<§ DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Treasure "Room ESSAY O N Trade in General ; And, on that of IRELAND in Particular, By the Author of Seasonable Remarks. And all King Solomon** drinking Vejfels were of Gold, and all the Vejfels of the Houfe of the Foreji of Le- banon were of pure Gold y none were of Silver ; it was nothing accounted of in the Days of Solomon* for the King had at Sea a Navy I Kings, Chap. 10. ver. zi, 22. DUBLIN: Printed by S. Powell, for George Ewinc , at the Angel and Bible in Damc^-Stretty 172 8, S^^^>^>^y?=y--Ns' ^"y- T O T H E Right Honourable William Conelly, Efq; Speaker of the Houfe of Commons, &c. Sir, THE Univerfal ne- glect of Trade, and the general Difpon- dencQ which on that Head is A 2 fo DEDICATION. fo remarkable amongft us, has prevail'd upon me, how unequal foever to the Under- taking to publifhthe follow- ing Tra6ts. I have already endeavour- ed to fhow how much it is the Intereft of England to promote and encourage our Induftry in thofe Branches of Trade that don't clafh with their own, being fully con- vinced that the belt and lu- red Way to obtain a Favour from t'other fide the Water, is by fhewing that it is their IntereA: to comply with us ; and I hope I nave made that Point as evident to the World DEDICATION. World as it is in it felf real- ly true ; but in the follow- ing Pages I endeavour to fhow the rife of Indufhy in the World \ the ballance of Trade, the way to difcover our Lofs or Gain thereon, and to govern and improve our Commerce: and in or- der to remove that Difpon- dence which has long been fatal to our Affairs, I have fhown how considerable our National Gain has been by Trade and Indufhy fmce the Time Sir William Petty made his Calculations. I have alfo given a brief ac- count of all the Monopolies . of DEDICATION. of the Englijh Trade, either by A6ts or Parliament or Royal Grants, and have ad- ded there to a Summary of all the Laws made iji England which in any manner afFe£t our Trade, and an Abftra£t of the Wants and Super- fluities of almoft all the known World ; but I have above all Things laboured to incite the landed Gentlemen to an Inquiry after that fort of Knowledge, on which ai lone depends the Grandeur and Profperity of Ireland in general, as well as their own particular good For- tunes • and thefe being the Sub- DEDICATION, Subje&s on which I treat ) to whom fhould I refort for Patronage and Proteftion, but to You, Sir? To You whole diftinguifhed Virtues have placed You at the high- eft degree of Honour and Truft in the State, and have made You to three fucceed- ing Monarchs an Obje£t of their warmeft Efteem and Favour: To You,Sir,in whom the Parliament of Your Country : An Irijh Parlia- ment ever fteddy in purfuit of the Publick-Good, have for {o many Years placed their fole and intire Confi- dence: To You whole con- fummate dEdicatiotk fummate Wifdom, whofe un- fhaken Loyalty, and whofe fteddy Adherence to the Rights and Liberties of Your Country, have as it were in- chanted all thofe Jealoufies and Diftrufts which either the People are ufed to enter- tain of a reigning Favourite, or the Prince of a zealous Patriot 5 and have rendred You at once the Favourite of the Prince and of the Peo- ple ; and I doubt not. Sir, how imperfectly foever I have handled thefe impor- tant Subje£ls, but You will from that Publick Spirit for which You have been always re- DEDICATION. remarkable, favour and coun- tenance my Efforts, fince they are the firft of the Kind that have appeared to us in any Drefs and fince in fb do- ing You may encourage abler Pens to fo neceflary an Inqui- My Lahpurs, Sir, have been very jFreely bellowed thereon for the good of my Country, and my principal View was to lay before the Houfe of Commons in a fummary Way, the State of our Trade, and the Means whereby a wife Legiilature may repair and improve it: A Knowledge highly defer- b ving DEDICATION. ving of the Attention of thole, who reprefent a Peo- ple labouring under Difficul- ties, and not to be relieved but by a vigorous and pru- dent Application to the Trade which they have yet left ; but it was almoft im- poflible for me to be fo ex- a£i therein as was necellary, fince my Intention, not to be known in the World for an Author, hindred me from making iiich clofe Inquiries into the publick Accounts, as might enable me, to lay be- fore theHoufe, a perfeo: Sy- ftem of our Trade and Na- vigation ; but fuch as it is I am DEDICATION. am emboldned to publifh it? by the Favourable Reception which my Seafonable Re- marks have met with; and if it has the good Fortune to be agreeable to You, Sir, and to the Commons of Ireland* I fhall not fail before the next Seflions to call in able Afliftants? and to lay before the Houfe an exa£t Scheme of our Trade and Navigati- on? of our Lois and Gain by each particular Trade? of our Money-Matters? of our In- land Bulinefs? and of every Branch of our Manufactures? with Propofals for the Im- provement of each refpec- b a tively; • DEDICATION. tively ; towards which I have already made no fmall Pro- grefs. In the mean Time I beg leave to have the Honour of accounting my felf, SIR, Tour mofl Obedient^ Mofl Faithful, and Mofl Devoted Servant^ in- I N D E X Page OF the fir ft Rife of Trade 2 Of the natural and artificial Wealth of a Country 1 2 Interefls of Land and Trade infepara- ble 1 6 Of the Ballance of Trade 1 8 Rules for dij covering the fame 20 Our Trade with France for the Tear 17 inflated .. 24 Obfervations for the better management of Trade in general 2 8 Our gain by Trade from 1676 to 1725. computed 3 6 of INDEX Page 0/ the Ruffian Company 4 1 African Company 4 2 Turkey Company 4-7 Greenland Company 49 Newfoundland Company 50 Eaftland Company 5 1 Eaft-India Company ibid, South-Sea Company 5 3 Observations on the Navigation 4tl 56 On the Trade A3 and other Laws relat- ing to the Plantation Trade 7 2 To the Woollen Trade 7 4 To the Beef Trade 8 7 To the Linnen Trade. 88 Of the Wants and Superfluities of En- gland, 90 Of the Englifli Plantations 9 1 Of Denmark and Norway, 93 Of Sweeden 94 Of Pomerania 9 5 Of Pruffia ibid. Of Poland 96 O/Xourland 98 0/ I ND EX Of Livonia Of Mufcovy Of Germany Of the Spanifli Netherlands Of Holland Of France Of Spain Of Portugal Of Italy Of Turkey Of Africk Of the Eaft-Indies Abftratt of the Exports and' Imports of Ireland j for the\ nj 'tear 1725* AN 1 ( I ) A N £ S S A Y d n TRADE in General And that of Ireland in Particular, H& HEM Ambition and Power parcelled out the Earth into thePofleffions of particular Men, they foon betook themfelves to the Protefl-ion of Covenants and Agreements, for the peaceful En- joyment of thofe Properties which they engrolTed to themfelves ; by B which (2 ) • which Means, tying themfeWes down from Force and the ftronger Hand (till then their only LawJ it became neceffary to find out other Means of procuring from their Neighbours, thofe things which their own Grounds did not afford ; the Occalion foon offered ic felf, for the Defifeof Novelty Was uni- verfal, and enough were ready to exchange, thofe- rhings with which they were cloy\l, for greater Rari- ties ; and this Baiter was the Origi- nal of Trade. But when the Produce of parti- cular Countries became fcanty for the Support of their encreafmg In- habitants, and when the Defires of Men extended themfelves into dif- tant Climates, for Matter to furnifh out their Riot withal, this Method became highly inconvenient and troublelome, wherefore it was uni- versally agreed, to fix a certain Va- lue (?) lue upon fome lading and porta- ble Commodity, which might ferve 3s a Ballance to the Value of all others, and be as a Security to the Taker from the reft of the World, for ib much .as he fhould at any time require, and this Pas-par -tout was Money, . No wonder then if Money, ha- ving acquired this great Reputation in the World, and becoming (as it were) a Load-ftone, which drew tQ it all the valuable Things in Life, was quickly grown the univerfal Objed: of Ambition, ev 5 ry one be- ing affured, that fo much thereof as he could command, fomuch alfo {hould he command of whatever either his Neceflities or Inclina- tions required ; and from hence a- rofe that great Strife amongft Men, which has continued it felf down to this Dav, and is like to laft for ever* B 2 The (4) The PofTcflors of much, Have from the Beginning aflumed a Pow- er, to Lord it o'er the Poor, who being without Riches, and exclud- ed from a Share in the Land, were obliged through NeceiTity to make their Court to the Wealthy on fuch hard Terms as they were pleafed to impofe : When therefore either their own Extravagance, or the general Impropriation of Things reduced any to Want, they hired themfelves out to labour for thofe whom eafier Fortunes had rendered Indolent, or became their Tenants at certain Rents, which for a long time did not exceed aPart of what theirFarms produced; but as Money inereafed, the Love of Money inereafed alfo, and the Landlords not only raifed their Rents, but exacted them in Cafh ; this put them upon Ways and Means to acquire it, and forced them from their darling Eafe to La- bour (5) bour and Induftry. The Gain which enfued gave a Relifh to their Toils, and engaged them toprofecute their Labours, by which Means, thofe who before like Drones, lived on the Fat of the Common- wealth, be- came induftrious Bees to enrich it, whilft the reft who remained in the flothful Ina&ivity which they had forfaken, continued a ufelefs Load on the Land, no Ways en- creafmg its Wealth, and little, or not at all, contributing to the com- mon Good ; but a feverer Necef- fity compelling, even thofe too were driven to Labour; for the daily Encreafe of Money inhanced the Rents of Lands, and obliged more preflingly to Induftry, whilft the Merchant enriched by his foreign Commerce, allur'd them out by high Prices, and called them to fhare in the Wealth, brought in by Trade ; in which Qfe all thofe whom yvhom either Neceflky compelled, or the hopes of Gain engaged to an Application to Induftry, became Sharers in the Money, were enabled to out-b:d the Idlers in their Fa^Hls, and forced the Drones frqm their Hives, either tQ work for Bread,- qr to perifh for Want : Thus Meq wetfe brought from Sloth to Acti- on, and all Hands were fet to work, whilft ev'ry Application to Indu- ftry gave a Spring to Trade, and ev'ry Acquifition by Trade encou- raged to Induftry by the Rife which it occafioned on the Produce of La- bour, Thus -Force begot Property, the Impropriation of Things gave Rife to Trade, Trade required.. Money for the better Management thereof, Money begot Ambition and Avarice, and from thefe Monfters proceeded a motley Generation of Contention, civil Difcord, Oppreffion, Ufury, Fraud, (17) Fraud, Circumvention, and all thofe Evils with which the World is un- fortunately harafs'd and perplex'dj but evil as Money is, 'tis. however a neceflary Evil, and grown into fuch univerfal Efteem amongft Men, that without it no Bufinefs is to be done, no NecefTaries of Life tobe purchafed, nay, Virtue k felf is often meafured by Money, and Princes become formidable, not by the Extent of their Territories,- or the Numbers of their People, but for the Wealth of their Exchequer, and the Length of their Purfe, thofe therefore, whether in pri- vate or in publick Life, whe- ther a particular Society or a Peo- ple in general, who would make a Figure in the World, or get into the Efteem of their Neighbours, muffc above all things take care to be rich, for Riches is Wifdom, and Power, and Honour, and ev'ry (8 ) thing in this mercenary Ag& It feems therefore well to deferve our Enquiry how it is to be had, and by what Means to be introduced in- to a Country, and this fhall be the Subject of the following Pages, in which, if I hit upon any thing for the Information of thofe in Power, or but incite abler Heads to fo ne- ceffary an Enquiry, 