mary.
WIth Submission to your Honours, having upon frequent View and Observation taken into Consideration the many Irregular Practices of Shipwrights, and others imployed in Their Majesties Yards, wherein is Lost and Destroyed by Idleness and Extravagancy near 100000l. per Annum, by such Ways and Means as tend not to the Profit of any, but great Prejudice to the whole Nation; which said Sum, or more, may be saved according to the following Proposals, wherein is briefly set forth a sure and certain Way for the more speedy and effectual Building and Repairing of Their Majesties Royal Navy, by such Rules and Methods as may be saved near one half of the whole now expended in the said Yards, to the great Benefit of Their Majesties, the Comfort and Happiness of those imployed therein, and the Ease and Welfare of the whole Nation.
AS the Beginning of the War is wholly intended for the common Good and Safety of the whole Nation, and the End thereof uncertain; so it may be highly necessary, That in the Management thereof every Person imployed therein should, in their several [Page 6] Stations, act with so much Courage, Frugality, and good Husbandry, as to make the Burthen thereof both Light and Easy: Imitating therein Their Majesties most Pious Endeavours (who for the Benefit and Wellbeing of Their People and to preserve them in Safety, do Expose Their Royal Persons, even with the Hazzard of Their Lives, into the most dangerous Attempts;) and also the most August and Honourable Assemblies, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons of England, Assembled in Parliament; whose indefatigable Care and Industry is such, in Raising and Granting suitable Supplies for so great a Work, That the Burthen and Charge thereof is not sensibly felt by the meaner sort of Subjects.
Whilst some others of Inferiour Rank, and imployed in the Management of the War, do not so sincerely endeavour the Welfare and Well-being of their Majesties and People, as in such times of Exigency they ought to do; by which means the Burthen and Charge for carrying on the same is the more Heavy and Uneasy to the Nation.
For Remedy thereof, I most humbly offer to your Lordships these following Proposals, in Hopes of your Gracious Acceptance and Encouragement of the same, for the Service of Their Majesties, the Ease of Their Subjects, and the Benefit of the whole Nation, as followeth, viz.
Under the Notion of Shipwrights is comprehended Ship-Carpenters, Calkers, Mast-makers, Boat-makers, &c. If the New work be let out by the great, the Management thereof will wholly depend upon the Undertakers. If the Work be so let out by the Great, there may be as much Money saved in one Month as will pay the Charge of the next two Months; and in times of Exigency, more than twice the Work may be performed by the same Number of Work-men; and all Charge and Trouble in Pressing for such Yards avoided; and Men would not expect to be Idle or Injurious. This foregoing Paragraph being the Basis hereof, is confirmed by the Company of Free Shipwrights, in the Eighth Article of their Case, formerly delivered to the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of England. I. That for the common Good and Benefit of Their Majesties, and the whole Kingdom, it is most humbly proposed, That if Shipwrights Wages in Their Majesties Yards were Advanced, and good Payment [Page 7] Monthly made, for Working Weather only (as in Merchants Yards) the Work may be performed with less than half the Number of Men; who, for fear of being Discharged, would Labour hard. Or the greatest part of the said Workmanship may, as in other Yards, be let out by the Task, or Great, to able Work-men; whereby having Respect to Work, Wages, and the Number of Officers, whose Pay is continued as well in wet as dry Weather, as also the extravagant Waste made in Timber and Plank by many idle Persons imployed therein, the said Work may be substantially performed with less than half the Number of Men, and more than half the Charge of Workmanship thereby saved, without prejudice to the Builders, who with their Assistance may have the Power of Ordering and Directing as heretofore.
