An Essay Upon Projects

But evidently before their time, as some never used, and others only after many years! That is my opionion anyway.

This is a more technical book by the great satirical writer, although now and then the satirist has the upper hand: 'so I have seen shares in joint-stocks dwindle away till ... no buyer (the fine new word for nothing-worth).' This book is a plea for - a bigger Bank of England, capable of forcing extortionate intrest rates down - a Merchant Court and a Bankruptcy Court, specialized in commercial litigation - industrial insurance (mutual help in case of disaster) - better roads, 'which promote universal correspondence, without which our inland trade could not be managed' - a fool-house - a charity-lottery for the maintenance of the poor - a universal welfare system (pension and health insurance): 'that all persons in the time of their health and youth, while they are able to work and spare it, should lay up some small part of their gettings as a deposit in safe hands ... to relieve them if by age or accident they come to be disabled' - taxation should be equitable: 'every man may be taxed in due proportion of his estate ... Here they should find a certain rich man rated today a 1000 pounds stock, and to-morrow offering 27000 pounds for an estate.' 'We read of the inhabitants of Constantinople that they suffered their city to be lost for want of contributing in time for its defense.' - the education of women: 'one of the most barbarous customs in the world, considering us as a civilized and a Christian country, that we deny the advantage of learning to women.' - a Royal Academy in order to polish and refine the English tongue - a Military Academy, for 'war is the best academy on the world, where men study by necessity, and practise by force.' Defoe defends some of his pleas with detailed budgets as a proof for their financial feasibility. Although this book is partly out-of-date, it is the work of a man of vision. But in view of its technicality, I recommend it only for historians and Defoe-fans.

This is a truly fascinating read, and provides great insights into how these grand projects (be they nation-building or war machines) were funded. Defoe was highly critical of the “projectors” - what we would call investors - but recognised that many projects had left a positive legacy on the world.

This is a more technical book by the great satirical writer, although now and then the satirist has the upper hand: 'so I have seen shares in joint-stocks dwindle away till ... no buyer (the fine new word for nothing-worth).' This book is a plea for - a bigger Bank of England, capable of forcing extortionate intrest rates down - a Merchant Court and a Bankruptcy Court, specialized in commercial litigation - industrial insurance (mutual help in case of disaster) - better roads, 'which promote universal correspondence, without which our inland trade could not be managed' - a fool-house - a charity-lottery for the maintenance of the poor - a universal welfare system (pension and health insurance): 'that all persons in the time of their health and youth, while they are able to work and spare it, should lay up some small part of their gettings as a deposit in safe hands ... to relieve them if by age or accident they come to be disabled' - taxation should be equitable: 'every man may be taxed in due proportion of his estate ... Here they should find a certain rich man rated today a 1000 pounds stock, and to-morrow offering 27000 pounds for an estate.' 'We read of the inhabitants of Constantinople that they suffered their city to be lost for want of contributing in time for its defense.' - the education of women: 'one of the most barbarous customs in the world, considering us as a civilized and a Christian country, that we deny the advantage of learning to women.' - a Royal Academy in order to polish and refine the English tongue - a Military Academy, for 'war is the best academy on the world, where men study by necessity, and practise by force.' Defoe defends some of his pleas with detailed budgets as a proof for their financial feasibility. Although this book is partly out-of-date, it is the work of a man of vision. But in view of its technicality, I recommend it only for historians and Defoe-fans.