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-The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Discourse on Trade, by John Cary
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
-other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
-whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
-the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
-www.gutenberg.org.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
-to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
-
-Title: A Discourse on Trade
-       And Other Matters Relative to it
-
-Author: John Cary
-
-Release Date: June 1, 2020 [EBook #62299]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A DISCOURSE ON TRADE ***
-
-
-
-
-Produced by Mohammad Aboomar for the QuantiQual Project;
-Project ID: COALESCE/2017/117 (Irish Research Council)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-[Transcriber's Note: Blank spaces within paragraphs (where apparently
-figures were supposed to be) were marked with the symbols ### for clarity.]
-
-
-
-
-A
-
-DISCOURSE
-
-ON
-
-TRADE,
-
-AND
-
-Other Matters Relative to it.
-
-VIZ.
-
-Of Trade in general: Of the Trade of England: Of Husbandry, Feeding,
-Tillage, Corn, Fruit, Fish, Minerals, Trees, Manufactures, Sheep-Wool,
-Cotton-Wool, Hemp and Flax: Glass, Earthen-Ware, Silk, Distilling: The
-great Advantages of a universal National Bank demonstrated: Sugar-baking,
-Tobacco, Tanning, Clock-Work, Paper-Mills, Powder-Mills: Method to
-improve our Manufactures, by imploying the Poor: Of Courts of Merchants,
-Silver Coin: An effectual Method to prevent the Running of Wool: Of our
-Trade to the East and West-Indies, Africa, the Plantations, Iceland, the
-Canaries, Spain, Portugal Turkey, Italy, Holland, Hamburgh, Poland,
-Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, France, South-Sea, &c. What foreign
-Trades are profitable, and what not. An Essay on National Credit, and the
-Irish Linnen Manufacture, &c. &c. &c.
-
-
-Wrote at the Request of several Members of Parliament And now Published
-for universal Benefit.
-
-By JOHN CARY, Esq; Merchant of Bristol.
-
-LONDON:
-
-Printed for T. OSBORNE in Gray’s-Inn,
-
-MDCCXLV.
-
-
-
-
-TO
-
-The Right Honourable
-
-Spencer Compton, Esq;
-
-SPEAKER.
-
-And to the Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of this
-Present Parliament of Great-Britain, Assembled.
-
-May it Please your Honours,
-
-
-THE First Edition of this little Tract, Relating to Trade, the Poor, &c.
-was Humbly Dedicated to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, when
-Governor of the South-Sea Company, which I then thought, as I still do,
-might be of Service to the Nation, by alluring the Heir to the Crown,
-into an Early liking of Trade, and Setting before him the Advantages that
-Accrue from it, with the Methods whereby it may be Improved; and
-therefore I Contracted it into a narrow Compass to Encourage his Reading
-it.
-
-THIS second Edition, whereto I have added some sure and practicable
-Methods, for Discharging the Public Debts of the Nation, with most Ease
-to the People, I humbly Present to this Honourable House; If it may be
-Usefull in your Debates, I shall think myself very Happy.
-
-’TIS the Ballance of our Trade, that supplies us with Bullion; if That
-be in our Favour, it brings it to us, if otherwise, it must be carried
-away.
-
-THIS Ballance is supported by our Manufactures, which keep our People at
-Work, and enable them to Maintain themselves by their own Labour, who
-must else stand still, and become a Charge on our Lands; and therefore I
-humbly conceive it to be our Interest, First, to encourage their being
-worn at Home, and then to give a Preference to such Things, as are
-Purchased for them abroad, rather than to those, which are bought for
-Bullion; and if our Trade was well regulated, we should soon become the
-Richest, and consequently the Greatest, People in Europe.
-
-I have made some Essay at such Methods, as I doubt not, being Improved by
-your Wisdoms, and strengthened by your Authority, may Tend very much to
-the Effecting this great Work; And I humbly Offer the six Propositions
-following, as so many Fundamentals, necessary, for the better Ordering of
-our Trade, the Discharging of our public Debts, and Supporting the Credit
-of the Kingdom, whereby His Majesty will be rendred more Glorious, both
-at Home and Abroad.
-
-THE First is, a Committee of Trade, made up of such Men as are well verst
-in the true Principles whereon it is Founded, and thereby enabled to make
-right Representations of such things, as shall be referred to them by the
-Parliament; who, Holding their Places, according as they are thought
-capable of performing them, will be careful to execute those Trusts with
-Judgment, Honour and Honesty.
-
-THE second is, a due Inspection into the Affairs of the Poor, and putting
-an End to that Pernicious Trade of Begging, which I can assure this
-Honourable House, from the Experience we have had in their Regulation at
-Bristol, may be done, and that the Poor may be trained up to an early
-Delight in Labour; the Means and Methods whereby That was Accomplished,
-though at first Thought Impracticable, I have set forth in the Appendix.
-pag. 167.
-
-THE Third is, the Keeping of our own Wool at home, and preventing the
-Wool of Ireland from being Transported any where else except to this
-Kingdom; which I am persuaded can never be done, by any other Method, but
-by a Register, and that That will effectually do it; towards which I have
-made an Essay in the following Treatise.
-
-THE Fourth is, the Encouraging the Linnen-Manufacture of Ireland; ’Tis
-not easy to comprehend the Advantages that will thence arise to both
-Kingdoms, when each of them shall be fully employed, on a Distinct
-Manufacture: the Hands that are now kept at Work there, on the Spinning
-of Wool, might be then turned to Linnen, and a great Part of their Lands
-would be taken up, in raising Flax and Hemp, for which they are very
-proper; and then a Stop might be put to the Importation of those great
-Quantities of Worsted and Woollen Yarn thence, so pernicious to the Poor
-of this Kingdom, the Spinning whereof, if Imported in Wool, would amount
-to many Thousand Pounds per Annum, to be divided among them; and it is
-certain, that Spinning is the most profitable Part of the Woollen
-Manufacture, because it is done by Women and Children, who can no
-otherwise be employed.
-
-IN the Year 1704, I was desired by the Ministry to give my Thoughts of
-such an Undertaking, which I then did, and printed some Considerations
-relating thereto, adapted for that Time, which I have added in the
-Appendix, pag. 158.
-
-NOR can this be any Prejudice to the Linnens of North-Britain, being of
-quite different Sorts; which should also for many Reasons be Encouraged,
-by such Means and Methods, as on due Consideration may be thought proper.
-
-THE Fifth is, the carrying on the Fishery, which deserves all the
-Encouragement the Legislature can give it; and I think the readiest way
-to do it, is, by incorporating such Societies, as are witting to set upon
-it with joint Stocks, but not exclusive to any others, which will promote
-Industry, and shut out Stock-jobbing, the Bane of so many good
-Undertakings.
-
-THE sixth, and indeed the Foundation of all the rest, is, the
-establishing a substantial Credit, large enough to answer all the
-Occasions of the Nation, both public and private, which is the Wheel
-whereon all the rest must turn, and whereby, not only the Trade of the
-Kingdom, but also the Occasions of the Government may be supplied, and
-the public Debts gradually sunk, by a good Management; and This, I humbly
-Conceive, cannot be settled any other way, but on a parliamentary
-Foundation, any Thing less will be too narrow.
-
-IN the Year 1696, I made some Essay towards such a Credit, which I then
-presented to both Houses of Parliament, and have now incerted it in the
-Appendix, pag. 174. But the Bank of England having about that time
-furnished his Majesty with a considerable Sum of Money, then very much
-wanted, for the present payment of the Army, which the Ministry could not
-otherwise have raised, tho’ they approved of the Projection, were
-unwilling to disoblige at that Juncture, by setting up any thing like
-theirs, and so that Matter slept then, as it had ever done, if I had not
-observed that the famous Mr. Laws had drawn a Scheme from it, for the
-Service of France, as near as the Constitution of that Kingdom will
-admit; not that I think it can be lasting, the Foundation being laid on
-Sand; Yet it hath served the present Occasion, to pay off the Debts of
-that Nation, by an incredible Stock-job, which must in all probability,
-end in Confusion and Discontent.