II. That in impresting of Shipwrights for the said Yards Their Majesties are at great Charges, and the Persons imprest think themselves injured, to be compelled to serve therein for two Shillings and one penny per Day, and that running in Arrears, when in other Yards there is allowed near twice the Wages, and ready Money; which is a great Discouragement to industrious persons, who are willing to take pains; which brings a Dislike and Unwillingness of the Workmen, who go into such Yards as if they were going to Prison; which by a Regulation as aforesaid would be esteemed as a Palace: So that many imployed and imprest therein do, for such Reasons, become very [Page 8] negligent in the performing their Duties, and spend great part of their time in Idleness: Together with Apprentices, whose Wages being fixt, and no regard had to Deserts, their Masters are indifferent whether they work, or not. And many such take no Care or pains more than to answer to the Call, and to provide a Bundle of Chips, oft-times of more Value than their Wages; whereby Their Majesties are highly injured, and many such Apprentices by ill Management, after Seven Years Servitude, are altogether ignorant and useless. All which seems very Unreasonable, That those Yards which ought to be the Incouragement of Industry and Frugality, should be the Promoters of Idleness and Extravagancy, at such times as persons of so useful a Trade, and Money the Life of all, is so much wanting to the Publick.
III. In the general Repairing of Their Majesties Great Ships, wherein Custom is observed more than the common Interest of the publick, after a vast Charge therein spent, to take such Ship or Work to pieces, the Timber and Plank so taken out seldom comes to any Account; and the Ship to be so Rebuilt, or the Value thereof, is in it self wholly lost, yet another between Old and New is brought forth, though untimely, out of the pretended Ruins of the Old, at a far greater Charge than such New Ship might have been wholly Erected and new Built from the Keel. So that therein accrues a double Loss to Their Majesties; for such Old Ships might be of great Value and Use, if but sold to break up; and the Timber and Plank now destroyed would for many good Uses supply the place of New, and be a means to make it more cheap and plenty; and the Work-men whilst [Page 9] taking to pieces the Old would half build such a New. So that in the Repairs of some one Ship Their Majesties may save Two, Three, Four, and sometimes Eight or Ten Thousand Pound, or more; besides the Advantage of having the Use of such New Ship in half the Time.
IV. It is also to be observed, If it happen that any Ship of Their Majesties do by any means miscarry or perish at Sea, the Loss thereof is very grievous; but in the Building of Two, according to the Custom used in Their Majesties Yards, there is One lost of the same Burthen, or the Value thereof, for want of good Management; yet such Loss is neither minded, nor regarded. Whereas, if Wages be advanced and paid, according to each Man's Deserts, they would put themselves forward in Hopes of Reward, as in Merchant's Yards; and by that means, if well managed, Thirty or Forty Men may do as much Work as a Hundred Men now do: So that in Workmanship may be saved Two or Three Thousand Pound, or more, in Two Ships; which, by such means, may be Built sooner than One, besides the Wast of Timber and Plank, made by some near equal with their Wages.
V. If it should be objected, That such Regulations may be of great Difficulty and Prejudice to Their Majesties, or any Person concerned or imployed under them: The PROPOSER humbly offers to perform the Regulation effectually in any one of Their Majesties Yards in the Space of one Week; and in Nine, or Twelve Months, to prove the Advantage thereof, to the great profit of Their Majesties, and [Page 10] Benefit of Their Subjects. It being not his Design to propose any thing herein that may be Injurious to any, but of great Advantage to all. First, in respect to Their Majesties; in whose Yards there is allowed Two Shillings and One Penny per Day to Workmen, and to Apprentices Thirteen or Fourteen Pence per Day, for the first Year; increasing yearly a Penny per Day: Which Wages accounted but small is large in respect, if the Uncertainty of Weather be considered, which never proves to the Disadvantage of those therein imployed; whilst others in Merchants Yards, having Three or Four Shillings per Day, are put by their Work for every Flurt of Rain, or Snow, or other intemperate Weather; who often, by such means, do not work more than Four Weeks in Six. So that by Computation each Man's Wages in both Yards are near equivalent, but the Labour of Work-men is far different; insomuch that Thirty or Forty Men in the Merchants Yards and imployed in Their Majesties Work, do substantially perform more Work than a Hundred Men in Their Majesties Yards, and in less Time.
