If this Honourable Houſe, in their Wiſdom, think fit to Paſs this into an Act, the following Method is humbly Preſented for Collecting the ſame, and preventing Frauds and Miſtakes therein.

That the Church-wardens and Overſeers of their reſpective Pariſhes, who are to Receive and Collect the immediate and yearly Payment, have Books containing a ſufficient Number of Sheets to be divided into Coloums, after the manner following:

On the Side of Street in the Pariſh of in the of Houſes. No Landlords Names. Tennants Names. Rent p • r Ann. Immediate Payment. Yearly Payment. Sums 〈◊〉 return'd. Return'd for Non-Payment. New Inhabitants.         l. l. s. d. l. s. d. l.       1 A. B. C. D. 1 0 2 0 0 0 4 10       2     2 0 4 0 0 0 8 20       3     3 0 6 0 0 1 0 30       4     4 0 8 0 0 1 4 40       5     5 0 10 0 0 1 8 50       6     6 0 12 0 0 2 0 60       7     7 0 14 0 0 2 4 70       8     8 0 16 0 0 2 8 80       9     9 0 18 0 0 3 0 90       10     10 1 0 0 0 3 4 100       &c.     60-600 6- 00- 1- 00- 600    

By Us, A. B. C. D. Church-wardens, Overſeers.

The Oath taken Before Us, 〈◊〉 to the Act. Juſtices.

That two Books for every Pariſh be fill'd up, Examined, Signed and Comp • red by the Church-wardens and Overſeers thereof, and an Oath taken before a Juſtice of the Peace of ſuch County, and Signed by Two, that it is a true Eſtimate, according to the beſt of their Knowledge; one Book to be immediately ſent up to an Office, with proper Officers, to be Erected for that Purpoſe; the other to be their Warrant, to Receive and Collect the ſame and then to be returned with the Mony into the Exchequer, and brought to the aforementioned Office, there to be compared with their Counter-parts, and an Account to be fairly written in Books, and Stated by Subſtracting the Returns from the Mony receiv'd: And from the old Books, new Ones to be every Year made and ſent to the ſeveral Pariſhes, with ſuch Alterations as are returned by ſuch Office.

The Act to contain ſuch Penalties, Forfeitures and Proviſoes, as the Nature of the Thing requires, and to conſider of, and provide for the ſeveral Terms, Intereſts, and Eſtates of the Perſons concerned; is left to this Honourable Houſe: And alſo, as to Houſes already Inſured.

If this Honourable Houſe are pleaſed to think it worth their further Conſideration, a Propoſal for making good Loſſes of Ships in their reſpective Voyages, upon your favourable Incouragement, will be alſo Preſented; whereby Frauds by common Aſſurers will be prevented; a great yearly Sum raiſed for the Publick Advantage.

Reaſons humbly offered for Paſſing this into an Act.

THat the Nation being very much Indebted, whereby there is a Neceſſity of raiſing great Sums for an immediate Supply, towards diſcharging the Arrears due to the Army and Fleet, and the Debts contracted by the late War, which can no otherwiſe be done, than by great Taxes to be laid upon the Subject; It is humbly conceived, none can be Propoſed, whereunto the Subjects will more readily and chearfully Contribute, or whereby they will receive ſo great Benefit and Advantage.

1. For that what they pay hereupon, they will proportionably ſave, out of what muſt have been otherwiſe raiſed.

2. They will hereby receive a preſent Recompence, by raiſing the Value of Houſes, at leaſt ten Pounds per Cent. and making their Eſtates more certain, and a better Security to Ground-Jointures, Settlements and Mortgages upon.

3. This Method is already put in Practice by a great number of wiſe and prudent Men, for the Preſervation of themſelves and Families, by private Agreements for mutual Contributions, and is alſo the Deſire of moſt Corporations in England, to be eſtabliſhed by Authority of Parliament, under a National Fund and Credit.

4. Hereby will be no Occaſion for Briefs and other charitable Collections, whereby great Sums are yearly drained out of the Subjects Pockets, and the Frauds and Miſapplications of the Subjects Charity prevented, and places the Receiver above the Notion of taking Alms, inducing them to reſpect the Government as the Fountain of the Publick Good.

5. Will be the Support of thouſands of Families, and thereby in great Meaſure prevent the Encreaſe of the Poor, and ſupply them with a Foundation for future Induſtry.

6. Is no ways Oppreſſive to the Poor who cannot be poſſeſſed of any Eſtate in Houſes.

7. As private Perſons for private Intereſts have erected particuler Offices for this Purpoſe, which have been very acceptable and well thought on by the more intelligent Part of Mankind. Therefore ſo noble and generous a Deſign as extends it ſelf to the Preſervation, Relief, and Benefit of Cities, Towns, and Countries; and the Whole in general, will, ('tis not queſtion'd,) merit the intenſe Conſideration of, and Encouragement by this Houſe, and meet with grateful Acceptance by the Publick.

It is further Propoſed, to make good the other One Hundred and fifty thouſand Pounds per Ann. by

1. A double Rate or Charge upon Poſt-Letters in general, which will be but the ſame Charge to the Government in Collecting as at preſent, and bring in the clear yearly Sum of One hundred thouſand Pound per Ann. and upwards; due Care being taken to prevent Coach-men, Carriers and others, from conveying Letters.

2. Every Perſon to pay one Shilling per Pound, out of ſuch Sum he ſhall receive with every Clerk, Apprentice or Servant, ſuch Clerk, Apprentice or Servant, not to be a •… to practiſe or exerciſe his Trade, (unleſs the ſaid Sum or Duty be duly paid) the Maſter who receives, and Parent, Guardian or Friend who pays the ſame, to forfeit treble the Sum, in caſe the ſame be not duly anſwered, which computing, that there be Five hundred Thouſand put out in three Years, at ten Pounds one with another, will raiſe Eighty • houſand Pounds per Ann. and upward.

Theſe Propoſals it is humbly hoped, will meet with the favourable Acceptance of this Honourable Houſe, as being Intended for the Service of the Goverment, the Eaſe of the Subject, and the Publick Good, and theſe Propoſers meet with a ſuitable Encouragement.