'tis all my Am- bition would afpire to. Nature has fo wifely diftributed her Favours, that whatever is want- ing in any Country, either for Or- nament or Ufe, is fupplied in an Abundance of other Things, by which they are to be purchafed : Thus India has its Gold and Gemms, Arabia its Gumms and Spices, Per- fia its Silks* France and Spain their Wines and Fruits ; we a Land teem- ing with other Sorts of Riches, and a Sea abounding with Treafures, which are valuable and fought for by (9) hy all thofe Countries^ inforriucti,' that tho^ we have no Mines of Gold and Silver, yet we have the Means wherewith to purchafe them, arid bjr a proper Application to Trade, majr foon become rich in all thole foreign Comiriodities, which the Tempera* tare of our Heaven?, or the Cold- iiefs of our Soil deny us at home, for Trade is that whereby thole Things are introduced into a Coun- try which it felf fails to produce; Since therefore Trade is fo ufeful,' and indeed fo neceffary an Occupa- tion for a People, it behoves theni much to tfnderftand aright the Cori- ftitutiori of it, arid riot only to know their own Wants arid Superfluities; but thofe of other Countries alfo^ that they may the better regulate their Affairs, and fend their Com- modities to fitch Markets as have them in greateft Efteem, but above" all the Art of Improving thofe G Branches ( io > Braches of Trade which are Advan- tagious, and vvaining from thofe which are injurious to the Wealth of a Country, defences our Application, for ufeful as Trade is 5 it may how- ever for want of proper Regulations turn to the Difadvantage of a Coun- try, and become a Means to drain away all that Treafure, which it be- fore introduced ; thus Want by o- bliging to Induftry begets Wealth, and Wealth by a ftrange Reverfe, re- duces to Poverty again, if a prudent QEconomy is wanting ; for Indo- lence and Luxury are ever in th© Train of Wealth, and ftalk clofs upon the Heels of Riches, thefe be- get a mameful Negledl of Induftry^ and an immoderate Consumption or foreign Commodities, by which Means • our Importations become more expenfive, and our Expor- tation leis valuable, till at laft our Income falfe fhort of our Expence, and ( II ) and wherifoever this happens, either to a privatePerfon, or to a Nation in general, *tha$Alinute they have pafled the Summit of Fortune, and' run headlong to Indigence Jrid Jylifery. To form a right Judgment (Ihere- fore) on the Trade of any Country, we mult firft know what Proportion ks^Exportations and Importations bear one to the o|her, for as much as the one exceeds the other, fo much are they Gainers or lofers by Trade, for Example, if there be exported to foreign Markets to the value only of 100,000/. and imported from A- broad to the Value of i 50,000 /. the exported Commodities pay only for 100,000 /. of their foreign Cot*- iumptions, and the reft muft either be paid for in Money, or remain a Debt upon the Nation, l which is the fame thing, and how quick a Pace to Poverty they run who lofe 50 /. psr Cent, by Trade, is eafily under- stood, C 2 This ( 12 ) This Difadvantage in Trade muft proceed either from a want of In- diiftry in the Inbabfl|nta* or from their extravagant Coniumption of foreign Commodities, wherefore it is the mifinefs of a wife Adminiftration . in fuch a Cate to # lefTen the Expence, \>y iumptuary Laws and a prudent . Impojtion of Taxes upon the im- portation of fuch Commodities as perim arnongft them, and to encou- rage at the fame time to Induftry, and Manufactures by which the na- tural "Wealth of a Country is im- proved in its Value, and confequent- ly the Exports alio. There is a twofold Wealth in evVy Country ; one confifts in the Ample Produce of the Earth, and may therefore be called the natural Wealthy but the other, which is indeed . the greater Treafure, arifo from the Labour of the People im- proving upon tlje Former, and ad- - * "■ ": ' dins (13) jiing to its Value : Thus a Stone of Flax, which as it's plucked from the Earth, may be worth two Shillings, when fpun into fine Thread fells for 4 Pounds, but if wove into Linnen, gives a better Price ; and if wrought into Lace 5 extravagantly more ; and this additional Value, whatever it amounts to, is the artificial Wealth ; wherefore when the natu- ral Wealth is not fufhcient to de- fray the Expence of the People we muft have Recourfe to Art and la- bour, which feldom fails to retrieve Affairs, when proper Meafures are taken to flop thofe Drainjs which are occafioned by Riot and Luxury* Trade may be divided into Inland and Foreign ; Inland Trade is that by which Particular^ lofe or gain in their Dealings, one with the pther without increafing or diminiifiing the publick Wealth, and conlifts in buy- ing and ielling ajpongft themfeWes, which (*4) which being only a Commutation within the Country can neither in- troduce nor drain away Treafure ; but inconfiderable as it may there- fore feem, its however the chief Wheel of the grand Machine carry- ing to the Sea-ports, the Produce and &lanufa£tures of the Country, and returning from thence the Commo- dities and Money imported, to be difperfed through the innermoft Parts of the Land, as an Encou- ragement to new Labour and Indu- stry in order for other Exports, and here ends the Office of inland Trade, but foreign takes up the Burthen where that has laid it down, and conjifts in the Dealings of one Coun- try with another, in the Manage- meot of which, the Wifdom or Fol- ly of a People is quickly discovered, for this is the great Channel by which their Wealth is either received prloft, by this the Superfluities of other « *5 ) other Countries are to enter, and ty this their own is to iffue, here ther** fore a wite Legiflature watches care- fully that nothing noxious fhouilid be received; and nothing ifluc ta other Countries, which kept at home, might turn w greater Ad-* vantage ; here it is that the Import tationof foreign Vanities is to be reftrained, and (the 'Exportation of unmanufactured Commodities con- fined ; here it is that; foreign ftnifhedi Manufactures, which afford the People no Employment, and perifh amongft them are loaded aoddif^ couraged, whilft the Importation of Primums that f urnifh them with Matter to work upon, is eafed and promoted ; here the Manufactures of a Country are made tfa coiW£ cheaper to the Inhabitants than thofe of Strangers, tho' the Expence of making fliould be greater; and here, in fliort, is exercifed all the Myftery C t« )) Miftcry of growing rich by Trade^ whilft a prudent Adminiftration by a difcreet Impofitionof Taxes brings all thefe things about ; arid gives what Turns it thinks moft conve- nient tcf the Channels of Trade. There is nothing fo nearly con- cerned in Trade as L#nd, the Inte- refts of the one and the other are infeparable, and they muft always rife and fall together ; for as Trade is fupported by the Produee of Landy improved by Art and Labour into various Forms, and fitted to the Occaftons of foreign Countries, fo Land is raifed in its Value* by the Plenty of Money brought in by Trade, wherefore it greatly behove > thofe Gentlemen whde Fortunes are in Land, and whofe Rank in the World afford them a Profpett offharingin the Adminiftration, to understand well the Trade of their Country, that they may be able to 7 £ive ( 17) give Advice on fo important a Sub- ject whenfoever it comes before them, without giving themfelves up to the Councils of particular Traders, whofe private Interefts are a heavy Byas upon their Judg- ments, and lead often into very fa- tal Miftakes : Many worthy and honeft Gentlemen (no doubt) there are of that Vocation, but it is the Intereft of every body to be thought fo ; and that makes it almoft impofli- ble todiftinguifh. aright betwixt the Affe&ation of Virtue and Virtue it felf ; wherefore, I fay, it greatly behoves the Landed-men to be able to judge for themfelves, and to re- main no longer under the Direction of thofe whole Intereft it may pof- fibly be to miflead them* There is nothing more neceflary to be underftood by thofe who are to form Decrees, in Relation to Commerce, than the Difference in D Value ■ ( i8 ) . Value betv/een the Expectations and Importations of their Country, that being the Mealure of their Lofs and Gain by Trade ; this is commonly called the Ballance of Trade ; and may be divided into the General, and the Particular ; the general Ballance of Trade is our Lofs or Gain, by our general Deal- ings, with all the World : And it requires but little Art to difcover, whether this be for or a- gaintt us ; for its Symptoms are itrong ard obvious : A general De- pietiation of all Commodities, and, a Uiiiverfal Face of Poverty fpread- ing it felf over the Land, if it be againft us ; but high Prices and a chearful Plenty of Money, if it be for us ; but the particular Bal- lance of Trade refpedts our Dealings with particular Countries ; and is harder to be difcovered, tho' more necefTary to be underftood than the other ; '( *9 ) other ; for we may be Gainer the general/ and yet Lofers by Trade with particular Countri fuch a Degree, as may eat up i Part of our Profit by all t lie R e and by that Means gieatly retard oar growing rich ; fo Lkewife may v.-e be greatly Gainers by particular Branches of Trade, and yet Lofers by others, which like a fecret Dif- eafe prey upon our Vitals, and wade our Conftitution fafter than the wholefome Nourishment of the others can repair it ; but a wife Statefman, like a skilful Phifitian, fearches out the Caufe of this ge* neral Decay, and employs all his Art to difcover in what Part the Diftemper lies -, a Knowledge, with' out which, the Statefman, as well as the Phifitian, would ever be at a Lofs in the Application of his Re- medies, D 2 To ' ( 20 ) To arrive at this Knowledge in Trade, it is neceflary, not only to know the Difference in Value be- tween our Exports and Imports in general, but between thofe alfo to and from the Countries refpedtive- ly, with which we have any Com- merce ; in order to which, it will be proper to confider them, under the following Heads, vi%. As tranfadted by Natives in home- built Shipping. As tranfadted by Natives in foreign Shipping. As trarifadted by Strangers in home- built Shipping. As tranfadted by Strangers in foreign Shipping. » Then we mud compute what the Ships Freight and the Mer- chant's Expence and Profit may rea- fonably amount to per Cent, on the Commodities traded with ; for by adding that to the home Price of our (ai > our Expectations, we fhall come pretty near their felling Price at fo- reign Markets ; and by deducing the fame from the Price of Imports at our Markets, we fhall be very clofe upon their firftCoft at the Place of Lading ; this Article in England is rated at 2 5/. per Cent, and in all Probability it is not lefs with us, fince our Profit upon foreign Sales, is greater than theirs, and our Ex- penee lefs : Now if the whole Trade were managed by Natives in our own Ships, this Sum would entirely be faved to the Nation, on the Pur- chafe of its Imports ; and gained in the Sale of its Exports ; for the Freight, Expencc and Profit, iffuing all to Natives, wou 5 d only be a Computation within our felves, and of Confequence we drain to the Na- tion ; but as our Trade is carryed on partly by Strangers, they muft be paid whatever fails tp their Share of that (22) that Sum,' and (o much muft be added to the firft Coft of our Im- ports, and deduced from the felling Price of our Exports ; the Freight^ Expence, and Profit, or fo much thereof, as they earn, going always to thefe Countries, to which the Merchant and the Ship belongs ; but we muft take care to confider all Money and Bullion imported and ex- ported either in Trade or to anfwer Bills of Exchange^ apart from any other Commodity or Merchandize ; for whereas we count our Exports of other Commodities gain to the Na- tion, and our Imports Lofs in ref- pedt to