PROPOSALS of Nicholas Dupin, Esq The first Deputy Governor of the Linen and white Writing-paper Corporation in England, Scotland, and Ireland. To all the Parishes in and about the City of London, and within the weekly Bills of Mortality, to set the Poor to Work, who are not employed in the Woollen Manufacture; whereby the said Parishes will (after the expiration of the first Year) be not only eased and discharged of the Burden of them for ever, but also be considerable Gainers: For by Employing 50000 Poor, in the several Parish Workhouses, the product of their Labour will amount, in one Year, to the Sum of 225000 l. as it is hereafter more at large explained; which Sum is to remain for a perpetual Fund or Stock, to be lodged and secured in the Chamber of London or Bank of England, for the Use of the Poor, besides the Charitable Gifts, Legacies, and other Revenues formerly given and bequeathed by pious Persons, and the Voluntary, Liberal, and Charitable Contributions to be bestowed by well disposed Christians, towards the increasing the said Poor's Stock, and also the Profits of the Manufactured Goods when sold.  
WHEREAS Their Excellencies the Lords Justices of England, with the Lords of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council, were graciously pleased in th●● last public Proclamation, bearing Date the 13 th'. of October, 1698. to Order, That the Laws (for the Relief of the Poor, and setting them to Work throughout this Kingdom) should be duly put in Execution: And whereas the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of London, did desire the abovenamed Mr. Dupin to produce his Proposals for setting the Poor to Work in and about the said City; and also desired him to Sign the said Proposals, which he accordingly did. Whereupon his Lordship went to Guild-Hall and appointed a Committee, where the said Mr. Dupin was desired to give his Attendance; the said Committee having sat several times before about Employing the Poor: In order thereunto the said Mr. Dupin hath viewed several convenient Work-houses, which were formerly built, for to Employ the Poor of the several Parishes in and about this City; which Proposals are as followeth.  
That for as much as this Undertaking cannot be begun without a considerable Sum of Money, to be employed in buying of Hemp, Flax, and other Materials to put the same in practice, It is humbly proposed, That there shall be a Competent Joint Stock, raised by way of Subscription; which Money so to be raised, shall, at the First Year's end, be repaid to the Subscribers, with Ten Pound per Cent. per An. profit, which may well be afforded, for the Work will produce One Hundred and Fifty Pound per Cent. profit at least the First Year; and then the rest of the Stock, and remaining part of the Profit, to be to the sole Use of the Poor, so that the Establishment hereof, will in no wise be chargeable to any, but rather very advantageous to all concerned therein. And these Poor who are now a Burden to the Inhabitants, will, in a short time be able to earn by their Work wherewithal to pay Rents and Taxes, and serve the King by Sea and Land.  
That there shall be a Company to keep Courts, consisting of Governor, Sub-Governour, Deputy-Governour, Treasurer and Assistants; one or two Persons to be chosen and nominated out of each Parish as Assistants; and to have Power to nominate and appoint Committees of Honest, Sufficient, and Skilful Men; and also to Constitute Secretaries, Book-keepers, Store-keepers, Overseers, Agents, and such other Officers as shall be requisite.  
No Money to be paid out of the Treasury for the use of the Poor, without a Warrant signed by one of the Governors, and five or six Assistants at least.  
That the said M. Dupin will be obliged to procure and produce to the general Court or Committee, a competent number of English, French, and Dutch Protestant Artists, both Men and Women, who shall Work at the Parish Work-houses, and be engaged for Eighteen Pence per Week extraordinary, over and above the common Wages for their Work, in consideration of their pains and loss of time, to Teach and Instruct the said poor in their several Trades and Occupations, viz. to Spin, Wove Linen Cloth, make Lace and Fringes, Tapes, Nets for Fishing, and other Nets, Packthread, and several other sorts of Works.  
That the said Work-houses are to be allowed to the Company, for to Employ the said Poor belonging to the said several Parishes, with the Rooms and all other Appurtenances thereunto appartaining, free from Rents and Taxes.  