VI. It may be further objected, That this may prove prejudicial to the Officers of Their Majesties Yards. It is answered, That many of them have but Two Shillings and One Penny per Day, and having no prospect of Advantage (let their Deserts be never so great) they still follow the common Road of Custom: Yet, in Case of Regulation, it is supposed they would for suitable Incouragement deport themselves in their several Stations with more Order, Courage and Industry, in the well Management of the several Work-men under their Charge, more especially [Page 11] their Apprentices, who in hopes of Gain may be made capable of deserving more in One Year than some may now in Seven: By which means Their Majesties might save much Money, the Nation be more plenty of able Work-men, their Masters incouraged to train up Youth, and such hereafter be capable of getting a decent Maintenance for themselves and Families. It may likewise be supposed that at sometimes, as well in War as Peace, the same Number of Men in Office may be sufficient to perform the greatest part of the Work.
If such Payment were to be made, it would be of such Advantage that many who now (in recard of Poverty) are exempted may be capable of paying suitable Taxes on all Occasions. VII. That the Work-men imployed in Their Majesties Yards are, for want of ready Money, obliged to take up all their Necessaries they want upon Credit; and the persons with whom they deal are, for that Reason obliged to do the like. So that it is most certain, that Work-men, especially Strangers, imprest therein, are obliged to pay double Extortion, and with Curbs and Abuses accept of any thing; who otherwise, with ready Money, might buy what, and where they please, and be treated with Civility and Respect as others are. So that by such a happy change many would be preserved from Ruin.
VIII. That if such Regulation be made in Their Majesties Yards, the one half or more of the Work-men imployed therein may be discharged, which cannot be less than Four or Five Hundred Men; which being to distribute themselves into other Yards, will cause the extravagant rate of Wages to abate and fall to the old rate of two Shillings, or two Shillings and Six-pence per Day; whereby the Charge of Building Shipping may be as cheap in time of War as in times of Peace; [Page 12] which will much contribute to the Benefit of Their Majesties, and the whole Nation.
IX. So that if a general Regulation were to be made, and well managed with Frugality and good Conduct; it may be presumed, that the one half Charge of the whole now expended therein may be saved, to the great Benefit of the Nation without prejudice to any, which could not amount to less than 100000l. per Annum or more, and one third part of what may be so spared may be sufficient to pay the Work-men and Officers employed therein.
X. If there be any superannuated Ancient Men in the said Yards, which by Falls and Bruises, may be in a great measure disabled and unfit to seek imployment abroad, it may be better, and will be less Charge to maintain them out than in the Yards.
XI. That impresting of Shipwrights being very Chargable to Their Majesties, and prejudicial to the Subjects, more especially the Master Shipwrights, who are great Sufferers in their Apprentices; whose Parents of good Esteem do frequently give large Sums of Money to bring up their Children to so good and useful a Trade, who are by the press hurried and taken away before they understand any part thereof; whereby such parents are injured, their Children totally ignorant for want of Experience and Instruction, and the Masters being limited to a Number, not to exceed three or four, are become destitute of Servants to carry on their Trade; and often damnified by the Loss of an Apprentice Forty, Fifty, or an Hundred pound thereby▪
[Page 13] XII. That such a practice and prospect of idleness in such Yards in an Allurement to Apprentices, who having a place of Refuge to maintain them therein, they are under no Government, but are become insolent and masterless: And in such employments are of no profit, either to the publick, their Masters, or themselves: But do for the most part spend all their Wages, or otherwise lose it by running from place to place, or from Ship to Ship.
The Proposer most humbly desiring he may be allowed to Answer and give Reasons to all Objections that may be made touching the premisses.
All which, with Submission, is most humbly offered to your Honours Consideration.
A Proposed METHOD for the Raising and Saving of Moneys for Monthly Payments, according to what hath been Proposed.
May it Please your Honours,
THAT having on the Second of this Instant proposed to this Board, a Method for the saving 100000l. per Annum in the Building and Repairing the Royal Navy, wherein it is humbly proposed for the Incouragement thereof, That all Officers and Work-men Imployed therein, be duely paid every Month.
