A. D. 1748. 26r 



able any foreign proteftants, who fhall have brought any fubftance with 

 them fufficient, to obtain an ad of parliament for that end, fuch only 

 were worth our while to be received and fettled with us. This was 

 again brought into parliament in April 1751, but was then alfo rejed- 

 ed. On the other hand, let us, on this occafion, fee what Lord Molef- 

 worth, a very able nobleman, has faid on that fubject, (in the preface to 

 his Englj/b tratijlation of Ilottomaii's Franco-Gallia, p. 23, ed. 1721.) 



' What ftiould hinder us from an ad of general naturalization ? efpe- 

 cially when we confider that no private ads of that kind are refufed. 

 But the cxpenfe is fo great that few attempt to procure them, and the 

 benefit which the public receives thereby is therefor fo inconfider- 

 able. Experience has fliewn us the folly and falfity of thofe plaufiblc 

 infinuations, that fuch a naturalization would take the bread out of 

 Engliflimen's mouths. We are convinced that the greater number of 

 workmen of one trade there is in any town, the more does that town 

 thrive ; and the greater will be the demand for the manufadure, the 

 vent to foreign parts, and the quicker circulation of the coin. The 

 confumption of the produce, both of land and induflry, increafes vifi- 

 bly in towns full of people ; nay, the more fl)all every induftrious 

 perfon thrive in fuch a place ; though indeed drones and idlers will 

 not find their account, who would fain fupport their fuperfluous ex- 

 penles at their neighbours' coft, who make one or two days labour 

 provide for four days extravagance. And this is the common calami- 

 ty of mofl of our corporation-towns, whofe inhabitants do all they 

 can to difcourage plenty, induflry, and population ; and will not ad- 

 mit of Grangers but upon too hard terms, through thq. falfe notion 

 that they themfelves, their children, and apprentices, have the only 

 right to fquander their town's revenue, and to get, at their own rates, 

 all that is to be gotten within their precinds. And therefor fuch 

 towns are, at befi, at a ftand, very few in a thriving condition, and 

 thefe are wliere their bye laws are leaf! rcfi^ricUve ; but mod through- 

 out England fall to vifible decay, whilft new villages, not incorporat- 

 ed, or towns more liberal of their privileges, grow up in their Head, 

 till in procefs of time the firfi: fort will become almofi as delolate as 

 Old Sarum in Wiltfhire, and will as well defervc to lofe their r;glit of 

 fending reprefentatives to parliament. For certainly a wafie 01 a de- 

 iert has no right to be reprefented, nor by our original conllitution 

 was ever intended fo to be.' 



His lordfhip had inunediately before find, ' that it is a truth which- 

 few will make a doubt of, that we are not one third pari peopled, 

 though better fo in proportion than any other part of Europe, Hol- 

 land excepted; and that our itock of men decreafes dayly, through 

 our wars, plantations, and fea-voyages.' + 