-
-NOTHING can support a National Credit, but a steady Government, where the
-arbitrary Will of a Prince cannot withdraw, or lessen the Security at his
-Pleasure; and had such a one been then establish’d here, in all
-probability, we bad been several Millions less in Debt, and not felt that
-heavy load of Taxes, which hath opprest our Lands, and injur’d our
-Trade; nor do I think those Debts can be discharged by any other way,
-private Men now carrying off those Profits, which should sink them by
-degrees.
-
-THE Advantages of a National Bank, and the good Effects it will have, in
-this Free Government, towards the Lessening our national Incumbrances,
-will plainly appear, when it is considered, that one hundred Pounds
-borrowed, will circulate two, besides it self, and thereby reduce the
-Interest, to one third Part of what is paid to the Lender; but if it
-circulates three, then to a Quarter, and it may be, to much less,
-according as a Bank hath Credit, and is found Useful.
-
-BY this Rule, if the Public pays Four per Cent. for Interest, it may by
-Circulation be reduced to one, and there is no doubt, but that a
-Well-constituted Bank, will be soon fill’d with Money at that Rate; the
-great Ground of Buying and Selling Stock being, the vast Sums of Money
-which lie dead on Mens Hands, who hope thereby to make some Profit, but
-would be glad to dispose of it, on a substantial Security, at a moderate
-Interest; besides the Advantage it will be to Widows and Orphans, whose
-Money would be safely lodged, and bring them in a certain Income, for
-their Maintenance; and here will be no room left for Stock-jobbing, which
-hath now got such a Footing, even into our public Affairs, that the
-Parliament doth not give a Land-Tax or a Lottery, where the Subscriptions
-to it are not Ingrost, by those who have not Money, in order to make an
-Advantage, by selling them to such as have, besides the vast Charge in
-the management of Lotteries.
-
-AND as to Trade, the Bank of England hath been very serviceable to this
-great Metropolis, by making a little Money serve the Uses of a great
-deal, but the Benefit thereof hath extended no farther; and why other
-Cities, and indeed the whole Kingdom, should not have the same Advantage,
-(which it will, if a National Bank be established, and Chambers settled
-where desired) I cannot conceive.
-
-AND here I must refer to the Appendix, for the better Illustrating the
-Benefit thereof, and the manner of its Institution, as then intended,
-which must now admit of several Alterations.
-
-IF such a Bank were settled, the Charge of managing it would be very
-little, and the Kingdom might grow richer some Millions every Year, and
-the Government have an Addition to its Security, by drawing the Cash of
-other Nations hither, whose Interest would thereby become interwoven with
-ours; and our Manufactures would be encouraged by a Flux of Money, which
-is the Life of Trade; and this, with the easiness of our Government,
-would bring the monied Men of Europe to settle here, which would be an
-Addition to our Wealth; the Trader might hence be supplied, with such
-Sums of Money as he shall want, and for so long time only, as he shall
-have Occasion to use it; whereby the Fishery, and other good
-Undertakings, may be encouraged, and our Wool be certainly kept at Home;
-and the Gentlemen of England may be hence furnished with Money at the
-common Interest, and be permitted to make their Payments by such Parts,
-as they can best spare it; the want of which is now such a Clog upon
-their Estates, that it destroys many good Families; who, when they are
-once got into the Usurers Books, can find no way to get out, till they
-have paid the whole Debt at once, so that their Estates are devoured, by
-Procuration and Continuation.
-
-NOR is it hereby intended to put a Force upon any Man; ’twill be the
-Interest of the Lender to put his Money into this Bank, where he hath so
-certain a Security, and of the Bank to take it in; and on the other Side,
-it will be the Interest of the Bank to furnish Money on the Terms here
-mentioned, and of the Borrower to receive it; and this single thing, will
-in time bring so great a Profit to the Public as will very much sink the
-Debts of the Nation, whilst a Common Advantage is Interwoven with it.
-
-NEITHER will this break in on the Priviledges granted to the Bank of
-England, by Act of Parliament; for though they are allowed to lend Money
-to the Government, on the Terms therein mentioned, yet the Government
-hath not bound up it self, from borrowing of any Others, and making their
-Payments in such a manner, as shall be thought most Advantagious to the
-Nation.
-
-IF any Objections (not grounded on private Interest) shall be made to
-what I have here offered, I believe a satisfactory Answer may be given to
-them, if this Honourable House shall think what I have Written, worthy
-their Consideration.
-
-ALL I shall further add, is, that it can scarce be Matter of Doubt, but
-that most Men will part with their Securities on private Funds, and rely
-on the General Credit of the Nation, though at a lower Interest, whereby
-those Funds will by degrees, become a part of the general Security, which
-with what new Taxes shall be given, will be so useful in Circulation,
-that it will be next to Impossible, for the most malicious Projectors, to
-lessen the Credit of such a Bank, or to make a Run upon it; and those
-Taxes that are heaviest on the Poor, and most Injurious to our
-Manufactures, may be taken off: And there will be this farther Advantage,
-that the several Offices, who are entrusted to buy for the Use of the
-Public, according to such Sums of Money, as shall from time to time be
-Appropriated by the Parliament, will be enabled to Purchase all things on
-the lowest Terms, when their Bills on this Bank, shall be as punctually
-discharged, at the time when they become due, as if they were Bills of
-Exchange, and in the mean time pass from Man to Man in Payment, which
-will be an Addition to the Cash of the Nation, whereby a great deal will
-be saved in what they lay out; and Men of Industry, but of small Stocks,
-will be enabled to deal with the Government, which now they cannot do;
-and will Endeavour who shall supply it on the best Terms, when by such
-Payments, they shall be Furnished, to go to Market again; and the Debts
-of the Nation will be so Incorporated therewith, that it will be every
-Man’s Interest to support its Credit; and the Eye of a Parliament,
-which hath Power to make Examples of Offenders, who through Fraud or
-Malice, shall offer Violence thereto, will be sufficient to deter any
-from such Evil Practices.
-
-    I am,
-
-    With all dutiful Respect,
-
-    Your Honours,
-
-    Most Obedient
-
-    Servant.
-
-    John Cary.
-
-
-
-
-ADVERTISEMENT.
-
-
-THE following Sheets are the Work of a Gentleman, a very considerable
-Merchant at _Bristol_, whose extensive Knowledge of, and Judgment in
-Trade, induced some Gentlemen who were well acquainted with his Capacity,
-to desire him to give them his Opinion on Trade in general, and ours in
-particular; he did, without any Design of being an Author, or the least
-Intention of printing it; but having shewn his Papers to those Gentlemen,
-they desired he would publish them, which he at last consented to, and
-had a small Number printed in Bristol, at his own Expence.
-
-The Book having met with its deserved success, he re-printed it, with
-some considerable Additions; but that Edition having been sold of, and
-himself dying soon after, it was with much Difficulty I obtained that
-Copy from which this is printed, nor should I as yet have thought of
-getting it re-printed, but,
-
-The many Prizes taken by our Ships of War, as well as Privateers, since
-the Commencement of the War with _France_, being a sufficient Proof of
-the Increase of her Trade, and the Decay of ours, I imagined any Work
-that might tend to the promoting our Trade, would meet with due
-Encouragement; and I am apt to believe no Book on the Subject deserves it
-more than this.
