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Yarranton accordingly urged its introduction into England。 Part of
his scheme consisted of a voluntary register of real property； for
the purpose of effecting simplicity of title； and obtaining relief
from the excessive charges for law；*
＇footnote。。。
It is interesting to note in passing； that part of Yarranton's scheme
has recently been carried into effect by the Act （25 and 26 Vict。 c。
53） passed in 1862 for the Registration of Real Estate。
。。。＇
as well as enabling money to be readily raised for commercial
purposes on security of the land registered。
He pointed out very graphically the straits to which a man is put who
is possessed of real property enough； but in a time of pressure is
unable to turn himself round for want of ready cash。 〃Then；〃 says he；
〃all his creditors crowd to him as pigs do through a hole to a bean
and pease rick。〃 〃Is it not a sad thing；〃 he asks； 〃that a
goldsmith's boy in Lombard Street； who gives notes for the monies
handed him by the merchants； should take up more monies upon his
notes in one day than two lords； four knights； and eight esquires in
twelve months upon all their personal securities？ We are； as it were；
cutting off our legs and arms to see who will feed the trunk。 But we
cannot expect this from any of our neighbours abroad； whose interest
depends upon our loss。〃
He therefore proposed his registry of property as a ready means of
raising a credit for purposes of trade。 Thus； he says； 〃I can both in
England and Wales register my wedding； my burial； and my christening；
and a poor parish clerk is entrusted with the keeping of the book；
and that which is registered there is held good by our law。 But I
cannot register my lands； to be honest； to pay every man his own； to
prevent those sad things that attend families for want thereof； and
to have the great benefit and advantage that would come thereby。 A
register will quicken trade； and the land registered will be equal as
cash in a man's hands； and the credit thereof will go and do in trade
what ready money now doth。〃 His idea was to raise money； when
necessary； on the land registered； by giving security thereon after a
form which be suggested。 He would； in fact； have made land； as gold
now is； the basis of an extended currency； and he rightly held that
the value of land as a security must always be unexceptionable； and
superior to any metallic basis that could possibly be devised。
This indefatigable man continued to urge his various designs upon the
attention of the public until he was far advanced in years。 He
professed that he was moved to do so （and we believe him） solely by
an ardent love for his country； 〃whose future flourishing；〃 said he；
〃is the only reward I ever hope to see of all my labours。〃 Yarranton；
however； received but little thanks for his persistency； while he
encountered many rebuffs。 The public for the most part turned a deaf
ear to his entreaties； and his writings proved of comparatively small
avail； at least during his own lifetime。 He experienced the lot of
many patriots； even the purestthe suspicion and detraction of his
contemporaries。 His old political enemies do not seem to have
forgotten him； of which we have the evidence in certain rare
〃broadsides〃 still extant； twitting him with the failure of his
schemes； and even trumping up false charges of disloyalty against
him。*
＇footnote。。。
One of these is entitled 'A Coffee…house Dialogue； or a Discourse
between Captain Yand a Young Barrister of the Middle Temple； with
some Reflections upon the Bill against the D。 of Y。' In this
broadside； of 3 1/2 pages folio； published about 1679； Yarranton is
made to favour the Duke of York's exclusion from the throne； not only
because he was a papist； but for graver reasons than he dare express。
Another scurrilous pamphlet； entitled 'A Word Without Doors；' was
also aimed at him。 Yarranton； or his friends； replied to the first
attack in a folio of two pages； entitled 'The Coffee…house Dialogue
Examined and Refuted； by some Neighbours in the Country ；
well…wishers to the Kingdom's interest。' The controversy was followed
up by 'A Continuation of the Coffee…house Dialogue；' in which the
chief interlocutor hits Yarranton rather hard for the miscarriage of
his 〃improvements。〃 〃I know；〃 says he； 〃when and where you undertook
for a small charge to make a river navigable； and it has cost the
proprietors about six times as much； and is not yet effective； nor
can any man rationally predict when it will be。 I know since you left
it your son undertook it； and this winter shamefully left his
undertaking。〃 Yarrantons friends immediately replied in a four…page
folio； entitled 'England's Improvements Justified； and the Author
thereof； Captain Y。； vindicated from the Scandals in a paper called a
Coffee…house Dialogue； with some Animadversions upon the Popish
Designs therein contained。' The writer says he writes without the
privity or sanction of Yarranton； but declares the dialogue to be a
forgery； and that the alleged conference never took place。 〃His
innocence； when he heard of it； only provoked a smile； with this
answer； Spreta vilescunt； falsehoods mu st perish； and are soonest
destroyed by contempt； so that he needs no further vindication。 The
writer then proceeds at some length to vindicate the Captain's famous
work and the propositions contained in it。
。。。＇
In 1681 he published the second part of 'England's Improvement；'*
＇footnote。。。
This work （especially with the plates） is excessively rare。 There is
a copy of it in perfect condition in the Grenville Library； British
Museum。
。。。＇
in which he gave a summary account of its then limited growths and
manufactures； pointing out that England and Ireland were the only
northern kingdoms remaining unimproved； he re…urged the benefits and
necessity of a voluntary register of real property； pointed out a
method of improving the Royal Navy； lessening the growing power of
France； and establishing home fisheries； proposed the securing and
fortifying of Tangier； described a plan for preventing fires in
London； and reducing the charge for maintaining the Trained Bands；
urged the formation of a harbour at Newhaven in Sussex； and； finally；
discoursed at considerable length upon the tin； iron； linen； and
woollen trades； setting forth various methods for their improvement。
In this last section； after referring to the depression in the
domestic tin trade （Cornish tin selling so low as 70s。 the cwt。）； he
suggested a way of reviving it。 With the Cornish tin he would combine
〃the Roman cinders and iron…stone in the Forest of Dean； which makes
the best iron for most uses in the world； and works up to the best
advantage； with delight and pleasure to the workmen。〃 He then
described the history of his own efforts to import the manufacture of
tin…plates into England some sixteen years before； in which he had
been thwarted by Chamberlaine's patent； as