I.

I Think myself oblig'd in several Respects, to Publish this short Tract for my own Vindication; Not doubting in the least, but it will be very acceptable to all impartial and disinteressed Persons, tho' as unpleasant to some few, that are otherwise dispos'd: And to assUre those few, who are my un­reasonable [Page 2]Enemies, That what I have done was not out of Choice, but meer Compulsion: Not to gratify any Malevolent Humour, but to make them sensible of their own Failings: Not with any Design to expose their Trade and Reputation, as they have done mine; but with a Desire to Rectify every Thing that may be amiss in them: Nay, what I have done, I had much rather have left undone, had there not been an absolute neces­sity for it: For what Man living can be silent, when he finds himself wrong'd in the highest Nature imaginable, and Robb'd of his Reputation, which is the richest Jewel in this World, that any one can be Master of? But after all this, I should have been silent, and look't upon a few Words as a blast of Wind, that might have Vanish'd like a Morning-Cloud, or an early Dew: But when I perceiv'd my Name call'd into Question, be­fore a Magistrate and a Court of Justice, for doing to others, as I would be done by: When I observ'd my Reputation endan­ger'd by twelve inconsiderate Men, even against the Consent of a just Judge: When I saw every Thing, that was dear to me in the World, just a going to be Shipwrack'd on the Shoals of false and Malicious Reports; where many a good Reputation has been Split, and buried in the Land of Oblivion: Then I thought it high time to avoid so dangerous a Gulph before it was too late. Thus I Consider'd with my self, how easily I might prevent my own Ruin, and that of many more who may he under the same Misfortune with my self, by putting a stop to the Proceedings of the Malicious: More especially since I am so Fortunate as to have an opportunity of wiping off all the Aspersions that have been most unjustly Cast upon me; by the testimony of several Witnesses of undoubted Credit; besides many Arguments and Reasons to Confirm it; none, I hope, will blame me for so doing: Nay, I am perswaded, The worst of my Enemies will forbear to censure my Conduct, when they suppose themselves under the same Circumstances, and seriously Consider, that I have writ nothing but the real Truth in every Particular: For I desire to proceed with all possible Moderation, without Passion or Prejudice, wishing them all the success imaginable in their Lawful Undertakings; since my whole Design is, to Unde­ceive [Page 3]the World, that no Man may be Imposed upon, with ground­less Suggestions, and false Reports.

II.

We live in an Age that is so full of Calumnies, and false Reports, that the most quick sighted of Men can scarce Discern the Difference between that which is Plain and Fair in the way of Dealing, and that which is Foul and Unjust; An Age wherein many Men live, who have no regard to their Neighbours Trade and Reputation, whenever they have a Prospect of Advancing their own: An Age so wise in worldly Wisdom, and especially in making such Cunning Reflections, that most People are apt to believe what they say, to be the real Truth, till the Injur'd Person has a fair opportunity, to justify his Integrity, and by setting matters in their true light, makes the falsehood of their odious Calumnies plainly appear, beyond Contradiction, and then all their Machiavilian Policy, and Subtil Artifices, are suddenly de­tected and exposed to Contempt; But alas! how many innocent Persons are there who lye under the Lash of a Virulent and Scan­dalous Tongue, and are not able at least for some time, to vindi­cate their own Reputation. The main Reason (as I take it) is, That their Enemies are so Sly and False, that they never Discover themselves to the injur'd Person but Judas like Crucify his Re­putation in his Absence; Flattering him with smooth Words and a Trecherous Heart before his Face: So that such Men may well be compar'd to the Venom of Asps, to Juneper-Coals, and to Arrows; and indeed, they are worse than all these: For there are Antidotes against the Venom of Asps; but what can secure a Man from the S [...]ing of an Evil Tongue? Not even Innocency it self: And Juneper-Coals, tho they be very hot burn none, but those that touch them; whereas a spiteful Tongue hurts them that never Offended it: As for the Arrows, Distance of Place will preserve one from them; but wheresoever a Man goes, the Malice of a lying Tongue will still persecute him: For such Infernal Furies no sooner open their foul Mouths to speak, but the noisom Stench of their corrupt Hearts burst forth, infecting with their poisonous [Page 4]Breath, both the Air, and the Ears of the Hearers. To conclude, a Malicious Person is just like the Crooked Serpeut, that having his Head one way, can distort his Heart, to another.

III.

But to come to matter of Fact; There is a certain Combination of Men, and I have good reason to believe, that most of them go under the Denomination of Coal-Merchants, who according to their mutual Compact have united themselves together, with a full Resolution, to ruin my Trade and Reputation, and to perswade the World, That it is a Cheat to be Just, and Just to Cheat; the falsehood of which Position will plainly appear by the following Discourse, and I Doubt not but to Discover the Rancour of their Hearts, by their False and Malicious Reports. I am also well satisfy'd, that there are very few Persons of any Note within the Bills of Mortality, who can be ignorant of their Proceedings against me. These Gentlemen have been pleased to give themselves the trouble, to go from House to House; Casting many sinister Reflections on my Way of Dealing; and not only so, but have Encourag'd their Friends, Agents and Ser­vants to do the like, and have used their utmost Endeavours to Confirm their Villanous Practices by the method following.

I.