Your Honours were then Pleased to Direct, That I should give an Account to this Board in Writing, how and where Money should be Raised to carry on the same, pursuant thereunto. I most humbly offer my Sentiments as followeth, viz.
I. That the Raising of Money must be as formerly, by Parliament, and not by any single Person, especially of my Capacity.
II. That Half the Money so Raised and Allowed for such Purposes, had been, if well managed, sufficient to have defrayed the whole Charge, without running on Arrears, and the other Half might have been usefull to other Purposes: And this ought to have been the particular Care of all Officers, to whom the Management thereof hath been Committed.
[Page 15] Thus having described the Fountain from whence the Moneys must arise, as also a Sufficiency of defraying (if well ordered) the whole Charge, with less than Half the Sum. I humbly proceed as followeth.
III. If the Number of Work-men in Their Majesties Yards at present, be 3000, and the yearly Charge of maintaining them therein be 93600l. then the Quarterly Charge will be 23400l. and that generally paid Quarterly. It is further proposed, That the superfluous Number Imployed therein, may be discharged, which cannot be less than 60 out of every 100, so that the 3000 as aforesaid, may be reduced to 1200; which if well managed, will be sufficient to carry on the whole Work; and by such means the Charges will be lessened to 39440l. per Annum, 9860l. Quarterly, and Monthly, 3286l. Here it may be supposed that where there is a Probability of paying 23400l. per Quarter, there may be a Possibility of paying 3286l. per Month. The Charges and Difference so Stated, I most humbly proceed to give my Judgment for saving and providing Money to defray the Charge Monthly, viz. If the present Charge as aforesaid, be 93600l. per Annum, it is supposed that Money may be produced as formerly for Quarterly Payment, which may amount to 23400l. per Quarter: Let the Number of Work-men be reduced as aforesaid, the Monthly Charge may be 3286l. then supposing such Regulations were agreed, and to begin this Day, One Month being expired, let Money be provided to defray the Charge. The Question is, how and where? Here lies the Difficulty. To which I answer, If it cannot be provided otherwise, let it [Page 16] be borrowed at 10l. per Cent. for the First Month, and so likewise for the Second against the Third Month. It may be supposed that the Quarterly Sum may be provided as formerly, which is supposed to be 23400l. out of which is to be paid the Two borrowed Sums, with Interest, viz. 3286l. with Two Months Interest, and 3286l. with One Months Interest, and 3286l. the Charge of the Third Month without Interest. These together, will amount to 9890l. or thereabouts, which being deducted out of the aforesaid Sum of 23400l. supposedly provided for the First Quarterly Payment, the Remainder will be 13510l. which if preserved in Bank for the purpose aforesaid, may defray the Charge of the next Four Months, and to spare, in which Four Months may be saved sufficient to defray the Charge of the next Six Months, and so proportionably for a longer time: So by this Rule may be saved in Wages, 54090l. in One Year, besides the Waste that is made in those Yards, which cannot be less than Twice the Value, which by Computation, will amount to in the whole, 162120l. per Annum, besides the great Trouble and Charge expended in Pressing for such Yards. If it should be further Objected, That Money cannot, or may not be provided out of the Treasury at the end of the said Three Months, it may then be further provided as aforesaid, at Interest for Three, Four, or Five Months or more, untill a sufficient Stock may by such means be saved for the carrying on the same; which I humbly conceive may with little Trouble, be gained in the First Three Months: This with Submission, I hope, may be a satisfactory Answer to the Question proposed. And by this means also may be spared out of those Yards, [Page 17] 1800 Men, who may be of great Use in carrying on the General Trade of the whole Nation. I have been the larger in clearing this Point, as knowing it to be the Basis on which the whole Work depends: So by this it doth plainly appear, That the providing of 6 or 7000l. to defray the Charge of the First Two Months, the whole Work may be sufficiently performed by such means, as may be saved to the great Advantage of Their Majesties, 100000l. per Annum, or more.
