Lastly, new buildings increase his Majesties revenues, not only by the chimney-money, which makes it a growing revenue; but by the customs paid for the materials to build and furnish the houses. Besides they being the cause of the increase of the city, all the increase of the revenues from the excise and customs (since the cities increase) must be ascribed to them: which are a fourth part more than they were five and twenty years ago. And the excise is not only increased in the city, but it is so in the country; which must not be ascribed solely to the good management, but chiefly to the natural increase of the people. For if there be a third part more people in the city than there were five and twenty years ago, there must be a proportionable increase in the country to provide food and clothes for them.

To conclude, it was upon these considerations, that by the building and inlarging of a city, the people are made great, rich, and easily governed: That those ancient and famous governments, Thebes, Athens, Sparta, Carthage, and Rome, began their dominions, and inlarged them with their cities; and of late the States of Holland have followed these examples.

The citizens of Amsterdam have thrice flung down their walls to inlarge it; so that from a little fisher-town within less than 200 years it is become the third or fourth city of Europe: and the rest of their cities have followed their pattern; and made grafts and streets at the charge of the government; endeavouring to outvie one another by giving priviledges to incourage the builders and inhabitants. And these States have found the effects of it; for by this means they have changed their style from the Poor Distressed States, (as they wrote to Queen Elizabeth) to the High and Mighty States of the United Provinces.

And if the city of London hath made such a progress within this five and twenty years, as to have grown one third bigger, and become already the metropolis of Europe, notwithstanding

25

notwithstanding the popular error the nation have been infected with, and the ill censures and discouragements the builders have met with; had they been for this last hundred years encouraged by the government, the city of London might probably have easily grown three times bigger than now it is.

And if we consider what the natural effects of so great a city must have been; to be furnished with such large provisions for war suitable to its greatness; such a vast number of ships; being situate on an island and navigable river; filled with innumerable inhabitants, of such natural courage as the English are; and to be so easily transported on a sudden with all things necessary for war, it would long before this time have been a terror to all Europe; and now would have had the opportunity, under the government of such a martial prince as now reigns, to be made the metropolis of the world; to have caused England's monarch to be acknowledged lord of all the navigable cities and sea-port-towns in the world; to have made an universal monarchy over the seas, an empire no less glorious, and of much more profit, than of the land; and of larger extent, than either Cæsar's or Alexander's.

FINIS.

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And Employing the

POOR

A Grievance to the

NATION,

Being an

ESSAY

Upon this

Great Question,

Whether Work-houses, Corporations, and Houses of Correction for Employing the Poor, as now practis'd in England; or Parish-Stocks, as propos'd in a late Pamphlet, Entituled, A Bill for the better Relief, Imployment and Settlement of the Poor, &c. Are not mischievous to the Nation, tending to the Destruction of our Trade, and to Encrease the Number and Misery of the Poor.

Addreffed to the Parliament of England.

LONDON:

Printed, and Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster.

MDCCIV.

GIVING ALMS NO CHARITY.

To the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses in Parliament

Assembled.

Gentlemen,

HRE

E that has truth and justice, and the interest of England in his design, can have nothing to fear from an English Parliament.

This makes the author of these sheets, however despicable in himself, apply to this Honourable House, without any apology for the presumption.

Truth, Gentlemen, however meanly dress'd, and in whatsoever bad company she happens to come, was always entertain'd at your bar; and the Commons of England must cease to act like themselves, or which is worse, like their ancestors, when they cease to entertain any proposal, that offers it self at their door, for the general good and advantage of the people they represent.

I willingly grant, that 'tis a crime in good manners to interrupt your more weighty councils, and disturb your debates; with empty nauseous trifles in value, or mistaken schemes, and whoever ventures to address you, ought to be well assur'd he is in the right, and that the matter suits the intent of your meeting, viz. To dispatch the weighty affairs of the kingdom.

And as I have premis'd this, so I freely submit to any