IN the first Place they give it out, That I Cheat every Person I have any Dealings with, in their Measure of Coals, and to make their Assertion good, they confidently affirm, That they have twenty Indictments against me, and have already Convicted me for a Cheat, upon several of them, and particularly, that on the thir­teenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred, I was fin'd forty Pounds, for want of seven Bushels of Coals in half a Chaldron: A Report so Notoriously false, that it must needs make their Names stink in the Nostrels of all Men of sound Reason; especially when the first Rise of it is Discover'd [Page 5]to the World; which I shall endeavour to do, with all the Plainness Imaginable. Two Persons whose Office it is, to see that every Man have his full Measure of Coals, took an occasion, not long since, to give me a visit, during which, their Demeanour was very agreeable, their Countenance Smiling, their Expressions Smooth and Diverting; wishing me much Happiness and a good Trade; speaking well of my Undertakings; declaring that Na­ture it self had order'd every thing for my Conveniency; and setting forth, how beneficial the Coal-Trade would be to me, if I comply'd with their Demands: Whereupon I ask'd them what it was for, and how much they requir'd? One of them Reply'd, it was for Winking-mony, and that others gave them ten Shillings a Quarter, upon the same Account. My Answer was to this Effect, That I Design'd to give every Man his full due, and tho I might meet with many Obstructions from them, and the Coal-Mer­chants, at my first Beginning; yet I doubted not, but in the End, it would Redoun'd to my Advantage, by giving the True Mea­sure; for my Intention was not to make three, four, or five and twenty Chaldrons out of a Score. Thus these Industrious Offi­cers finding themselves Disappointed of their Quarterly Salary, in a few Days after, they watch'd one of my Carts with a Chaldron of Coals, and Measur'd them in Chiswel-street, near Moor-fields, where I had sold three Chaldrons of Coals which is the seventh part of a Score, full Pay, and in that Chaldron, which was the last of the three, there was half a Bushel over and above four Fats of Coals; which they were forc'd to acknowledge upon their Oaths, at Guild-Hall, on the thirteenth Day of May, One thousand and seven hun­dred However their Spite was so great, that they told the People of the House, that there wanted three Bushels and a half of Mea­sure, and forewarn'd them to Pay me any Mony till they gave Orders: Afterwards, they went to Billinsgate, and raised a Crowd of Coal-Merchants about me, who call'd me Cheat; hoping thereby to impair my Credit in a Publick Market, and one of them offer'd to lay twenty Guinies, That that Chaldron of Coals, which was Measur'd in Chiswel-street, by the two City Measur­erers, was not Measure, nor Water-Measure: Whereupon, I took the Gentleman at his Word, and laid them twenty G [...]es, That [Page 6]the same Chaldron of Coals, which was Measur'd in Chiswel-street, was true Measure, and Water-Measure. However, in a few Hours after, they were sick of their Wager, and employ'd many of their Friends, to make up the Matter: But I reply'd, I was oblig'd in several respects to Vindicate my Measure and Re­putation, and to Expose the Gentlemen, with their Winking-mony to the Publick View of the City and Suburbs, that the People many observe how finely they are Imposed upon in these Affairs.

This Tryal I design (God willing) to bring on in Michael­mas-Term next ensuing Anno Dom. One thousand and seven hundred, to prove that I fell Measure, and Water-Measure. In the mean while for the satisfaction of the Publick, I shall explain in a few Words, what is meant by the Water-Measure, which is so term'd for these three principal Reasons: The first is, that every Fat and Bushel, before it is Seal'd, or becomes a Law­ful Standard-Measure, is Measur'd and gag'd by Water; every Coal Fat Containing Sixty six Gallons of Water, and every Coal-Bushel, Eight Gallons and one Quart of Water, neither more nor less. So that a Fat ought to Contain Nine Bushels, as you may read, in the Act of Parliament, for the five Shillings Duty on every Chaldron of Coals; and every Chaldron of Coals to Con­tain Thirty six Bushels; for a Fat is the fourth Part of a Chaldron. The Second reason is this, that the Coal-Fats and Bushels, are larger than those that are used in the Measuring of Grain: So that this is generally call'd Water-Measure, to Distinguish it from Water, and it is always used on the Water: So that I think every Person will, and of necessity must acknowledge, that the most proper Name that can be given it, is Water-Measure; if they will allow it any Name at all. As for Instance, is there not the same reason to impose that Name upon it, as to call a Man by his Christian Name, or to call a House or a Street, by the Name of the Founder of it; more especially, Considering, that this Measure has been known by that Name, time out of mind, and [Page 7]by the Coal-Merchants themselves; nay, they never use to call it by any other Name. But since they perceive, I am Resolv'd for a Tryal, they come in with a nonsensical Sham, much like the three-Penny Indictment, and tell you, that Water-Measure is full Pay; that is to say, the Chaldron of Coals that is given into the Score, and which is commonly call'd the Ingrain. Now to Ex­pose their Wisdom to the View of every Reasonable Person, I shall Confute them in their own Words. If one Chaldron be Water-Measure, is not the twentieth Chaldron the same, as long as they are all Measur'd by the same Fat? The Parliament makes no Difference between that Chaldron and any other, but only Declares, That every Chaldron of Coals which Contains thirty six Bushels, shall pay eight Pence Meetridge, and five Shillings to the King. For example, suppose the Master of a Ship is Disposed to give two or three Chaldrons into a Score, does that alter the Property of the Measure, or give the Measure its Name? But to come closer to the Matter, and to Confute their own Writings; he that is their Petty King has Printed a Book call'd the Coal-Dealers Companion, and there is not one of the whole Tribe, but follows the Rule of this Book in all Respects; which I must own is very useful, and the Scope of it is pertinent to my present purpose: For the Author tells you, that fourteen Chal­drons of Coals make two third Parts of a Score, full Pay; which they themselves acknowledge to be Water-Measure, as they call it; as also, that seven Chaldrons are one Third of a Score; five Chaldrons and a Fat, the fourth Part of a Score; three Chaldrons and two Fats, the sixth Part of a Score; and one Chal­dron and three Fats, the twelfth Part of a Score. Then they must unavoidably grant, that the three Chaldrons of Coals which I Sold and Deliver'd in Chiswel-street, were the seventh Part of a Score, and that the single Chaldron which they have Laid their twenty Guinies upon, is the One and twentieth Part of a Score; which is Water-Measure, according to their own Confession.

II.