Money 'tis juft the reverfe ; our Exports are all Lofs and our Im- ports Gain ; and we muft compute accordingly, if we would come at the Truth, for what avails it to gain on the Ballance of other Commodi- ties, if we lofe more than our Gains by an unprofitable IiTue of Money ? We 1*3) We are alio in the ftating of our Accounts, to have an Eftimateof our Lodes at Sea ; for fo much of our Exports as are loft before they arrive at Market, muft be deducted from the Value of our Exports (the Nation receiving no Value for them) and fo much of foreign Commodi- ties as have been purchafed by Na- tives, in order foi; Importation tho* loft by the Way, muft however be rated as imported, the Nation hav- ing paid Value for them. And when we have thus dated the Accounts of our Exportation and Importations refpe&ivcly, and dedufted the one from the pther, the Ballance is our Lofs or Gain by that Branch of Trade ; for Exam- ple,we find by the Cuftom-houfe Books for the Year ending 1725. that our Trade with France ilood thus. Ex- ( 24 ) Exports 214,422, Imports 141^ 5 o, Ballance 72,772. But the Imports as well as Ex- ports, being here rated at the felling Price in our Markets, without any Allowance for a Benefit on the Ar- ticle of Trade ; the Ballance of 72,772 muft be only the Ballance which wouM arife in Cafe the whole Trade were managed by Strangers in foreign Shipping ; but it is probable that two thirds of that whole Trade is managed by Natives in home built Shipping, and if fo, then adding 2 5 per Cent, to 2 thirds of our Exports, and deducting the fame from two thirds of our Imports, our Ballance on that Branch .will be 132,202; but as my prefent Intention is not fo much to be exadt in the Account it fclf, (V ) felf, as in the manner of dating it,' I will here diftinguifh it under fuch Heads as I have mentioned ; divi- ding our Imports and Exports into 4 equal Parts. That the Reader may the better underftand the Method which I propole for the more exa£t Difcovery of the Ballance ; i # Exported in home built Shipping by Natives to the-> Value or S 5l 6o 5i More by Natives in foreign Shipping to the Value of J 3 ,6oy I More by Scrangers in home built Shipping to the-* , _ r Value of S '*' * * More by Strangers in.foreign Shipping to the Value-* ^ , Exported in all at our Market-Price to the Value of 214,42% To which if we add if perCent.fov Freight Expcnce-» _, 6 c and Profit, ^ _ The felling Price at foreign Markets maybe 268,047 I But the Trade being managed partly by Foreigners, they muft be paid their Share of this 25 per Cant* which being deducted from the a- bove, the Remainder will be our Nati- onal Gain by Exportation, wherefore E To ( *6) To Strangers for Freight, Expence and Profit on"} 5-3, 605*/. worth exported by them in foreign > 13,401 Shipping at if I. per Cent. \ More to them Expence and Profit on 5*5. 605- /. ) worth Exported by them in our Shipping arccr > 10,711 paying our felves f I. per Cent. Freight. J More for Freight or 5-3,60;-/. worth Exported by-» us in foreign VefTcls at fl.perCent. s ' i>68o In all 26,802 And then our Exportation will bring us in 241, 225- But we Import from France as fol- lows, vi%& l. f ; By Natives in home built Shipping to the Value of 3 $-,4 1 x I. More by Natives in foreign Shipping to the Value of 3^,4 1 2 I More by Strangers in home built Shipping t.6 the Va- •» \ lueof S 3^.412? More by Strangers in foreign Shipping to the Value? ', G i ■ s JM**r fmportedinallatourMarket-PricetotheValueof 141, 6yo From which if we deduct 2 f I. per Cent, for Freight"? Expence and Profit. S 3T-4 1 z The firftCoft of our whole Import may be 106, 238 But we mud add to this Article 25- 1. per Cent, for Co "} much of our Import as was rurnifhed by Stran-/ gers, wherefore to Strangers for Freight, Ex-f 8,8/3 pence and Profit on 35?, 412/. worth imported by\ them in foreign Ships at 1? I. per Cent. J More to them Expence and Profit on 35% 412 /.") ~ worth imported by them in our Shipping after > paying our felves 5* I. per Cent. Freight. J More for Freight of 35-, 41 2/. worth imported by us7 1,761 in foreign Shipping at f I. per Gent. -» Tobeaddedinall ( *7 ) ■ L And then the Lofs on our Imports will be i a 3 , 044 But our Exportation brings us 24 1 , 2 2 5- Wherefore the Nation is Gainer on thcBallance of? .' , Qt thatTrade i im\ But if we have fent out any Sum of Monev, either in Trade or for the,Support of our Gentry travelling in that Country, it is fo much Lois to the Nation, and muft be deducted from our Gain ; and having fo done, we fliall not be very much miftaken in the Ballance of our Lofs and Gain by that Branch ; and fo for any other Branch of our lawful Trade, which that the curious Reader may the bet- ter be able to do for himfelf, I annex here to a lhort Abftrafl: of our Ex- ports and Imports to and from the feveral Countries with which we Trade, at a Medium of the felling Price in our Markets for the Year en- ding Lady-Day 1725 ; but before I conclude this Eflay ? it may not be E z am- . ( 28 ) improper to add the following Re- marks on the Management of Trade in general ; that when the Ballances of our particular Trades are difcover- ed, and when we are affured which are the advantagious and which the detrimental Branches of Commerce, we may the better be able to apply iuch political Remedies, as may ef- fectually flop the Drains which be- fore kept the Nation poor, and en- large thole Channels by which the Wealth was received. I. It is highly advantagious to a Nation to manage their own Trade in home built Shipping, becaufe in fuch Cafe the whole Freight, Ex- pence and Profit is gained to the Na- tion, on their Exports, and faved on their Imports, whereas if the Trade and Navigation iileft to Strangers^the Nation muft pay 2 5 1. per Cent,^/^. the Freight, Expence and Profit) more than it otherwise would for its Im- ports; ( 29 ) ports; and gain fo much lefs on its Exports. II. That Trade is the leaft benefici- al, which takes of the prim urns of Manufactures, and not the Manufac^ tures themfelves, becaufe it deprives the People of matter to work upon, and gives it to Strangers, et Vice Vcrfa^ that Trade is more advanta^ious which takes off our Manufactures, than that which takes primums only, becaufe it pays not only for the Pro- duce of our Lands, but for the Art and Labour of our People alfo* III, It is better to buy the primums of Manufactures from abroad,, than the Manufacture itfelf, becaufe in the firft Cafe, Value lflues only for the Materials, but in the laft, vye mult not only pay for the Materials, but for the Labour and Art alio whicl} brought them to perfection. IV, (3o) IV. When native Commodities fail to employ all theHands of aCountry, it is prudent to Import Foreign, to be Manufactured for re-exportation ; becaufe the Improvement thereon from Art and Labour, adds confide- Tably to its value, and is (as it were) a new Comodity which could not iffue without them. V. Buying in one Country to fell the fame to advantage in another, is a bufinefs of very great Profit, afford- ing not only to the Ships owner and the Merchant, but to the Nation alfo a confiderableGain,and fumifhing them with a conftant Employment in one part or other of theWorldj whenever Trade is dead at Home, VI. The nearer Commodities are bought to the place of their Growth, the more advantagious they are to the Country Importing ; becaufe Ship's Freight, Sailors Wages, tifc. be- ing but a Commutation within them- felves, (3i ) felves^ are no drain to the Nation ; and the firft Coft only iffues ; where- as in buying at fecond Hand, the Sel- ler mull be paid for all thele Things^ and a Profit alfo for his Hazard, Ex- pence and Trouble, fo likewife the farther off we can fell our own Com- modities 5 the more Advantagious to the Nation, the Expence and Hazard of the Navigation, adding confidera- bly to their Price at fuch Markets. VII. The Quantity of exported Commodities and not the Price had for them at Market, enriches a Na- tion ; for 50, 000 Ells of Linnen fold at 10 j. an Ell will bring the Nation but 25,000/. whereas- 100,000 Ells of the fame Linnen fold at 8 /. the Ell (which is 2 s. cheaper) brings 40,000 /. fo that it is the true Inte- reft of a Country, by all poffiblc Means to enlarge their Sales Abroad. VIII. The only way to enlarge our Sales, is to enable our f elves to under- C 3 2 ) tinderfel our Neighbours ; it being a Handing Rule , that he who fells cbeapeft and beft mull have moll Cuftomers. IX. It is better for a Nation to pay ready Money to Foreigners im- porting, than Commodities or Ma- nufaftures ; becaufe in delivering our Manufactures we leave the Benefit on the Article of Navigation, i&6. to the Takers which would be Gain to the Nation, if we had exported them our felves ; whereas in exporting the Moiaey, there is very great Ha- zard and little Profit on the Article of Navigation, &c. X. Taxes raife the Price of Com- modities on the Confumers, and are therefore very dangerous to the Wealth of a Country, when laid on the Exportation of their own Manu- factures; but highly advantagious on the Importation of fuch as drain a- way our Wealth and periiri among us. XI. C'tt'.} XL Premiums on the Expoftati- on of Goods enable the Mercnant td fell them fo much cheaper at foreign Markets than he could otherwife af- ford them, and are of fingulaf ufe in Cafes where we are, underfold by others, for which reafori, it is a Nati- on's Profit to give Premiums where the Sale of their Manufactures would otherwife be leffen'd ; for fuppofe that in a iooo /. worth of Linnens,' we are underfold by Strangers at fo- reign Markets in 50 /. and that our Sale thereof is by that Means ftop'd/ a Premium of 60 L to the Exporter would enable him to lell the fame Parcel of Linnen 10/. cheaper than the Stranger ; by which mteans he would infallibly get the Cuftorriers ; fo that by giving the Exporter 60 h (which is no Lofs to the Nation if he be a Native) there is a 1000 /. brought: into the Country which wOu'd other- Wife go to Strangers. F MaM ( 34 ) Many other Rules there are for the Regulation of Trade and Commerce too tedious to be inferted here ; but they occur more properly in treating of the particular Branches of Trade, in the following Chapters, to which I ihall refer my deader. And having thus briefly confider- ed Trade in general, I proceed in the next Place to take a View of that of our own poor Country, which lies bleeding with many YVounds, and calls aloud for fome skilful Hand to flop its Iflues ; true it is that we la- bour under heavy Reftridtions, and that our Affairs are incumbred with many Difficulties ; but we muft not therefore give up the Caufe of aur Country, and negleft the little which is left : Men of large Eftates may take their Eafe, and think themfelves a- bove that Care and Oeconomy, which is abfolutely neceffary for narrower Circumftances ; they can bear many and < 35 ) and great Mismanagements, but one falfe Step may deftroy a (lender For- tune, and bring it to nothing ; it be- hoves us therefore who have fo 1 mall an Eftace in Trade, and fo many Drains upon it, to employ in a more particular manner all our Conduct and Circumfpeftion in the Manage- ment thereof, and not to fuffer our felves by a falfe way of reafoning to be led into fuch a fatal neglefl: of our Affairs , as wou'd too quickly bring our little to nothing. I am forry to find fo univerlal a Difpondency amongft us in refpeft to Trade ; Men of all Degrees give up the Thoughts of improving our Xommerce, and conclude that the Reftriftions, under which we are laid, are fo infurmouncable that any Attempt on that Head wou'd be vain and fruitlefs ; but this is a dangerous Opinion to prevail a- mongft a People, and may in Time F z throw ( 3<5 ) throw fuch a Damp upon the Spirits pi the Nation as may prove highly injurious to our Bufinefs, there be- ing no greater incentive to Labour