-
-There is annexed to it, the Act of Parliament made in the 7th and 8th of
-King _William_, in favour of the City of _Bristol_, for regulating their
-Poor; and by way of Appendix, the Proceedings of the Magistrates in
-consequence of that Act, worthy of Imitation.
-
-Our Streets being daily infested by swarms of Beggars, perhaps the
-Publishing these Proceedings may furnish some Hints to those Gentlemen,
-who are daily seeking after a Method of preventing the many Robberies,
-Cruelties, and Outrages committed in our Streets every Night of late, and
-no doubt but many of those who are Beggars in the Day-time, are the very
-People who do so much Mischief at Night; could they therefore be brought
-under proper Regulations, it would undoubtedly in some Measure be a
-Remedy to that Evil, and at the same time encrease the Riches of these
-Kingdoms, by keeping so many idle Persons of both Sexes employed.
-
-I shall not trouble the Reader any further concerning this Work, whose
-Merit will I hope speak for itself.
-
-
-
-
-A
-
-DISCOURSE
-
-ON
-
-TRADE, &c.
-
-[Sidenote: Of Trade in general.]
-
-IN Order to discover, whether a Nation gets or loses by its Trade, ’tis
-necessary first to enquire into the Principles whereon it is built; for
-Trade hath its Principles, as other Sciences have, and as difficult to be
-understood; but when they are, ’tis easy to discover whether a Nation
-gets or loses by its Management, and without this, we are not capable of
-making any true Judgment, it being possible for the Public to grow Poor,
-whilst private Persons encrease their Fortunes.
-
-The Design of this little Treatise, is to dissect and lay open the Trade
-of this Kingdom, as it is now driven, that so those Branches that shall
-appear to be Profitable may be Encouraged, and those that are Otherwise
-may be Amended.
-
-The Profits of this Kingdom arise from its Product and Manufactures at
-Home, and from the Growths of those several Plantations it hath settled
-Abroad, and from the Fish taken on the Coasts, all which being raised by
-the Industry of the People, are both its true Riches, and the Tools
-whereby it Trades to other Nations, the Products coming from the Earth,
-and the Manufacturing of them being an Addition to their Value by the
-Labour of the People; now where we barter these Things abroad for such as
-are only fit to be eat and drank, or are wasted among ourselves, though
-one Man may get by the Luxury of another, yet the Wealth of the Kingdom
-doth not encrease; but it is otherwise where we change them for Bullion,
-or for Commodities fit to be manufactured again.
-
-[Sidenote: Its Original.]
-
-The first Original of Trade both Domestic and Foreign was Barter, when
-one private Person, having an Overplus of such Things as his Neighbour
-wanted, furnished him therewith for their Value in such whereof the other
-had plenty, but he stood in need of the same, when one Nation abounding
-in those Products which another wanted, supply’d it therewith, and
-received for them Things equally necessary in their stead; and by how
-much the Products of any Nation exceeds its Wants, by so much it grew
-richer, the Remainder being sold for Bullion, or some Staple Commodity,
-allowed by all to have an intrinsic Value.
-
-And as People encreased, so did Commerce, which caused many to go off
-from Husbandry to Manufactures, and other Ways of Living, for Convenience
-whereof they began Communities: This was the Original of Towns, which
-being found necessary for Trade, their Inhabitants encreased by
-Expectation of Profit; this introduced Foreign Trade or Trafic with
-neighbouring Nations; and this a Desire to settle rather on some
-navigable Rivers, than in remote Inland Places, whereby they might be
-more easily supply’d from the Country with Commodities fit to export,
-and disperse thither those they had imported from abroad.
-
-[Sidenote: The Trade of this Kingdom.]
-
-I shall now take the Trade of this Kingdom, as it is divided into
-Domestic and Foreign, and consider each, and how they are advantagious to
-the Nation, and may be made more so.
-
-[Sidenote: Inland Trade.]
-[Sidenote: Buying and Selling.]
-
-The Domestic or Inland Trade consists either in Husbandry, Manufactures,
-or Buying and Selling; the last of which, whereby one Man lives by the
-Profit he makes by another, brings no Advantage to the Public; Peoples
-Occasions requiring Commodities to be retail’d to them in such small
-Quantities as would fit their Necessities, they were willing to allow a
-Profit to him who bought them in greater; and as this Sort of Traffic
-came more in use, so the first Buyers not only sold their Commodities to
-the Consumers in the Places where they dwelt, but also to others, who
-being seated in the Country at a distance, made an Advantage by supplying
-the Inhabitants there: This begat the Ingrossing Commodities, and thence
-arose Skill and Cunning to foresee their Rise and Falls, according to
-their Consumption and prospect of Supply. Hence came the Viciating our
-Manufactures, every one endeavouring to underbuy, that he might undersell
-his Neighbour; which Way of Living being found in Time to have less
-Labour and more Profit than Husbandry and Manufactures, was the Reason so
-many fell into it.
-
-From these Bargains Differencies arising, encouraged another Sort of
-People, whose Business it was, either by their Wisdoms to persuade, or by
-their Knowledge in the Laws to compel, the unjust Persons to do Right to
-their Fellow-Traders (an Honourable Employment at the first, and is still
-so in those who keep to the strict Rules of its Institution.) Hence arose
-Attorneys, Sollicitors, and other Officers, which were found necessary to
-attend on those Suits, and other Services of the Law.
-
-Trade brought Riches, and Riches Luxury; Luxury brought Sickness, and
-Sickness wanted Physic; which required some to separate themselves to
-study the Nature of Plants and Simples, as also of those several Diseases
-which bring Men to their Ends, who for their Advice received Gratuities
-from their Patients: These brought in Apothecaries and Surgeons, as
-necessary Attendants to their Employments; all which were maintained by
-keeping People in their Healths. Many also of ripe Parts were fitted for
-the Service of the Church, others of the State; great Numbers were
-employed in providing Necessaries of Meat, Drink, and Apparel, others in
-fitting Things for Delights and Pleasure, and by this Means leaving
-Husbandry and Manufactures, flock’d off daily to Livelihoods, which
-though useful and convenient in their respective Stations, yet cannot be
-said to encrease the Riches of this Nation, but to live by getting from
-one another; Husbandry and Manufactures being the profitable Employments,
-out of which it gathers its Wealth.
-
-[Sidenote: Husbandry.]
-
-The next Part of the Inland Trade of this Kingdom is Husbandry, which
-anteceded Buying and Selling in point of Time, though the other is
-treated of first in this Discourse; and this consists either in Feeding
-or Tillage, by both which we raise great Store of Cattle, Corn, and
-Fruits, fit for the Food, Service, and Trade of the Inhabitants.
-
-[Sidenote: Feeding.]
-
-To begin with Feeding: And here I might enumerate the various Sorts of
-Cattle raised and bred by the Care of the Husbandman; but those of most
-Note with respect to our Trade, are,
-
-1. The Beef; which besides the Excellency of its Flesh for Food, affords
-many Necessaries for our Trade, and is very serviceable in Tillage; with
-this we both nourish our Inhabitants at home, victual our Ships for
-Foreign Voyages, and load them with the several Manufactures wherewith it
-doth supply us; from the Milk we make Butter and Cheese, from the Flesh,
-Beef, from the Skin, Leather, from the Fat, Tallow, and of the Horns
-several useful Necessaries; the Overplus whereof, above our own
-Consumption, we export, and sell in Foreign Markets.
-
-2. The Sheep; whose Golden Fleece being the _Primum_ of our
-Woollen-Manufactures, does thereby employ Multitudes of our People; which
-being of different Lengths and Fineness, makes them of various Sorts;
-whereof they afford us a yearly Crop whilst living, and at their Deaths
-we have their Flesh and Skins; the first serves for our Food, and of the
-last we make Things, fit to be used at Home, and traded with Abroad.