These acute Gentlemen are pleas'd to tell you, that no Master of any Ship will deliver his Coals at my Wharf twice, by reason there is so much Danger, in the badness of the Ground, where they lie to Unload. This is so Notorious an Untruth, that few Words are needful in the Answering of it: For in the short time that I have Deliver'd Coals without the use of Lighters, or Porters Backing them, I have had Ships Deliver'd at my Wharf, four several times; with a desire to come to the same Place the next Voyage; there being no better Ground, for that purpose, in the River of Thames; which any Person may be satisfied in, with the viewing of it. For it has been Ship Carpenters Ways for ma­ny Years and Ships of great value come on those Ways upon other Occasions; and they never, as yet, receiv'd any Damage in the least: However, I could relate many sad Accidenas that have happen'd to several Vessels, when they have layn from the Shore in the River.

III.

They affirm, That I give more for my Coals, than they; by Reason of the Trouble there is in the bringing Vessels a shore. This looks so much like a Drowning Man's Catching hold of every Straw, that I cannot but Condole the Weakness of their Arguments: For can it be reasonably suppos'd, That any Master of a Ship, when he lies within sight of the Wharf, (as all Ships of five, six and seven Score of Coals do) can have much trou­ble in weighing his Anchor, and fastening a Rope a shore to bring the Vessel in: Which is Compleated in the space of an Hour, without any Charge in the least; more especially Consi­dering that I always Buy the whole Freight together, and give them a quick Dispatch?

As for instance, I have gone on Board a Ship of eighty eight Chaldrons of Coals in the Morning, and agreed for them. Then I having caus'd the Vessel be brought to my Wharf, and the En­gine [Page 9]to be fix'd, I have deliver'd the eighty eight Chaldrons into my Yard, taking the Engine away; paid the Master, so that the Ship has put off again to the same Place where she lay before; and done all in the space of twelve Hours, without the least Charge to the Master, who declar'd, It would be much more ex­pedient for his Owners and himself, to sell their Coals, six-Pence in a Chaldron cheaper to me; than to be at the trouble and Charge of going to Billinsgate, where they are oblig'd to wait two or three Days, till the Price is Fixt, and then to sell twenty Chaldrons to one, ten to another, and five to a third Person, and sometimes a smaller Quantity; and at last, to take a great deal of pains in Collecting the Mony, at so many several Places: Nay, tho the Coals are sold all at a set Price, and Lighters on board; nevertheless, if they happen to fall, the Master must look out for a new Custo­mer: But if they be upon a Rising Market; he must stand to his Bargain, or be threatned with a Law-suit: And often times, when the Coals are very good for the most Part, yet if they chance to Rise Small, for five or six Chaldrons together, the Buyers give them an ill Name, and Drop the Ship, till the Master is forc'd to abate of the Price which he had really Sold them for. I firmly believe, There is scarce any Master, who Trades to Newcastle, but knows this to be too true, by his own Experience, some time or another.

Moreover, if any Persons will give themselves the trouble, I will make it appear, by the Masters Receipts, That I have fre­quently bought my Coals a Groat, and Six-pence in a Chaldron cheaper than the Market-price; considering the goodness of the Coals: And I do solemnly protest, I never gave a bove the Mar­ket-price; excepting the first Ship that I deliver'd, which was Three-pence in the Chaldron; by reason, I could not promise the Master when I could Discharge him, for it was to try the Experi­ment.

IV.

They give it out, That I cannot deliver above twenty Chal­drons in a Day. One would be apt to believe, That these Gen­tlemen [Page 10]have laid a great Wager amongst themselves, who should tell the unlikeliest Story: When at the same time, they know, that I can, and have Deliver'd ten Chaldrons of Coals in the space of an Hour, for eleven or twelve Hours together; and will En­gage my self under any Penalty, to Deliver One hundred and twenty Chaldrons between Sun and Sun.

V.

They insinuate, That the Engine I Deliver these Coals by, is only a Cart with two Wheels. Now to shew the vanity of this, as well as of all the rest of their false Reports; I shall here give a particular Description of my Engine, with the Method of using it. At first I lower'd my Wharf about two Foot, and Planck't it the whole breadth: Then I caused two Rows of Planks of One hundred and sixty Foot in Length to be laid, as also a Ground-Plot in the River, about sixteen or eighteen Foot from the Wharf, with two Mortises and four Iron-loops: Now there are two upright Pieces about ten Foot high, two Tenons, four Iron-hooks, four Plates of Iron full of Holes, with two Iron-pins and Chains, and these are fixt in the aforesaid Plate: There is also a Cross-beam with two Mortises bound round with two Iron-Plates, and these Mortises are put into the upright Pieces with two Braces: To these are added four small Beams eighteen Foot in length, with Irons and Large Mortises at one end; which are put over the Cross-beam, and the other end is Pinn'd to the Wharf: Then they are cover'd like a Plat-form, and fenc'd with Rails on each side; but it ought to be observ'd, That the whole Frame may be Raised higher or lower, as Occasion requires. Besides this, there is ano­ther Platform of the nature of a Bridge, twenty two Foot long, and six Foot broad; with Rails on each side, and three great Chains at one end: These Chains are hung to the Ship, and in the other end, lye on the Cross-beam above describ'd, so that this Fabrick is in Motion with the Ship or Vessel; for as she rises and falls, comes nearer to the Wharf, or goes farther into the River, or goes a Head or a Stern, it is in a continual Motion as the Vessel it self, without any manner of trouble. For sometimes [Page 11]the Ship is within ten, fifteen, or twenty Foot of the Wharf, at o­ther times as far again; and yet the Work is not hindred. Lastly, there are two Boxes running on Coach-wheels, which hold a Fat of Coals each, and serve to convey them from the Ship into the Yard: To conclude, every thing is so order'd, that the whole Engine may be remov'd in the space of a quarter of an Hour, and this is a true Description of it in every Particular, which any Person may see for further satisfaction.

VI.