and Induftry, than the Profpeft qf Gain, and no greater difcpuragement from them, than the Thoughts of a poor Return ; It mayn't therefore be improper before we proceed far- ther to confider, what our Succefs has been within thefe laft 50 Years, that we may the better judge, if the ■Trade which is (till left us be worth pur looking after. Sir William Petty in his Political Anatomy of Ireland^ publifh'd in 1676. computes that the whole Ter- ritory confiding of 9000, 000 of Acres, good Arrable Pafture and Meadow, and 1 500, 000 Acres qf Loughs, Boggs, Shrqbbs, Woods, fee. Irijb Plantation Meafure and Strafford Survey, afforded an Annual Rent (including His Majefty's Quit- Rents ( 37 ) Rents, the Tythes and Tenements,, Improvements) of 900, 000 /. and was worth to be purchafed at the higheft felling Price of thofe Times, 9 Millions at pjefent (confidering the great Improvements of Lands, and the very favourable Survey in gene- ral) the 9000, 000 Acres of good A- rable Pafture and Meadow, may be worth at a Medium of 4 s; 6 d. per Acre, or 2,025, 000 /. per Annum , and His Majefty's Quit-Rents, the ;Tythes and Tenements, Improve- ments, at a modeft Computation 7 99) 870 /. per Annum, fo that with- out making any Allowance for i 5 500,000 Acres of Boggs, Woods, toV. the Rents, publick and pri vate, arifmg from the reft, i 2, 824, 870 Lper Annum, and that a 20 Years Purchafe (the loweft kl ling Price pf this Time) is worfh 5$> 497 5 400/. or 47, 497, 4 30 more than it was worth in 1676, >vhen ( 38 ) when that Gentleman made his Cal- culation ; but if we add to thi c the great increafe of our Perfonal filiate, and the number of Hands which is daily added to our Industry ; and if we at the fame time-confider that whilft we have been accumulating that Treafure, we had all along la- boured under a dead Drain for the Support of our Out-Lyers, which alone has lately been eftimated at 600, 000 /. per Annum, and which in the whole cannon be under 23, ooo, 000 /• SterL we fhall find that ftint- ed in Trade and wafted by Out- Lyers ; as we are, there is ftill fome- what left highly defer ving of our Care and Circumfpettion. Ireland is in refpedt to its Scituati- on 5 the Number of commodious Harbours, and the natural Wealth vhich it produces, the fitted Ifland ti acquire Riches of any in the Eu- ropean Seas ; for as by its Scituation it ( 39 ) it lies the moft commodious for the Weft-Indies, Spain, and the Northern or Eaft-Countries ; fo it is not only fup* ply'd by Nature with all the Necef* faries of Life, but can over anda- bove export large Quantities of its Growth and Manufacture to foreign Markets, infomuch that had it been Miftrefs of a Free-Trade, no Nati- on in Europe of its Extent could ir an equal number of Years acquire greater Wealth. The Commodities which it pr^ duces, are Wool, Linnen and Hent, Beef, Butter, Tahw and Hides, Ke?, Soap, Ajbes, Lead, Iron and Coppr, Fijb and Corn, Salt, Coals, Uable and Timber, of each of which l?ge Quantities might annually be ex- ported, if proper Care were t.ken to improve the National Indutry, and to put the Bufmefs of wtich, we are yet poffefs'd under proper Regulations $ but before we enter into ( 4° ) into thofe Particulars, it will be pro^ per to take a fhort View of the pre^ fent State of the Trade of thefe Na- tions in general^ with refpedt to the feveral Impropriations thereof, either by Charters or Afts of Parliament^ and o confider what particular Laws naye been made in England to in- cumber that which was left us, in fliich I (hall be fomewhat partieu- lr to fhew of what Importance our Jeighbours have always thought tie Regulation of their Trade, how ocen they have revifed and amended tfeir Commertial Laws, and how gr^at a Part of the National Bufi- n4 was fwallowed up by a few Favourite Companies^ exclufive of the^People in general, until the Wit don of their Parliaments roufed up by he Inconveniencies arifing from fuel contracted Ways of a&ing, broke their Bonds in funder, and laid the C 4i ) the Province of Trade in a Marine*: Free and Open to all. The Trade to Ruffia was carried on through the Ports of the Baltick until the Reign of fhilip and Mary^ when the Port of Archangel was dis- covered, by fome Adventures of London^ in attempting the North Paf- foge to China ; this was thought a niatter of that great Confequence to England^ that the Adventures were rewarded with a Patent granting to them certain Liberties and Immuni- ties excluiive of all others their Ma- jefties Subjects ; which Patent was by Ac! of Parliament in the 8 th o£ Queen Elizabeth confirmed to them and their SuccefTors, under the Name of the Fellorr/hip 0/ Engl i 111 Merchants for Difcovery of New Trades ; but Experience fhewing that fo limi- ted a Company was unequal to that Trade, it was by the 10th and 1 ith of William III. Cap. vi. order'd that G every ( 42 ) every Subjedt of the Realm of Eng- land deiiring admiffion to the (aid Company fhould upon payment of 5 /. to the Company be admitted thereto, and enjoy all the Priviledges and Immunities which the faid Com- pany or FellorpJJjip were any ways in- titled to. The Trade to the Coaft of Africk was attempted by fome Englijh Ad- venturers towards the latter End of Queen Eli^abetb^s Reign, and carri- ed on without any particular Privi- ledges, till the 1 6th of King James I. when His Majefty incorporated them by a Charter with feveral Pow- ers and Immunities, exclufive of all others His Majefty's Subje&s; but this was not thought fufficient to de- bar others from trading to thofe Parts, and feveral particular Mer- chants tempted by the great Gain which they faw the Company make, and infilling upon their natural Right ( 43 ) Right adventured to thofe Parts notwithftanding the Companies Charter ; but thefe Interlopers fharing in the Benefit of all the Expence which the Company was at in Forts and Caftles for the Protection of their Trade, and contributing no- thing to the common Charge, were able to underfel the Company, and forced them at laft: to give up the Caufe, and withdraw their feveral Stocks ; the Butch in the mean time became very intent upon that Trade, and finding the Englijb Affairs in thofe Parts unconcerted and without Few- er grew very troublefome to our Merchants, and at laflengrofled moft part of that rich Trade to themfelves, whereupon Application being made to King Charles L he in the 7 th Year of his Reign granted a new Charter with exclufive Priviledges like the former; which was afterwards con- firmed by Cromwell; bun the lnterlo- G 2 pers ( 44 ) pers had then a fairer Pretence than ever to infift on the natural Right, and fo the Company and the Interlo- pers fell together by the Ears, and gave the Dutch and Danes a new Op- portunity to enlarge their Settle- ments, and to build feveral Forts and Fafturies on thofe Coafts ; till at laft not only the Company but the Inter- loper s themfelves werealrnqft entirely beat out of that Trade. Soon after the Reftoration, there was a new Charter granted by King Charles IF. but the Dutch War break- ing out in 1 664. De Ruiter their Ad- miral took that Opportunity to de- ftroy all the Englifh Settlements on that Coaft ; hut when the Peace with Holland was concluded. His Majefty invited all His Subjects to a new Sub- fcription and joint Stock, and grant- ed to the Subfcribers thereof under the Name of The Royal African Com- pany, another Charter with the fame exclu- (45 ) exclufive Priviledges ; but the Inter- lopers ftill carried on a feparate Trade very much to the Difadvantage of the Company ; wherefore in the Year 1697 they applied to the Parliament for Redrefs, who found out a Medi- um to reconcile their different Inte- reft, and by the 9th and 10th oiWih Ham III, Chap* 26. Enafled that the Trade to Africk from England and from the Plantations in America mould be laid open to all the Subjefls of the Realm of England as well as to the Company, they paying to the Com- pany a Duty of 1 o /. per Cent, for all Commodities imported or exported, except Redwood, for which only 5 l.per Cent* is to be paid, and Gold, Silver and Negroes which are Free ; and it is by this Ad: provided, that all the natural born Sub jefts of England pay* ing the Duties aforelaid to the Com- pany, mail be intitled to the fame frotedion, Defence, and Security, from ( 4 <5 ) from all the Company's Forts and Cailles, and the fame Freedom for their Negociations and Trade that the Company has or is any ways in- titled to, and lhall and may at their own Expence fettle Fa&ories on any part of the Coaft of Africk within the Limits of the Company^ w£. from Cape- Mount to the Cape of Good- Hope, and from Cape-Blancbo to Cape- Mount, without any hindrance from the Company the Duties which are to be paid to the Company are to be ac- cording to the firft Coft, and Bonds are to be given for the delivery of all Goods to be exported from Eng- land or the Plantations in the particu- lar Places for which they are defign'd on that Coall ; and again like Bond on their return for England or the Plantations. The Continuance of this A£t was but for 1 3 Years, and to the End of the next Seflion of Parlia- mentj but notvvithftanding the ftre- nuous ( 47 ) nuous oppofition of the Company it was renewed by. Of Queen Anne : We begun our Trade to Turkey in i 598 but that was alio quickly engrof- fed by the Lev am Company who obtain- ed a Charter from Queen Elizabeth for that Purpofe, the Gonftitution of this Corporation is iomewhat parti- cular, and I may fay \vithout Prece* dent among all the Monopolies of the Englifl) Trade ; for limited as it is, there is however no one forbid to trade thither who fubjedts himfelf to the Duties impofed on ieparate Traders by the Company, in whofe Hands is the entire Power of fixing the Duties on all the Commodities imported from thence ; but even this hardlhip is in Effefl: nothing, for any of His Majefty's Subje£ts are .in titled on the payment of 50 L to have ad- miflion into the Company, and to enjoy all the Liberties, and Immuni- ties thereof. By C 48 ) By the Produce of the Duties im- pofed by the Company, they are o* bliged constantly to maintain a Royal EmbafTadov at the Ottoman Court, and to defray the Expence of their federal Confuls and Settlements in thofe Parts. I don't find that we are any ways veftrained from trad- ing thither, tho 5 I believe without admiffion into the Company we mould find our felves but ill inti-* tied to their Protection in thofe Parts. The Fiflieries of Greenland and New- foundland were by the 25 th of Char- les II. Chap. vii. limited to the Inha- bitants or England ', Wales^ or Ber- wick upon Tweed, navigating as di- rected by the Aft ot Navigation, Vic- tualing in England, Wales, or Berwick) and proceeding from thence to the Voyage, on which Terms they were to import any Oyl, Blubber or Wale Finns, isfc* taken by them free from any ( 49 ) any Cuftom or Impoft whatfoever ; but all thefe Priviledges were by 4th and $ihWilliam and Mdry^Chap. xvii. vefted in an exclufive Company, un- der the Name of the Company trad- ing to Greenland, with an additional Claufe, that an Englijh Mafter and one third of Englijb Mariners mould entitle them to the Benefit of the 25 th of Charles II. provided they in all other Refpe&s conformed to the Navigation A<3:, victualled in England, Wales or Berwick, and pro- ceeded from thence dircdly to the Fi- ftiery ; but the Company having in a great Meafure loft that Bufinefs to Foreigners either by their own Ne- glect or Incapacity, It was provided by the 1 ft of Queen Anne, Chap. xvi. that notwithstanding any Claufe in the 4th and 5 th of William and Ma- ry, it fhall and may be lawful for a- ny of their Majefties Subjects what- foever,to go to thofeSeas, and to have H and ( 5o ) 2nd enjoy all thcPriviledges that werfi granted to the Company by the faid A£t, and that they fhall not pay any further or other Duty