AS fully as I had determined against interrupting this Court or my­self, with the Interchange of more Papers; I hold my self ac­countable to you for the Issue of your late Allowance of my com­municating those I last sent you, to the Gentlemen of Christ-Hospital. Which I did; to the procuring the Call of an Extraordinary Court, for the Consideration of the same. Duplicates of which Transaction, with a Copy of the Summons it self provided thereto, I think it for your Service to lay before you; together with the Issue of the Whole, which you may please to take as follows.— Viz.

1st.—The Number present at this Court of its near four Hun­dred Governours was Fifty six. Which, tho short of what I have known attending the Choice of a Beadle, a Porter, or such on­ly Occasion; was yet double the Appearance seen at Ordinary Courts.

2ly,—As full nevertheless as it was, no Part of the Work it was specially called for, was either done, or had any Entry made towards it: the Papers themselves, in the full three Hours of its sitting, not having had so much as a Reading-Time allowed them, nor any other assigned for the doing it.

[Page] 3ly.—The Matter mainly handled therein, was that of their Treasurer's being required by this Court to Sign his Accounts, and present them back thereto, when Signed. In which I had the good Fortune of offering these Gentlemen, together with the forementioned Papers, some Thoughts of mine upon the Deference due to You, both from that and every other Hospital; so as to ob­tain the Reversal of their former Resolution in opposing it. But not till by the length of the Contest, their Fifty six were reduc­ed to Twenty nine; and not then neither, upon a Division, by any greater Majority than of Three. And this too in the Case of an Account▪ wherein not their own Orders any more than yours, have

been of force with either Accountant or Auditors, in more than two years, to produce any Compliance, or (for ought I can yet hear or see) any Preparation, Disposition, or even Capacity towards it.

What rests there then for me to say, either to you, My Lord and Gentle­men, or My-self in this Cause; more than the recommending it to you, as I most earnestly therefore do? Either instantly to exert the Authority thus asserted by me in your Right, and since submitted to my honour'd Friend Sir Robert Clayton, and your learned Council, with the Grounds of my doing so: to the end both you and I may have the Satisfaction of foreseeing some Effect of what we are now doing, towards the Remedying no less than Ascertaining the Evils we are in pursuit of, on behalf of our Orphans. Or leave me to the Method I have heretofore com­municated by purpose to you of resorting to, by a Royal Visitation. Which from the Proof I lately gave you of it, in the Case of St. Ca­tharines; We are well assured, both can and will make it self equally effectual, to them and Ʋs, in Both. I am

LET not (I beg you) my Appearance here yet once more as I now do, be imputed to any Satisfaction I have in the uneasiness of this Court, whose Honourer I truly am; nor yet to the Want of where­with otherwise to employ every Hour of my Life, more to my own Con­tent; but to the Sincerity of that Concernment for the Prosperity of this House, which I shall always bear about me, while They at least who first called me to it (My Lord Mayor, I mean, and Court of Aldermen) shall think fit to suspend the Delivering me of the Share I yet hold, as their Servant, in the Charge of it. A Favour I have been long their Suitor for, and should thankfully acknowledge any Assistance from this Court towards it.

Not that it is my Purpose to trouble You with ought I have at any time already laid before You: But what alone You have Your selves been pleased to administer fresh Subject to me for, since the Date of my last. And particularly,

1st.—In the Ʋnconcernedness wherewith this Court is still pleas'd (after all I have been able to inculcate concerning it) to over-look the making-up of your Publick States and Lists of the Children of the Royal Foundation, annually requir'd from You by the King, and ex­pressly calculated for the Service of the Crown. Whereof not One has [Page] now for some Years past, been composed with the Integrity becoming the Dispensers of so Sacred and Princely a Charity. Nor of them all; any One so little justifyable, as that which was last deliver'd as Your New-Years-Gift into the King's Own Hand by Your Treasurer's, in the Name not only of the President and Body of us the Governours of this Hospital, but of the Lord Mayor also of this City, the First Trustee of the Crown for that Foundation.

Which how far his Lordship or this Court shall think fit to sit-down­with, I ask not; but hold it my Duty to make (as I hereby do) my own most solemn Protest against it; as against a Paper, neither sincere, nor true; but (as such) most injurious to the Honour both of Hospital and City.