These Gentlemen avouch, That they give as good Measure as I, which Assertion is so Notoriously untrue, that it scarce Deserves the trouble of Answering: For none can be Ignorant of their Making three, four, or five and twenty Chaldrons of Coals out of a Score; as may appear to every Man's natural Reason. For Example, when Coals are at twenty Shilling per Chaldron in the Pool, they un­dertake to send them in at three and twenty Shillings a Chaldron; and so let them be at what Price they will, they'll Deliver them into your Houses, for three Shillings a Chaldron besides the Prime Cost of the Coals. If these Gentlemen are so very honest as they pretend, they must needs have the Philosophers stone to turn Coals into Silver: For can it be believ'd, that they can live on the Air? Since most of them pay Sixty, Seventy, Eighty, or a Hundred pounds a Year Rent, and keep one or two Clerks; allow­ing them forty, or fifty pounds a Year each, besides all Expences, which are very considerable. Neither can it be supposed, That they keep their Houses with all Conveniences, for less than One hundred pounds per Annum; besides their own Publick and Pri­vate Expences: And if they are Men of any considerable Business in the World, what by the loss of Horses, and bad Debts; they must needs sustain very great Damages: For some of them have freely own'd to me, they have lost One hundred pounds in some Years by Horses, with One hundred and fifty pounds a Year in bad Debts; nevertheless these Men live, and get good Estates, and are willing to Pass off the Stage for honest Dealers: Besides all this Charge I have summ'd up out of their three Shillings in a [Page 12]Chaldron, there are many more Expences to be defray'd out of it; viz. eight Pence per Chaldron for Meetridge, nine Pence per Chaldron Lighterage, (nay some give twelve Pence) and six Pence to the Porters that load the Carts: If they hire Carts, they must give two Shillings, or two Shillings and six Pence per Chal­dron for the Carriage of them, and if they keep Teams of their own, what with the Charge of maintaining Horses and paying the Farrier, Collar-maker, Wheel-wright, and the Carman's Wa­ges, with their being often out of work, they cannot be at less Expence than is above specify'd.

After all this, they make a great Noise about the largeness of their Measure, which is so palpable a Contradiction, that I Chal­lenge the whole Combination, to make it appear to the World, by Reason, and one good Argument, That they do, or ever did give every Man his full Measure, for three Shillings, besides the Prime Cost of the Coals, and the Advantage of one Chaldron in twenty, which makes four Shillings. Upon the whole, if they cannot make it out, then all People may plainly see where the Cheat is, and how they have been so long Imposed upon in the Measure of their Coals.

VII.

To touch our just Dealers to the Quick; they are all sensible, that the main Reason of Casting so many Reflections on me, is this: Because I deliver my Coals, without the use of Lighters, or Porters backing them, and give every Man his full due; which is so great a Contravention to their Way of Dealing, that they are afraid of being Intercepted in their former Method: So that they Judg'd it the Highest Pitch of Wisdom, to Cry out Cheat first; just like common Shop-lifts, Cry out, Stop Thief; hoping by that means to make their Escape: So these Gentlemen would fain have perswaded the World, That all the sinister Tricks and Cheats in the Coal-trade were Acted at no other Place, but at Execution-Dock: And yet none of these Men can produce any one single Instance, that any one Chaldron, or Load of Coals [Page 13]went out of my Yard, less than full Measure, ever since I kept a Wharf, with the Ingrain when ever I agreed for it: On the contrary, I always allow'd the same Measure that I receiv'd my self from on board the Fleet.

VIII.

The Combiners perceiving, that all their Attempts hither to prov'd fruitless, thought fit to call a General Council to Consult what was fit further to be done in the Matter, and after a great Debate, during which many Things were proposed; at last, they came to a Resolution. For having intelligence, That I was in a great hurry of Business, and was Oblig'd to employ a poor Man to drive one of the Carts, who was not used to the Measuring of Coals; they doubted not, but by this Opportunity to compass their unjust Designs. At last a Farrier near Bishopsgate, was Pitcht upon, as the Vanguard for this glorious Atchievment: He Receives his Commission, with a wish of good Success, and his Orders were as follows, viz. to go to the Wharf at the Hermetage-Bridge, and to bespeak a Load of Coals to be brought to the Farrier's House, about twelve or one a Clock. They being ac­quainted with the Design, muster up a set of Large Sacks, which I really believe, had not seen the Sun, for several Months; at the same time giving the Men a strict Charge to Sack them up, with all the might imaginable: This done, they send them to the Far­rier's House; where G-'s Son-in-Law, who Measur'd my Coals in Chiswell-street, and one of them that was Disappointed of the Winking-mony, came and Measur'd his Father's Coals in an open Yard, in the presence of many People; and they hold out good Measure, rather over than under. Then the Farrier came mounted on the Back of one of his Patients, to my Wharf, with a great many Entreaties, that I would not fail to send a Load of Coals to his House, precisely by two a Clock. I gave Orders for the Measuring of them, and sent them accord­ingly, by the aforsaid Porter. They were no sooner brought, but Mr. G.'s Son-in-Law who gave his Attendance, order'd the Porter to shoot them on the Pavement: This done, he Com­mands [Page 14]him to fill every Bushel, and when the same Porter had laid on as many as he could; he took the Shovel, and heap'd up as many more, on every Bushel, as he possibly could; hoping by that means, that there might have wanted two or three Bu­shels: But in the Conclusion of the Matter, after the Measuring of the Coals in my Yard; notwithstanding the Jolting of them in the Cart, and what might drop out of the Sacks by the way, or be lost in Shooting them on the Pavement, and the Mea­suring of them, after such a manner as they did; there wanted but a poor Peck and a half of Coals, which at most, cannot be Computed at above three Pence. This Accident put the whole Council to a Non-plus, and another Council was soon call'd; wherein great Disputes Arose: Some were of the Opinion, that if they made any Words about it, it might tend more to their disadvantage, and therefore thought it more advisable to wait for a fairer Opportunity. However, in general they Concluded, That somewhat ought to be attempted, now or never; judging it requisite to give it out, That there wanted six or seven Bushels, and that I was one of the greatest Cheats in the World. To colour the Matter, they gave me a Summons to appear before my Lord Mayor; which I did accordingly: Whereupon the Farrier and G-'s Son-in-Law gave their Oaths, That there wanted a Peck and half. My Lord Reply'd, That Coals would waste in the Mea­suring, and there might be some Spilt out of the Sacks by the Way. This prudent Answer could not Appease their Wrath, but they would needs have me bound over to the next Sessions, so that in less than the space of forty eight Hours, the News was spread abroad throughout the greatest Part of the City and Suburbs, That they had twenty Indictments against me, and they would not be in my Condition, for a hundred Pounds. Thus being oblig'd to vindicate my Reputation, after to many invidious Reflections, and scandulous Aspersions had been cast upon me; I resolv'd to joyn Issue with them, and to stand the Tryal; which came on accordingly on the thirteenth Day of May, One thousand and seven hundred.