than if they had been of the Company ; this A<% relates only to the Fiihery ot Green- land^ but as to that, of Newfoundland^ it was by the ioth and i ith of Wil- liam III. chap. xxv. laid open to all His Mayfly's Subjects refiding in England^ or in any of the Domini- ons thereunto belonging, in as full a manner as the fame has been at any time heretofore enjoyed by any of the Subjects of His Majefty's Predecef- fors by this Aft the refpedtive Duties to be paid for Goods fiflied in Eng- lifb Shipping, for Goods Allied in Plantation Ships, and for thofe caught in foreign Shipping are fixed, and the entire Government and Ma- nagement ot that Fiihery and Trade is extremely well provided for. The (5i ) The Trade to Srveeden and Den- mark was veiled in the Edflland Com- pany, exclufive of all others, till by the 2sth of Charles II. Chap, yu.iz was laid open to all Perfons as well Natives as Foreigners, notwithftand- ing any thing to the. contrary con- tained in the Charter of that Com-* pany^and every Subject of the Realm of England was by this Aft intitled to an Admiflion to that Company or\ the Payment of 40 s. The Charter by which the Eaft- 'india Company engrofs to themfelves all the rich Trade of the Eaft, was granted to the Subfcribers of two Millions, advanced upon a Fund for Payment of Annuities at the Rate of %-per Cent, purfuant to a Power gi- ven to King William by the $ih and 10th of His Reign, Chap n xliv. finca which Time, many other Afts have been made for the better Resailati- on of chat Trade, and for the fur- H 2 rher ther Security of the Company againft Interlopers, whereby it is made un- lawful for any one of His Majefty's Subjects to trade or go to the Eaft- Indies unlefs they be of the Company, or are employed by them or to con- tribute to, or promote any foreign Company trading to the £*/? from the Auflrian Net her lands, or to import into any Place belonging to the Englijh Crown any of the Growth or Ma- nufactures of the EaU unlefs they be fhip'd in fome Part of Great-Britain, except Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace ana Nutmeggs, which by the 3th oiAnne and 6th of George, may be imported from other Places by Licenfe ; but I don't find that Ireland except as by the Navigation A& is exprefly re- ftrained from importing from other Countries any Eaft- India Goods, but wrought Silks, Muflins and Calli- coes, which by the 5th of George, Chap. xi. they muft import from Great- ( 33 ) Great-Britain only on pain of Forfei- ture of Ship and Goods. The South-Sea Company were in- corporated by the 9th of Anne^ Chap* xxi. with Power to trade from the River Oronoco on the Eaflern Side of America to the Southern Parts of Terra detiFuegOj and thence Weftrvard as far as Brazil and Surinam, exclufive of all other Her Majefty*s Subjects, but thefe Priviledges were to expire on the repayment of the Money advan- ced by them after a certain Time therein mentioned, wherefore for the farther Encouragement of the new Company it was thought proper by the 10th of Anne^ Chap. xxx. to con- tinue thefe Priviledges to them and their Succeflbrs for ever, notwith- ftanding the repayment of their Debt : In their Hands is the fole Trade to the Spanifl) Weft-Indies^ which was granted to England in 1713 by the Ajjiento, as a Preliminary to the gene- ral ;( 54 J jral Peace concluded foon after at 17- trecht : The Jjfienti (is are by their A- greemern impowred to import Ne- groes into his Catholiek Majeity's Dominions for the fpace of 30 Years, paying for every Head of 4800 Ns- groes^ annually a Duty of 33 Pieces of Eight and one third of a Piece of Eight in full of all Impofitions what- foever, and for any further Number which they fhall import a Duty only of 16 Pieces of Eight, and two thirds of a Piece of Eighf a Head. But his Catholiek Majefty referves to himfelf one fourth Part of the general Gain of that Trade upon paying or fecuring to be paid to the Jjjientifts 1, coo, 000 of Pieces of Eight with the Intereft thereof at 8 per Cent, towards carrying on His Majefty's (aid 4th part of the Bufi- nefs 5 that being one quarter of the Sum which was thought neceffary for the Undertaking and for the fiift Eftablifh- C H ) Eftablifhment of the Company, and the Ajfientifts are to adjuft their Ac- counts with His Majefty every fifth Year ; but his Catholick Majefty by the 24th Article of the Ajjiento as a further Demonftration of his Efteem for the Queen of Great-Britain, has licenfed one Ship of 500 Tuns Bur- den to trade Yearly into his Domi- nions with luch Commodities of the Growth or Manufacture of Europe as they can beft difpofe of there, his Majefty ftill referving to himfelf one fourth part of the clear Gain thereof, as in the JJJiento and 5 per Cent* Du- ty on the other three Parts* Thefe are moft if not all the Mo- nopolies of the Englijb Trade, and I have been the more particular in de- ducing them from their firft Origi- nals that the Reader may judge for himfelf how far he is affe&ed by them, let us in the next Place con- sider what Laws have been made in E>n£- M ) England to incumber our Trade in particular, and when that is done, we fhall be able to judge what Branches of our Trade are deferving of our Protection and Encourage- ment, and what are not. And as Navigation is the Means by which Trade and Commerce are chiefly per- formed, it will be proper to begin with ours, and ftiew upon what Footing it ftands at prefent. As foon as the People of England had reftored King Charles II* and fettled their Affairs on the antient Foot, they quickly begun to confider of what Importance it was to them to take care of their Navigation and Commerce ; and finding that for want of proper Regulations the in- duftrious Hollanders furnifhed all their Markets with foreign Commo- dities cheaper than they could them- felves import them, and by that means left no Encouragement to build {57 ) build or fit ouc Ships in England. It was thought proper to lay fuch a Weight on all Goods imported in foreign fhipping as might encourage their Merchants to build for them- felvesj or at lead to freight home built itupping in order to fave the extraordinary Duties which they mull have paid on foreign Bottoms ; and in as much as it was Cufto- mary with the Dutch to have in their Towns conflant Magazeens of all Kinds of foreign Commodities which the Englijh Merchants to make a quick Return of their Mo- ney, and to fave the Expence and Hazard of a tedious Voyage ufed to buy there. It was thought proper to lay fuch a Duty on all Commo- dities that were not bought and ta- ken on board in EnglifhVt&h^ at the Place of their Growth and Produc- tion as might oblige the People of Eng- (5M England to go to the Countries froril wh.ch the Outch fixit brought them; and by that means to fave the Na- tio fo much of the Coft of their foreign Confumption as the Dutch before exadted on the Article of their Navigation. And according- ly by the 12 th of Charles II. Chap* xviii. commonly called the Naviga- tion A£t, the whole matter of the ISiaviga'ion of thefe Dominions was regulated and modelled ; and as we of Ireland have the good Fortune to be included therein under the fame Advantages and Reftrictions w th the Inhabitants of England; it may nor be improper to give the Reader a particular Abitract there- of. By this Aft (therefore) is is provi- ded 1 hat no Goods whatfoever fliall be imported or Exported to or from of His Majdty's Lands, Iflands, Plantations, or lemtones in Afia y Africk (59) Africk or America, but in Sh'p; truly and bona fide belonging to the Sub- jects of England, Ireland, Wales, or Berwick upon Tweed, or in fuch as are of the Built of and belonging to His Majefty's faid Lands, lllands, Plantations, or Territories, in Apa 9 Africk, or America, navigated by three fourths of the Manners, and the Mafter E>iglijh on pain of the Forfeiture of Ship and Cargo, one Third thereof to th e Governor of the Place or Plantation where cak n, one Third to the Difcoverer, and one Third the King. And that no Foreigner unlefs na- turalized, ihall on pain of forfeit- ing Goods and Chatties be Merchant or Faftor, in any of the laid Places. And that all Officers upon en- tring on their Office fhall cake an Oath to execute ftnftly this Law, and upon neglecting to execute the fame fhall be removed from their Employment. I z And (60 ) And that no Goods of the Growth^ Production or Manufacture of Afia^ Africk or America mall be imported into England, Ireland, Wales, Berwick^ Jerfey, or Gnernfey; but in Englijh built Ships navigated as above, on pain of forfeiting Ship and Cargo. And that no Goods or Commodi- ties which are confined to be import- ed in Englifh built Shipping mall be imported from any other Place but from the Place of their Growth and Produ£tion 5 or from luch Places as the fame are ufually firft fliip'd from on pain of Confifcation of Ship and Cargo. And that all Fifh, Fifli-OyI, Blub- ber, W bale-Finn?, or Whale-Bones imported into England, Iteland^ Wales or Berwick, and which have not been fillied for and cured by the People thereof in Ships truly belonging to them, ihall pay double Aliens Duty ; (but this as toOyl and Finns is alterM by ( 6i ) by 25 Charles II. Chap. vii. and there- by all People of any Nation whatso- ever refiding in England, may import them Duty tree in Englijh built Ship- ping navigated as above 5 provided the fame has been fiihed for in fuch Ships.) And it is further provided, that no Ships but Englijb, built and navigated as above^ ihall trade from Port to Port of England^ Ireland, Jerfey or Gnemfe^ and that no Stronger or Perfon not naturalized ftiall be Own- er ^ or Part-Owner in fuch Ships on Pain of Forfeiture of Ship and Car- go (but by lit of James II. Ch ip. xviii. foreign Ships brought into England tsdj be imployed in this Port of Trade, paying 5 j. pr Tun Duty at the Port of Delivery over and above #11 former Duties.) And ( 62 ) And it is Declared and Enafled, that where-ever any fcafe ? Abate- ment, or Priviledge is given in the Book of Rates to Goods imported or exported in Englifl) built Shipping, the lame ftiall be underttood to mean Ships built in England 5 Ireland, Wales * Jerfey^ or Gnernfev, or in His Majefty's laid Lands, Iflands, Terri- tories 5 or Dominions in Afia, Africk or Atoerica^ navigated during the whole •Voyage, by an Englifl) Mailer, and at leaft three fourths of the Mariners Englijb, which by the 14 th of Charles II. Chap. xi. is declared to mean Sub- jects of England, Ireland, or the Plan- tations, And it is further Enafled, that no Commodities of the Growth or Manufacture of Ruffia or Mujcovy, no fort of Matts, Timber or Boards, no foriegn Salt, Roffin, Pitch, or Tar, Hemp or Flax, no Railins, Firrs, Prunes, or Olive-Oyl, no fort of Corn ( 6 * ] Corn or Grain, Sugar, Pot-Ames^ Wines, Vinegar, Aquavits or Bran- dy, no Currants^ or Commodities of the Growth or Manufacture of the Ott am an Empire, or of the Depen- dencies thereon mall be imported into England, Ireland^ Wales, or Berwick, but in Englijb built Shipping navi- gated as above, or in Ships belonging to the Countries which produce them refpettively, or the Ports where the fame are uf ually firfl: ftiipM from^ and whereof the Mafter and three fourths of the Mariners are of fuch Countrey or Place refpeftively on Pain of Forfeiture *f Ship and Cargo. Provided always, that all the a- bove Goods, and like wife all Wines of the Growth of France or Germany, Spain or Portugal] Madera, the Cana- ries, or Weftern Jjlands^ which mail be imported in Ships belonging to the refpedive Places of their Growth and (64, ) and Produ&ion, or to the Places or Ports refpeflively from whence the fume are ufually firft fhip'd, and not in Englijh built Shipping navigated as aforefaid, fhall pay doubl^ Aliens Duty ; but by the 14th of Charles Tl. Chap. xi. no fort of Wine, other than Rhenifh no fort of