'TIS a good Maxime, No Man ought to be wiser than the Law; yet 'tis hop'd what tends to publique advantage, may with modesty, and due submission to Authority, be offered to consideration, especially in such Parti­culars not yet determined by Law, but additionally adapted to present Emergencies.

1. The first Riches of a Nation is the Multitude of its Inhabitants; The next Care, is by good Educati­on, and strict Laws, to keep and enure them all to Labour, Frugality, and Industry;—I will not un­dertake, because I fear 'tis but charming a deaf Ad­der, to perswade some City Shop-keepers and ordina­ry Tradesmen out of their fancy, That the more there are of their way of dealing (Caeteris paribus) the worse it is for them: But let them but look into the Sub­urbs [Page 4](if they never were in Holland) and examine whether it be not true, That where there are a Mul­titude of People, there the Consumption is augment­ed, and every one makes business for his Neighbour; where there is best choice, flock most Buyers. Since Wars, Pestilence, and especially Plantations abroad, have much drain'd away our People, I submit it whe­ther the prudence of the present, or after Ages, may not think an Act of Endenization convenient for encouragement of foreign Artificers, &c. to coha­bit amongst us. This I am pretty confident, it will at present not be unnecessary to suppress the numerous Swarms of Beggars and Vagrants which in all parts abound, to the vast scandal, detriment, and danger of the Nation, notwithstanding the wholsome Sta­tutes heretofore made; to acutate and enliven which with execution, a competent reward for every Per­son that shall apprehend such sturdy Vagrant, and bring him, or her, to the Officer of the Parish, where taken, may perhaps not be unuseful.

2. When in any Nation Commodities are Imported to a greater value than what are Exported, Impove­rishment seems unavoidable, for then our ready Money must go out to even the Ballance; whence it appears a Kingdom may be in as much danger by a great Trade ill managed, as by too little; it seems therefore proposable that special care be taken to im­prove Commodities of our own growth and Manu­facture, and restrain the bringing in of superfluities and unnecessaries.

3. Hence 'tis considerable, whether the vast quanti­ty of Linen Cloth now purchased abroad might not [Page 5]be spared, and a sufficient supply raised at home, by encouraging the growth of Hemp, and Flax, &c. which will not only raise the Rents of our Lands, but also continually set at work thousands of idle hands (especially of Women and Children, our greatest burthen;) To which I know not why we may not add, The sparing (at least in a great degree) of French Wine, by promoting Sider (altogether as pleasant, and possibly more wholsome and agreeable to English Bodies) in its stead.

4. To keep our Money from crossing the Sea, I acknowledge there are excellent Laws provided, how well observed I shall not say, only add, That 'tis the opinion of many sober and observing Men, that the end will scarce ever be attained, unless it be made Mens Interest as well as Duty, not to Export it; To which purpose an Expedient was offered about two years since in Print, by R. Haynes of Sullington in Sussex: Printed for Major Brooks in Cornhill, lately de­ceased; To which I refer the inquisitive.

5. If scarcity of Money be objected as the grand hindrance of Trade amongst us, and cannot be sup­pl'yd by such Expedient, there want not means other­wise to raise credit that may answer that End: To this purpose the late Lumbard at Devonshire-house was Erected, and in pursuance thereof, only alter­ing the Vesting of it in the Chamber of London, from private hands Proposals have since been made.

‘That the Chamber of London Erect an Office, with convenient Ware-houses and Storage for Goods of all sorts, furnisht with Officers as well responsible in regard of Estate, as skilful in valuing [Page 6]and keeping such Commodities, and the Accounts thereof. Upon the bringing in of Goods into which Office, Bills of Credit may be advanc'd to two Thirds, three Fourths, or upwards, according to their Na­ture; And the same being apprais'd, mark'd, and a Bill of Sale Registred for the Offices security; the Goods are entred Debtor, the Deliverer Creditor, who may have a Bill of Credit payable at seven Months, more or less, as the Goods are more or less perishable, allowing Three per Cent. which Credit he may (as his occasions require) write off to any that he is, or shall be indebted unto; and has liberty at his pleasure, to see and sell such Goods; which being done, before removal, he satisfies the Office: or if not redeem'd in the limited time, they are sold by Inch of Candle, and the over-plus re­turn'd, &c. Nor need I spend time to shew how these Bills of Credit may be transferr'd from one to another, and serve to all intents, as well as Money, in considerable Commerce amongst us, none ha­ving reason to refuse or distrust such Security, since 'tis built upon a real Found deposited in safe hands, as aforesaid.’

Many other lesser Offices of the same nature might be set up in every City, to furnish the Poor with Cre­dit (or Money in some cases) on their Wares or Goods, whereby their ruine by unconscionable Bro­kers, Tally-men, &c. would be prevented.

6. 'Tis sad to consider, what vexations Poor Peo­ple in the Suburbs of this City undergo, by means of unjust and trivial Arrests; how many hundreds are thereby yearly ruined, and their Families brought [Page 7]to Parish maintenance; which within the Franchise of London is avoided, by that excellent Court establisht by King James P. M. deservedly call'd The Court of Conscience; Judicatures of which kind might be as easily Erected in the Suburbs, where they are more necessary, by reason of greater Confluence there, of People mean and indigent.

7. The whole Business of Arrests and Imprison­ment for Debt (at least by Capias before Judgment) deserves Consideration, if not Regulation; This is certain, From the beginning it was not so; Nor shall I dispute what our Ancestors did to make Trusting Fools wise, or Ticking Knaves honest; However the present Course seems a little Incongruous.

1. In Nature, consequently in Law: Nothing be­ing distrainable but what can satisfie, which must be an Estate either in Land or Goods; for the Body is neither saleable, nor eatable.

2. In Discretion. The Creditor hereby disabling the Debtor, renders his Debt more desperate.

3. In Reason of State. Depriving the Soveraign of his Subjects, whose Bodies thus immured might otherwise be serviceable in Peace or War.

4. In Justice and Conscience. That a Man should be debarr'd of his Liberty (the greatest Enjoyment temporal) on a suggestion, before it be judicially prov'd that he is either Debtor or Trespasser; Expe­rience witnessing, that hardly one Arrest in ten, but is either wholly causeless, for Spleen, Revenge, or some Inconsiderable Trifle.

5. In Commerce. Spend-thrifts are allur'd to Rook­ings, and the trusting Dealer is but smoothered in [Page 8]his own Feathers; For to pack off his Wares at any rate, he readily Books the loose Gallant beyond the reach of his Purse; and if his Fortune fall short, curses his confidence; and to eke out his revenge, takes forth a Capias for his Carcass, which proves but throwing good Money after bad; for where one crawls out, twenty are swallow'd up, or devoured by excessive Fees, and debaucheries commonly incident to Goals.

In a word, If it be true (what not a few judicious and inquisitive Men affirm) That there is more mo­ney spent in England, in less than seven years space, amongst Bayliffs, Goalers, and Suits of Law, as would pay all the Debts in the Nation; If we may find a­bove fifty thousand Persons constantly in Prison up­on Civil Actions, besides short Interlopers, and such as Death delivereth from the Imprudence (not to say Cruelty) of their Adversaries; what recompence can the Kingdom have for its being depriv'd of so many members? what confusion and misery is there amongst so many wretched Persons and their Fami­lies? How can our Country be without store of Beggars, Rogues, and Vagrants, till so vast an Incon­venience find a Remedy? And will it not be Pity (or rather shame) if in one of the most ingenious Nations in the World for Knowledge, Vertue, and Religion, the Expedient should be yet to seek; or if found, not put in practise.