Which being Read, was Allowed and Approved, save only in this, that I should give Security for the Performance thereof; to which I humbly answered, That I did not desire to handle the Publick Treasure, my Proposals having passed the general Consent of their Honours, together with the Approbation of many the most Eminent and Credible Persons, several in Places of the greatest Trust; and being in it self no way doubtfull, might have been sufficient to have made the same Practicable: But their Honours were farther pleased to insist on this Point, which I did humbly take as a final Answer. To which I add, That Truth and right Reason, with such Harmonious Consent as aforesaid, may be sufficient Security for the Management of this so great Affair. And farther, That the same ought to be put in Practice, partly to avoid those great Injuries occasioned by the Press; and chiefly for the general Preservation of Their Majesties and Publick, in saving such Considerable Sums of Money, so much wanting for other Purposes.
Proper RƲLES most humbly offered toward the making a Regulation.
For the making a Regulation in Their Majesties Yards, it is humbly Proposed, That these following Rules and Methods be observed, viz.
I. That 60 out of every 100 Imployed therein, may be discharged, and the others continued as followeth; having respect to the Wages allowed in Merchants Yards, to be monthly altered, as Occasion may require.
II. That the Workman-ship of all new Boats, as also of all Mast-work, be lett out by the Great, by which means, One Man may do more Work than Four; and the Care and Management thereof, will wholly depend upon the Undertakers.
III. That every Person being a Master Foreman of any Ship-work, may be allowed Four Shillings per Day.
IV. That every Quarter-man and other Officers, having Charge of Work-men, be allowed Three Shilling and Six Pence per Day.
V. That every Able Work-man, be allowed Three Shillings per Day, and under, according to each Mans Deserts.
VI. That every Apprentice Imployed therein, may be allowed One Shilling per Day for the First [Page 19] Year; that being expired, his Wages to be advanced according to Deserts; all such Wages as aforesaid, to be accounted only when they work, or shall be so Imployed, and not otherwise.
VII. That all Sawyers may be debarred of Chipps, and in lieu thereof, each Pair to be allowed Four Pence per Day, and Two Pence per Hundred more Wages; by such Means may be saved Three times more Money than their whole Wages amount unto.
VIII. That in Repairing Their Majesties Ships where the Charge is like to be great, such Ship may be opened within Board and without, in such Places as shall appear to be most deficient; and being then surveyed, if it shall appear by computing the Charge thereof, to be near equal the Value of such new, then to dispose of the same as may be most Convenient and Advantageous.
IX. That when, and so often as any new Ship of the First, Second, or Third Rate, shall be erected or set upon the Stocks, another of the Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Rate, may also be erected, to the end, that all Timber, Plank, and other Stuff under Size for the one, and accounted but as Waste, may be usefull in Building the other, according to a Proverb of great Note in Merchants Yards, that is, To build a small Ship out of a great one's Chips.
X. That if a Ship should happen to prove tender sided, it will be far better, and less Charge, to proportion the sailing Materials to such Ships, than [Page 20] such Ships to the Materials, by taking the Body to pieces; which too often happens, to the great Prejudice and Hindrance of Their Majesties Affairs.
XI. That Timber, especially small and streight, may not be laid into the said Yards in such great Quantities, which being almost useless, creates a great Charge in Carriage from one Place to another, and often lies and rots, whilst Money Imployed on such Occasions, is wanting for purposes far more usefull.
XII. That the Overseers may be allowed to Inspect all Naval Stores therein Received and Delivered.
XIII. That Money being provided and monthly paid, according to the Methods herein specified, such Change may be happily made, by which means it may be presumed, the one Half Charge now expended, may be saved, to the great Benefit of Their Majesties and the whole Nation, and all Charges and Trouble of Pressing for those Yards avoided.
XIV. Lastly, Much more may be added, which for brevity is omitted; it being humbly prayed, That the Overseers thereof, may with Consent of your Honours, have Leave to make all advantageous Alterations, as well not mentioned as otherwise. So humbly desiring that Tryal may be made according to the Rules and Methods herein specified, Proof and Experience, which are the best and surest Demonstrations, will soon discover the great Profit and Advantage that may accrue by what hath been most humbly offered.