2ly.—In your arraigning the Credit of your own Dealings (beyond all that could be offer'd to it from without Doors) in the Publick Review lately had by Your Order, of that One Chapter of Your Treasurer's Accompt which specially relates to that Foundation. An Accompt, that after a Demand of more than two Years standing, and as long a Preparation, has been once actually laid (as from this House) before the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen; with Copies of it gone abroad, and one of them now in my Hand. And this Review executed, not by the Body of Your Auditors, nor yet of those of them whose Hands lie originally at Stake for the Truth of it; But by a Junto of the Treasurer's single Appoint­ment: of whom the Greater Part such, as appear not to have assisted at any One Audit, within the whole Time of his Treasurership; nor now dispos'd (for ought I hear) to assert under their Hands the Truth of what they have been so doing, and are this day design'd to give You their Report of. A Proceeding most hazardous, if not of certain injury to the Honour of this Place; by adding to the Difficulty of justifying this Double Accompt, even where they agree; the yet greater of reconciling them, in what they differ.

Which being the Case; the most effectual Proof I can hope to give You of my Solicitousness for the Credit of this Court, against the Enqui­ries of a yet Higher Form to be expected into this and every other Arti­cle of your Treasurer's Accompts; where not his Hand only (as now) but his Oath also and his Accomptant's will be held little enough to gain them Admission: is the directing you to the Worthy Members of this Body, whose singular Applications to, and long Inspection into the Business of your Compting-House, do especially intitle them to the Charge of seeing Right done both to Themselves, to you, and to the Poor therein,- viz.

• Sir Mat. Andrews.
• Sir Will. Russel.
• Mr. Stroud.
• Sir Edm. Turner.
• Mr. Lockington.
• Mr. Foster.

Who having, among them, been at the Audit of, and warranted by their Signing, every Accompt (from first to last) of the present Treasurer; have therein done more than any like Number, or even the whole re­maining Ninety of your Committee of Auditors.

Nor, for the same reason, ought I to neglect the noting to you the no less Worthy Gentlemen, to whose eight Months Labour, and special Influence, signaliz'd at your late Select Committee for the State [Page] of your House, You stand most indebted; and for the advantageous Re­port they are pleas'd at this very day to entertain the World with, of it— viz.

• Mr. Midgley.
• Mr. St-Amand.
• Doctor Carr.
• Mr. Lane.
• Mr. Boddington.
• Mr. Mallory.

Upon whom also I do myself chiefly rely, for the Convictions promis'd me, of the Errors of my own less grateful Computations touching the same: When (by the Delivery of this Accompt of Yours to the Court of Aldermen) You shall become possess'd of that Report of mine lying with them, by which you will be admitted to such a View of our Wretchedness, as was never yet expos'd to, nor is ( I fear) ever likely to be otherwise come-at, by this Court.

On which Score, and that no Time may be lost in your Arrival there­at; let me once more beg Your hastening the Removal of the Impediment given thereto, by your Refusal of this Accompt to that Court: In con­tradiction to the most mature Resolution taken by One of your own, summon'd in the most solemn Manner, and on the most solemn Occasion; that the Business or Trust of this House is capable of; and owing on­ly to the Presumption of a Private One, not yet confirm'd by any other; and so rendring the whole Transaction of this Committee entirely Ex­tra-judicial; and as such, by a Worthy Member of this Body most just­ly and publickly protested-against.

Besides; that till the matter of our Revenue (the sole Subject of that Report) receive a Decision; it seems too soon to proceed to what I have yet behind, upon the so-often-mention'd Article of the Moral State of this Hospital: As thinking it of little Ʋse, and less Satisfaction, to be offering more Matter for Grief and Reproach from the Pollution of its Manners; till better assur'd of wherewith to support them, when (by being better'd) they shall be brought to deserve it.

Which no Man (I fear) will think they now do▪ that is privy (as I am) to the Ʋniversal Looseness of them, both in Kind and Degree, beyond what is almost conceivable from a Nursery consecrated to Ʋses so pious, and to the Benefit of Objects so little to be suspected susceptible of the very thoughts of them.