That all the Wheels, Reels, Looms, Reeds, and all things relating thereunto which shall be made use of in the Parish Work-houses, shall be provided out of the Companies Joint-stock.  
That all Children from Seven Years of Age, shall be taught to Spin and do other Works at the Charges of the Company, to be also allowed out of the Joint Stock; the said poor Children to be maintained for the first Year by the Parishes; but after the said first Year, they shall be constantly Employed, and Paid according to the value of their Work. So the Parishes shall be clearly discharged of them.  
That all poor Housekeepers and their Families who can Spin and Work at their own Habitations, shall have prepared Hemp and Flax delivered them by weight from the Company, and shall be paid according to the Standard and fineness of Yarn which they shall Spin, and shall have Wheels and Reels delivered to them by the Company; but the Charges of the said Wheels and Reels shall be deducted out of the value of their Work at Twopences per Week, until the Company be reimbursed of what the said Wheels and Reels cost them, than the said Wheels and Reels to be their own. Likewise the Poor Weavers, who have Looms of their own at their Habitations, shall have Yarn delivered to them by weight, and shall be duly paid by the Company according to the value of their Work.  
That the Parishes shall aid and assist the Company's Agents and Matrons in the securing of Flax, Hemp, and Yarn, and to return the Yarn from the Spinners, and Cloth from the Weavers to the Company.  
Two Lists of the Names of the ●oor of each Parish shall be made and Signed by some of the Parishioners and one of the Governors of the Company, for each of them to keep to prevent Mistakes.  
The Company shall provide fit Persons (at convenient times) to teach the said Poor to Read, and live in the fear of God.  
As for Stragglers, Vagabonds, and Beggars that are Strangers, they shall be taken up and set to Work in the Parish Work-Houses; but if they obstinately refuse to work, they shall be compelled to work in Bridewell, and the Company shall provide Hemp, Flax, and other Materials for them to Work upon.  
Whereas it is proposed to Employ Fifty Thousand Poor, belonging to the several Parishes in and about the City of London, and within the Weekly Bills of Mortality as aforesaid, in the following Trades; and that the same will require a Considerable Sum of Money to be Employed in buying of Hemp and Flax Thread, to make several sorts of Lace, Fringes, and for other Uses; and also in buying of Hatchels, Spinning-Wheels, Reels, Warping-Mills, Looms, Reeds, Harnisses, Rods, Shuttles, Bobbins, Quills, etc. And Cushions-Bobbins, Patterns of Parchment, Thread and Pins to make Lace, etc. And Wooden-pins and Needles, to make all sorts of Fishing and other Nets; and several sorts of Steel and Brass Reeds, to make several sorts of Sail-Cloath, and other sorts of Cloth. Engines, Blocks, Stools, Tables, Benches, Mallets, Candlesticks, Lanterns, and several other things relating to the said Trades and Manufactures, and to pay Workmen and Servants Wages. It is therefore thought Convenient to draw Articles in order to take in Subscriptions in two distinct Books, the one to take in Subscriptions at Twenty Pounds per Share, payable at Three several Payments, into the Chamber of London, or Bank of England; and the same to be Emproved and laid out as the general Court (when assembled) shall think fit. And the said Subscribers to have their Subscription Money repaid them at the Years end, with Ten Pound per Cent. Profit, as aforesaid out of the Joint-Stock, as it may more at large appear in the said Articles. And the other Subscription Book, to take in Subscriptions from all Good and Charitable Christians, who shall be voluntarily disposed to Subscribe therein from One Shilling and upwards, gratis, to increase the said Poor's Stock: Which said Charity Money is to be paid into the said Chamber of London, or Bank of England, by certain Responsible, Trusty Persons, who shall be chosen in each Parish and authorized to Collect and Levy the the same by the Order of the general Court, or Committee appointed by them, which will be about the beginning of January next; which said Collectors so Authorised, are to Enter each Persons Name, with the Sum which they will be pleased to bestow, in a Book; and shall pay the same, when Collected, into the Treasury, and take Receipts for it.  
