Now, if this Maxim stands good, it is the Obligation of every true Lover of his _Country_, to have that in View; and not, from a Regard to _Particulars_, run the Hazard of sacrificing the _Whole_. Their _Misfortunes_ ought to have no Weight, nor any _Contrivance_ to ease them, prevail, in Balance with our _Country_. Our late _Project_, if it could have been held up, would have created such a _Luxury_, that that very Thing alone would have undone the _Nation_, and would have sunk us; tho' not with such a _Rapidity_, as the Way which we have now in some measure escap'd. * * * * * The _Matter_ standing in this Light, the only View is the _Benefit_ of our _Country_. The _Body Politick_ is very weak, and requires an honest and able _Physician_; and where to find him, is the only Thing in Question. Let us consider, whether this design'd _Ingraftment_ of _Nine Millions_ into the _Bank_, and _Nine Millions_ into the _East-India_ Company, will prove any real Benefit to the _Nation_ as a _Nation_? No surely, that cannot be pretended; but only, that they making greater Dividends, may be of Service to _Individuals_; and yet that is much to be doubted. For as to the _Bank_, the Capital was too big before to render any great _Advance_: And had it not been for a new Practice, first begun by the _South-Sea_ Company, of Lending Money on their _Stock_; had it not been, I say, for their imitating (tho' with Caution) that _infamous Practice_, their Dividends would have been reduc'd to _Seven per Cent._ or under. And for the _East-India_ Company, their _Trade_ is so far extended, especially at this Juncture, when they are forc'd to _over-trade_ themselves, in order to ruin the _Ostenders_, that it's look'd on already as a _Grievance_: And yet by adding _Nine Millions_, they must divide _Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds_ Profit more than before. And notwithstanding their _Trade_ (as I said before) was then a _Grievance_; to what an Extension must it be driven now, to _divide_ such a Profit; when hitherto they never _divided_ above _One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Pounds_ a Year Profit? But will it not be a Second _Injustice_ to the _Annuitants_, after so great a _Diminution_ of their Estates, to have _Two Thirds_ of it _ingrafted_ on a _precarious Bottom_? All Stocks having been suffer'd to divide above the Value of the _Nett Produce_ of their Capital; a sure Way to distress _Trade_: Especially when Corporations are suffer'd to issue out _Bonds_, without Trading with the _Money_, but purely to advance their _Stock_. The _Two Ingraftments_ are brought in, in order to help the _Proprietors_, by Advantages of _Dividends_, to a greater Income than the Stock could make, if retain'd in the _South-Sea_; and so to raise the Nominal Price of Stock. Whether it will do the former, is a Doubt; but if so, the Stock had better been kept where it was; and if the latter, it will be only a _New Bubble_, to ruin us.