A Truth too extensive to be here enter'd-on, even were it now a Time for it. Let it only suffice, as an Instance of what I shall then have but too long and ungrateful a deduction to give you of; that I recommend to your present Enquiry, the prostituted Ʋse made of the Publick Access allow'd to your Children's Devotions in the Hall and the adjacent Rooms on Sun­day-Evenings; and particularly the Riot committed by their lewd Vi­siters in the Girls Ward, but on Sunday last. I say, the Girls Ward; where (as blameable as I take the Whole of our present Dis­cipline to be) nothing appears more abandon'd, than that Order and Mo­desty which, till now, has been ever held Sacred in that Place; what­ever might hap'ly be found less justifyable elsewhere.

And This; notwithstanding the Infamy laid (but few Evenings before) at your own Door, by a Coach conducted by the Mob, charg'd with two of your Mathematical Boys, distinguish'd by the Badge of their Royal [Page] Founder, taken-up at Billins-gate, brought thro' the City, deliver'd to you (as before) Dead-Drunk, and by their Fellows discharg'd (insensible) into their Ward. Their Ward I say; wherein, as in the former, Excesses of the same Kind, though not in the same Measure, are ( God knows) but too familiar: And particularly with Him of these Two, who being now Head of the School, and Leader in this Fact, is One, who after having en­joy'd for near nine Years together, the Benefit of this House's Charity, and spent twice the Time originally establish'd for his Stay in that School; was but lately rejected at the Trinity-House, as not yet qualify'd for the End of his so chargeable Education. And who being also arriv'd to the full Age limited for it by the King; it seems worthy your Considering, what it is you have now to expect from One, whom Debauchery has car­ried out of the reach of Command, before either his Learning or your Dis­cipline has fitted him, for knowing how to Obey.

Let me only, on this Occasion, take leave to lament a little more nearly, the unhappy Conduct of this House: By which it seems at this day brought under the greatest Weight of Reproach, from that alone, which was Originally calculated for, and accordingly received, as its greatest Ho­nour and the largest Instance of Royal Beneficence, that was ever at once confer'd on a House of Charity: I mean, this Mathematick Foundati­on.

The Thoughts of which compel me so far at least to resume the menti­on of the Account relating to it; as once again to recommend it to this Court, that no more Imposures on his Majesty be adventur'd-on, by Appli­cations to his Treasury for further Payments on that Score; till We shall have first discharg'd our selves of the Debt I so long since noted to You thereon, without ought ever yet return'd me in Solution of it.

3ly.—In the little Regard had, after near two Years pass'd since the Treasurer's Resignation of his Office and Your accepting it, to the for­warding the Adjustments of his Accounts necessary to the Execution of it: We being now entring into 1699, without any Audit closed, much less engross'd and sign'd-to for the Year 1697.

Besides that (by all I can yet learn of what is done towards it) Your Receipts for that Year have exceeded those of the Year preceding; as a­mounting to full 12000 l.: Without a Farthing of it yet apply'd to the les­sening either Your 13000 l. Debt to Benefactors for Purchases, or the 20000 l. I make You accountable-for to the King on his Foundation. Nor yet a­bove 200 l. Discharg'd of the 8400 l. lately owing for Principal Money taken-up at Interest; nor more than 100. and odd Pounds given-in for your Remainder in Cash. While at the same time I have it to observe to you; that in consequence of the Importunities you have heretofore suffer'd from me, for the discontinuing your so frequent and almost unlimited Ad­missions of Children (as the only certain Expedient I could then, or can yet propose for rescuing Us from Ruin) their Number is from 1030. lower'd to 430; and consequently, your Charge diminish'd (through the suc­cessive Abatements of about 120 Yearly, between Easter 1694. and that now approaching 1699) by 600. Children: And the Savings there­from (of what, had the contrary Practice continu'd, your Expence must [Page] have amounted to) fallen little short of 15000 l; and the Condition also of your Purse, some way or other, been as much better'd. Whereas, if what has been above-inform'd me be true (which God forbid, and yet I dare not disbelieve) This also is gone; and the Hospital rests in the same Degree of Distress it was in, when thought nearest being undone.

And this too; without One Penny of our Charge retrench'd, either in the Number or Expence of our Officers, from what it was when the Number of our Children was more by Three Fifths than they now are: But so much the Contrary, as to have the Charge of Officers said to be now Greater, by several Hundreds of Pounds, under our present 430 Children; than it was in the Years 1660 and 1661 with above 1100.

For God▪s sake therefore, Gentlemen, let us from these Effects be incit­ed, instantly and closely to Consider in what Hands the Treasure and Stock of our Poor now lye. Hands, that (in one Word) need no other Evidence of their Ʋnsitness for the Trust; than the Publick Re­luctancy they are not asham'd to shew, to every thing that but Looks like bringing them to an Account.