-
-3. Horses; whose Labour is so necessary, that we can neither carry on our
-Husbandry or Trade without them; besides their Fitness for War, being
-accounted the boldest in the World; and for all these Uses are
-transported abroad; for the first, to our Plantations in _America_; and
-for the last, to some of our Neighbouring Nations: But their Flesh is of
-no Use, their Skins of little, the Leather made of them being very
-ordinary, only the longest of their Hair is used in Weaving.
-
-There are sundry other Sorts of Beasts, some whereof require no Care in
-Raising, others little, such as the Stag, the Deer, the Rabbet, the Hare,
-the Badger, the Goat, and many others, whose Skins are necessary for our
-Trade, and useful in our Manufactures.
-
-[Sidenote: Tillage.]
-
-Tillage is that whereby we raise our Corn by turning up the Earth; the
-several Sorts whereof are Wheat, Rye, Barley, Pease, Beans, Vetches,
-Oats, &c. which not only afford Nourishment to ourselves, and the Beasts
-we use in Labour, but serve also for Trade; as they give Employment to
-our People at home, and are transported abroad, more or less, according
-to the Overplus of our Expence, and the Want of our Neighbours, besides
-the great Quantities us’d in our Navigation.
-
-These Products are all clear Profit to the Nation, being raised from
-Earth and Labour; but their chief Advantages arise from their being
-exported, either in their own Kinds, or when wrought up, the Remainder,
-which is spent at home, tending rather to supply our Wants, than to
-advance our Wealth: Which Exports being more or less, according to the
-Price they bear in other Countries, and those arising from the Proportion
-their Lands holds with ours in their Yearly Rents, are not so great in
-Specie, as when wrought up. Butter is the chiefest, wherewith we supply
-several Foreign Markets, and did formerly more, till by making it bad,
-and using Tricks to encrease its Weight, we lost much of that Trade, and
-are now almost beaten out of it by _Ireland_, which every Year makes
-theirs better; besides, they undersell us in the Price, as they do also
-in Beef, occasioned by the low Rents of their Lands.
-
-’Twas the Act of Prohibition made formerly in _England_, that first
-ushered them into a Foreign Trade, their sole Dependance before that Time
-being on our Markets, and from hence they were supplied with what they
-wanted; but being thereby prohibited from bringing hither their Cattle
-and other Provisions, they endeavoured to find a Vent for them in other
-Markets, which they did with good Success, and to more Advantage; the
-Sweetness whereof gave a Spring to their Industry, and put them on the
-Woollen-Manufactures, which they also vended where they exported their
-Provisions, till in time it became so great and flourishing, as to give
-us Apprehensions it would endanger ours.
-
-[Sidenote: Corn.]
-
-As for Corn; foreign Markets are supplied therewith, both from thence,
-and from the Islands of the _Azores_, cheaper than the Rents of our Lands
-will admit; but our Plantations have still some Dependance on us for our
-Product, and as the Lands of _Ireland_ rise in their yearly Value, they
-will have more. We also raise considerable Quantities of Hemp and Flax,
-both which are useful in our Trade.
-
-[Sidenote: Fruits.]
-
-The other Fruits of the Earth, such as Apples, Pears, Cherries, Plumbs,
-together with the Herbs and Plants, serve rather for Food and Delight
-than for Trade: Some Cider we do export; also Spirits raised by the
-Distillers, both from some of these, and from Barly.
-
-[Sidenote: Fish.]
-
-On the Sea-Coast both of this Kingdom, and also of _Newfoundland_, and
-_New-England_, are caught great Store of Cod-Fish, Herrings, and
-Pilchards, which are saved, and sold in foreign Markets.
-
-[Sidenote: Minerals.]
-
-Nor is this all the Product of our Earth, whose Womb being big with
-Treasure, brings forth Lead, Tin, Copper, Calamy, Coal, Culm, Iron,
-Allom, Copperas, and sundry other Minerals, which are sold in foreign
-Markets, whither we send them: Besides a great Expectation we have from a
-much richer and more valuable Discovery, lately made in that Part of
-_Great-Britain_ called _Scotland_.
-
-[Sidenote: Trees.]
-
-Among the several Trees that adorn our Fields, the Oak, the Elm, and the
-Ash, are the chiefest; these not only serve in Building our Ships and
-Houses, but also furnish us with materials, wherewith our Artificers make
-many things fit for Commerce: And it were much to be wish’d, that
-better Care was taken to preserve our Timber, for the Benefit of
-Posterity.
-
-[Sidenote: Manufactures.]
-
-The third Part of our Inland Trade is our Manufactures, whereby our
-Products are improv’d in their Values and made useful in sundry
-Manners, both for our selves and others, by the labour of our People; and
-fitted for such Services, as of their own Natures, without the help of
-Art, they could not have been proper; and those to suit the Necessities
-and Fancies, both of our own, and also of foreign Countries to which we
-export them; where they yield a Price, not only according to the true
-value of the Materials and Labour, but an Overplus according to the
-Necessity and Humour of the Buyers: And this adds to the Profit, and
-encreases the Wealth of the Kingdom.
-
-These Manufactures, as they employ Multitudes of our People in their
-Making, so also in Exporting them, and importing foreign Materials to be
-used with our own, such as Oyl, Dye-stuff, Silk, Wooll, Cotton, Barillia
-and many others, which are either manufactured here by themselves, or
-workt up with our own Product.
-
-[Sidenote: Sheep's-Wool.]
-
-And first to begin with Sheep’s-Wooll, whereof either by it self, or
-mixt with Silk or Linnen, we make Variety of pretty Things, fit for all
-Climates, and proper for the Wearing of both Sexes; wherein the Invention
-and Imitation of our Workmen have been so great, that they have out-done
-all that went before them. From a strong Cloth, fit to keep out Cold in
-Winter, they have turn’d their hands to a fine thin sort, which will
-scarce keep warm in Summer; from hence they fell on Perpets, Serges,
-Crapes, Stuffs, Sayes, Ratoons, Antherines, and many other Things, fit
-both for outward Garments, and inward Linings; of various Colours,
-Stripes, and Flowers, some of them so fine and pleasant, as scarce to be
-known from Silk: Besides those Multitudes of coarser Cloth for the Poor;
-also Rugs, Blankets, and all sorts of Furniture for Houses. And such a
-Progress have they made in these Manufactures, that a Man may have his
-Picture wrought at the Loom, with the same Exactness as if drawn with a
-Pencil; one Work-man vying to excell another, they make Things to answer
-all Occasions. And as for Arras and Tapestry, I believe it will be
-allowed, that they do not fall short of those from whom they first had
-the Art: Add to these, Hats, Stockings, and many other things, which are
-both worn at home, and exported abroad.
-
-[Sidenote: Cotton-Wool.]
-
-The next material for the Manufactures is Cotton Wool, which is now
-become a great Imployment for the poor, and so adds to the Wealth of the
-Kingdom; This being curiously pickt and spun, makes Dimities, Tapes,
-Stockings, Gloves, besides several things Wove fit for use, as Wastcoats,
-Pettycoats, and Drawers, of different Stripes and Finenss; and I doubt
-not the Workmen would equal the _East Indies_ for Callicoes, had they
-Encouragement; with all which we supply our Plantations and other foreign
-Markets, besides what serves for our Consumption at Home.
-
-[Sidenote: Hemp and Flax.]
