A Collection of Chirurgical TractsBeckett, William
Science
A Collection of Chirurgical Tracts
Beckett, William
Surgery
Now, the _Publick Stews_ will regulate this Affair so precisely, and
with such critical Exactness, that one Year with another, we shall not
have one Woman employ’d in the Publick Service more than is absolutely
necessary, nor one less than is fully sufficient.
When this Project is first set on foot, the vast Choice and Variety
there is at present of these Women, will give us an Opportunity of
making a very beautiful Collection; and will, doubtless, for some
Time, occasion a considerable Run upon the Publick; so that _Private
Whoring_, the only Nursery of our Courtezans, may probably remain too
long neglected: For the whole Body of our incontinent Youth, like a
standing Army, being employ’d in constant Action, there cannot well be
spar’d a sufficient Detachment to raise the necessary Recruits.
But however true this may be, we shall thereby suffer no Inconvenience;
for if the Supplies of young Women, which we may reasonably expect from
the Northern and Western Parts of these Kingdoms, or from such Places
as are remote and out of the Influence of this _Scheme_: I say, if
these Supplies should not prove sufficient to answer the Greatness of
the Demand, and that the Reputation of the _Stews_ upon this Account,
should begin to flag, why then the worst Accident that can befal, is a
gradual Relapse into our former State of _Private Whoring_; and this
no farther than is just necessary and to recruit the _Stews_, and
thereby make them retrieve their former Character: For every Woman
who is debauch’d more than is barely necessary, only brings so much
additional Credit and Reputation to the _Stews_, and in some measure
atones for the Loss of her own Chastity, by being a Means to preserve
that of others; so that whenever the Tide of private Lewdness runs too
high, and exceeds the just and ordinary Bounds, it must of Course, by
encouraging the _Publick Stews_, immediately suffer a proportionable
Ebb: That is to say, it must be reduced again so low, that there will
remain but just a sufficient Quantity to supply the _Stews_; which is
as low, as in the Nature of the Thing is possible.
I might here lavish out Encomiums, and take Occasion to dwell upon
those many Advantages that will accrue to the _Nation_ by this
admirable Scheme; but shall only take Notice of this peculiar
Excellence, which it has above all other Schemes, that it necessarily
executes itself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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