. Hugh Chamberlayne, in Essex Street, for
a Bank, of Secure Current Credit to be founded upon Land, in order to
the General Good of Landed Men, to the great Increase in the Value of
Land, and the no less Benefit of Trade and Commerce, 1695; Proposals for
the supplying their Majesties with Money on Easy Terms, exempting the
Nobility, Gentry, &c., from Taxes enlarging their Yearly Estates, and
enriching all the Subjects of the Kingdom by a National Land Bank; by
John Briscoe. "O fortunatos nimium bona si sua norint Anglicanos."
Third Edition, 1696. Briscoe seems to have been as much versed in Latin
literature as in political economy.]

[Footnote 518: In confirmation of what is said in the text, I extract
a single paragraph from Briscoe's proposals. "Admit a gentleman hath
barely 100L. per annum estate to live on, and hath a wife and four
children to provide for; this person, supposing no taxes were upon
his estates must be a great husband to be able to keep his charge, but
cannot think of laying up anything to place out his children in the
world; but according to this proposed method he may give his children
500l. a piece and have 90l. per annum left for himself and his wife to
live upon, the which he may also leave to such of his children as he
pleases after his and his wife's decease. For first having settled his
estate of 100l. per annum, as in proposals 1. 3., he may have bills of
credit for 2000L. for his own proper use, for 10s per cent. per annum as
in proposal 22., which is but 10L. per annum for the 2000L., which being
deducted out of his estate of 100L. per annum, there remains 90L. per
annum clear to himself." It ought to be observed that this nonsense
reached a third edition.]

[Footnote 519: See Chamberlayne's Proposal, his Positions supported by
the Reasons explaining the Office of Land Credit, and his Bank Dialogue.
See also an excellent little tract on the other side entitled "A Bank
Dialogue between Dr. H. C. and a Country Gentleman, 1696," and "Some
Remarks upon a nameless and scurrilous Libel entitled a Bank Dialogue
between Dr. H. C. and a Country Gentleman, in a Letter to a Person of
Quality."]

[Footnote 520: Commons' Journals Dec. 7. 1693. I am afraid that I may
be suspected of exaggerating the absurdity of this scheme. I therefore
transcribe the most important part of the petition. "In consideration
of the freeholders bringing their lands into this bank, for a fund
of current credit, to be estab