Spices, Grocery, Tobacco, Pot- Allies, Pitch, Tar, Salt, Roffin, Deal, Firr, Timber, or Olive- Oyl, mail be imported into England from the Netherlands or Germany, on Pain of Confifcation of Ship and Cargo. And that no foreign built Ship {hall be deemed or pafs as a Ship be- longing to England, Ireland, Wales> or Berwick, unlefs the Owners or Part-Owners thereof, have firit made Oath that they are Subje£u of Eng- land, Ireland, Wales or Berwick, that no Alien has any Share or Intereft therein, and that they have really and bona fide purchafed the fame tor valu- t 6s ) valuable Gonfideration; and Regi- flers of fuch Oaths fhall be kepc at the refpe£tive Ports of England and Ireland^ whereof Duplicates Hiall be returned to the chief Officers of the Cuftoms in London and Dublin refpe- flively. And all Officers neglefiing to de- mand Certificates, or allowing any Ship for Englifh built which is not re- ally fuch, or allowing the Priviledge of this Afl: to any Ship until Proof firft made, that the Mailer and three: fourths of the Marriners are of the Place or Country from which the Goods are carried or otherwife ne- glecting to execute that Statute, fhall for the fifft Offence lofe their Office^ Place or Government. Provided always ^ that nothing therein fhall reftrain or hinder the Importation of the Commodities: of the Sty -eights or Levant-Seas from the nfual Places of loading them iri K thofo (66) thofe Seas in Englijb built Shipping navigated as aforefaid. And provided, that nothing there- in mail reftrain the Importation of Eafi«India Goods from the ulual Pla- ces of loading them to the South* ward and Eajl-ivard of the Cape of Good-Hope in the aforefaid Ships na- vigated as aforefaid, tho' the fame be not the places of their Growth or Production. And provided alfo, that it may- be lawful for the People of England, Ireland, Wales, jferfey, and Gnern- fey, to import from the Ports of Spain or Portugal, the Azores, the Madera or Canary-ljlands in Englifb built Ships navigated as aforefaid ; all Commodities of the Growth, Pro- duction or Manufacture of the Plan- tations or Dominions of either of them refpe&ively. And (*7) And provided, that laid Ad: fhail not extend to Bullion nor to Goods taken by way of Reprifals by any Ship ok England^ Ireland, Wales^ Jcr- fey^ or Guernsey, navigated as above. And provided, that faid ACt ihail not extend to lay Aliens Duty upon Scotch Corn, Salt and Fifli import- ed in Scotch Ships, whereof three Fourths of the Mariners and the Mafter are His Majefty's Subjects, nor upon Seale-Oyl of .Rujfia impor- ted in Englijh built Shipping, And that all French Ships trading to England^ Ireland^ or Wales^ fball pay to the Collector of the Port wherein (ht loads or unloads any Goods, or takes or delivers any Paf- fengers 5 s. per Tun, which ihe fliall be computed to be of Burthen 3 which Duty was to continue till three Months after that of 50 Soils impofed on Engll/Ij Shipping by the K 1 King (68 ) King of France fhould be taken off. And that no Sugars , Cotton- Wooll, Indigoes, Ginger, Fuftick, or other Dying Wood, of the Pro- duction, Growth or Manufacture of any Engli/h Plantation in Jfia, A- frickj or America^ fhall be fhip'd or conveyed from any of faid Rnglijh Plantations, but to fome other of faid Plantations, or to England^ Ireland, Wales or Berwick^ on pain of Forfeiture of Ship and Cargo. And all Ships defign'd for the Plantations from England, Ireland^ Wales or Berwick^ fliall give Bonds pf 1000/. with one Surety, if the Ship be under 100 Tuns, and of 2Coo /. if over ; that in cafe they take on Board any Plantation Com* modifies, they fliall import them into England ^ Ireland, fVales y or Berwick^ the clanger of the Seas ex- cepted and allGovernors of Plantati- ons C*9) ons (hall there take Bonds of like Penalty from all other Ships permit- ted to trade thither, that all 'Goods taken on board by them in the Plan- tations ihall be by them delivered in England^ Ireland^ Wales or Berwick^ and all Ships failing from the Plan- tations with fuch Goods on board, without firft palling fuch Bond ihall be forfeited with Cargo, Rigging and Apparel ; and all Governors are obliged twice every Year to return Copies of all fuch Bonds to the chief Officer of the Cuftoms in London. It mayn't be improper to obferve, that this Law in it felt was fo far from being a Hardfhip upon us 5 that it not only fecured the Navigation of our own Country, inwards and out- wards to our felves, but gave us alfo the fame Immunities and Freedoms with the People of England inrefpedS: to their Imports and Exports, and en, (.7° ) enabled us to trade from England to all the Dependencies on the Englijb Crown, on equal Terms with Eng~ land) co partake of the Premiums granted on their Importations and Exportation, and to carry on a Trade with them on better Terms, and for lefs Duties than any other Nation in the World ; and the only Hardftiip we fuffer by it is from the Exaftions of the Baft-India Com- pany on thole Commodities of the Eaft, which we by iubfequent Laws are forbid to go for our felves to the Place of their Growth or Produ&i- Qn 5 or to import from any other Place but England. By the above Act, we couM trade freely to and from the Plantations direftly, but by i 5 th Charles II. Cbap* vii. no Commodities of the Growth of Europe were to be imported to the Plantations, but fuch as were laden and put on board in England, Walesy ( 7i ) Wales, or Berwick on pain of Confif- cation, except Salt for the Fifheries of Nerv*Engl(ind> and Newfoundland, Wine from the Maderas, and Azores, and Horfes, Servants, and Victuals from Scotland and Ireland, to which was added by the 3d and 4th of Anne j Chap. viii. and by the 3d of George I. Chap. xxi. Linnen from Ire- land) but Ireland not being named in the new Law, we did not think our felves bound by it, and carried on our Trade as before ; wherefore by the 2 2d and 23d of Charles IL Chap. xxvi. it is ordered, that the Word, Ireland, fhall for the Future be left out of all Bonds taken for the delivery of the aforefaid Plantation Commodities ; by which means tho' we were not exprefly forbid to im* Eort them, yet the Bonds being to e given for Delivery in England? Wales, or Berwick, we could not without incurring the Penalty of OUf ( 7* ) our Bonds, deliver them any where elfe ; and by that means we fell un> der the Limitations of the Naviga- tion Adt, the Plantation Aft, isV. this Adt was but temporary, till by a Claufe in the 5 th of George I. Chap. xi. It was continued fo long as the Adt of Tunnage and Poundage fliould endure ; the 2 5 th of Charles XL Chap. vii. gave us another Loop- Hole to creep out at; for by that Adt, all Ships refuting to give Bond, were only to pay certain Du- ties therein enumerated ; but by the Plantation Adt of the 7 th and 8 th of William III. Chap. xxii. it is declar- ed that the 2 5 th of Charles 11. related only to Goods carried from one Plan^ tation to another, and that not- withftanding the Duties ordered to be paid by that Adt, all Ships what- foever fhall give fuch Bonds as are required by the 12th, 2zd, and 23d of Charles II. and afterwards in the 15 th ( 73 ) i 5 th Se&im of the fame A£t, to put Matters intirely out of Difpute ,> it is ordered, thac no Commodities of the Growth or Manufacture of the Plantations., ftiall on any Pretence whatfoever, be landed in Ireland, or Scotland^ unlefs the fame has firft been landed in England^ and has paid the Rates and Duties* wherewith they are there chargeable by Lavv, if they be not really for- ced on Shore, andftranded by ftrefs of Weather ; In which cafe they may be taken on Shore for Safety* but not put to Sale until firft fhipM off for Englaudy landed there, and brought back again to Ireland ; but all the Duties either paid or fe- cured to be paid on landing of Plan- tation Commodities in England, ate - entirely drawn back, or Security va- cated, on Re-exportation of the fame ; -except that on Sugars, which L leave? ( 74 ; leaves behind one half of the old Subfidy, or 6 d. of the Pound Rate. Thefe are the principle Reftridti- ons laid upon us in refpeft to the Plantation Trade ; fo that we are (till upon a better Footing in refpedt to that Bufinefs, than any other Na- tion in Europe^ if not upon quite fo good a one as England ; I proceed in the next Place to confider the Laws which were made in England^ in re- lation to our woollen Trade. By the 3 d of Edward IV. Chap. iv. the Importation of Cloath and all other woollen Manufactures, was prohibited in general Words; but the fame was afterwards declared not to extend to the Wares or Com- modities of Ireland^ fo that notwith- ftanding the prohibition, we might (till import our Woollen Manufac- tures; and upon this Footing we ftood till the Reftoration ; when by the izthoiCbarkslllXbap. iv. which granted (75) granted the Subfidy of Tunnage and Poundage all manner of Woollen Cloaths imported were rated at 3 /. a Yard, and fo in proportion for raoft other Woollen Manufactures, with- out any particular Reservation as in that of the 4th of Edward III. for thofe of Ireland ; but if this Book of 'Rates affeCted the Manufactures of Ireland^ we had however this Comfort that we could export our Wooll raw or manufactured to any other Part of the World, where we found a Market for them , till by the 1 2th of Charles II. Chap, xxxii. It was enaCted, that no Wooll, Woollfells, Shortlings, Mortlings, Yarn made of Wooll, Wooll-Flocks, Fullers -Earth, or Fulling -Clay, fhould be exported from England, Ireland, Wales^ or Berwick upon Tweed, into Scotland, or any other Place out of His Ma jelly's Domini- ons, on pain of Forfeiture of Ship L 2 and (76) and Cargo, and Confiscation of the Goods and Chattels of the Matter ; by 14th Charles II. Chap, xviii. Of- fences againft 1 2 Chailes II. was made Felony, in the Owners, Aiders, and Abettors ; and had they refted here, we fhould have had no reafon to complain, fince the Prohibition to export raw Wooll, isfc. would have laid us in a fhort Time under a JSTecefTity, to betake our felvesto the Woollen Manufacture , without which we could not difpofe of one Lock of our Wooll, to any Coun- try but England. • In this Scituation, our Woollen Trade remained till the Revolution, when by the ift of Willi am and Alary, Chap, xxxii. the better to fe- cure the Wooll of Ireland to Eng- land) it was enafted, that no Wooll, &c. iliould be fhippM off from any Ports of Ireland but from Dublin, Waterfordy Tough al!