Obj. If you intend these Hospitals for the Imployment of such as have Families of their own to maintain, the business will be confused and Impracticable.
Answ. Possibly so, at least, in some respects and circumstances; but that was never intended, the main design of these Hospitals being only for the relief of all oppressed Parents, families, and Parishes, by taking off their young Children, and single people, who have neither Habitation, nor Parish willing to receive them, there to be comfortably maintain'd, well educated and instructed in all good manners towards God and Man; Nor are any of them to be confin'd to this House longer than untill they can well earn their Livings by other means; unless it be such as are committed as persons deserving perpetual or temporary Confinement, which is far better than to Hang or Transport, except it be for Capital Crimes.
The second Benefit aimed at, is the procuring the most Fine and curious Cloth, as well as quantities sufficient of Courser, for Domestick and Foreign Trade, to be obtained with great expedition: For so it is, That when so many are imploy'd in sight of each other (especially, where incouragement is given, and good Discipline maintain'd) the strife of all, both small and great, will be to excell each other, both in quantity and curiosity of Work.
Obj. This Manufactory being thus incouraged, a considerable part of His Majesties Revenue now arising by Custom for Linnen Cloth will be diminished.
Answ. I humbly Answer, That the same may be easily compensated another way, it being (with all submission) conceived, That it would be happy for this Kingdom, if an Imposition of 12 d. per quart more than now is, were to be paid for all French-Wine and Brandy; As also 5 s. in the Pound for all Hemp, Flax, and Linnen, that is Imported.
'Tis possible some may suppose, that my being thus intent and tedious, is only an itch of Fame; but I can justly assure the World, I am so far from any such contemptible Vanity, That I am rather a beggar for the Poor and Distressed, and for their sakes, would imitate the importunate Widow, in the 18th of St. Luke's Gospel, who obtain'd her request meerly for the sake of her Importunity; only this difference there is, Her suit was for Revenge, Mine for an Act of Charity; she made her suit to such a Judge as neither feared God, nor regarded man; but my humble, though earnest suit is, To the Most Christian King, a Defender of the Faith; as also to the Great Wisdom of a Christian Nation, all which strengthens my hopes, that I shall not be more unfortunate than was that importunate Widow.
And why should I doubt it, since it is so, that even an unjust and ungodly Judge will redress the Grievances of the Oppressed, shall not the Best and Most Christian Government exercise its power, for suppressing and reforming intollerable Evils, Oppressions, and Disorders, seeing the Wellfare and Prosperity of the whole Nation is as it were Intail'd to such an Act of Justice and Mercy. It is said of Faith, Hope, and Charity, That the greatest of these is Charity; yes, if a Man had all Faith, and all Hope, (both which are most excellent and necessary) yet it availeth nothing, if Charity be wanting. And since 'tis a Maxim, That the best of Men cannot be Uncharitable: I chearfully hope, that my humble Proposals for an Act of Charity, will not be contemn'd by our Greatest Worthies, since now in our view, the Wealth and Prosperity of the Nation, is in pursuit of the same.
I would not flatter my self or others, but do confidently believe, That what with the Decrease of Poor People, The happy Reformation, and total Restriction of Beggers, Vagrants, Nurses of Debauchery, &c. The yearly increase of Ten or Twelve Hundred Thousand Pounds, which now will be kept at home, that before went beyond the Seas for Linnen; The great Improvement of Lands; The Exportation of Linnen of our own growth, &c. The worth and advantage of the whole cannot amount to less than Two or three Millions Sterling, per Annum, to the Nation: and over and above many lives preserved, and (with Gods blessing on the means) many souls saved; which, if so, certainly it will be the best Bargain and happiest that ever the Nation made, all circumstances considered; Because where so much Money is disburs'd as will compass this great Wealth (without which it is almost impossible to be attain'd,) our Posterity will have it for nothing; yea, the present Inhabitants have their Purchase Money still amongst themselves, as it were, in their own Sacks with their Corn, seeing we Buy not this profitable Expedient of other Nations; which, if we were obliged to do, to be sure they would make us pay dearly for it.
But suppose neither of these Advantages were to be reap'd for our Money, only the Poor provided for, and Reformation of Vagrants accomplish'd, Must we do nothing for Charity? Suppose any Opposers of this Design, were worth 5000 l. or 10000 l. per Ann. a piece, Can they be certain, that none of their Posterity may within 200 years come to Poverty? Why then should they be unwilling now to contribute freely, seeing the Method proposed, may secure both Rich and Poor from Extremity? And how dishonourable is it to this Kingdom, that so fruitful a Soil as England, which by the Industry of its most unuseful Inhabitants, might so easily become the Garden of Europe, should, by their sloth and obstinacy, lie unimproved? How many Hundred Thousand Beggers, Vagrants, Drones, Nurses of Debauchery, &c. who are not only a Dishonour, but a great Disadvantage to the Nation, living in continual sinful Practices against the Laws of God and good Government, depriving themselves of all means of Religious and Civil Education, to the great danger of their own Souls; Ill Example of others; and destruction of their Posterity, being neither serviceable to the Publick, nor capable of raising themselves to any better condition, might by this Method, be wholly reform'd, or prevented?
Wherefore upon these several weighty considerations, and for that, besides the Princely Encouragement before-mentioned, I have had the Approbation of that great lover of Ingenuity, The Right Honourable, the Lord Viscount Brouncker, President of the Royal Society, who was pleas'd to peruse my Proposals, and express his Sentiments very favourably thereupon; As also having received by letter some considerable and pressing Incitements, to proceed from an Eminent publick spirited Divine, the Reverend, Dr. John Beale, one of His Majesties Chaplains, and a Member of the said Royal Society. I am therefore embolden'd, particularly to entreat the Christian consideration of the most grave and pious Divines, and all the Honourable and Ingenious Associates of that August Society in this matter, and accordingly, to give their Encouragement, Approbation, and Assistance; or otherwise to discover my mistakes, and rectifie any false Measures, which through Inadvertency, or over-zeal, to the design I may have committed, by publishing some more Feazible Methods from their better improved Reason, whereby I shall at once be confuted and instructed; and though failing in the means, shall not miss of my desired End, viz. The Glory of God, the Prosperity of the Nation, and the Happy Reformation of many thousands, who are a dishonour to Both.