That the said Subscription-Book and Receipts may be produced to the general Court or Committee appointed for that purpose, and compared by them, to prevent Frauds and Mistakes.  
Manufactures are the only means to enrich a Nation, support the Crown, and not only employ the Poor, but also draw Foreigners into the Kingdom.  
Likewise popularity in a Kingdom, is the enriching thereof; for by their Labour and Industry they will make Riches flow: Therefore a flourishing Trade will raise Wealth, and make the Nation happy and glorious; for it draweth Treasures from foreign Countries, and keeps our own at home. It is well known, that this Kingdom is endowed with good Land for yielding of Hemp, Flax, etc. and also with good Air and Water, and all Materials, as Linen Rags to make Paper, and Glue to size it; for the French formerly used to carry their Linen Rags and Glue from hence to France, until prohibited by the late King's Proclamation; therefore the Paper Manufacture is evidently known to be of a vast Consequence, when the French were so much against the Establishment thereof, that Monsieur Barylon, the late French Ambassador, with his Factors, Agents, and Friends, used their utmost Endeavours to hinder the same, by enticing the Corporation's chiefest Workmen from their Paper Mills, with Bribes, and promises of great Rewards, and so sent them away privately to France, to the unspeakable Damage of this Nation and Corporation; besides the Tax of Twenty Five Pound per Cent. laid by the late Parliament, upon all Writing and Printing Paper, made, and to be made in this Kingdom, which obliged us to sell our Paper the dearer, and the French, on the other hand, endeavouring to under-sell us, hath been no small Discouragement in the infancy of the Establishment of this great and beneficial Manufacture. And this Kingdom being well accommodated with all Necessaries and Materials, as aforesaid, by the growth and product thereof, to promote all the aforesaid Manufactures, and being also furnished with good ingenious Workmen of several Nations, who can Manufacture all the aforesaid Works, and teach the weaker sort how to Work in their several Occupations, will considerably increase the King's Revenue.  
Here is also, at this juncture, a very seasonable opportunity for establishing most of all other Manufactures which are in France, and so prevent vast Sums of Money which are usually sent from hence thither for such Commodities, by employing all sorts of Artificers and Tradesmen, as well French Protestants as others, who are to my certain knowledge) capable of Undertaking and Manufacturing the same, tho' for want of Assistance to set them to Work, several poor Families are ready to starve: But if the said Manufactures be encouraged, and those poor Souls employed therein, that they may live, it will not only increase Trade, and the King's Revenue, and establish new Manufactures here, but above all, it will draw Heaven's Benidiction on us, for those French Protestants of this Nation, who have fled from their Native Country, and quitted Houses, Lands, Goods, Stocks, Preferments, Employments, and what else they had of their own, are the Flower of that Kingdom for Christianity and Ingenuity, as I have been informed by certain learned judicious English Divines, and who think it a great happiness to have escaped Persecutions, Cruelties, and Tyrannies, wherewith they were daily oppressed, and have full liberty to serve God, and sing Praises to his holy Name, under the Protection of his Sacred Majesty, King William, whom God preserve.  
Whereas it is manifest, that there never hath been seen heretofore in England such numbers of Poor who want Work, as Silk and Linnen-Weavers, and other Tradesmen; and also multitudes of poor Housekeepers, etc. that are ready to starve for want of Work, who are not, nor cannot be employed in the Woollen Manufacture, but may in the Linen, in making several sorts of Linnen-Cloth, Sail-Cloth, Canvas, Thred-Laces, Fringes, and Tapes, Fishing-Nets, Ropes, etc. wherewith this Nation is supplied by other Foreign Countries, to the value of several Hundred Thousands of Pounds per Annum, as it may appear by the Customhouse Books; which may be prevented by setting our Poor to Work in this Manufacture, and keep the Money in the Kingdom: Therefore the employing of the Poor being for the good of all People, as Housekeepers, Merchants, Travellers, Farmers, and all manner of Dealers whatsoever, who are daily Sufferers, and much injured by Robbers, Thiefs, and other vicious Persons, and also very much oppressed and encumbered with the Poor: It is humbly hoped, that all good Christians will hereunto afford a favourable Reception, it being for the Public Good, as aforesaid.  