Besides the Consideration, of how much more to be Lamented any Miscarriage would be, and less to be Excus'd, that should attend the Neglect of it, in case of any unexpected Change in the Person of our Treasurer; whose known Age will alone justify my Apprehension of it, even without the Help of that Declaration which Himself two Tears since thought fit spontaneously to make in open Court, of his Disability (even then) both in Body and Mind, for longer executing his Office; and therefore resigning it had it accepted of by you.

4thly,—In the Liberty taken by some Gentlemen, not of the low­est Name in the Management of this House; of arraigning in Common Conversation as well as singly to my self, these Enquirys of mine on behalf of our Orphans; as tending at least (if not designed) to the wresting the Government of it out of their Hands, who valuing themselves upon the Title of Church-of-England-Men, seem impa­tient under the Apprehension of being supplanted in it by the Fana­ticks. A Thought (God knows) of too little Weight with me, for Fither's sake, to trouble my Head with: As well knowing, how lit­tle the Felicity of Mankind has at any time been owing to Nominal Distinctions in Religion; and no less remembring, how little the Bishop of Jerusalem, St. James, could be thought ignorant of that best of Names (of Christian, I mean) when to ascertain the Religion intended by him under his Epithetes of Pure and Undefiled, he waved the Ʋse of either that or any other; and rather chose to distinguish it, by the Moral Lessons, of Visiting the Fatherless and the Widow in their Afflictions, and living unspotted of the World: Lessons read to Mankind, long before the Name of Christian or of its Holy Founder was ever heard of therein.

In pursuance of which; If to subject our Orphans to all the Consequences of a Mispent Revenue; if to add to the Affliction of their Widow-Mothers, the sorrowful Effects too often seen in them of a [Page] corrupted Education; if the Disappointments arising from both, to the religious Purposes of their pious and bountiful Benefactors, be in the Sense of these Gentlemens Church the fulfilling of that Description; Much Good may do them with their Churchmenships; and may I be their Cast-away.

5thly.— Lastly, In the Proof so lately given me, of the little to be hoped-for of Remedy to these Evils, from what I must acknow­ledge my having lodged my last Relyance-on, towards it: namely, The getting them fairly laid before a General-Court. Forasmuch as from the Ineffectualness of all my Endeavours on that behalf, in the Solemnity of the Summons provided for that held the 25th of November last; I find the Predominancy of those whose Business it is to obstruct it, such; as to have been able to prevent the very Reading of the Papers it was alone called to the Hearing of; and con­sequently, to send them home as little apprised of the Import thereof to the Weal of the House, as they were at their coming thither.

From which so fresh Confirmation of a Truth I had but too often be­fore both experimented and complain'd of; and from the further Pra­ctices occurring to me on this occasion, of intercepting, suppressing, and otherwise indirect disposing of Papers not thought for some Private Turns fitt to be admitted to Publick View: I think it high Time for me, to lay­down the Tenderness wherewith I have hitherto govern'd my self, in the exposing of what I have already said, and may hereafter have further to say hereon; proceeding (as I lately told You, I should) to the communi­cating the same without Restriction to the Gentlemen of this House, in the like Open method I have (with good Acceptance) been for some time using towards the Honourable the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen our immediate Superiors, on the same Subject. I am with great respect,

THAT nothing may rest uncommunicated to this Court, of what goes from me to that of Christ-Hospital; any more than, by your Allowance, I with-hold from Them, ought of what I offer You: I here tender you a Copy of a Letter of mine thither, of the 25. of January.

The Contents of which bearing my Farewel to Them, as with all respect my purpose is in this to You; I cannot but recommend the Perusal there­of to this Court; as carrying with them such a Representation of the pe­rishing State of that House, in some fresh Particulars essential to the Well­being of it, as render it a thing little less than hopeless for me (by ordinary Means, at least) any longer to think of saving it: After find­ing my self put to above seven Months Labour, in compassing only its Treasurer's Signing that one Article of his Account, which you had before had from him Ʋnsign'd; and more than ten, in finding Passage only, through this Court thither, to my late Report of the State of the same.

And What it is that may be look't-for from it, even now it is there, with a Committee of few less than forty, and of them the Majority such, as will find little Work for them in it, but Self-Arraignment; I submit to your Lordship and this Court.

