shake off then those plaguy Sores that corrupt our _Vitals_; and
if we intend to be a Happy and Flourishing People, we must promote
_Piety_, which admits of no Corruption; _Honesty_, that listens to no
Temptation; _Sincerity_, which never deceives his Neighbour; _Sobriety_
is the Way to Honour, and _Industry_ brings Riches, which Frugality
preserves: He therefore that desires to be _truly Great_, must possess
these Virtues, and prefer _Publick_ to _Private Interest_.

What is the Reason that all Inferior Places of Profit and Trust are
_bought_ and _sold_, and true Merit wants its _Reward_? Is it not
because the _Devil_, when bought, will be sold?

Are not our Exports of _Bullion_ so great, that, as fast as it arrives,
it goes away? Which the Publick Entries every Week demonstrate. And were
it not for the daily Supplies from _Portugal_, we should have nothing
but our own _Specie_ to answer all Demands.

It is obvious, that One Single Corporation has put us into this
Confusion: And will the _Government_ again trust to _that_, or any
other? I should not desire a Friend of mind to be the _Adviser_.

Can all the Corporations in _London_, put together, be so well depended
upon, as the _Exchequer_; which is supported by the _Government_, who
are able and willing to make good all their own Contracts, but are not
answerable for the Losses of any Corporation; all being oblig'd to sit
down and be content with their own?

Can any Corporation desire more, than that the _Government_ compel their
own Members, and their Estates, to make good to answer for their
_Mismanagement_?

Separate then the _Standers-by_ from the _Gamesters_, and let the
Unconcern'd declare their Opinion, Whether, in all Corporations, the
_Directors_ have not an unknown Advantage over all the other Members? Is
it so in the _Exchequer_?

Tell me then, why a Hundred Pound in a Corporation, is more valuable
than a Hundred in the _Exchequer_? Is it not because you can part with
your Property with much more Ease by way of _Transfer_ in _London_?
Which is not practis'd at the _Exchequer_: Besides, the _Transferring_
is near at Hand.

The _Directors_ of any Corporation, if not truly _honest_, may impose at
all Times upon the rest of the _Proprietors_, by making a Dividend above
the intrinsick Value of the Nett Produce of _Profit_; and the
_Legislature_ would do well to provide against such Practices for the
future.

If due Encouragement was given for the Imp