bim, in wishing, that the Oaths of Freedom were altered, from what they are at prefent; and fo conftituted, as not to reduce Men to the fad Neceffity of deftroying their Commerce, or preferving it by a coNTINUAL* Profanation of the facred Name of God.

UPON the Whole, though interfering with tem poral Things immoderately is derogatory to the Clerical Character; yet as Commerce multiplies the Relations of Men, and creates a Variety of Moral Obligations, it will not be thought unbecoming that Order, who are to ferve to the Glory of God, and the Edification of Men, to remove Temptations, and propofe tempo

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* Part of a Freeman's Oath, in the City of London, is, "Ye "fhall know no Foreigner to buy or fell any Merchandise with "any other Foreigner within this City, or Franchise thereof, "but ye fhall warn the Chamberlain thereof, or fome Minif "ter of the Chamber. Ye fhall take no Apprentice,-the "Child of any Alien."

Part of a Freeman's Oath, in the City of Bristol, is as follows; "You shall not know any Foreigner, or Stranger, to buy and "fell with another Foreigner, within the Precincts of this "City, but you fhall give Knowledge thereof unto the Cham"berlain, or his Deputy, without Delay. You fhall not "take any Apprentice, except he be born under the King's "Obeyfance.

This national Antipathy againft Foreigners, was the Stock on which the Burgeffes and Freemen grafted their narrow exclufive Schemes of Commerce, and Plans of Monopoly. For the Tenor of the Oaths of Freedom is much the fame in other Towns and Cities, as in London and Briftol. And, in the Language of these incorporated Places, the Word Foreigner denotes not only an Alien, or one born out of the King's Obey fance, but every Englishman, not free of their Corporation. And even Lodgers, In-tenants, Houfe-keepers, Free-holders, Book-keepers, Clerks, Agents, Factors, Mariners, Merchants, &c. though refiding in fuch Places, are not allowed, by their Bye-Laws, to buy and fell, of and to each other, if they are not free themselves. And all the Freemen are obliged, by the exprefs Terms of their Oath, to give Information of fuch Sales and Contracts, as foon as they come to their Knowledge. And yet, -But I forbear: The Reader will fupply the rest.

ral Rewards to Virtue; especially, if thefe Schemes of national Reformation fhould be attended with an Increafe of Commerce, and national Honour, with the Security of Liberty, and its known Attendants, Learning, and true Religion. At least, if the Author may be proved to have erred, he will gladly retire from thefe Studies; which he has hitherto followed upon Motives of this Kind only.

WITH regard to the Naturalization of foreign Proteftants, if any fuch Bill fhould hereafter be laid before the Houses of Parliament, he is inclined to wish, with the greatest Deference to the Opinion of better fudges, that two Refrictions might be inferted in it, more to obviate the imaginary Danger, which prejudiced People apprehend from paffing of it, than any real ill Confequences from either Source.

FIRST, That naturalized Foreigners fhould gain no Parish Settlement; that they fhould neither become a Burthen to the Natives of this Country, nor have any Tax levied on them to maintain our Poor. This is equitable on both Sides, and may be necessary to prevent popular Clamours:-Though the Author can venture to affert (which he would not prefume to do without good Authority) that the Foreigners, who have fettled in this Kingdom for ferventy Years paft, have paid, at least, a POUND STERLING towards the Support of the English Poor, for every Penny that has been levied upon the English to maintain poor Foreigners. And if thofe Gentlemen, who opposed the Introduction of foreign Proteftants, under the Apprebenfion that it would encrease the Poor-Tax (a Burthen too great already) would but give themfelves the Trouble to make Enquiries in London, Bristol, Southampton, Canterbury, or any other Place, here any Number of Foreigners have refided, they

would

would entertain very different Notions of this Affair; and find Caufe to trust no longer to general Invectives, popular Cries, and national Prejudices; by which the beft difpofed People are often misled, and fometimes induced to join in Measures, not only destructive to the Good of their Country, but fubverfive of the Dictates of Humanity, and the clearest Precepts of the Gospel.

AGAIN, That no Foreigner fhould be capable of a Place of Truft or Power by a general Naturalization. The Wisdom of the Legislature might, by an exprefs Alt, qualify a particular Perfon of extraordinary Merit: And an open Admiffion of all naturalized Perfons, would be made a Topick for popular, though groundless Declamation.

ONE more Obfervation is humbly offered on this Subject, viz. That however prudent and expedient it may be, to admit foreign Proteftants to be naturalized Subjects, yet unless there were the higheft Probability of bringing the Point to bear, to attempt it and fail, would confirm the common People in their Prejudices; and ftrengthen the Credit of those, who, zbro' Difaffection, or a private Intereft, incompatiable with the publick Good, have oppofed this Measure. This will impower them to spread strange Reports, to impofe on the Credulity of the lower Sort of People, and to infufe into them Sufpicions of the pernicious Views of thofe Men, who propofed this deftructive Project; which, co-inciding with the national Prejudice against Foreigners, would be greedily received. And when, by the Bill's not paffing, thefe Rumours are not confuted by Experience, how shall we convince a Mob, who act by Paffion, not by Reflection; who are to be gained by finifter and mean Arts, and therefore are not generally influenced by the wifeft, or beft of Men.

With a Preface, fetting forth the avowed Doc trine, and conftant Practice of the Church of Rome, concerning the Perfecution of PROTESTANT S.]

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PART_II.

Ontaining important Queries relating to the Improvement and Extenfion of Commerce: -Materials for Employing the Poor, and the Caufes of the Want of Employment: The Encrease of Inhabitants, the Riches of a Country; the Landed and National Intereft:-Taxes of all Kinds, particularly the Poor Tax:-The Birth-right and Privileges of Englishmen, and the real Interest of Tradefmen:-The moft efficacious, as well as the gentleft Methods for the Reformation of a People's Morals: -A Regard to the Conftitutions both in Church and State:-The Duties of Humanity, and the Principles of the Christian Religion. To which will be added, by Way of Appendix, A calm Address to all Parties in Religion, concerning Difaffection towards the prefent Government; first Published during the late Rebellion, and now to be republished with material Additions.

Hiftorical Remarks on the Difpofition and Behaviour of the Natives of this Island towards Foreigners; oc cafioned by the Rejection of the late Naturalization Bill.

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T is obfervable, that every Na tion hath some peculiar Biafs, of a virtuous and a vicious Ten

dency, which conftitutes the diftinguishing Characteristic of that People: And even New Comers acquire, in a fhort Time, the fame Difpofitions and Manners. The prefent French and Spaniards feem to inherit both the good and bad Qualities of the ancient Inhabitants of Gaul and Spain. And the modern English, though

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