[Page]Especially, when you shall be pleas'd to reflect upon the present Circumstances of that House's Government; viz.

ƲNDER the Guidance of a President, equal indeed to the wor­thiest of his Predecessors, both in his general Virtues, and special Munificence to that Place. But One, whose Piety has out-liv'd his Strength for being otherwise personally aidful to it, in any of the Weightier Duties of that Charge.

ƲNDER a Treasurer, who (besides what you have elsewhere before you concerning him) was also pleas d to declare himself un­able both in Mind and Body, for the longer Execution of his Office; and therefore made his formal Resignation of it, and had it as formally accepted-of from him in Court there, above two years since.

ƲNDER the Direction of Gentlemen acting indeed as Gover­nours, and to whom as such I have for more than 23. years had the Honour of reckoning my self a Fellow-servant; but are said to stand reported to You at this day by your Learned Council, not to be such, nor capable of being so, without (what they have never yet had) the Confirmation of this Court.

And lastly, ƲNDER an Administration also on the part of your Lordship and your Honoured Brethren, so Gentle; as to have suffer'd your Orders thither, even in Points the most impor­tant, to lye 7. Months together wholly neglected, and your Au­thority as openly renounc'd; without having yet thought fit to have ought done (within my Notice at least) in Assertion of it.

A Reflection, My Lord, as hard to be accounted-for, as in it self Grievous..

Forasmuch as, If after so uninterrupted a Jurisdiction, as has been al­ways exercis'd by this Court, and with a Submission as constantly paid thereto from these Hospitals; If after so long a Succession of Gifts and Bequests to them, and those to great Values, in reliance upon the Credit and Authority of this Court alone for their Security; If after so establish'd a Veneration acquir'd to it, as Guardians of these Foundations, and par­ticularly as the Moral Fathers of the Orphans of this House, when in your Easter and other Solemnities, They, as Your Children, bear no small part in the Honour of your Processions; And lastly, If after what in my particular I have been endeavouring herein for Your Service, and for the Service of the Poor; this Court shall appear to have been all this while thus credited and thus obey'd, without Authority at this day, under the greatest of their Miscarriages, to visit and reform Them; for so also your Learned Council are said to have determin'd. What must be thought of this mistake? And particularly,

How will the Pious Credulity of our Princely Founders and past Benefactors be to be lamented; and what more to be either hop'd or wish'd-for of Them, on these Terms, in time to come?

What must the Apprehensions now be of Those, whose Subsistence rests upon the Authority only of this Court, for the Payments [Page] that House stands charg'd with to their Ʋse, out of the larger Benevolences of their Charitable Auncestors?

Or Theirs; whose Debts of more modern Date, lye unpaid (ma­ny Thousand Pounds deep) by that Hospital at Interest, upon no other Security?

What is there to be rely'd-on of Fruit from the Retrospections said to be now on foot there, or those lying before your Lordship and this Court, from my Report?

Or in a Word; What to be hop'd-for either of Satisfaction for so much of our Poor's Stock and Benefactor's Bounties as has al­ready miscarry'd; or of better Provision in time to come, for securing the Remainder?

What, I say my Lord, must the Result of all this be, and how to be answerd-for; should this Court be so unhappy, as knowingly to per­mit such a Foundation and its Revenue to rest one day longer, in Hands no otherwise qualify'd-for, nor better intitled to the Trust of it? While by a Resolution of its own, not yet 16. Months old, you have been pleas'd to declare your selves standing Governours of the same, and (as such) required your being (as anciently) summon'd to every of its Courts, and accordingly have ever since been so, and now are: To the entitling Your selves ( I fear) to a nearer Concernment in the Fate of it, than may have been yet sufficiently reflected on; and possibly, to an Accountableness with Them, for the good or bad Events of their Managements there.

A Consideration I am the more willingly your present Remembrancer in, from the fresh Endeavours said to be now on foot there, for resuming their Old Liberty of taking-in Children, while unprovided of a Bit of Bread for those they now have, otherwise than by running into new Debt, or length'ning their Score of Interest upon the Old; Besides sacrificing the Innocence of so many fresh Infants, to the Dissoluteness of Manners now reigning, among those they are to be there mixed-with. The Evil of whose Contagion, and Pressure of which Debt, I take to be no otherwise removable, than by a total Stop to be for some time put, to the Occasions of Both.