I.

I Think it is very plain, That I live near Execution-Dock, and as plain, that any Person who has occasion, may be supply'd with any sorts of Faggots, Billets, Bavins, &c.

II. As for the best of Sea Coals, there are hundreds of Families that will testify, they never burnt better, and as many who will readily give their Oaths, That they have seen their Coals Mea­sur'd out of the Ship; and that they have Receiv'd as many Coals, as ever they used to have out of any other Vessel; and have paid no more for them than the Price such Coals went for in the Pool.

III. It is evident, That the Fleet lyes so near my Wharf, that I may Discourse with some of the Masters from thence, and go on board the farthest of the Vessels, in a few Minutes: Then it fol­lows, that I have an Opportunity of Choosing any Ship of Coals, before any other Person; and such Coals as will give my Custo­mers satisfaction.

IV. I think it is as certain, That every one is freed from the Charge of Lighters, and the trouble of waiting for Tides, by the Engine I have Invented, of which I have elsewhere given a large [Page 29]Description; shewing how great a quantity of Coals it will De­liver in a Day, for twenty Shillings Charge; which will cost all other Persons ten Pounds to bring them into their Yards, or Ware-houses. As for Instance, the Brewer, who lives next door to me, nay nearer to the Water-side than I do, gives one Shilling a Chaldron Lighterage, and one Shilling a Chaldron to the Porters that carry them: So that every hundred Chaldrons of Coals that he Consumes, Costs him in Lighters and Porters backing them, Ten Pounds. Another Brewer, who lives at a little farther distance from me, gives for Lighters and Porters carrying them, fifteen Pounds sixteen Shillings and eight Pence, for every hundred Chal­drons so Deliver'd in: Nay, most of the great Dealers in Coals at Fleet-Bridge, give one Shilling Lighterage, three Pence Whar­fage, and nine Pence to the Porters that load their Carts, with­out laying them up in their Ware-houses.

V. It is Apparently manifest to the sight of all Men, who have, or may give themselves the trouble of viewing my Engine, or of Inventing any other of the like Nature, That it cannot be of any Use, or Advantage to any Person elsewhere; by reason of the Largness of my Ware house for the stowing of Coals, with many other Conveniences too tedious to be recited in this small Tract: Nor indeed, is there any occasion for it, in regard that thousands of People have Declar'd, That there are not such Con­veniences, any where else in London, nor such a spacious Ware­house in England, being large enough to hold three thousand Chaldrons of Coals.

VI. It cannot reasonably be deny'd, but any Persons may be furnish'd with what Quantity they shall have occasion for.

VII. Come we now to plain ocular Demonstration; so that no Man can, or will be perswaded from what he sees with his own Eyes: For all may have the Liberty that desire it, and are pleased to give themselves the Trouble of coming down, or send­ing their Friends, or Servants, to see that they have the true. Water-Measure, and the Ingrain with it; by standing on the Wharf, and seeing their Coals Measur'd out of the Ship, into the Fat, by a Sworn Meeter, then loaded into Carts, and Immedi­ately carry'd to their respective Dwellings, with the Ingrain as [Page 30]is usual. This Method has given such a general satisfaction, that it has gain'd five hundred Customers, more especially consider­ing all other Charges are so Reasonable; which any Person may be satisfi [...]d in the truth of, by the looking over my Account-Books: And none can deny, but that I Constantly deliver four­teen Sacks in every Chaldron, and such Sacks as are generally used at other Places; which my Servants can give their Affida­vits of, as well as the Party that sells the same Sacks: For I never had any made of a lesser size for my Use, and these are always fill'd to the utmost Extent. However the stress of the matter, does not lye so much on the dimonsions of the Sacks; but respect ought always to be had to the largeness of the Measure.

Now to shew how two Shillings may be sav'd in every Chal­dron: I shall soon make it appear to all Persons of S [...]nse, if they'll be pleased to consider the following Particulars. First then, is it not a great satisfaction to every Man to have his full Weight and Measure? In the next place, Would not most People choose ra­ther to give somewhat more to be certainly assur'd, that they have their full Due; than to have some small matter abated, and be at an uncertainty? To make this Argument plain, I have prov'd by undoubted Testimonies, that I deliver every Man his full Due, and allow all Persons the same Measure that I receive my self. Nay I challange any one that keeps a Wharf, to prove by as many Witnesses and good Arguments as I have done, that he has Acted conformably to the same Method at all times: Not but that I will grant, the Wharfingers may give as good Measure as they receive themselves, if they get a Price accordingly: And thus much I further believe, and know to be true of them, that for the Honor of their Wharfs, and in hopes of doing me a Dis­kindness, they will let a Customer have Water-Measure at their usual Price; tho they lose two Shillings by the Bargain; hoping by this means to perswade the Ignorant, that they do so at all other times. But I have already made it appear, according to every Man's Reason, that they cannot defray their Charges, and get Estates by losing Mony out of Pocket, or by felling cheaper than what their Goods lye them in, considering the great Expan­ces they are as.

However, it ought to be observ'd, That I have nothing to Charge the Lighter-Men with, concerning their Trade; for I firmly believe, in the general, they give every Man the same Measure they receive themselves: Neither will I condemn all those that keep Wharfs; for I am perswaded, that some few of them are Men of Justice and Honesty: So that what they do, is more out of Custom than Choice, and I have this Assurance from some of them, That they design to follow my Method; that is to say, to take their Price, and give every Man his full Due at all times. And indeed, altho the Combination may blame them; yet all the Malice of the Winkers, and the Gentlemen with their Three penny Indictments, can never shame them in the End.