-
-Hemp and Flax are the Grounds for another Manufacture; for tho’ Weaving
-of Linnen is not so much used in _South Britain_, as of Woollen, yet in
-_North Britain_ it is, and may be farther improved, not so much by Laws
-to direct the Workmen in their making it, as by apt Methods to encourage
-them; and even in _South Britain_ several Counties are imployed thereon,
-who not only supply themselves, but furnish those bordering on them, with
-such Cloth as answers the ends of _French_ Linnens: Besides which great
-Quantities of Ticking, of all Finesses, Incle, Tapes, Sacking, Girtwhip,
-and many other Things are made thereof; also Cordage, Twine, Netts, with
-Multitudes of other Manufactures, which imploy the Poor, and bring by
-their Exports Profit to the Nation; and I can not here omit Sail-cloth,
-wherein we have made a wonderful Progress in a little time, at the Charge
-and Expence of private Stocks, who deserve to be encouraged.
-
-[Sidenote: Glass.]
-
-Glass is a Manufacture brought to so great a Perfection, that it keeps
-many of our People at Work; and the Materials whereof it is made being
-generally our own, and in themselves of small Value, costs the Nation
-little, in comparison of what it formerly did, when we fetch’d it from
-_Venice_; the Noble Plate Glasses which we now make of all sorts, both
-for Houses and Coaches, do greatly set forth the Genius of our Workmen;
-besides the various Sorts of Utensils made for common use, fit for all
-the Occasions of a Family, which look almost as well as Silver, and it
-would be better for the Nation that they were more used in its stead;
-also the Glass for Windows, of different Beauties; and Glass Bottles; all
-which find a greater Vent both at Home and Abroad by their Cheapness.
-
-[Sidenote: Earthen-Ware.]
-
-And as for earthen Ware, the Progress we have made therein is such, as
-may give us Hopes, that Time will bring it to such a Perfection, as to
-equal if not exceed the _Dutch_.
-
-[Sidenote: Silk.]
-
-Silk is another Material for a great Manufacture; which being brought
-from abroad Raw, we here Twist, Dye, and Weave into different Goodnesses,
-both Plain, Striped, and Flowered, either by itself, or mixt with Gold
-and Silver; so Richly Brocaded, that we exceed those from whom we first
-had the Art; besides great Quantities of Ribbons, Silk Stockings, and
-other Things, not only to serve ourselves, but also to Export.
-
-[Sidenote: Distilling.]
-
-Distilling is an Art so exceedingly improved, that had it not met with
-discouraging Laws, ’twould by this Time have attained to a very great
-Heigth, and brings great Profit to the Nation; for next to making
-something out of nothing, is the making something that is Valuable out of
-what would otherwise be worth nothing; therefore this Art ought to have
-been handled charily, to have been trained up with a great deal of
-Gentleness, and not loaded with Taxes in its Infancy, by which Means we
-were like to discourage it in the beginning; however it hath still bore
-up under all the Weight laid upon it; ’twas a great mistake to appoint
-Measures by Act of Parliament to the Distillers in their Workings; Mens
-Knowledge encreases by Observation, and this is the Reason why one Age
-exceeds another in any Sort of Mistery, because they improve the Notions
-of those who went before them; Therefore confining the Distillers to Corn
-only, was an Error, (’Tis true, other Things were allowed to be used,
-but on such Terms and Restrictions, as were next to a Prohibition) who by
-degrees would have made Experiments on that themselves, using it with
-other Mixtures, and thereby drawing from it a cleaner Spirit than it doth
-of itself afford, which they might in Time have rectified to such a
-Fineness, as to have encreased very much its Use; no Kingdom can give
-more Encouragement to Distilling than this, whose Plantations being many,
-and well Peopled, where those Spirits are so necessary, and useful for
-the Inhabitants, and these depending wholly on us for all things, would
-have caused a Consumption of very great Quantities, besides what is used
-in our Navigation; we have many Materials of our own to work on, such as
-are Molosses, Cyder, Perry, Barley, and others, all which in Time they
-would have used; for as they found their Sales increased, they would have
-made new Essays; it was a very wrong Step, to discourage Distilling from
-Molosses, Scum, Tilts and Wash; an Error the _Dutch_, nor no Trading
-Nation, would have been guilty of, and proceeded from ill Advice given
-the Parliament, by those, who under Pretence of advancing Corn,
-design’d to discourage Distilling, only offered it by that handle they
-thought it would be best received in the House; Trade and Lands go hand
-in hand as to their Interest, if one Flourishes so will the other;
-Incourage Distilling, and it will spend Hundreds of Things now thrown
-away.
-
-[Sidenote: Sugar-Baking.]
-
-Refining of Sugars have given Imployment to our People, and added to
-their Value in foreign Markets, where we found great and profitable
-Sales, till the _Dutch_ and _French_ beat us out, occasioned by the Duty
-of 2 s. 4 d. _per Cent._ laid on Muscovado Sugars, 1 Jac. 2d. to be drawn
-back at Exportation, whereby they were wrought up abroad cheaper then
-they could be at home; but that Law being now expired, and the Parliament
-have since granted a draw back on refined Sugars when shipt out, hath
-very much helpt that Manufacture.
-
-[Sidenote: Tobacco.]
-
-Tobacco also hath imployed our Poor by cutting and Rowling it, both for a
-home Consumption, and also for Exportation; but the latter is lessen’d,
-as the Places, to which we used to export it, work it up themselves.
-
-[Sidenote: Tanning.]
-
-Tanning of Leather is an Employment which deserves to be encouraged,
-because it furnishes us with a Commodity, fit to be farther Manufactured
-at home, and also to be transported abroad; I know the Exportation of
-Leather hath been much opposed by the Shoemakers, and others who cut it
-at home, and represented as attended with ill Consequences, one whereof
-is the making it dear; but, would it not be of much worse to confine and
-limit that Employment to an Inland Expence? On the other side, would it
-not naturally follow, that when Leather rises to a great Price, the
-Exportation must cease, because _Ireland_ will undersell us? And would it
-not seem an unreasonable discouragement to Trade, if Tobacco, Sugar, and
-the Woollen Manufactures, were debarred from being exported, only because
-they should be sold cheaper at home? For suppose the Occasions of the
-Nation could not consume all the Leather that is made, to what a low
-Price must Hides be reduced, for no other Reason, but that the Shoemakers
-may get more by their Shoes; ’Tis true, if they could make out, that
-those Countries must then have their Shoes from us, where we now sell our
-Leather, I should be of their Minds; but it must needs be otherwise,
-seeing _Ireland_ is able to supply them; this proceeds from a very narrow
-Spirit, and such as ought not to be encouraged in a trading Nation; a
-good export for Leather, will cause a great Import of Raw-Hides, which
-will be more Advantage to the Nation, then if they were tann’d in
-_Ireland_, and sent abroad thence.
-
-[Sidenote: Minerals.]
-
-Nor can I omit the several Manufactures made of the sundry Mineral we
-dig, and render malleable, which would be endless to enumerate, _viz._ of
-Tin, Lead, Iron and Copper, wherewith we not only furnish enough for our
-own use, but supply our Plantations, and other Places Abroad, the
-Workmanship whereof adds much to their Value; and from the last of these
-we have of late made Brass and Battery; an undertaking begun by private
-Stocks, and carryed on without the help of a Patent for fourteen Years,
-and I am of Opinion, it would be much better for the Nation, if good
-Projections were rewarded some other way, and left open, to be improved
-by all who were willing to make Experiments at their own Charge; this in
-all Probability would be a more likely way to bring them to perfection,
-and in less Time, then to tye Men down like the Motions of a Clock, to be
-directed only by one leaden Weight; of this we have a late Instance in
-the Project of _Beech Oyl_, for if but one half of the Profit can be made
-thereby, that is set forth by the ingenious Patentee, in his Book written
-on that Subject, against which I see no Objection, if the Computations
-are rightly stated, I make no manner of doubt, but that private Stocks
-would before this Time have made a greater Progress therein, than hath
-been done by the present Undertakers, on the joint Stock; and therefore I
-think it would be very proper, where such Patents are granted, after some
-reasonable Time, to enquire into the Proceedings of the Patentees, least
-the Nation be deprived of the Advantages it expected to receive, by the
-granting those Patents.
