IF such a Bank were settled, the Charge of managing it would be very little, and the Kingdom might grow richer some Millions every Year, and the Government have an Addition to its Security, by drawing the Cash of other Nations hither, whose Interest would thereby become interwoven with ours; and our Manufactures would be encouraged by a Flux of Money, which is the Life of Trade; and this, with the easiness of our Government, would bring the monied Men of Europe to settle here, which would be an Addition to our Wealth; the Trader might hence be supplied, with such Sums of Money as he shall want, and for so long time only, as he shall have Occasion to use it; whereby the Fishery, and other good Undertakings, may be encouraged, and our Wool be certainly kept at Home; and the Gentlemen of England may be hence furnished with Money at the common Interest, and be permitted to make their Payments by such Parts, as they can best spare it; the want of which is now such a Clog upon their Estates, that it destroys many good Families; who, when they are once got into the Usurers Books, can find no way to get out, till they have paid the whole Debt at once, so that their Estates are devoured, by Procuration and Continuation.
NOR is it hereby intended to put a Force upon any Man; ’twill be the Interest of the Lender to put his Money into this Bank, where he hath so certain a Security, and of the Bank to take it in; and on the other Side, it will be the Interest of the Bank to furnish Money on the Terms here mentioned, and of the Borrower to receive it; and this single thing, will in time bring so great a Profit to the Public as will very much sink the Debts of the Nation, whilst a Common Advantage is Interwoven with it.
NEITHER will this break in on the Priviledges granted to the Bank of England, by Act of Parliament; for though they are allowed to lend Money to the Government, on the Terms therein mentioned, yet the Government hath not bound up it self, from borrowing of any Others, and making their Payments in such a manner, as shall be thought most Advantagious to the Nation.
IF any Objections (not grounded on private Interest) shall be made to what I have here offered, I believe a satisfactory Answer may be given to them, if this Honourable House shall think what I have Written, worthy their Consideration.
ALL I shall further add, is, that it can scarce be Matter of Doubt, but that most Men will part with their Securities on private Funds, and rely on the General Credit of the Nation, though at a lower Interest, whereby those Funds will by degrees, become a part of the general Security, which with what new Taxes shall be given, will be so useful in Circulation, that it will be next to Impossible, for the most malicious Projectors, to lessen the Credit of such a Bank, or to make a Run upon it; and those Taxes that are heaviest on the Poor, and most Injurious to our Manufactures, may be taken off: And there will be this farther Advantage, that the several Offices, who are entrusted to buy for the Use of the Public, according to such Sums of Money, as shall from time to time be Appropriated by the Parliament, will be enabled to Purchase all things on the lowest Terms, when their Bills on this Bank, shall be as punctually discharged, at the time when they become due, as if they were Bills of Exchange, and in the mean time pass from Man to Man in Payment, which will be an Addition to the Cash of the Nation, whereby a great deal will be saved in what they lay out; and Men of Industry, but of small Stocks, will be enabled to deal with the Government, which now they cannot do; and will Endeavour who shall supply it on the best Terms, when by such Payments, they shall be Furnished, to go to Market again; and the Debts of the Nation will be so Incorporated therewith, that it will be every Man’s Interest to support its Credit; and the Eye of a Parliament, which hath Power to make Examples of Offenders, who through Fraud or Malice, shall offer Violence thereto, will be sufficient to deter any from such Evil Practices.
I am,
With all dutiful Respect,
Your Honours,
Most Obedient
Servant.