Now to come to the Point of saving two Shillings in the Chal­dron, I grant, I have something more, than what is usual at other Wharfs; but in consideration thereof, I give every Man his full Due, and in so doing, I am Assur'd, that every one who buys of me, is a considerable Gainer: For I will give at any time, three Shillings and Six-pence, or four Shillings, for any two Sacks of Coals, before they go out of my Yard, and yet they shall have twelve Sacks remaining and as good Measure, as has been sold at some places for a Chaldron. For Example, if any Persons would give themselves the trouble, to look into the Records at Westminster, Hicks's-Hall, and Guild-Hall, of all the Indictments, Tryals, Fines and Cheats that have been transacted in the Coal­trade, they'll soon be convinc'd, That it would be more expedient for them to give two Shillings more in Mony for a Chaldron of Coals, and have their full Due; than to be Cheated out of three or four Shillings.

In the mean while, I would desire the Combination, First, to give me an Account, how many Chaldrons of Coals generally they make out of a Score; and who it was that sold no more then Eighty Chaldrons of Coals for a Hundred, to Alderman Lewin's Glass-house at Ratelif-Cross?

II. Who it was that deliver'd no more than fifteen Chaldrons three Fats of Coals, at the Devel-Tavern in Fleet-street, for one and and twenty Chaldrons?

III. To declare, who he was that Cheated a certain Lord out of so great a quantity of Coals; insomuch that he was Oblig'd to give the said Lord twenty Guines to pass it by; which said twenty Guinies were honourably given to the Poor of the Parish, by the said Lord's Appointment?

IV. To let the World know, who it was, that sent no more than thirty Bushels for a Chaldron to a Pastrey-Cook's, almost over against Shoreditch Church; and whose Coals were those that were Measur'd by one Davis a Meeter, when there wanted six Bushels?

V. Whose Coals were those, that were Measur'd in White-Chap­pel, by Order of the Court-Leet, when a Tobacconist, who lives near St. John's Church in Wapping was on the Jury; and there wanted four Bushels and half in a Chaldron?

VI. I would willingly know, whose Coals were those, that were Measur'd at Guild-Hall, where there wanted three Bushels in half a Chaldron, and the Coals were seiz'd on for the Use of the Poor. Let those Gentlemen give me a direct: Answer to these few Questi­ons, besides several others that I know of, and a great many more that are unknown to me; and in so doing, they'll extremely oblige their humble Servant, C. P.

Now I think I have made it as manifest as the Sun at the Me­ridian, that every Man, who deals with me, saves Considerably: But to make the matter still more plain to the meanest Capaciaty: I have prov'd by several Evidences, That the Bushel I ever sold by is bigger than the Fat, and I have likewise prov'd, that the Bush­el was always well fill'd by my Servants: So that every Chaldron of Coals that I have sold, has contain'd a Bushel and half or two Bushels, more than it ought; which is above the Ingrain that belongs to any one Chaldron: I have also often given the Ingrain, notwithstanding the largeness of my Bushel.

Moreover to prevent all Objections, we will suppose, that some Rubbish-Coals may be sold some small matter cheaper than mine, and the same Measure, the Ingrain only Excepted, which none of them pretends to give: Yet had not every Person much rather give a Shilling or two more, and conclude, that two Shillings are sav'd by the Bargain? For what can be a greater Inconvenience to any [Page 33]Family, than bad Coals, especially in the Winter? And every one knows, there is a great deal of Difference in the Price, between the Best and the Worst.

It remains only to shew, That I have at all times the best Coals that Mony can purchase, which appears from hence, that among all the Families I serv'd the last Year, there are not five of them, but came again, or promised to come, this; a plain De­monstration, that I serv'd them with the best of Coals: More especially, by reason that I buy the whole Freight, and always deal in small Shipping; which every body will own to have ge­nerally the best Coals; for they can go to Sunderland, and other Places, where great Shipping cannot come: So that I hope, I have plainly Demonstrated to all unbiassed Persons, That partly in the Largness of the Measure, and partly in the goodness of the Coals, two Shillings is sav'd: I shall Explain the rest in a few Words.

As for the Frieghting of Ships upon my own Account, I think it is very apparent, by several Vessels that are actually set out, from time to time, on my particular Account: And for what relates to Persons, who take their Coals out of the Yard, I have prov'd by my Servants, that my Mearsure is as big or bigger than the Fat: So that it is evident, That they have as good Measure out of the Yard, as they receive on board the Fleet: And instead of having a Fellowship-Porter, I have a Sworn Meeter a-shore, to receive the Coals from the Meeter on Board: So that upon the whole, all Persons may certainly be Assur'd of having their full Due, and I presume none will Question the Possibility of having Coals when they are sent for. To Conclude, most People know, That I make but one Price with all my Customers; neither can they doubt but my Clerks are most proper to wait on them upon such Occasions.

As to the last Article about ready Mony, 'tis plain, I do expect it upon the delivery of the Coals, and for what relates to those worthy Gentlemen, who have thought fit to be Concern'd with me, their under-written Names, are an undeniable Proof of the matter of Fact; besides the Sum of Mony that is actually raised, for the carrying on of the present Undertaking.

I doubt not, but what has been deliver'd, will be judg'd a suf­ficient Explication of my Advertisement, the Publishing of which has so much exasperated my Adversaries against me, and a satis­factory Vindication of my own Integrity.

I.