An Expedient, that I well know will at the first hearing be thought as Impracticable, as in other Respects Extraordinary.

But the Case is Extraordinary too; and consequently, to restrain its Remedy to Ordinary Methods only, is little other, than to leave it Remedy-less. Which I cannot think any Gentleman, who hath the Ho­nour and Trust of a Governour there, will contentedly sit-down with, while furnish'd with any thing to offer towards the Saving it, as (for want of better) I do this: And yet with an Opinion so far from deeming it Impracticable, as to reckon it a Work neither of Length nor Difficulty; if, in Atonement for that Misconduct of ours, by which, from the Prosperity this House was in while under the Care but of 16. Governours with 500. Children, it has been brought into the Condition it now lies with 400. Governours (little more or less) and [Page] but 400. Children; if (I say) in Atonement for that Misconduct, we would improve the Opportunity of this nearness in our Numbers, to the [...]asing the House at once of the Whole, by every Governour's taking to himself One: Thereby leaving the Income of it entireiy free to the Discharge of its Debts, doing Right to its Founders and Benefactors, and that being done, to the setting-out afresh, with a Revenue clear'd, its Discipline reform'd, and Provision made for its future better Conduct through the Whole. And this I lay with all Deference before your Lordship and this Court, as that without which, or some other Aequi­valent, I must avow my Despair of ever seeing this unhappy House in the State it ought to be; and therefore would be glad, with your Concurrence and the Concurrence of the Gentlemen of that Body, to be doing my part, either in this or any other Effectual Proposition, towards it.

I am well aware, My Lord, of the Censure this Fervor of mine may expose me to, as One overpressing in a Cause, wherein Others nei­ther less interested nor less discerning than my self, are pleas'd to shew so little of the Dissatisfaction I do; and without any surprise on my side at it, as well remembring how little different my own Sentiments were of it, while my Knowledge thereof (like theirs) had no other Direction, than the Information of Others. Whereas no sooner was I engaged in the closer and more deliberate Enquiries apply'd thereto of my own, but that Indifference of mine was awaken'd to the Degree of Concernment I now profess; and which, on like Conviction, would be no less in any other, whose Morals (like mine) know no middle, in matters of Trust at least, between scrupulously Just, and down-right the Contrary. Or to speak more plainly; between mixing my own Hand in the Ruin of this Religious House, and sitting silently within View of its being brought-about, by the Vanitie, Supineness, Prodigality, or Self-interest of Others.

Indulge me therefore, My Lord, the Liberty of this One only closing Note to Your Lordship upon this Subject. Namely, That as the Direction of the Hospitals, has in all times hitherto been undeniably exercised by your Honourable Predecessors, in this Place; and as un­interruptedly submitted-to. So is it no less evident, that however an Occasion has now (after sevenscore years Practice) been administred to the questioning it; Your said Predecessors, (the Lord Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of London) upon Covenants first by Them entered-into with K. Edward VI. for the good Government of Them, were by his special Charter of Incorporation as Governours thereof, furnished with all the Powers requisite to the enabling them to make-good those Covenants.

In consideration of which, and in Duty to Your Lordship, to the City, to this Court, and to the Poor, I cannot (as a Servant to all) but most earnestly pray; that this Matter may without delay, be laid for Remedy before that Body Corporate, where-ever it now rests; in order to the preventing, if possible, any unnecessary recourse to Methods Extraordinary, for what should be thought attainable by Ordinary. Espe­cially [Page] while, Sitting a Parliament, with so many of your own Number, and of the Hospital's, Members therein, and with a Bill already (I take it) before Them, relating to Charitable Uses▪ no reasonable Supple­ment ought to be doubted from it, to that Ordinary Power: If any such can be judg'd wanting, after so illustrious a Proof, as I have sometime since given you, of the issue of his Lordship, the present Lord Chancellors Proceeding in the late Memorable Case of St. Katharines A Proceeding I cannot but remind you of; as well as of the Check put but few years be­fore at the Great Seal, to a Visitation then offered-at, in a Method less regular, in the Case of St. Thomas's.