And for the better satisfaction of the Subscribers, The said Mr. Dupin, having been one of the first Governors of six Corporations for the Linen and White Writing-paper Manufactures in these three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, before specified (as it may appear by six several Charters and Patents, enroled in the High Court of Chancery in the aforesaid three Kingdoms, Confirmed by four several Acts of Parliament, which passed the Royal Assent) is capable and qualified to manage this undertaking. So that a great number of Noblemen, Merchants and others, became Partners, and raised Stocks of two hundred thousand Pounds, and upwards, and great Quantities of all sorts of Linen and White Writing-paper was made in the three Kingdoms, as good as any that came from beyond Sea, to the value of several hundred thousand Pounds, which did employ many thousands of Poor and other People, before, and during this last tedious War; whereby he hath much improved his Experience for discerning what is good and profitable in them to keep; and what hath been amiss and loss, to prevent for the time to come.  
And whereas there are in and about the City of London, and within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, 135 Parishes; it is, for the conveniency of each Parish, proposed, That there shall be one Subscription Book, with printed Articles, to show how things are to be governed and regulated: Which said Books are to be lodged in some convenient place in each Parish, in the Custody of responsable Persons, in order to take in the Subscriptions of all People who will be pleased to Subscribe therein; and the Money so Subscribed to be collected about the beginning of January next, by some trusty Persons whom the Court shall appoint.  
The said Mr. Dupin doth oblige himself, at his own proper charges, to provide the said 135 Subscription Books for all the aforesaid Parishes, and all the printed Articles and Proposals, and to view the most proper Work-houses, and make his Report to the Court for their Advice and Approbation; and will also produce to the said Court a List of the Names of all such Workmen and Women, and Servants, who shall be fit and qualified to teach the said Poor to Work, and oversee the same; and will make an Inventory of all things necessary to be provided for the carrying on of this national and beneficial Work; by which means the Parishes will be discharged of 50000 Poor, at the end of the first Year, and a perpetual Stock of Two Hundred Thousand Pounds and upwards, will remain in clear profit, lodged in the Chamber of London; or Bank of England, for the use of the Poor.  
The said Mr. Dupin may be spoke with by any of the said Parishioners, and others, at his Office at Mr. Woodward's, a Book-binder in St. Christopher's Alley, over against Benn's Coffee-house in Thread-needle-Street, near the Royal Exchange, where the Books are laid open, and Articles drawn, in order to take in Subscriptions, Dated Monday, November the 28th, 1698.   

A brief Computation of the Costs and Charges, and also of the Profits and Advantages which will accrue and arise by Employing 50000 Poor, and others, in the several Parishes in and about the City of London.  
SUppose the aforesaid 50000 Poor be Taught and set to Work, some may Earn 2 d, some 3 d, 4, 5 and 6 d, per Day; or suppose they may Earn, one with another, 3 d, per Day, which will amount to 625 l. per Day.  


625 per Day.  
3750 per Week.  
195000 per Year.    


There will be also 10 per Cent. clear Profit by the Sale of the Goods when Wrought and Manufactured, which will amount to about 5000.  
And suppose the charitable Contribution Money may come to Twenty Five Thousand Pounds. 25000.  
Total. 225000.    


Suppose after the Charges and Disbursements in general, for Wheels, Reels, Hatchels, Looms, Reeds, Warping-Mills, Engines, Cushions, Bobbins, Parchment, Pins to make Lace, Stools, Tables, Benches, and Candlesticks, Workmen and Servants Wages, and all other incident Charges, and also for the Interest of 10 per Cent. allowed to the Subscribers, about 12000▪  
There will be a perpetual Stock remaining for the Poor, after all Deductions, at the Years end, of about 213000     

LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1698.