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pany in the City, it is to be feared that after much solicitation, I should have been at last answered, That since it concerned all Companies as much as any one, unless all would joyn, one would do nothing, and to make all of them so to joyn, was a work beyond my power and patience.
As for particular men, I found them generally to professe a willingnesse to contribute, but many were unwilling that others should have the same benefit with them for nothing: besides, it was impossible for me to bring any considerable number of them together,
I propounded to some freinds, to move the State to lay an additionall taxe upon writing paper, though never so small, and to employ the same towards the advancement of Arts, somwhat (if they thought fit) according to my printed draught thereof, allowing me in particular some small part of those profits, not only as a reward of mine invention, but as an engagement to labour in the designe of promoting Arts. But this proposition (being thought too subject to debates in the Houses, and to crosse too much the nature of the times, when men complain enough already of impositions) was waved, although, could it have been pursued, it had been the most proper and just of all other. For certainly, according to the use and expence of paper, the use of this invention might best be measured, and consequently rewarded, and if men paid a farthing extraordinary in two of three quires of paper, for the accommodation of such an Art, and for the carrying on of publike, profitable, and honourable designes, I conceive it had been no crying oppression, so that all these
