I may be a little the warmer on this head, on account that I have
been a larger sufferer by such means than ordinary. But I appeal to
all the world as to the equity of the case. What the difference is
between having my house broken up in the night to be robbed, and a
man coming in good credit, and with a proffer of ready money in the
middle of the day, and buying 500 pounds of goods, and carrying them
directly from my warehouse into the Mint, and the next day laugh at
me, and bid me defiance; yet this I have seen done. I think 'tis
the justest thing in the world that the last should be esteemed the
greater thief, and deserves most to be hanged.

I have seen a creditor come with his wife and children, and beg of
the debtor only to let him have part of his own goods again, which
he had bought, knowing and designing to break. I have seen him with
tears and entreaties petition for his own, or but some of it, and be
taunted and sworn at, and denied by a saucy insolent bankrupt. That
the poor man has been wholly ruined by the cheat. It is by the
villainy of such many an honest man is undone, families starved and
sent a begging, and yet no punishment prescribed by our laws for it.

By the aforesaid commission of inquiry all this might be most
effectually prevented, an honest, indigent tradesman preserved,
knavery detected and punished; Mints, Friars, and privilege-places
suppressed, and without doubt a great number of insolencies avoided
and prevented; of which many more particulars might be insisted
upon, but I think these may be sufficient to lead anybody into the
thought; and for the method, I leave it to the wise heads of the
nation, who know better than I how to state the law to the
circumstances of the crime.