IF it should be Objected, That in times of Expedition Their Majesties Affairs may be prolonged in Prejudice to Their Great and Honourable Undertakings, it is Answered, That since it is so plainly demonstrated and generally believed, That 30 or 40 Men can, and may perform as much as 100 now do, no Detriment can ensue thereby. But to prevent all further Doubts that may arise, it must be allowed, That Their Majesties upon all Occasions, may have the same Liberty, without the least Restraint or Restriction, to cause Men to be Imprest as formerly. But to avoid the same, it is humbly presumed, That those Yards may in such times of Exigence, be better supplyed in One Day by Letters directed to the Master-Wardens of each Company of Ship-wrights, than in One Month; and 100 such Persons Imployed on the Terms aforesaid, may perform as much as 300 compell'd unwillingly to serve therein by the Press, and all the Charge thereof avoided. Again, It seems very hard in the Judgment of all good Men, that Moneys raised with so much Care and Trouble, and intended for the Incouragement of Industrious and Deserving People, should be so vainly destroyed in Idleness and Extravagancy, at such time as it is so much wanting to the Publick.
Again, If Charity should so far abound, as to maintain such Superfluity of Idleness, it may be presumed, that for the Publick Good of Their Majesties and the Nation, it will be far less Charge to allow many Imployed therein 20s. per Week to maintain them out, [Page 22] rather than 10s. per Week to have them in such Imployment, as being a Pattern of such evil Examples to others.
In all that hath been Proposed herein, it was not designed as Reflection on any. For what is practised therein now, is not to be looked on as a New Method, but rather as an Ancient Custom of long standing, which by such Custom and evil Example hath been received from One Age to another; and so not any Person to be much blamed, although it is apparent that by long Use, it is every Year grown worse and worse.
But however, Let the Measures or Methods be what they will, if it doth appear by what hath been Proposed, that better may be now taken, and such as may be of so great Use and Advantage, it cannot be thought unreasonable to lay such Old Methods aside, to make way for New, (especially such as may be so Advantageous and Profitable) no more than for a Prudent Mariner, who foreseeing a Storm, doth make for a good Harbor, to avoid Ship-wrack.
Although it is commonly objected that Proposals of this Kind (let them be never so profitable) do seldom prosper, except brought forth and managed by Persons of Honour and Grandeur. To which it is humbly Answered, That the Matter it self being Just and Honourable, and of so great Use and Benefit to Their Majesties and the whole Nation, it ought not to be slighted for the Author's sake; especially when considered how far Loyalty and Duty, accompany'd with a firm and constant Mind, hath often produced in all Ages, great Advantages to the Publick.
Thus having for the general Good, exposed my self to the publick Censure in a Matter of so great Importance, in so mean and plain a Dress; which may be [Page 23] justly attributed to the want of Education rather than want of Judgment. However, for what I have written I desire no Praise but Patience, being altogether unworthy to be accounted a Work-man in this kind, knowing it is impossible for me as well as others, to please all. And although there be many carping Zealots, who in Envy to the Cause more than the Author, may be ready to cavell with me for the same, I shall little regard the evil Censure of those, who I never did intend to make my Judges, but shall in all things submit to the Judgment of the more Prudent and well Affected to the Government.
All which I shall conclude in the Words of the Reverend Doctor Burnet, in his Sermon Preached before the Honourable House of Commons the 31 st. of January, 1688. His Conclusion was, That there be no breaking in, nor going out; nor no complaining in the streets. Then with the Psalmist, Happy is the People that is in such a case; yea, and happy is the People whose God is the Lord.
If Sparing it be Thrift, as Wise Men hold,
Then let us spare our Silver and our Gold:
'Twill make our Cannons Roar, and Hero's sing
God Save Great William and His Royal Queen
MARY,
The Glorious Patern of true Majesty.
Whom God Preserve in Peace and Righteousness,
And Crown their Deeds with Glory and Success.
FINIS.