To conclude, My Lord, this Calamity of ours in our Hospital-con­cernment is a Spot not to be cover'd in our Feasts of Charity, once the Glory of this City. And a Spot not at the worst neither, but daily spreading, and daily deepening too, through every part of it. Witness its Appearance (where least to have been lookt-for) in the very last act of our Treasurer's signing this Account; as giving you therein, his own Hand in Evidence against the Truth of what you had had before from his Ʋnsign'd▪ and in which, as in all other its former Editions, to my self, to the Hospital, and from thence to the Lords of the Treasury, there had been suppress'd in the single Article of Sea Wages, a Sum no less than 1400 l. besides others of greater Moment yet behind. And this too, notwithstanding repeated Cautions to them concerning it; and particularly in my last, whereof this brings you a Copy. And since which (as fresh at it is) they have nevertheless adventur'd to ask, and actually received more than 700 l. upon that very Head on which the Treasurer has so lately own'd his having twice that Sum of the King's in his Hand, yet to be accounted-for.

Be pleased therefore to think of some speedy Prevention to the Growth of this our Reproach. And towards it, permit me only to say; That as uneasy as the Ʋndertaking may appear to ' others; I see no Cause of apprehending any thing of more difficulty needful towards it (whether as to the due animadverting upon what is past, or better pro­viding for what is to come) than a Right Choice of a very few Hands to be assign'd thereto, supported with an Authority suited to the Work, and Powers requisite to the rendring their Labours and Determinations there­in Effectual.

Which being adjusted, and that only; I should with great assu­rance of success, both readily and gladly pay the utmost of my personal Service to the Gentlemen so commission'd; as well in detecting the Errors of my own Calculations (and which for the Poor's sake I could wish more, than I dare yet hope them to be) as suggesting and applying adequate Remedies, to what those Gentlemen in their happyer Enquirys may find truly needing the same.

But if after all (which God avert) it should be our Infelicity, even with the aid of that Charter, not to have wherewith of our own to help our selves herein. The Cause nevertheless is too sacred, both in it self, and as it is the King's, to be permitted to sink, while within [Page] the support I have so often mention'd, of his Own Soveraign Visi­tation; And more particularly in what relares to Himself within our Care in the Mathematical Foundation; by translating it, from the Hands in which it now languishes, to those he is pleased to intrust with that of his Own later Erection, to the same Royal Purpose in the Advancement of Navigation, within his Own Palace and Inspection at Greenwich.

YOUR Resolution of the 22th instant, importing your Ele­ction of me to the Treasurership of this Hospital, was delivered me by the worthy Gentlemen appointed there­to, with a degree of Respect as obliging on their part, as the Mes­sage it self was on Yours; and both surprising.

Surprising I say; but without ought of what (I find) was in too much Tenderness apprehended from me by some of this Body concern­ing it; as being One, who think nothing below the Character of any Man to execute, in a Service of Charity: And who therefore in my late Searches into the Condition of this House, descended to Of­fices much beneath any thing that can occur in what you are now calling me to.

I therefore do most thankfully own the Proof you herein tender me of the Continuance of your Esteem, after the unwelcome Free­dom I have for some time been unavoidably exercising towards you, upon the Unhappy Subject of your present State; in which Your selves are now pleased to give me this Testimony of your acquiescence: and in the Redress whereof, this Court shall never want any thing within my power improvable thereto.

But whether in the method you now propose, is what I have made it my business for some days to consider; without being able to bring [Page] my self to any other Determination in it, Than that the giving you any conclusive Answer (whether of Acceptance or Refusal) before this Resolution of yours shall have passed the Censure of another Court, is a no less Exposing of Myself, than Imposing on You, (as in a very late Case) under the Ʋncertain Issue of a subsequent Court; and when that is over, of the Lord Mayor and Court of Alder­men also: As that without which, by the known Constitution of all our Hospitals, no Election of a Treasurer is valid. A Consideration of more than common Weight at this time; from the Question under which the Authority of that Court now lies with this; without Ought I can hear-of yet done on their side, in its Assertion.

Which while in doing, and for Your clearer Guidance in Your second Debates on this matter at the next Court, I think it becom­ing me, in faithfulness both to You and Myself, to lay before You the few following Considerations.

1st.—That I am no Freeman; and consequently, according to the Original Book of Ordinances by which alone (without entring in­to the Reason of it) this Court and that of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen are at liberty to Act herein; I neither am capable of be­ing Your Treasurer, nor You nor They, apart or together, in a Ca­pacity of making me so. Nor is there, I believe, any one Instance to be shewn me, of a Treasurer not a Freeman: And should therefore most unwillingly subject Myself to Question, for meddling unwarrantably with a Revenue so Sacred as that of the Poor's; or be an Occasion of Your adventuring upon that in my Case, which was never yet done in any, nor can now justifiably be in this.