-
-[Sidenote: Clock-work.]
-
-There are many other Things which may be, and daily are improved amongst
-us; as Clock-work, wherein we sell little but Art and Labour, the
-Materials whereof they are made being but of small Value; Watches and
-Clocks of great Prices being sold for the Courts of foreign Princes.
-
-[Sidenote: Paper-Mills.]
-[Sidenote: Powder-Mills.]
-[Sidenote: Artificers.]
-[Sidenote: Methods to improve our Manufactures.]
-
-Paper Mills are a Benefit to the Nation, as they make that Commodity from
-things of themselves worth little; so are Powder-Mills; also Handicrafts,
-who supply us with things for our own use, which must otherwise be had
-from abroad, and also with others, which when exported, are more or less
-profitable, as the Labour of our People adds to their Value, Things being
-cheaper to us when we pay only for the first Materials whereof they are
-made, the rest being Work done at Home, is divided amongst our selves; so
-that on the whole it appears to be the great Interest of this Kingdom to
-advance its Manufactures; and this I humbly conceive may be done these
-several Ways.
-
-[Sidenote: By imploying the Poor.]
-
-1. By providing Work-Houses for the Poor, and making good Laws, both to
-force and incourage them to work; But designing to speak larger to this
-in the Close of this Tract, I shall refer the Reader thereto.
-
-[Sidenote: By freeing our Manufactures from Customs.]
-
-2. By discharging all Customs payable on our Manufactures at their
-Exportation, and also in the Materials used in making them at their
-Importation; for as one would encourage the Merchants to send more
-abroad, so the other would enable the Manufacturers to afford them
-cheaper at home; and ’tis strange that a Nation, whose Wealth depends
-so much on its Manufactures, and whose Interest it is to out do all
-others, by underselling them in foreign Markets, should load either with
-Taxes; but there having been something done in this since my offering it
-to the Consideration of the Parliament in a former Discourse, both as to
-the woollen manufacture exported, and also to dye Stuffs imported, which
-hath evidently appeared to be an Advantage to our Trade, it may be
-reasonably hoped, that great Council of the Nation will make a farther
-Progress therein, when it shall come regularly before them; because the
-Exportation of all our Manufacturers ought to be encouraged, and not
-receive a check by any _Modus_ of raising Money, that so they may be
-rendred abroad on such Terms, as no other Nation may undersell us; this
-whole Kingdom being as one great Work-house, wherein if we keep our Poor
-imployed, they will advance the Value of our Lands, but if we do not,
-they will become a Load upon them.
-
-[Sidenote: Logwood.]
-
-And here I cannot but mention that of Logwood, a Commodity much used in
-Dying, which pays five Pounds _per_ Tun Custom when imported, and draws
-back three Pounds fifteen Shillings when shipt out again, by which means
-the dyers in _Holland_ use it so much cheaper then ours do here; now if
-it was imported Custom Free, and paid twenty five Shillings _per_ Tun at
-its Exportation, the Dyers there would use it so much dearer than ours;
-and I think it would be well worth Inquiry, whether a Prohibition, either
-total or in Part, of Shipping out our Manufacturers thither, and to the
-northern Kingdom, undy’d and undrest, might not be made, I am sure it
-would be a great Advantage to this Kingdom if it could be done, without
-running into greater Inconveniences; the _Dutch_ discourage their being
-brought in dyed or drest, that they may thereby give imployment to their
-own People, and encrease their Navigation by the Consumption of
-Dye-Stuff; the same Reason should prevail with us to dye and dress them
-at home; but this requires the due Consideration of a Committee of Trade,
-to hear what may be said both for and against it, before it be offered to
-the Parliament.
-
-[Sidenote: By not importing things manufactur'd.]
-
-3. By discouraging the Importation of Commodities already manufactured
-(unless purchased by our own, or by our Product) such as wrought Silks,
-Callicoes, Brandy, Glass, &c. and encouraging the bringing in the
-Materials whereof they are made, to be wrought up here; by which Means
-more Ships will be freighted, and more Sailors imploy’d, besides the
-great Advantage to the Nation in the Ballance of its Trade, which must be
-returned in Bullion, as those cost less abroad than the other; and this
-will enable us to afford a greater Consumption of foreign Commodities to
-please our Palates, such as Wine, Fruit, and the like, all which fill our
-Ships, and are fit Subjects for Trade, when they are purchased by our
-Product and Manufactures, and that the Profit of our Trade will enable
-the Nation to bear the Expence.
-
-[Sidenote: By freeing our Manufactures from Excices.]
-
-4. By freeing the Manufactures from burthensome Excises, which do much
-discourage small Stocks, who are not able to carry on their Trades, and
-make Provision for such great Payments, besides the Swarms of Officers,
-to whom We lay open the Houses of those Men, who deserve all the
-Encouragement we can give them, and ought to have things made as easy to
-them as may be; had they been laid on our Woollen Manufactures, as was
-once hastily proposed, we might have repented it at Leisure; Trade ought
-to be handled gently, we may tax the Trader without medling with his
-Trade; and he that considers the Expence of this Nation at Five Pounds
-_per_ Head (accounting only Eight Millions of People) comes to Forty
-Millions _per Annum_, and the Lands only to Twelve or Thirteen, which is
-more than they can be computed at by the Act of Four Shillings in the
-Pound, may see how much we are beholding to Trade.
-
-[Sidenote: By rendring our foreign Trade safe and easy.]
-[Sidenote: Customs.]
-[Sidenote: Courts of Merchants.]
-
-5. By securing the Merchants in their Trades, who export our Product and
-Manufactures, and making their Business, in relation to the Payment of
-their Customs, as easy to them as may be: To this End good Convoys should
-be provided in Time of War, and good Cruizers maintained to preserve
-their Ships, it being certain, that whatever is diminished out of the
-Merchants Stocks, doth so far disable them in their Trades, and
-consequently lessen their Exports; great Care should be taken, that the
-_Modus_ of their Entries at the Custom-House made as easy to them as
-might be, and a due Attendance given at the loading and discharging their
-Goods when the Customs are paid, so that they may be dispatched without
-Delay, and no unnecessary Remoras put in their Way, the Loss of one Tide
-being many times the overthrow of a Voyage; Courts of Merchants should be
-erected for the speedy deciding all Differences relating to Sea-Affairs,
-which are better ended by those who understand them, than they are in
-_Westminster-Hall_, where all things are tried by the nice Rules of Law,
-and therefore after much Attendance and Expence, are often referred by
-the Judges to such as are conversant in Trade; by this Means the
-Merchants would see short Ends to their Differences; but no General Rules
-can be given for these Courts, which must be settled, as they suit the
-Conveniencies of Trading Cities.
-
-[Sidenote: By making the Banks more useful.]
-
-6. By rendering the Bank of _England_ more applicable to the
-Encouragement of our Trade than now it is, which I cannot believe the
-Members of that Corporation will oppose, when it shall manifestly appear,
-not only to be the Interest of the Nation in General, but also their own.
-And I humbly conceive that it may be so directed, that every Subject in
-his particular Station, may receive a Benefit by it.
-
-[Sidenote: Widows and Orphans.]
