put to the Finishing Stroke?

It is a certain Topick, That every Relief in the Case of the South-Sea Company, will be thought an Injustice to some, who cannot be reliev'd but at the Expence of others. That Way therefore must be taken, that is most Safe and Equal.

By what has been said, you will easily judge, how little the poor Sufferers are like to expect from this New Project; and that if the Success attend it that some People hope, it must be the Ruin of the Nation.

You likewise see the Danger there is in Advancing of Stocks above their Original Capital; and how necessary it is to restrain Corporations from Dividing more than what their Original Stock will fairly produce; and that such Practices are destructive to the Commonwealth of this Nation.

Ought not then the Legislature to enter upon speedy Measures, and such as may prevent any Evil Consequence that may happen?

Our Main Business, therefore, is, how to find out Methods to extend our Trade; for Projects, and United Companies, are only contriv'd to enrich a few.

We have within our selves, and in America, an inexhaustible Fund to supply our selves, and perhaps Europe, with what we are now beholden to Foreigners for, and that at the Expence of our Silver and Gold; and yet either our Negligence, or private Views, make us sit still. But otherwise,

What prodigious Advantage would it be to the Nation, to have a Supply from our own Colonies with those Naval Stores, which we have now from Denmark, Sueden and Muscovy; and to save the Expence of so much Money as those Trades cost us, and no longer to be at the Mercy of any Foreign Prince? And could we gain a Balance of Trade, we may hope to retrieve our selves from all the Difficulties we seem to labour under. But at present, we have not the Balance with any one Nation, except Portugal.

Now if this be the Case, it cannot be thought that an Over-Balance there, can answer the Balance that all Europe has against us.

But Luxury in the Use of Foreign Importations being discourag'd, we may reasonably expect to have a Flourishing Trade, which will bring Mines of Gold and Silver into our Coffers; all other Arts and Schemes having no Foundation, and nothing but Destruction.

That Foreigners take the Advantage of us, by the Rising and Falling of our Stocks; nor can the Evil be remedied, but by fixing them down at a certain Price that they shall be bought or sold; viz. Bank-Stock at One Hundred and Twenty Five per Cent. And for that Sum, the said Corporation may divide Common Interest, but never more.

That the Surplus of Profit be, to make good the Value of One Hundred and Twenty Five Pounds, at the Time the said Bank shall be paid off by the Government.

India Stock at One Hundred and Twenty Five per Cent. And that Corporation never to divide more than Common Interest for that Sum: The Remainder of Profits accruing by that Trade be, for the better Maintenance of their Factories, and the Extending of their Trade in India.

South-Sea Stock at One Hundred and Twenty Five per Cent. (if the said Corporation be put in Statu quo) that the said Corporation may never divide more than Common Interest: The Remainder to carry on a Trade to such Parts and Places, as shall be thought most