sort of men it is easy to trace the original of banks, stocks,
stock-jobbing, assurances, friendly societies, lotteries, and the
like.

To this may be added the long annual inquiry in the House of Commons
for ways and means, which has been a particular movement to set all
the heads of the nation at work; and I appeal, with submission, to
the gentlemen of that honourable House, if the greatest part of all
the ways and means out of the common road of land taxes, polls, and
the like, have not been handed to them from the merchant, and in a
great measure paid by them too.

However, I offer this but as an essay at the original of this
prevailing humour of the people; and as it is probable, so it is
also possible to be otherwise, which I submit to future
demonstration.

Of the several ways this faculty of projecting have exerted itself,
and of the various methods, as the genius of the authors has
inclined, I have been a diligent observer and, in most, an
unconcerned spectator, and perhaps have some advantage from thence
more easily to discover the faux pas of the actors. If I have given
an essay towards anything new, or made discovery to advantage of any
contrivance now on foot, all men are at the liberty to make use of
the improvement; if any fraud is discovered, as now practised, it is
without any particular reflection upon parties or persons.

Projects of the nature I treat about are doubtless in general of
public advantage, as they tend to improvement of trade, and
employment of the poor, and the circulation and increase of the