250

The governors hereupon settle the claims of these persons, and make
publication "that whereas such and such seamen, members of the
society, have in an engagement with a French privateer been so and
so hurt, their claims upon the office, by the rules and agreement of
the said office, being adjusted by the governors, amounts to 250
pounds, which, being equally divided among the subscribers, comes to
1s. 3d. each, which all persons that are subscribers to the said
office are desired to pay in for their respective subscriptions,
that the said wounded persons may be relieved accordingly, as they
expect to be relieved if the same or the like casualty should befall
them."

It is but a small matter for a man to contribute, if he gave 1s. 3d.
out of his wages to relieve five wounded men of his own fraternity;
but at the same time to be assured that if he is hurt or maimed he
shall have the same relief, is a thing so rational that hardly
anything but a hare-brained follow, that thinks of nothing, would
omit entering himself into such an office.

I shall not enter further into this affair, because perhaps I may
give the proposal to some persons who may set it on foot, and then
the world may see the benefit of it by the execution.


II.--FOR WIDOWS.


The same method of friendly society, I conceive, would be a very