^ Kinjale^ Cork and i 77 ) and Drogkeda, and from thence only to certain' Ports therein- mentioned \t\- England. So much of the 14th of Charles II, as made the Exportation of Wooll 5 Felony., was repealed by the 7th and 8th of William III, Chap, xxviii. and fome little alterations was made in the Ports or Import and Expoit ; but foon after finding, that the Reftraint laid upon the Exporta- tion; of our Woolly had made us ap- ply with double Ailiduity, to the Manufacture thereof ; and that we already .exported of luch Commodi- ties to foreign Markets, it was thought fit to throw a Damp upon that Branch of our Induftry ; and accordingly by the Ninth and Tenth of William III. Chap. xl. the Exportation of Fullers-Earth , and fcowring Clay for Ireland '.was for- bid, under fevere Penalties , m order to incommode our Manufa- ctures, (#1 ftures, by with-holding from them thole ufefuflngredients. By the ioth and i ith of William III. Chap. x. no Wooll, Woollfells, Shortlings, Mort- lings, Wooll-Flocks, Worried, Bay or Woollen Yarn, Cloath-Serges, Bays, Kerfeys, Frizes, Druggets, Shalloons, Stuffs, Cloath-Serges, or any other Drapery, Stuff, or Wool- len Manufacture whatfoever, is to be exported from Ireland^ to any Part of the World but England; and that only from the Ports of Dublin, Wa- terford, Toughall, Kin/ale, Cork, and Drogbeda, to which Rofs was af- terwards added in Ireland, to the Ports of Biddeford , Barnftable , Minebead, Bridgwater^ Brifiol^ Mil- ford-Haven, Chefter and Liverpool in England^ firft giving Bond, with two fumcient Securities, for the Delivery thereof in fome of the Ports afore- faid, under pain of forfeiture of Ship and Cargo, with 500 /. for every Of- fence, ( 79 ) fences and 4 /. a piece for every Ma- iler and Sailor of fuch Ships as ftiaU export the lame, and for every Perfon in any ways aiding or aflifting there- in, one half of the Forfeitures, &c. to the Informer, and the other half to the Officers of the Irifh Exche- quer ? to be laid out for the Encou- ragement of our Linnen Manufac- ture ; and all Offences againft this Aft were tryable in any Court of Re- cord in Ireland or England at the E- leftion of the Profecutor, provided always that Acquitals in Ireland ftiouM be no Barr to a Profecution in England^ with many other Provifoes and Regulations too tedious to be here incerted. But it may be proper to obferve, that by the 14 th Se&ion of the above Statute, it is Enafted, that it mall and may be lawful to import into licenied Ports in England from licen- fed Ports in Ireland^ all manner of Wooll Wooll and Woollen Manufactures, fo as Notice be firft given to the Com* miffioners or chief Managers of His Majefty's Cuftoms in England^ or to the chief Cuftomer or Collector in the Port to which the fame is inten- ded to be brought, of the Quantity ^ Quality and Package^ together with the Numbers thereof, with the Name of the M'after and Ship on which they are to be laden, and the Port for which intended, and fo as Bond with one or more fufficient Surety of treble the Value be firft gi- ven that the fame (the Dangers of the Seas excepted) fhall be landed ac- cordingly, and fo as Licenfe be alfo' firft had under the Hands of the Comrniiiioners for the Time being, of three of them, or from the chief Cuftomer where fuch Bond is to be given for the landing a ! nd importing the fame, which Licenfe they are authorized and required to grant, withr ( 8i ) without any Fee or Reward or any other Charge to the Perfon demand- ing the lame, any Law, Statute or U- fage to the contrary in any wife not- withftanding. Now if it be true 5 that there can be nothing nugatory in an Act of Parliament, and that every Claufe thereof muft either grant or reftrain iomething, which was before forbid, or allowM ; this Provifo, muft need? enable us to import our Woollen Ma- nufactures as well as our "Wooll, Du- ty free into England-. For before the paffing of this Law (if Irijh Woollen Manufactures fell within the mean- ing of the 1 2th of Charles II. Chap. iv. which was the word of our Cafe) we might import into England all our Woollen Manufactures., fub- ject to the Duties charged thereby on Woollen Manufactures in gene- ral ; and if this enabling Claufe gives leave only to import them fub- M je££ (8a ) ject to the former Duties, it leaves us where we were; that is to lay, at li- berty to import them fubjedt to a Duty equal to the value of the Commodity it felf; which wouM therefore be intirely nugatory and trifling ; but I fubmit to better Judges and to Perfons learned in the Law, of what Force or Efficacy this enabling Claufe may be in refpefl: to our Woollen Manufactures ; tis true however that I cant but think it the Intereft of England to allow us fuch a Freedom becaufe on the one Hand if the People of Ireland are guilty of any unlawful Expor- tation of Wooll or Woollen Manu- factures, it proceeds intirely from the Prohibition of exporting them to England ; and becaufe on the o- ther hand, if fuch a Liberty were allow'dj the multitude of Hands and the large Quantities of Wooll which are at prefent employed in fur- ( 8? ) furnifliing coarfe Cloaths for their home Confumption, wouM then in a great meafure be fpared from that Bufinefs, to furnifh matter for larger Exports of thofe fine and valuable Cloaths, &c. which they fend to Turkey and to the feveral Ports of the Mediterranean and Levant-Sects, but it is however proper to obferve, that there has not been fince the paiTmg of this A£t any Exportation of Wool- len Manufactures from Ireland, ex- cept of fuch as were eafed of Duties by other A6ts; fuch as comb'd Wooll, which comes free under the denomination of Wooll, Bay and Wollen-Yarnj made free by the i ft of Anne id. SeJfions^Chap. viii. Frize and Stockings which are fubjeft to lighter Duties by the old Book of Ratesj &c. By the id of Anne^ Chap. xii. of the 2d SeJJions, we were enabled to export the neceffary Cloathing and M 2 Accoure- (84) Accoutrements of certain RegU ments of our Eftablifhment to the Leeward-Iflands, wherein they were Cantooned ; but by the 3d and 4th of the fame Reign Chap. viii. no Woollen Manufactures whatfoever^ were to be imported into the Plan- tations, but what have been taken on board in England, on pain of For- feiture, iftc. By the 3d of George^ Chap. viii. fo much of the 10th and 1 ith of William III. as vefted one half of the Forfeitures for unlawful Expor- tation of Wooll in the Exchequer of Ireland is repealed, and the remain- der of that half after defraying the txpence of the Profecution is gi- ven to the Crown ; and for the more Impartial trying of all fuch Actions, as (hall for the future be brought by vertue of any A& now in being, for preventing the unlawful- Expor- tation of Wooll and Woollen Mamu fa- ( 85 ) faflures, it is provided chat all fuch Anions, fhall be tryed m the Four -Courts at Dublin, by a Jury of lawful Freeholders^ to be fummon- cd out of any County but that wherein the Faft was committed ; and the 5th of George^ Chap. xi. extends the Penalty of the ioth and i ith of William III. even to the loading or carrying of Wooll or Woollen Ma- nufactures with intent to export them contrary to Law. Thus therefore ftands our Wool- len Trade, we can Export neither Wooll nor Woollen Manufactures to any part of the World but En- gland^ and even to England we tan expert none of our Manufactures of that Commodity ; becaufe the Duties laid upon them amounts to a Prohibition , notwithftanding the enabling Caufe of the ioth and i ith of William III. fo that we are under a fevere Neceffity to fend all cur { 86 ) our Wooll out raw and unmariufa- &:ured, and to take fuch Prices as the Monopolizer thereof are willing to give us for it ; but it won*t per- haps be amifs to obferve that the Duties on Woollen Manufactures imported into England and the Draw-backs upon the Re-exportati- on thereof are as follows, vi^. Duties on Importa- tion. For aU manner of Woollen-* Cloaths the Yard. J Flannen the Yard Frize of Ireland the Yard Ooath RaChes the Piece Double Says or Serges the Yard Mild Says the Piece. Staffs of all Sorts made of or-» mix'dw.th Wooll the Yard J Ir'tfh Rugg5 the Piece Blankets «r Mantles coloar'dT the Piece. * Ditto Uncoloar'd Drdw-backs on Re-ex- portation. 1. Sod. 10. i i, 4» 2.15- 1 /. S, d. 20. I, O, 2, S- O, O, 4,15. o» 0, 4, 5. 0, 0, 4,1 1. 0, 0, 4, 7. 1,11, 3»I2. 2, 2, 9, 0. 0, 1, 8,10. 0, I, 5> 2. 0,17, f, 4- 0,14, 3. * 0, 3, 6,15. O, 2,11,12. 0, 1,10,16. I 0, i, 7, 0. o, 3, 9i>2- O, 2,10, 4. O, 3, 2, 0. O, 2,4> 10 - 1 have inferted this Table that the Reader may judge, If by the Benefit of thefe Draw-backs we might be able to fend any of our "Woollen Manufactures to the Plantations or lorhzljivant-Seas* they be liable to the Duty. The (*7) The Importation of Black-Cattle and Sheep into England was by the i 5th of Charles II. Chap. vii. loaded with a Duty equal to a Prohibition ; but by the 1 8 th of the fame Reign, Chap. ii. the Importation of great Cattle, Sheep and Swine, Beef, Pork, and. Bacon, was declared a common Nufance, and forbid on pain of Forfeiture, one half to the Poor of the Parifli, the other to the Seizer ; but this being a temporary Law, was revived by the 3 2d of Charles II, Chap. ii. which extended the fame Penalties and Forfeitures to Mutton, Lamb, Butter and Cheefe, and con- tinued it for ever; fo much of this A£t however as related to Bacon, was repealed by the 5th and <5th of William and Mary^ Chap. ii. fo that our Beef Trade is free and open to all Places of the World but England* Lin- (88 ) Linnen and Hemp, and all *he Production thereof, certified by the Commiffioners of the Cuftoms of Ireland to be of the Growth and Ma- nufacture of that Kingdom, may by the 7 th and 8 th of King William, Cbdp. xxxix. be imported into Eng- land hzz from any manner of Cuftorn or Duty whatfoever ; the fame Li- berty to the Plantations was allowed us by the 3d and 4th of Anne^ Chap. viii. but this being a temporary Law, the jd of George I. Chap. xxi. has continued it fo long as Britijh Lin- nen may be imported into Ireland without paying Duty ; and adds that Irijh Linnen imported into Eng- land, may afterwards be imported to the Plantations, free from Duty. Thefe are all or moft of the Re- ftriflions laid upon our Trade by Engliflj Laws ; fo that there remains free for us to work upon, Linnen and Hemp, and all the Productions there- of (8 9 ) ofj Beef, Butter, Tallow, raw and rann'd Hides, Kelp, Soap, Afhes,Lead, Iron and Copper, Fifh of all forts,^ Fim-Oyl,Salr,Corn,Coals,Marbleand Timber, together with all the various forts of Manufactures which ariie from the Commodities of other Coun- tries imported in the way of Trade, 9 fiich as Cotton and Silk, dying Stuffy Pitch and Tar* Gold, and Silver ,. Timber and Naval Stores^ to which may be added the carrying Trade, and that of buying- in one Country to fell to Advantage in another, a Bulinefs of as great profit to the par- ticular Trader,- and indeed to the Nation in general as any other, and Inch as our depending Circumftan- ces, feem more particularly to adapt: US for j having the Advantage of all other Countries in our Navigation to England and its Dependencies, being the only People in the World, who in cheapnefs of Building, Viclual- N ling* Hrig, and Sailing "can rival the Dutch and the Buiinefs it felf, being fuch, as would in no yvays claih with that of England^ but rather promote and advance it ; of all which Matters I dcfign to treat more an large in the following Tracts, but ftrft it will be proper to take a fliort View of the Wants and Superflui- ties of foreign Countrie , that we may fee how large a JHeld we have m expatiate in, tho 7 all our own Growth fiiotild' bz deny\i a free Exportation. England exports all Sc&ts of Wool- len Manufacturer, lor table Goods and fmall Wfire* y Copper, Lead, Iron, Beef, Butter, Fiflij Tallow,- Cheefe and tann\i Hides, Cyder, and diftill'd Liquors, Bark, Corn, and Coals, manufactured Silks, rich and Plain (to helvid and the Plantati- ons, only) EajIan&WcfJhlndia Goods,, Gold and Silver 3 and requires all forts ( 9 1 ) ipits oi unmanufactured and raw Silksj all Plantation Commodities Wooll, rawcombM and fpun 5 Flax 5 Hemp, Linnen, and J Annen-Yarn, Fruits, Wines and Brandie?,Etf/2- India Goods, R'uffia-Leather^znd Firrs,PitcIi and Tar, Cordage and Timber, Kelp, Caftle-Soap ? Spanffi-XVooWi Bullion and Gems, Ti^in-Ojl , Blubber, Whale-Ymns and Ivory ? the. trading Towns and Harbours ox England are fufficiently known to us wherefore I Hiall pais them o- ver. The Englijh Plantations in Ameri- ca which contribute not a little to the Trade and Riches of England, arc New-England, Virginia , Mary-Land, New-York^ Penfilvania^ Carolina^ &c. on .the Continent and the lilands of Barbadoes, Antegoa, Heresy and Sr. Chriftopbersj Moa-fcr^ti, the I/land of 'Jamaica , &c f the Commodities which they afford are Mut'covadoes N ? and ( 9* )' and Sugars, Indigo, Ginger, Cotton, Tobacco, Piamento, Fuftick, Log- wood and other dying Woods, Fifh, Bark) Timber, Pitch and Tar; and what they require are Cloths and Liiuiens, Hatts, Shoes, Stockings, iron, Copper, Lead, Beef, Butter, Tallow, Leather, Manufactures of all forts, and Wines, but particular- ly thofe of Mad-era and Azores, and Negroes from the Coaft of Africk. Under the Head of Engliflj Planta- tions