Founder, and the rest chosen by them out of the body of Proprietors. The Founder flatters himself, by the rapid, success that has attended all the other schemes of the same nature that have been lately produced, that he has already unfolded as much of his plan as will induce a sufficient number of Subscribers to come forward. But having heard it rumoured, that some timorous persons are making haste to sell their shares in còncerns of the joint stock kind from idle apprehensions, it may be advisable to enter into some farther expla nations, by way of raising, and supporting the spirit of national adventure. The chief ground of apprehension and alarm, I understand, is the Act of the sixth of Geo. I. c. 18. Now, to say the truth, it is not wonderful that persons of weak nerves should be shaken by such denunciations from the Legislature as this Act contains. But surely there must be some means of evading the force of an Act of Parliament which tends to cut up honest speculation by the roots. Nay, if there were not some certain method known in law for overturning such Acts, surely so skilful a lawyer as Mr. Brown, of Golden Lane, would hardly venture to propose his five million bank, in the very face of that enormous breast-work of law which the Bank of England has so long considered as the impregnable bulwark of her monopoly. But even admitting that the proposed scheme is against law, it is very little the worse on that account. In the first place it may be taken for granted that all wise promoters of schemes of this kind take shares, not to keep, but to sell. Now, considering that at the present moment there are not above half as many projects afloat as in the memorable times of the South Sea, and that they are not wilder nor less plausible, there is evidently a good chance that the furor which VOL. XI. has has taken a century to accumulate, will not abate till the shares are at a premium. This point being once gained, and the profit secured by the prudent adventurer, the courts of law or the parliament may dissolve the Company, or abate it as a nuisance at their own time, as was formerly done. But it is possible this may not happen yet for a year or more; and when the time does arrive, there will indeed be a cry, a very great cry of distress, but it will be from the poets, country gentlemen, and spinsters, who buy shares at second hand; while the original speculators from whom they bought them, are enjoying their profits in silence. Thus, though one cannot pretend to doubt that bubbles must burst now as well as a hundred years ago, when they are blown equally thin, yet a man may safely manage them who is at due pains to understand their nature. It is on these principles that the Founder of the British Hair Broom Company presumes to call for the support of the enlightened adventurers who have set so many other machines of equal importance a-going. The minuter branches of his plan he reserves for the General Meeting; but he has been so much struck with the ingenuity of the proposals for the new FireOffice, to be called the Eagle, that he cannot help referring to them as the groundwork of his system. In particular, he entirely approves that original invention of forcing business, namely, by employing the capital of the said Eagle Company in buying lands, the houses to be built on which, at any future time, shall be compelled to insure themselves in that Office. Thus, as the proposals observe, it will soon be able to command an extensive business. This naturally suggests the propriety of an understanding with the Eagle, by which the said houses shall be compelled to buy their brooms from the British Hair Broom Company exclusively. The members of the Company will of of course be bound to sweep with nothing else. And in order to secure the supply of the best bristles, every Subscriber shall be enjoined to keep at least one pig of the lean long hair sort, a breed which of late years has been greatly declining in England. Some persons of small experience doubt how so large a capital can be employed to advantage in the making and selling of brooms. To which it is sufficient to answer, that the objection applies alike to all other schemes of this kind. The South Sea Company set out with catching whales, and they have to this day the legal right to half the water on the globe; yet they have long ceased to have either boat or harpoon, and use no more water than bubbles out of their fountain in Broad Street. There are a hundred ways of laying out money; and though there be not so many of getting it back, yet, while shares sell for a profit, that is nothing to the purpose. The Founder has considerable experience in matters of this kind, and he is ready to stake his life, that seven years hence the British Hair Broom Company will be as flourishing a concern as any of its rivals. It is not intended, that it shall have much of its property in goods or in buildings; and when the general crash occurs, that Company will escape the easiest which is not incumbered with brewhouses, wine-vaults, and distilleries at its tail. Subscriptions will be received at Cole's Coffeehouse, in Air Street, until the 23d instant, when à general Meeting will be appointed. Nov. 18 P 2 CITY CITY SUBSCRIPTION GAZETTE COMPANY. AT [From the Oracle.] Ta numerous MEETING of GENTLEMEN, held at SWELL HALL, Honey Lane Market, on Tuesday Evening last ; LORD SHOT, in the Chair;. BEVAN LARK, Esq. Deputy; It was unanimously Resolved-That a Company under the above title be immediately formed, and that the Capital shall consist of 1,000,000 Farthings, to be raised by Shares of Eight Shillings each, by instalments of Two-pence Weekly.—To calculate upon the innumerable advantages that will accrue from this promising concern, would be superfluous. The subscribers will have the inestimable privilege of going on foot through all the turnpike-gates in the united kingdom, the exclusive right of reading four hundred provincial newspapers, and the uncontrolled permission, never to drink small, when they can get strong beer. Subscriptions are received at the following respectable NIGHT-HOUSES: the Goose and Gridiron, Tobit's Dog, the Hole in the Wall, and the Finish, where a prospectus may be had gratis; as also of the Secretary, Mr. Coddle, Old 'Change, Cheapside. Νου. 20. PUBLIC COMPANY OF SCAVENGERS. AT a Meeting of very respectable Citizens, held at the Old Sea South House, the great profits arising from Night-work, and cleansing the Streets of the Metropolis, were taken into consideration. It was agreed, that a Committee be appointed to carry the following resolutions into effect:-*** That That a sum, not exceeding 500,000l. be raised in shares of 20s. each, and to be the Capital of the Public Company of Scavengers. That the Directors be chosen from among the most athletic part of the Subscribers, with a salary of 500d. per annum each. It was thought necessary to add that salary, and to have tall, raw-boned fellows for Directors; as they will have to perform the duty of flogging the refractory menials employed in emptying privies, and sweeping the filthy parts of the town, viz. Wapping, East Smithfield (not omitting the quarter of the Jews), Pettycoat Lane, Smock Alley, &c. That to increase the employment of the labourers, and consequently the profits of the Subscribers, it was resolved to use none but genuine tools, and to do the work in a twentieth part of the time at present occupied by the common Nightien. That the Labourers do consist of 1000 men; and to distinguish them from the Firemen of London, it was agreed that their dress be a yellow jacket, buttoned behind, flannel breeches, black collar, tin cap, and jack-boots. 3 That Parliament be applied to for a Bill, to enable the Directors to employ the Bow-street Runners, tỏ press into the service of the Company of Scavengers all uncertificated bankrupts, fellows who have stood in the pillory, men who have robbed their creditors, all the known black-legs, men of ruined characters who have no apparent means of getting an honest livelihood, and all those scoundrels who are at present seeking to rob the Public under the.pretence of certain Institutions for carrying on, trade; ring-droppers, resurrection-men, and fellows returned from transport átion. Subscriptions are taken in at the different Banking Houses in the Old Bailey and Cold Bath Fields; and by his Honour, the Secretary, Jack Ketch |