yet practis'd, it will be entirely lost.

It is the Prudence of a _Government_, to establish _Credit_ on the most
solid Foundation; and what can be so solid as a _Parliamentary
Security_? Will the _Government_ be trusted with any future Loans, if
their Debts are settled upon a _precarious Bottom_? And are
_Corporation-Pillars_ a good Foundation?

The _Method_ already propos'd, is seemingly calculated for the Service
of _Stock-Jobbing_, and a Parcel of _I know not who_, (_Sharpers_,) to
reap the Benefit of it: And if so, the _Nation_ will be utterly ruin'd.
For God's Sake, then, let us not run any more _Hazards_, but prudently
take such _Measures_ as are most safe and advantageous.

If the _Government_ will forgive the _South-Sea_ Company the Debt of
_Seven Millions, Five Hundred Thousand Pounds_, and put them in _Statu
quo_; they ought to sit down contented, and be easy and thankful.

If the present _Scheme_ gives the Subscribers but _Twenty Five Pounds_
Capital Stock for a _Hundred_, and the _Government_ will give such
Subscribers _Fifty Pounds_ for a _Hundred_, I hope they will have no
Reason to complain.

For should the _Subscriptions_ be ty'd down to _Four Hundred_, Thousands
of Families will be ruin'd.

If we consider the Debt we owe to _Foreigners_, and how they, on the
_Advance of Stocks_, drain us of our Money; we shall find it very
dangerous to suffer _Stocks_ to be sold above the intrinsick Value.

If Common Interest be reduc'd to Four _per Cent._ as was intended; what
_Proprietor_ can say he shall be a Loser? Setting aside the
_Subscriptions_ and _Stock_, bought and sold at extravagant Prices;
which is impossible to redress, without making a far greater Number of
Sufferers.

Will the _Proposal_ of Tying down the _Subscribers_ at _Four Hundred_,
give a greater Interest than Ten _per Cent._ for the Capital? And what
will the Capital be, when paid off? Will that be more than _Twenty Five
Pounds_ for a _Hundred_? Does not this _Proposal_ give _Fifty Pounds_
for _One Hundred_, with a double Advantage to all; and at the same Time
pays a great Part of our Debt, and settles our Credit on a solid
Foundation?

A Nation cannot flourish without _Virtue_; nor _Virtue_ without _good
Conscience_. Sudden Ways of _growing rich_, must be ruinous to the
_Publick_: There are of late those who have too suddenly got vast
Estates, and others as soon stripp'd of great Fortunes.

_Industry_ is therefore the true natural