may be confldered alio Green- land and Newfoundland, thefe require nothing but an Application to the riihing -Trade , and they furnilh in return an immenle Treafure by Train-Oyl and Blubber, Whale-FinnS, Sperma-Gety , Cod , Haddock and other Fifh, this Buiinefs is intireJy open to us, and we by our Scituati- on, the cheapness of our Victuals, and the low Pri :e of our Labour teem mvich better quaWy 9 d to carry it ( 93 ) it on than the Dutch^ who in the fpace of 46 Years, have fifhed out of thofe Seas Fourteen Millions 5 SterL But for this I refer the Reader to Mr. Elkins^s View of the Green- land Tuide^ and for a curious Syfteni of the Expence and Profit of thqt Bufinefs alio. "Denmark is a poor Country, and has no considerable trading Town but Copenhagen ; it is however ren- dred of very great Importance by its command of the Sound, which Is as it were the Key of the Baltick ; its Exports are Wheat, Rye ? and lean horned Cattle ; but Norway, which is in fubje&ion to the King of Den- mark) tho' a very poor Country ? al- fo ? furniihes conliderable Quantities of Timber of all forts, Pitch and Tar, fome Copper and Iron, dry\i Fiih, Furrs, BuckrSins, Allies, Butter and Tallow : The Poverty oi" theie People allows but a fmall Confump- tioa ( 94 ) _ tion of foreign Commodities, which makes Dutch Dollars, Spanijb Cobbs, and other Coins, a neceflary Ingre-, dient to maintain a Commerce with them ; the following Commodities however fell well there ; all lorts of Spices and pruggs, Salt, Sugar, Ca- nary, Vinegar, Brandy, Cheefe* To- bacco-Rolls, Silks y Linnen and "Woollen Manufactures, The Trade of Siveeden is much more confiderable, affording the befl: Copper in- the World, Iron, Steel and Lead in great Quantities, Mus-r kets and Piflols, Cannons for Ships^ Bullets, Pikes, Helmets and Brcait- Plates, Brals-Wirs, Pitch and Tar, Mails, Planks, and Yawls or Barks made of Deal ; its chief Port i$ Stockholm, and the Goods which it takes in Bar tar are much the fame phat Denmark and Norway xeq\me. Pome' ( 95 ) VwneranU is a Country of great Trade, not only on account of its native Riches, but on account alfa of the Advantages it receives from the River Oder which runs through it and conveys the Produce of Bran- denburgb and vSeletia to- its Markets, ks principal Sea- Ports are Strallfund i Woolgatt, Stetin and Coleberg ; and the- Commodities had there in gfeateft abundance are Corn, Honey, Wax 1 Butter, Iron and Lead , Wooll, Tinn, Flax, Linnens of S'elctia^ and Timber, the Goods which fell beft there are, Wines and Brandies, Salty Tobacco, hammered or coined Sil- ver and Spices. PruJJia is divided into the Royal and the Ducal, the laft of which is fubjedt is to the King of Prujjut ; the moll of its Trade is earned on at Koningsberb and Memell ;■'■ the firft is fcituated on the Mouth of the Ri- ver /Y^7,.and is much frequented by by Strangers, but the River being fomewhat intricate and unfafe, Ships of Burthen generally unlade at Pillarp to get up the eaficr to Kon- ingsberg, where, may be had great Quantities of Oak for Coopers work, Allies, Wheat, Leather and Furrs, Rice, Honey, Wax, Barley, Millet and Hemp ; the following Goods fell well there, deaths,. Wines and Brandies, Cheefe, Salt, Tobacco, Spices, Iron, -Lead, Thin, and hammer'd or coined Silver. The chief trading Town of Pj- iand (which is one of the mod fruit- ful Countries in the World) is Dant^ick in Royal Pn America^ which is to be furnifhed only thro* them 5 the Commodities of their own Growth $ ( io 7 j Growth which they export,are Wines, Fruits, Oyls, Soap, Salt, Soud or Kallt, Iron, Steel and Wooll of which they have very great Quantities ; but on account of its fineeafs unfit for Manufacture without a mixture of coarfer ; the Commodities of the new World which pafs through their Hands are,Gold and Silver,PearI sand Emeralds, Cochineal,. IndigD, Quin- quina, Coco-Nuts and Vanilles To- bacco, Leather, Wood of Campe- cfyy and Snuff: And the foreign Commodities which they require are Linnens of all Sorts coarfe and fine, of which they make an incredible Confumption as well at home as in America ; Negroes for their Plantati- ons in the new Worldj Woollen and Silk Stuffs, Lace, Hats, fmall Wares of all Sorts, and Jewellers Work, . Pitch and Tar, Hemp and Cordage, Rigging for Ships, Plank and every other fort of Naval Store, all forts of P z Amu- ( m ) ^munition, Herrings, Salmon, Beef, Butter, Cheefe, Tallow, and Corn 5 Hides, tannM and faked. Timber for Building, Pipe and Barrel-Staves , Honey, Wax, Paper, Cards and fmall Wares of Iron and Copper, Ruffia^Leather^ and Druggs, all kinds of Spice, as Cinnamon, Nutmeggs, Cloves, Mace and Pepper ; Tobac- co, Ginger, refinM Sugars, Lead and Tin, Gold and Silver Lace, Lawns, Cambricks, Tapes, Fillitting, and almoft every thing that is produced by Art and Labour, choofing rather to pay for them than to debafe themfelves by Handicraft Trades a Species of Pride, which makes them (tho* poffefs'd of thegreateft Treafure in the World) the Pooreft and moft Needy of all their Neigh- bours, and may f erve to convince us that Mines of Gold and Silver are not fo great a Wealth as an induftri- ous People ; the chief trading Towns in in SjMtf* are lAhttaga y Cartagend, AH- cant) Fakptia, Ahharica in the Motf- wran'ean and 'Cadi^ Bilboa, St. £^, has made a great Figure in Trade, and had very confide rable Acquisiti- ons and Settlements on the Coafi of Africkj and in the Eafi and Weft»ln- dies^ but m fcfctt ScittiattOft through the ill CorAuSt or rather Debility of the Spanifh Monarchy, itfuffered the Lofs of moft part of them to the Dutch ; aiid tvOuld in all probability be intirely difmantied of" its foreign Dependencies, bad not they under the Conduct of the Duke oEBraguu^a happily ftiook off the Spani/b Yoak time enough to preferve a part of their Dependencies by a IVuce of ten Years, concluded in 1641 with the States* ( "o ) States-General^ and by the fucceeding Peace of 1 66 1 effefted through the Mediation of King Charles II. Lis* bon , Qporta and St. Ubes are the chief trading Towns of this King- dom, where may be had of their own Growth, Wines, Oyls, Olives, Salt, Lemons, and Oranges, Sweet- Meats, Annifeed, Reafins and Figgs, and of the Growth of their Planta- tions, Madera and Tercet a Wines, of which our Plantations in America make a great Conlumption, Sugars Tobacco, Wood of Brazil and F Musk, Civet, Sugars, Wheat and other Grain. The Levant Trade is very consi- derable, but moftly poffefled by the Englijb, the French and the Dutcb y who take care to continue them- felves, in the Grar^d Seigniors Fa- vour by their exacl;nefs and good Management ; Conjiantinopfe, Smyrna, Alleppo and Grand Cairo are the raoft confiderable trading Towns of thofe Seas, and the Goods brought from thence are raw Silks, Goats and Cammels Hair, Cotton, Turkey-Lez* ther, coloured Camblets, Cordi- vants, Wax, Allum, Galls, Wooll, Box- Wood, Currants, Coffee, Ul- tramarine, Frankincenfe, Sena and Cafia, Aloes, Sallarmoniack, Tama- rinds, Pine-Kernals, Oftridge-Fea- thers and Maftick ; and the princi- ple Goods difpofed off there, are Woollen Cloaths and Stuffs of all Sorts, Druggs, Cochineal, Indigo and ( "3 ) And Woods for Dying, Tin y Lead., Iron and Sceel , Ruffia-Leathev , Cloves , Nutmeggs , Cinnamon , Pepper, Ginger, Sugars, and Plate- Cobbs. The Trade to Africk is divided in- to many Hands, the French^ Englijb Portlgue^ Dutch and BrAndenburghsrs^ have each of them Settlements on that Coaft*, but the greateft Num- ber and mod confiderable belong lO the Englifh and Dutch ; the Goods which fell belt there, are Rock- Chryftal, Corral, Lace, Brandy, flight Woollen Stuff, great Quan- tities of Linnen, of which that which has been worn is moft efteem^ ed by the Natives, and all kinds of fortable Goods in Exchange for which they give Elephants -Teeth, Gam's Wax, Wood for Dying, Leather, Negroe-Shves , and Gold Duft. Q The ( H4 ) The Dutch, Portigue^ Englijb and trench have ingrofTed the Eaft-India Trade, and bring from thence all kind of Spice, as Cloves, Nutmeggs, Cinnamon, Mace, Pepper and Gin- ger, feveral Druggs, as Indigo, Salt- Peter, Sugar, Lace, Ambergreafe, Mi&k, Tea, Rhuburb, Borax, Ben- zoin,Bezoar and Camphire Silks, raw tvvifted and wrought, Cottons ajid Callicoes, Muflins, Chintz, Copper fromJapan,Tin and Lead, Diamonds, .Rubies, Saphires, blew and white Topazes, Hyacinths, Corrall and A- methifts, Turquois Stones, Oriental Agatts, Pearls, Porcelain or China, Japand Ware, Wood of Aquila and Siampan, Lignum Aloes, Sandal and Rofe-Wood, Ebbony, Calam- bour, Catatour, Cocoa and Tor- toife Shell, all which Commodities being the Produce of feveral King- doms are traded with by the Englijh^ French, ( " 5 ) French^ Dutch and forteigue^ not only in Europe, but in the Baft alfo ; where a great part of the Company's Expence is defray'd by trafficking even there, and felling the Produce ^ of Neighbouring Kingdoms to each other ; the only Commodities which they take from Europe are Cloaths, Linnens and Stuffs, Gold and Silver, and lome fmall Wares. I have been thus particular in re- counting the Wants and Superflui- ties of different Kingdoms, not on- ly to fhew in what parts of the World our Growth and Manufac* cures may come to a good Market, but to difcover alfo how extended a Province that of Trade is> and how- many ways it affords to get Riches, befides exporting the Commodities and Growth of our own Country, Merchants muft buy from others what they export even of our own Q^ 2 Growth ( "6) Growth to foreign Markets; and their Profit lies in felling to Advan* tage what they have fo bought ; It matters but little whether it be Wooll or Linnen, or Beef, Eaft-In~ did Goods, or Northern CommodU ties, fo they make a Profit in the Sale ; thus the Dutch fend their Fleet to the Eaft-Indies, not to fell their Freight only and return again ; but to traffic^ there buying the Growth of one Kingdom to fell to another, and loading there again to fell elfe- where, always with Profit, till they come at laft into Europe with fuch a Cargoe as is like to fell well here ; thefe again they fend to the North and Baltick to barter for naval Stores, Corn, Copper, Caviar, Wooll, Linnen, and other Commodities, which they manufafture at home * and having gathered a fufficient loading for the Mediterranean, they < Uf ) fend to Florence^ Genoa and Venic*> where their Northern Commodities go off for Plate-Cobbs and ready Money, (a neceiTary Article for the Levant-Tv&de) then they proceed to the Dominions of the GrandSeignior, and with their home Manufacture, EaftJttdU Goods and Money buy raw Silks, Cotton, Leather, Druggs, Isfc* which they bring again into Europe, and having wrought their Silks, Cottons, 12c. into rich and valuable Commodities ^ fell them to England, Ireland^ Spain^ Portugal^ and the North? or to any others who afford them a good Market, and thus like a Swow-Ball by their continual rowling from one Coun- try to another,encreafe their Wealth, and that at the Expence and through the Indolence of others ; for their natural Produce is the lead Article in their Trade • their immenfe Ri- ches < ri8 ) - ches are acquired by buying the Growth of one Country to fell to another, having perfectly learned how to fupply the Bafrennefs of their own, by the Fertility of other Countries : to extend their Domini- ons, not by Conqueft but by Com- merce, and to raife a Revenue not by a Tax on their own Subje&s, buc by Imports, as I may call it, on the Lazinefs and Luxury of all the reft of the World, who having the fame and far better Means where- with to fupply themfelves direttly, are yet under a fhameful Neceflity to take from them at fecond Hand. : J *. J 6 **'\ 441,799. Nortb-Britain and the IJieolMan. } 21,250.1 3 r, 003: Denmark , Norviay , i Ivseeden and Ha«- > 42j ^l 74,30*; to and, J, / 01 ?* 3 -** j * / from 1» Ho//»» and the C