may reasonably be
presumed, that all good Christians in England will come as fast into the
subscriptions for his encouragement, as they have already done
throughout the kingdom of Ireland. For what greater proof could this
author give of his Christianity, than, for bringing about this
Swearing-act, charitably to part with his coat, and sit starving in a
very thin waistcoat in his garret, to do the corporal virtues of feeding
and clothing the poor, and raising them from the cottage to the palace,
by punishing the vices of the rich. What more could have been done even
in the primitive times!

THOMAS HOPE.

From my House in St. Faith's Parish,
London, August 10, 1720.

P.S.--For the benefit of the author, application may be made to me at
the Tilt-Yard Coffee-house, Whitehall.

THE SWEARER'S BANK.

NOTE.

The plan for the establishment of a National Bank in Dublin was
first put forward in 1720 in the form of a petition presented to
the King by the Earl of Abercorn, Viscount Boyne, Sir Ralph Gore,
and others. It was proposed to raise a fund of L500,000 for the
purpose of loaning money to merchants at a comparatively low rate
of interest. The King approved of the petition, and directed that a
charter of incorporation for such a bank should pass the Great Seal
of Ireland. When the matter came up for discussion in the Irish
Houses of Legislature, both the Lords and Commons rejected the
proposal on the ground that no safe foundation for such an
establishment could be found. (See note _post_.)

During and after the discussion on this project in the legislature
a pamphlet controversy arose in which two able writers
distinguished themselves--Mr. Henry Maxwell and Mr. Hercules
Rowley. The former was in favour of the bank while Mr. Rowley was
against it.

Mr. Maxwell argued soundly from the ground on which all banking
institutions were founded. Mr. Rowley, however, pointed out that
the condition of Ireland, dependent as that country was on
England's whims, and interfered with as she always had been, by
English selfishness, in her commercial and industrial enterprises,
would not be bettered were the bank to prove even a great success.
For, should the bank be found in any way to touch the trade of
England, it might be taken for gra