Proposals For Building, In Every County, A Working-Alms-House or Hospital | Page 7

amount but to 26 s. _per Ann._, to be allow'd out of
the Profits which each 100 l. _per Ann._ will reap thereby; which
according to our lowest Calculation, is not less than 22 l. 10 s. a year;
And I hope the great wisdom of the Nation will not think it too much to
part with 5 l. for the Building these Hospitals, and after they are built,
to allow 26 s. _per Ann._ for the maintainance of good Government,
_&c._ since by so doing, the whole Nation is enrich'd thereby: The
truth is, these Hospitals and Government is so Essential, that the thing
cannot be brought to pass without them; for whatever we may promise
our selves; yet the Work is otherwise as unlikely to be effected, as a
great Multitude of unhappy Scholars to learn their Books, where there
is neither Master nor Tutor, to Rule, Teach, or Govern.
And who knows, but in very few Ages, each Hospital may have a
plentiful Revenue bestow'd thereon: For what can be a fitter object for
the Charity of such well disposed People, who out of their Abundance,
may please to leave a Legacy behind them for Pious and Charitable
uses, seeing here it will ever be imploy'd to the comfort of distressed
Widows; the Maintainance and good Education of Fatherless Children;
The Feeding the Hungry, Cloathing the Naked, _&c._ yea, the Posterity
of the Donor, (according to the Revolutions of humane things) and the
Posterity of his Relations, may reap such benefit by these deeds of
Charity, as that they may be ever preserved from Extremity.
Or, why should we think it too much out of 100 l. _per Ann._ to cast 5 l.
a year into the Treasury of this House, to be scatter'd amongst the Poor;
since it is but a fourth part of what we gain by them: By this means, I
am confident the Poor of each Parish would be so few, that there would

be scarce enow to eat the spare Meat that comes from other mens
Tables: Howbeit, it were good, that a Law were made, that every
person that gives any Almes to any idle Beggars, or wandring People,
(the Poor of their own Parish only excepted) should forfeit 5 l. to the
Treasurer of the Hospital of that County in which they dwell, which
would be no violation of the Precepts of Charity, but an effectual
expedient to restrain all Beggars and idle people for the future.
If we believe (as I hope we all do) that the happiness of a Nation hath
its dependance on the good Will and Pleasure of God Almighty, and
that the more we please him, the greater Blessings we may receive from
him. Let it be considered, How acceptable an Offering it would be to
the most High, when by so pious an Act of Our Gracious King and
Parliament, together with the free Will Offrings of all able godly
disposed people, so many Thousands, yea Thousands of Thousands, in
process of time, may be restrained, and prevented from living in that
broad way of Idleness and Lewdness, in which is all manner of
Debauchery. And now by this Reformation, from Generation to
Generation, may become attentive hearers of his Holy Word, which is
the most Infallible Directory to bring them to Heaven.
Obj: _You talk of great Profits made of Flax in other Countries: But
some are of the Opinion, That to raise the Linnen Manufactory here to
that degree, is utterly Impracticable; as well, because our Domestick
Flax is not so good as that which comes from beyond the Seas; as also,
because our people cannot work it so well._
_Answ._ This Objection, (which some are pleas'd to think very
considerable) consists of two Branches: The first is an Exception to the
goodness of our Flax; The second, to the Skill and Dexterity of our
People.
As for the first; _Whether ours be as good as Outlandish Flax?_ It must
be considered, and cannot be denied, but, that the far greatest part of
the Flax which we Import from beyond the Seas, is _East-Country
Flax_, I say, the far greatest part, ten to one in proportion; Now I am
credibly informed by several well experienced Flax-Men (who have
dealt in both Sorts) That English Flax is full as good, to all intents, as

this _East-Country_ Flax, and do not doubt, but it will appear so upon
Examination; So that the Objection, as in Comparison with such
_East-Country_ Flax, vanishes; of which yet, (although we have but
little Cloth made in _England_) there is, (as I am inform'd) several
Hundred Thousand Pounds worth yearly Imported.
But then, as to Dutch Flax, indeed the Case is somewhat more difficult:
It being a common opinion, that their