-
-Ease, Profit, and Security, will keep a Bank always full of Money, the
-first of which was formerly answered by the private Bankers, who received
-and paid out Money in the same Manner that the Bank now does, and their
-Notes generally were as current; but being founded on their own Credits,
-great Losses often happened, which gave great Shocks to Trade; ’tis
-true, this Mischief is now guarded against, by the Fund which the Bank of
-_England_ hath in the Hands of the Government, yet Widows, Orphans, and
-others out of Trade, are not provided for; which might be done, if the
-Bank did take in what Money might be tendred to them, for such People who
-are not able to manage it themselves, and to allow an Interest of ###
-_per Cent. per Annum_, whilst it continued in their Hands; which tho’
-it may be below the common Rate, yet by Reason of the Security and
-Readiness of Payment, ’twould be preferrable to a greater, attended
-with Hazard and Uncertainties; by this Means none of the Money would lie
-dead and useless; and on the other Hand, the Bank might have Liberty to
-lend any Sums at the legal Interest, on this Condition, that the Borrower
-may repay it by such Parts as he can spare it, and be discharged of the
-Interest of what he so pays in, from the Time of its Payment, and from
-thenceforward be chargeable with no more, than doth arise from the Money
-that remains unpaid.
-
-[Sidenote: Remittances.]
-
-Nor is there such a safe and settled Course of Remittances from Place to
-Place as Trade, and the other Occasions of the Nation do require; Men
-oftentimes paying their Money for Bills which are not punctually
-discharged, and sometimes never, tho’ they give a _Præmio_ to the
-Drawer, which obliges the travelling with so much Money, and gives
-Encouragement to Robbers; but this also might be prevented, if the Bank
-of _England_ (that is now settled in _London_) did appoint Chambers in
-other Places of the Kingdom, at such Distances as might best suit the
-Occasions of the Country, and that their Notes given out for Money,
-either at _London_, or in any one of those Chambers, should be demandable
-in any other; or by drawing Bills at one Chamber payable in another, the
-Receiver allowing for such Returns after the Rate of ### _per Cent._ in
-the Chamber where he receives his Money.
-
-If the Bank was thus regulated, the Nation would soon see its good
-Effects; Trustees might place out Orphan’s Money with good Security,
-and Widows and others, whose Maintenance depends on their Interest, would
-have it duly paid to answer their Occasions; the whole Cash of the
-Kingdom would be in a continual Circulation, and not lie dead, as too
-much of it now does; the Gentry and Traders, who are obliged on many
-Occasions to take up great Sums at Interest, would have it made easy to
-them, when they might pay in by such Parts, as they could conveniently
-spare it; and on the other Hand, it would be no Inconvenience to the Bank
-to receive it, which will by this Means never want Borrowers, and their
-Notes passing in Payment, will circulate instead of Money.
-
-These Methods will prevent many Cheats and Losses, which are often
-occasioned by fraudulent and insufficient Drawers, and abate the
-excessive _Præmio_’s which are demanded by Remitters, when they can
-take Advantages of Men’s Necessities; and the Taxes received in the
-Country might be quicker and safer paid into the Treasury. And if the
-Bank was likewise extended to _Ireland_, it would be an Advantage to both
-Kingdoms, which I shall speak farther to, when I come to discourse of the
-Trade we drive to that Kingdom.
-
-[Sidenote: By increasing the Silver Coin.]
-
-7. By increasing the Silver Coin of this Kingdom, which are the Tools
-wherewith the Trader works: It may at first seem strange, that our Silver
-Coin should grow scarcer, at a Time when we are at Peace with all
-Nations, our Trade open, and vast Quantities of Bullion yearly imported;
-but he that considers how much thereof is carried away to the
-_East-Indies_, and how little Encouragement the Importer hath to send it
-to the Mint, when he can sell it for more to export, than it will come
-too when coined, will cease to wonder; and except some Care be taken in
-this Matter, we shall soon be reduc’d to such Straits, that the
-Manufacturers must stand still: for tho’ Gold may serve for large
-Payments, yet it can’t answer the Occasions of the Manufacturers, who
-are to make their Payments among the Poor.
-
-Now if these, or such like Methods, were made use of, they might very
-much encrease our Silver Coin; as,
-
-1. Let the _East-India_ Company be Limited in the Quantity of Bullion
-they shall ship out yearly, whether the Number of Ships they send be few
-or many; and let them be oblig’d to carry to the Mint such a suitable
-Proportion according to what they send away, as to the Wisdom of the
-Parliament shall seem meet.
-
-2. Let Encouragement be given to all Persons, who shall voluntarily bring
-Plate or Bullion to be coined.
-
-3. Let the Plate of Orphans be brought into the Mint, which will tend to
-their Advantage as well as to the Nations, whereas now great Quantities
-lie dead, and grow out of Fashion before they come to use it, which will
-by this Means be turned into ready Money, and being put into the Bank,
-the Interest thereof may be employ’d for their better Maintenance, and
-the Trade of the Nation will also receive a Benefit thereby: If it be
-objected, that ’tis now sold to Goldsmiths, I think this make the
-Argument for sending it to the Mint much stronger, because it is much
-better that it were turn’d into the Coin of the Kingdom, then disposed
-of in any other Way.
-
-As for Gold, there is no need to give Encouragement to bring it to the
-Mint, ’tis only a Commodity, and not the Standard, as Silver is;
-besides, ’tis generally worth more here than in any other Country; and
-’tis apparent from the great Quantity thereof which is coined yearly
-more than of Silver, that it is every one’s Interest to send it thither.
-
-[Sidenote: By discouraging Stock-jobbing.]
-
-8. By discouraging Stock-jobbing: This hath been the Bane of many good
-Designs, which began well, and might have been carryed on to Advantage,
-if the Promoters had not fallen off by selling their Parts, and slighted
-the first Design, winding themselves out with Advantage, and leaving the
-Management to those they had decoyed in, who understood nothing of the
-Business, whereby all fell to the Ground; which may be prevented (I mean,
-so far as concerns incorporated Stocks) by Laws framed for that end, or
-by Clauses in their Charters.
-
-[Sidenote: By preventing the Exportation of Wool.]
-
-9. By strengthening the Laws against the Exportation of Wool, by such
-Practicable methods as may prevent its being done: For seeing the Nations
-Interest so much depends thereon, no Care can be too great, nor Methods
-laid too deep: Laws concerning Trade, whose sole Strength are Penalties,
-rarely reach the thing aimed at; but practicable Methods, whereby one
-thing may answer another, and all conspire to carry on the same Design,
-hanging like so many Links in a Chain, that you cannot reach the one,
-without stepping over the other, these are more likely to prevent
-Mischiefs: ’Tis one thing to punish People when a Fact is committed,
-and another to prevent their doing it, by putting them as it were under
-an Inability; Now where the Welfare of the Kingdom lies so much at Stake,
-certainly it cannot be thought grievous to compell submission to good
-Methods, tho’ they may seem troublesome at first.
-
-[Sidenote: The ill Consequences of shipping out our Wool.]
