The undoubted art of thriving wherein is shewed : 1. That a million L. sterling money, or more if need be, may be raised for propogating the trade of the nation, &c. without any kind of prejudice to the leiges, but on the contrair to their great vtility and advantage, 2. How the Indian and African Company may propogat [sic] their trade, and that trade and manufacturers of all sorts may by encouraged to the honour, strength and wealth of the nation, 3. How every one according to his quality, may live comfortably and happily : concluding with several thoughts tuching [sic] the management of publick concerns.

SECT. III Which Respects Mechanicks, Husband∣men, &c.

TRADESMEN, Farmers and O∣thers of the like Imployments, being a Degree above the Com∣mon sort of Servants, come in the next Class to be spoken of; And tho their

Condition may seem to be better than the former, yet many times some of them are more straitned than Servants themselves, by Reason of some Acci∣dents happening contrary to their Ex∣pectations.

To prevent Accidents no Rule can be given; Nevertheless if People of these Employments be careful and Cau∣tious, they may Regulat their Affairs so, that seldom any thing will happen to defeat their Designs.

To give particular Directions how exery one may order his Affairs to the best Advantage, were a difficult Task, and that which would be very tedi∣ous; But that wherein I Judge People most frequently Err, and by which they come to fail, being a Miscalculation as to the State of their Affairs, not truly Ballancing their Accompts, not considering how to proportion their Outgivings to their Incomes; this shall be briesly touched, and some General Rules given touching their Conduct in

this behalf, as for their manner of Labouring buying and selling, and the like, I suppose they may be pret∣ty expert, and shall therefore pass it this being the only thing infuised in them by those who bread them to their Respective Imployments.

That which frequently tends to the Impovirishment of many, Proceeding from their not making a Just Calcula∣tion as to the state of their Affairs, and not Ballanceing of their Accounts, as is said; that which every one would take care in, is to make a Just Bal∣lance of his Profites and Incomeings, to what he has Occasion daily to Dis∣putse or give out, and if he find that his outgivings be greater than what he Receives, he must of Necessity Retrinsh his Spending, and proportion it to what he gets in, or otherwise he cannot expect to continue in any Tol∣erable Condition.

Let none think that this is a thing Impossible, alledging that their Out∣givings

are already Retrinched, as much as can be,, for it has been al∣ready shewen, that those in the mean∣est Capacity are able to sustain them∣selves, and untill their Outgivings be reduced to the lowest Degree, they may allwise be Retrinched, and better to do it betimes as let it Run to too great a length, and then be Reduced to the last Extreamity. No doubt, when most People find their Condition grow worse, they have Expectations to better it again, and for that end per∣haps may take several Measures dif∣ferent from their former Course of Management, but if those prove like∣wise ineffectual, he most conform him self to such a way of liveing, as may Correspond to his present Condition, or otherwise he cannot Rationally ex∣pect, but it will daily become worse and in the end tend to his Irrepare∣able Loss.

To make a particular calculation of the Incomes or Profites, and of the

Expence or Dispursements of every dif∣ferent Degree of People is impossible, they being so Various, but some things in the General would be considered.

First, That every one take a par∣ticular Account of his own Profit and Expences, if at the end of the Year he find the Later to exceed the for∣mer, consider wherein he has been most Extravagant or Negligent, and therein make amends for the Future.

2dly, It would be considered, that tho his Profits may Ballance his Ex∣pence, yet seing some Extraordinar Accidents may happen, 'tis necessar that his Expence should be some less than his Profits, when nothing Extra∣ordinar occurs, it being conveniant as the proverb is, that something be keeped for the sore foot.

3dly, His own Circumstances at the time would be considered, that is to say, whither his Family be nomerous or few; If nomerous and consequently requiring so much to sustain it, that

it will nor readily require more, than may he go near to spend his whole Profits, but if his Family be in its In∣fantry, that is to say while he has few or no Children, and Apparently will have more, he may not go so great a length in Spending as at other times, it being necessar that some thing be Reserved for the growing State of his Familie, Again, when his Children come to Age, and are Capable to Work, they will be a great help to him, and conseqently he needs not Retrinch his Dispursements so much.

And lastly, that at all times 'tis Convenient to keep within Bounds, and never let the Disbursements exceed the Profit.

If it be alledged that this is Possible, for at some times they may meet with Disappointments and considerable los∣ses, 'tis Answered these cases are ex∣cepted, for what I spake of is only in O••dinar Cases, no Humane Endea¦vours can prevent Accidents, not provide for all Events.

But if some should say that even in the common course of their Manage∣ment, they are not able to get this done, either by the decay of their Em∣ployment, or that they have never fallen in a way of Trade. To this I can say nothing, but that they must Retrench their Dispursements till they bring them as low as can be, and ra∣ther let this be done in time, than after things come too great a length, for as the Proverb is hetter hain at the Breard as the bottom; and if they can afterward advance their Fortune they may easily their profits Live up to; And as to the matter of their Trade I would only say, deal fairly. ingeniously and discreetly with all, for as this is a duty in point of Con∣science, so is it no less necessary in Matter of Interest, and the chief thing that will engadge Customers: for whatever a covetous Person gains by fraudulent Tricks at some times, he is ••eady to loss much more by the

wound this gives to his Reputation.

How their spending ought to be proportioned to their Profits I shall touch in another place.