2dly.—That the Office and Work of Your Treasurer ought not to be estimated by what we have seen of it in its Execution for some Years past; but by the Condition the House is reduced to, from its being executed no otherwise. As being an Office, that calls at once for Qualifications, such and so many, as rarely meet in the same Person: Such are (besides that of an approved Integrity) Vigour of Mind, Steadiness of Health, Entire Leasure, Vninterestedness, Zeal for and Tenderness towards the Poor, General Experience, and par­ticular Practice in the Business of Accounts, a Genius fitted for Com­mand joyn'd with Temper, a Thorough-Insight into the Laws and Ends of our Constitution, and a Capacity of Controlling every of our Officers and Masters in the Execution of their Dutys, with a constancy of Attendance and Application (in his own Person, and not by Others) to the Performance of his own. A Task both in Bulk and Weight, too much for my Age and known Infirmities; Besides the Disabilitys I am alone Conscious to my self of, for it.

And though what I have here to add, might not possibly be reckon'd of Moment enough alone in this Debate: yet in Conjunction with what is already said, I know not how without Injury to my self to omit the observing; that I can with no Satisfaction think of accepting of a Charge, which my self must be own'd to have had the greatest Hand in the rendring Vacant.

[Page] 3ly.—That suitable to my Advice to you elsewhere on this Subject, I do not see with what Safety this Court can proceed to the giving a final Discharge to its late Treasurer, nor how it should expect his being Succeeded by any Person of Sincerity or Substance, till a State shall be first Adjusted of all your Accounts, Revenues, Charges and Debts, to your Own and Their Satisfaction; and that also laid before, and acqui­esced-in by the Court of Aldermen. Besides the Review and fresh Esta­blishment fit to be first had of the Work and Instructions of that Officer, before the Admission of a New. As foreseeing little Fruit from any Change of Hands (be it what it will) where those Hands shall be obliged by no other Rules nor Restrictions, than those we owe our present Di­stresses to.

For the more Successful Dispatch of which, as well on the part of your said Treasurer as Your selves; I submit it to You, whether it may not be advisable, that the Current Work of this Office be for the Present lodg'd with a small Commmittee of Your own Number, properly chosen; till by the Adjustment of these Matters, You shall be in a Condition of restoring it to its Ordinary Methods.

4ly.—Lastly, That no Degree of Industry, Experience, or other the Vertues (before requir'd) in a Treasurer, can alone be thought Sufficient at this Juncture (where our Whole Constitution lies at once out of Order) to compass its Reformation, without equal Aid from a no less vigorous and persevering, however otherwise meritorious a President. One, I mean, whose thorough-knowledge in the Design, Powers, Limitations, and Orders of this Pious Foundation, and the Rules of their Execution, is able both to preserve himself from being either discouraged or imposed­on, and by his Authority, Zeal and Vigilance, to prevent those Practices which, from the want hereof, the Generality of this House has been so long misled by, to its Vndoing. A Reflection, that in one word, would alone suffice (lay there nothing else in my way) to deter me from the Ʋndertaking You invite me to, under the Circumstances we at present la­bour in this Particular.

Which having said, and the Reasons of it thus opened; it remains only for me to beg, that my declining Your present Offer may not be taken for a Declension in any part of my Concernment for the Prosperity of this House. Forasmuch as no Consideration shall ever discourage or di­vert me from the pursuit of it; till by some Means, Ordinary or Extra­ordinary (though much rather the former) I see it restored to the State wherein all Good men wish it.

In view whereof, give me leave with great Satisfaction once more to assure You, that (without any such Obligation as this of your Trea­surership) neither You nor Your helpless Orphans shall ever want the best Effects of my Personal Attendance and Service, from the Moment that, by Your thorough-Applications, and those of the Court of Alder­men towards it, I shall have any Grounds to hope, that such my Atten­dance and Service, may be followed with any Success, to the Recovery of the lost Honour of this House, by its Return to that Religious Strictness [Page] which once distinguish'd it from all others, in its Compliances with the holy and charitable Ends provided for by its Munificent Founders and Benefactors, I am