NOt long since, a Linnen-Draper came to me, out of Fleet-street, next Door to the Horn-Tavern, and bespoke five Chaldrons of Coals: As soon as the first Load was carry'd, there appear'd a certain Person from a Wharf, attended with two Offi­cers, and Measur'd two Sacks of my Coals. The Linnen-Draper de­sir'd them to Measure a whole Chaldron, which they refused to do; telling him it was all a Cheat, and that there wanted six or seven Bushels in a Chaldron; fore-warning him to pay me any Mony at his Peril, till he heard from them; and assuring him at the same time, that they would give as good Measure, for twenty three Shillings a Chaldron, as he gave me twenty five for. Whereupon, I thought it most proper, to make an Example of the Spark, who pretended to belong to the Wharf: Accordingly, I went to him, and requir'd him to put in Bail to my Action; but mistrusting the justice of his Cause, he used many Entreaties; Disowning every Word that he had said; laying the Blame on the two Officers; promising in the presence of the Linnen-Dra­per, he would be an Evidence against the Officers; and Declar­ing, that it was done out of Spite, on purpose to ruin my Trade I went to the two Officers, requiring them likewise to put in Bail to my Action; for all the Fault was now imputed to their Con­duct. They seem'd to be much surprised, and Disown'd every Thing they said or did; transferring the Blame on the aforesaid Person. However, I brought them before the Linnen-Draper and his Man, who plainly prov'd Matter of Fact on them. How­ever, after many Entreaties, and owning their Misdemeanours, [Page 35]before the Linnen-Draper, with an ingenuous Confession, that it was meerly done out of Spite, and a promise of Amendment, for the future, I withdrew both my Actions, and forgave them. For the Linnen-Draper declar'd, according to the best of his judgment, he had as many Coals of me in four bare Chaldrons, as ever he used to have at any other Place, for four Chaldrons and half; besides the Fat that he receiv'd as the Ingrain, in the five Chaldrons.

II.

Mrs. Woodman, who keeps a Distillers Shop in the Minories, next door to the Sun dial, having desir'd me to send her in three Chaldrons of Coals, which is the seventh part of a Score, full Pay, and Water-Measure, even according to the acknowledgment of the most rigid of my Adversaries: My Servants Measur'd the same Quantity, and convey'd them to her House, in three several Carts; but as soon as one half of them was deliver'd, two Gen­tlemen appear'd, with a Bushel, one of whom is a Warden of a certain Company, and the other a considerable Dealer in Coals; the first Letters of their Names being R. E. and T. G. Indeed, they make no small Figure in the World, and (as I am apt to believe) are sufficiently blessed with the Earthly Mammon. However, the Condescension of these two rich Dons was so great, that they took upon them the drudgery of Measuring four Sacks of my Coals, in the second Chaldron: In the mean while, my Servant John Snow, desir'd them to Measure the whole Chaldron, alledg­ing, that otherwise they could not possibly do justice to both Par­ties: But taking no notice of this Admonition, they perempto­rily declar'd to Mrs. Woodman, that there wanted above two Bush­els of Coals, in the four Sacks, and consequently, that seven Bush­els were wanting in every Chaldron; reckoning fourteen Sacks to the Chaldron. Nay one of them told this Gentlewoman in my hearing, That if she would Indict me, they would readily take their Oaths before a Magistrate, to confirm the Truth of their Assertion. Whereupon perceiving, I had to do with two Knights of the Post; I sent to the Meeters-Office for a Measure and three [Page 36]Sworn Meeters, who having actually Measur'd the said Coals, on the second Day of August, One thousand and Seven hundred, there were three Pecks over Measure; to the extreme Mortifi­cation of the above mention'd haughty Gentlemen, the Air of whose Countenance is now quite chang'd; so that they hold down their Heads, and lowr like a couple of Irish Evidences just a going to lose their Ears: Altho the Day before, they boldly de­clar'd, in the presence of several Persons, That their Flesh trem­bl'd within them to see how I had Cheated Mrs. Woodman, in the Measure of her Coals, and upon what they had said to her, she refused to take in the third Chaldron.

Here follows the Declaration of three Sworn Meeters relating to this Affair.

On the second Day of August, One thousand and Seven hundred, we Measur'd two Chaldrons of Mr. Povey's Coals, at Mrs. Wood­man's in the Minories; as to which two Chaldrons, we heard T. G. affirm, That he would take his Oath, there wanted above two Bush­els of Coals in four Sacks, according to his Way of Measuring them: On the contrary, we are all ready to make our Corporal Oaths, before a Master in Chancery, That there were two complete Chaldrons, with three Pecks over and above: And we further declare, That the said Coals were Measur'd without any Collusion, Fraud, or Deceit in the least, and that three Chaldrons of Coals, are the se­venth part of a Score, full Pay, as also, That one Chaldron is the One and twentieth part of a Score, commonly call'd Water-Mea­sure.

• John Cleavely Sworn Meeters to the City.
• John Davis Sworn Meeters to the City.
• Samuel Barnes Sworn Meeters to the City.

III.

My over-industrious Adversaries, use their utmost Endeavours to perswade the Masters of Vessels, That they lose a Chaldron of Coals in every Score, by Measuring them at my Wharf; which is so absurd and extravagant an Asseveration, that it would seem much rather to have been utter'd by a Buffoon on a Stage, or a [Page 37]Lyer in the Stocks, than by a Coal-Merchant at Billinsgate: For can it be reasonably supposed, That a Fat is capable of holding more at my Wharf, than it is at any other Place? Or would they induce the World to believe, That the Meeters-Office keeps a particular Fat, for my Use; or that Execution-Dock has an irre­sitible Charm, to oblige the Meeters to break the Sacred Oaths, by which they are bound to do justice, between Buyer and Sel­ler?

But if the above-specify'd Assertion holds good, viz. That I have larger Measure, than any other Dealer in the Coal-trade; then it is evident, That all Persons have a doubleAdvantage, in dealing with me: For instead of making twenty one Chaldrons out of every Score; they are sure of receiving Twenty two, from me, whenever they see them Measur'd out of the Ship; as many or most doe, who take any considerable Quantity: So that of Necessity, they must wave this Argument, or else all their Cu­stomers will come to Execution-Dock.

