mmissioners of trade and plantations. The
cause of the planters was defended vigorously, and managed in the house
of commons by alderman Beckford, a gentleman of vast possessions in
the island of Jamaica, who perfectly well understood, and strenuously
supported, the interest of that his native country.

FATE OF THE REGISTER BILL.

Abortive also proved the attempt to establish a law for keeping an
annual register of marriages, births, deaths, the individuals who
received alms, and the total number of people in Great Britain. A bill
for this purpose was presented by Mr. Potter, a gentleman of pregnant
parts and spirited elocution; who, enumerating the advantages of such a
law, observed, that it would ascertain the number of the people, and the
collective strength of the nation; consequently, point out those places
where there is a defect or excess of population, and certainly determine
whether a general naturalization would be advantageous or prejudicial
to the community; that it would decide what number of men might, on any
sudden emergency, be levied for the defence of the kingdom; and whether
the nation is gainer or loser, by sending its natives to settle, and
our troops to defend distant colonies; that it would be the means of
establishing a local administration of civil government, or a police
upon certain fixed principles, the want of which hath been long a
reproach to the nation, a security to vice, and an encouragement to
idleness; that in many cases where all other evidence is wanting,
it would enable suitors to recover their right in courts of justice,
facilitate an equal and equitable assessment in raising the present
taxes, and laying future impositions; specify the lineal descents,
relations, and alliances of families; lighten the intolerable burdens
incurred by the public, from innumerable and absurd regulations relating
to the poor; provide for them by a more equal exertion of humanity,
and effectually screen them from all risk of perishing by hunger, cold,
cruelty, and oppression. Whether such a law would have answered the
sanguine expectations of its patron, we shall not pretend to determine;
though, in our opinion, it must have been attended with very salutary
consequences, particularly in restraining the hand of robbery and
violence, in detecting fraud, bridling the ferocity of a licentious
people, and establishing a happy system of order and subordination. At
first the bill met with little oppos