all—

02.10.00

Which Deducted out of 5 l. there remains clear Profit for one Acre of Land—

02.10.00

So that eight Acres, at the least value must yield clear Profit, all Charges Deducted—

20.00.00

To which add 2 l. 10 s. which will be saved out of the Poors Book, and it makes—

22.10.00

So that a farm which was worth 100 l. per Ann. will by this Expedient, be worth Six score and Two pounds and Ten Shillings per Ann.; and to be Sold, will yield 450 l. more than before.

Which is a plain Demonstration, that the laying out of 5 l. towards the building and furnishing these Hospitals, will purchase above 20l. per Ann. or bring in 450 l. And this is the lowest Calculation that may be made of the Profits and Advantages that may arise by Planting of Hemp, and Flax, if well Husbanded.

And most true it is, there's no one Manufactory in England so generally profitable as this may be made, especially to be raised from Land, with so little hurt done to the same, as may be Demonstrated thus;

Suppose the Crop of one Acre, as it stands on the Ground to be worth 7 l. (which is a very moderate supposition.) This Seven Pounds worth being well Drest fit for Spinners, may be worth 14 l. This Fourteen Pounds worth being well Spun and made into good Cloth, may be worth from 40 l. to 60 l. Yea I have been inform'd beyond the Seas, that the Cloth which might be made of one Acre of Flax well Drest and well Spun, might be worth more than a 100 l.

Let us not forget, that we have idle hands enough in our Nation to perfect this most profitable Improvement; and also, that little more than half the Money which in one year goes out of the Nation for Linnen, will pay for accomplishing the same: Nay, if the thing were rightly considered, it might be easily Demonstrated, That the Money which goes out of the Nation for Linnen in one year, will pay for making of all the Cloth that may be made in 20 years; although in every year of that twenty, there be as much made, as now we buy a Year of other Nations: As thus;

Money being kept at home within the Body of the Nation, is (as it hath no less aptly, than frequently been resembled) like the Blood in its Circulation in the Body of Man, which is not the less for its perpetual Motion; but the whole Body thereby the better supplyed, strengthened, and nourished in every Part. So it is with our Money; For, suppose Twelve hundred Thousand pounds goes out of the Nation in one year (which, some say, is much more) This never returns again; But if the same sum be paid for making so much Cloth at home, there's not one Groat the less at the years end; So that the very Money which pays for one years work, may pay for two years, and consequently for 20 years, and yet pass through all necessary Trades, and as well to the land Occupiers, as any.

The 9th Obj. But possibly, your Engins for Expedition may fail, which if so, then notwithstanding, the Spinners, &c. may earn their own Food, yet there will be nothing towards the maintainance of good Government, which is the great thing you aimed at, whereby all persons who are brought into the Hospital, may be well Educated, and effectually Instructed in a Methodical way for expedition and advantage; Administering incouraging Rewards to the Ingenuous and Industrious, and Correction to those that deserve it, without which 'tis almost impossible to perfect your good design.

Answ. 'Tis very true: But first, I am confirm'd in my Judgement, that the riddance these Engins will make, cannot be less than what I have already proposed in pag. the 5th.

Secondly, Suppose the worst, viz. that the Engins fail; What then; If every 100 l. per Ann. in each County contribute 3d. per Week, which would undoubtedly be sufficient to maintain good Government amongst them? Nay, what, If for the better Incouragement, and more Comfortable maintainance of all the whole Family, six pence per Week be paid, it would 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