NOw if such Things as these, are allow'd of and encourag'd, no Man Living can be safe, but is liable to be ruin'd in his Trade and Reputation, at the Pleasure of every desperate Vil­lain; especially by such proceedings, as the Three-penny Indict­ment. For Example, suppose a notorious Rogue, or any other Malicious Person should come to a Maulster, whom he has a Spleen against, or send a third Person to Buy two or three Quarters of Mault; with Instructions to convey them to a certain Place: The Maulster being ignorant of their Treachery, orders his Ser­vants to Measure the same, according to the aforesaid Directions. Whereupon, notwithstanding the Mault was deliver'd full Mea­sure from his House; partly thro the treachery of a Secret Ene­my, and partly by the Waste that may happen in the Grain, a Peck and half, or half a Bushel of Measure is wanting, upon the delivery at the Place appointed. So likewise, if a Brewer should deliver a full Barrel of Beer to his Servants; nevertheless, by the Jolting of the Dray, it might want a Pint, or a Quart of being [Page 38]full, when brought to the Victualler; which every body knows, cannot be prevented, and many other Instances of the like Na­ture, might be easily produc'd: I say if these Things are allow'd, every Man is as liable to be ruin'd by the Breath of a spiteful Miscreant, as he may be by Devouring Flames, or a Rogue that Riffles him of his Substance: Nay the Case is worse than either of these; for he may recover a Loss by Fire, by the Charity of well disposed People; or peradventure he may Apprehend the Villain, and Regain his Substance: But when he is once depriv'd of his Trade and Credit, and perhaps without the least Provoca­tion, by a set of prosligate Wretches, it is a thousand to one, whe­ther ever he be able to retrieve it to his Dying Day.

Many Judicious Persons are apt to believe, That the next Age will surpass this, in Villany, Perjury, and Malicious Slanders; but I am of the Contrary Opinion: For what Age ever did, or can out-do this in Subtil Devices, Perfidiousness, and all manner of sinister Practices; especially in such Instances as I have been treating of? What would a Turk, a Jew or Heathen take Men to be, if they should hear of a Three-penny Indictment, carry'd on by a Combi­nation of Men under the Colour of Justice, that never used any themselves; but instead of that, are Recorded for the worst of Actions, that can be committed in the way of Trade? What would they think, if they were to see twelve Men Sworn by a Soveraign Prince, to do Justice, to the best of their Knowledge, and according to the Evidence given; and at the same time, Act­ing quite Contrary in all Respects: I am perswaded, they would Conclude, That it was a Combination of Men, that had met with some Person or other, who gave them a Check in the full Career of their fraudulent Dealing: And since no Matter of Fact, could be prov'd against him, they devised a counterfeit Cheat, to impair the Reputation of such an over-bold Opposer. And as for the Jury, they would take them to be Men depriv'd of their Sen­ses, or Persons of debauch'd Principles, disbelieving a future State: Or at the best, Conclude, That some of the Combination, with several of their Agents, were Impannell'd with them, with a Resolution of defending their bad Old Cause against all man­ner of Opposition, whatever it might cost them, even to the [Page 39]making Shipwrack of a good Conscience in this World, and to the hazard of their everlasting Happiness hereafter.

I doubt not but in a few Years, the great Council of the Nation, will consider it among their most serious Debates, so as to impower the Gentlemen of the Meeters-Office with the same Prerogative, and Management of the Coal-trade a-shore, which they have on board the Fleet, in the Pool: Then a stop will be effectually put to the Lawless and exorbitant Demands of the Quarterly Winking-mony: Then the thirty Bushels instead of a Chaldron, will be absolutely laid aside; and all Persons will have the same Mea­sure a-shore, as they now Receive on board the Fleet: In short, when Matters are so regulated, one of the main Oppressions of the disconsolate Widows and Orphans of this populous City, will quite cease, and they'll no longer have any cause to Complain, for want of their due Measure in Coals.

Among many other subtil Contrivances, my industrious Ad­versaries thought fit to give it out, That they had a Tract in the Press call'd, An Answer to Povey's Advertisement concerning his Method of selling Coals; but this proves as false as all the rest of their notorious Slanders. However I now peremptorily Chal­lenge the wisest of them all, nay the whole Combination together, to give such an Answer to the Contents of this small Tract, as shall be reputed Satisfactory, by any Competent and impartial Judges whatsoever, or to produce any authentick Evidences, or solid Reasons and Arguments for the making good their Allega­tions, and the heavy Charge, they have brought against me.

If they can do this I shall readily submit to the severest Cen­sure of the World; but if they refuse, then it will appear, That what I have writ, is plain matter of Fact.

To conclude, let those Catch-poles who were Disappointed of their Winking-mony, be transported with Spleen and Passion; let them Swear, It is a Cheat to be Just, and Just, to Cheat; let them Commence a New Indictment, upon a pretended Cheat of their own Contrivance: Let twelve Men be summon'd to give their Verdict in a Three-penny Sham; let them slight the Charge [Page 40]of a Just Judge, and the Checks of their own Consciences; let them break the inviolable Oaths of doing Justice between Man and Man: Nay let the whole Combination unite themselves in a stricter League than ever; let them Cheat and Defraud, and endeavour to perswade People, out of their own Natural Reason; let their Fury be raised to the highest Pitch of Spite and Envy: Nay let them disturb the Repose of Civil Society, with the false Alarms of an imaginary Cheat, that was never transacted, nor so much as thought of, but only proceeded from the rancour of their own corrupt Hearts: Let them Sweat and Run from House to House; discovering the Vanity of their own distemper'd Brains, by the Venom of a Spiteful Tongue: Nevertheless, in the midst of all this Hurry and Noise, I'll Steer on my Course, in the Channel of Truth and Justice. And tho at any time the Flouds of Wrong and Oppression, augmented with the Spring-tides of Spite and Envy, may for a while intercept my Steady Course, and retard my intended Voyage thro a Stream of uninterrupted Calmness: Yet I have this assurance, That I shall be assisted with the fresh Gales of a quiet Mind. and at last, arrive in a safe Harbour; where the swelling Tides of Perjury and Oppression, will Ebb in the Streams of a silent Calm.