with this distemper, I should consent to admit only twenty thousand at first, by way of experiment, amounting to 1000

Of the incurable vain, affected, and impertinent, I should at least admit ten thousand; which number I am confident will appear very inconsiderable, if we include all degrees of females, from the duchess to the chambermaid; all poets, who have had a little success, especially in the dramatic way, and all players, who have met with a small degree of approbation.  Amounting only to 500

By which plain computation it is evident, that two hundred thousand persons will be daily provided for, and the allowance for maintaining this collection of incurables may be seen in the following account.

Per day.
For the Incurable
Fools, being           20,000 at one shilling each               L1000
Knaves                 30,000          ditto                      1500
Scolds                 30,000                                     1500
Scribblers             40,000                                     2000
Coxcombs               10,000                                      500
Infidels               10,000                                      500
Liars                  30,000                                     1500

For the Incurably
Envious                20,000                                     1000
Vain                   10,000                                      500
_______                                   ______
Total maintained,     200,000                   Total expense, L10,000

                                                    M. Th.  H.
  From whence it appears, that the daily expense
  will amount to such a sum, as in 365
  days comes to L3,650,000

And I am fully satisfied that a sum, much greater than this, may easily be raised, with all possible satisfaction to the subject, and without interfering in the least with the revenues of the crown.

In the first place, a large proportion of this sum might be raised by the voluntary contribution of the inhabitants.

The computed number of people in Great Britain is very little less than eight millions; of which, upon a most moderate computation, we may account one half to be incurables.  And as all those different incurables, whether acting in the capacity of friends, acquaintances, wives, husbands, daughters, counsellors, parents, old maids, or old bachelors, are inconceivable plagues to all those with whom they happen to be concerned; and as there is no hope of being eased of such plagues, except by such an hospital, which by degrees might be enlarged to contain them all:  I think it cannot be doubted, that at least three millions and an half of people, out of the remaining proportion, would be found both able and desirous to contribute so small a sum as twenty shillings per annum, for the quiet of the kingdom, the peace of private families, and the credit of the nation in general.  And this contribution would amount to very near our requisite sum.