-
-And that we may the better perceive the Mischiefs that attend the
-carrying abroad of Wool unwrought to other Nations, let us consider the
-Consequences thereof in what is shipt to _France_; whose Wool being very
-coarse, and fit only for Rugs and Blankets, and such ordinary Cloth, is
-by mixture with ours and _Irish_, used in the making of many Sorts of
-Stuffs and Druggets, whereby the Sales of our Woollen Manufactures are
-lessened, both there, and in other Places whither we export them; and by
-this Means, every Pack of Wool sent thither, works up two besides itself,
-being chiefly combed, and combing Wool, which makes Wool for the _French_
-Wool, and the Pinions thereof serve with their Linnen to make coarse
-Druggets, like our Linsey-Woolsey, but the Linnen being spun fine, and
-coloured, is not easily discerned; also our finest short Wool, being mixt
-with the lowest _Spanish_, makes a middling Sort of Broad-cloth, and
-being woven on Worsted Chains, makes their best Druggets, neither of
-which could be done with the _French_ Wool only, unless in Conjunction
-with ours or _Irish_, _Spanish_ Wool being too fine and too short for
-Worsted Stuffs, and unfit for combing, so that without one of those two
-Sorts, there cannot be a Piece of Worsted Stuff, or middle Broad-Cloth
-made; no other Wool but _English_ or _Irish_ will mix well with _Spanish_
-for Cloth, being originally raised from a Stock of _English_ Sheep, the
-Difference, arising from the Nature of the Land whereon they are fed; of
-this we have Experience in our own Nation, where we find, that _Lemster_
-Wool is the finest, next, Part of _Shropshire_ and _Staffordshire_, Part
-of _Gloucestershire_, _Wilts_, _Dorset_ and _Hampshire_, Part of
-_Sussex_, _Kent_, _Somerset_, _Devon_, and _Cornwall_, these are proper
-chiefly for Cloth, some Part for Worsted; _Sussex_, _Surry_, _Middlesex_,
-_Hertfordshire_, and some other Counties, produce Wool much coarser and
-cheaper: But then _Berkshire_, _Buckingham_, _Warwick_, _Oxon_,
-_Leicester_, _Nottingham_, _Northampton_, _Lincoln_, and Part of _Kent_
-called _Rumney_ Marsh, the Wool in most of these Counties is so proper
-for Worsted, that all the World (except _Ireland_) cannot compare with
-it, therefore requires our greater Care to prevent its Exportation; and
-more particularly from _Ireland_, whence it is exported to our
-Neighbouring Nations, and sold cheap.
-
-As for the Wool of _North-Britain_, I am not sufficiently verst therein,
-to give a true Account of the Nature of it.
-
-[Sidenote: Methods to prevent the Exportation of Wool.]
-
-I know many Methods have been thought of to prevent this pernicious
-Mischief, but all the Laws I have yet seen, seem to reach but half Way,
-they depend too much on Force and Penalties, and too little on Method; we
-must begin deeper, and secure the Wool from the Time of its growing, till
-’tis wrought up into Manufactures, and I think nothing less Than a
-Register, to be kept in every County, will do it.
-
-Nor will this be attended with so much Trouble and Charge to the Nation
-in general, or to private Persons in particular, as may at first be
-thought: The Time of Sheering being once a Year, those who keep Sheep may
-give Notice to the Officer appointed for that District, of the Number of
-Sheep they have to sheer, and the Day whereon they intend to do it, that
-so he may be present to see the Fleeces weighed, and to charge them
-therewith; which Charge must remain upon them till they sell their Wool,
-and give Notice thereof to the Office, when the next Buyer must be
-charged, and so _toties quoties_, till it comes into the Hands of him
-that works it up; and all this may be done by the Officers of the Excise,
-in such a manner, as may cost the Nation little.
-
-And to prevent Frauds, let no parcel of Wool above such a Weight as the
-Parliament shall think fit, be carried from place to place, but in the
-day time, nor without a Letpass, or Cocket, setting forth from whence it
-came, and whither it is going; and the same Method must also be extended
-to _Ireland_, till it is either used there, or shipt thither; and if the
-Wool of both Kingdoms by these or any other Methods could be secured from
-being carried abroad, our Manufactures would find a surer Vent in foreign
-Markets, and yield better Prices: And the Wool of _France_ would lye on
-their Hands, and become almost useless; the Credit of the Nation would be
-raised, and our Factories abroad courted as much as formerly they have
-been, because the Manufactures we ship out are such, as no Nation can be
-without, nor can they then be well supplied elsewhere; they are not
-things only for Pleasure, but for Use, and both the Rich and the Poor
-stand in need of them; whilst the Profit of this pernicious Practice of
-Shipping out the Wool, is sunk in the Pockets of private Men, who former
-Laws accounted Felons, and cannot be thought to deserve any favour from
-the Nation.
-
-Besides ’tis well known, that the exporting our Wool hath by the ill
-Consequences thereof abated its Price at Home: This hath been observed by
-Calculations made by considerate Men; and the Reason is, because those
-Countries whither it is shipt; being thereby enabled to work up much
-larger Quantities of their own, the Sale of our Manufactures are grown
-slack abroad, and we have been forced to sell them cheaper, which beat
-down the Prices both of Wool and Labour; whereas if we had kept our Wool
-at Home, this had been prevented; and it must be allowed, that it was not
-our Interest to fall our Manufacturers, if we had been the only Sellers;
-for according as they yield in Price, so is the Wealth of the Nation
-advanced, which our Forefathers well knew, when they made Laws to
-prohibit the Exportation of Wool, which cannot be too much strengthned,
-or strongly put in Execution.
-
-[Sidenote: By managing Treaties of Peace to the Advantage of Trade.]
-
-10. By taking Care, that in all Treaties of Peace, and other Negotiations
-with foreign Princes, due Regard be had to our Trade and Manufactures;
-that our Merchants be well treated by the Governments where they reside;
-that all things be made easy to them, and both their Liberties and
-Properties secured; that our Manufactures be not prohibited, or burthened
-with unreasonable Taxes, which is the same in Effect; that speedy Justice
-be done in recovering Debts contracted amongst the Natives, and punishing
-Abuses put on our Factories by them: These are Pressures our Trade hath
-formerly groaned under, whereby the Merchants abroad, and Manufacturers
-at home, have been much discouraged, and the _English_ Nation hath been
-forced to truckle under the _French_ in some foreign Parts, only because
-that King sooner resented Injuries done to his trading Subjects, and took
-more Care to demand Reparation than some former Reigns have done; but
-Thanks be to God, we have both Power and Opportunity to do the same; and
-there is no Cause to doubt His Majesty’s Royal Inclinations, to make
-use of both for the Good of his Merchants, when things are duly
-represented to him.
-
-[Sidenote: Navigation.]
-[Sidenote: Manning our Ships of War.]
-
-And thus I have run through the several Parts of our Inland Trade, and
-shewed, that the Profit thereof arises chiefly from our Product and
-Manufactures: Before I proceed to our Foreign Trade, I shall speak
-something of Navigation, which is the Medium between both: This is
-carried on by Ships and Sailors, the former are the Sea-Waggons, whereby
-we transport and carry Commodities from one Market to another, and the
-latter are the Waggoners who drive and manage them: These are a Sort of
-jolly Fellows, who are generally bold in their Undertakings, and go
-thro’ any Kind of Labour in their own way, with a great deal of
-Chearfulness, are undaunted by Storms and Tempests, the Sea being as it
-were their Element, and are allowed by all to be the best Navigators in
-the World; they are our Wealth in Peace, and our Defence in War, and
-ought to be more encouraged than they are in both, but especially in the
-latter, which might be done, if better Methods were used to engage them
-in the Service, and better Treatment when they are there: Now I should
-think, if no Man was forced into the King’s Ships till he had been
-three Years at Sea, nor to stay there above that Time without his free
-Consent, and then to be permitted to take a Merchant’s Employment so
-much longer, and so _toties quoties_, ’twould encourage them to come
-willingly into the Service, which they look upon now to be a Slavery,
-whereto they are bound for their Lives: This, and the Manner of pressing
-them, hinders very much the making of Sailors, Landmen not caring to put
-their Hands to the Oar, least the next Day they should be halled away to
-the Fleet, tho’ they understand nothing of the Sea: By this Means our
-Men of War would be mann’d with able Seamen, and not with such who only
-stand in the Way, and are useless, when they are most wanted; nor do I
-take Embargoes to be any Helps towards it, for many Sailors do then lie
-hid, who would appear to serve in Merchant Ships, and might be easily met
-with at the return of their Voyages: By these Means in a short Time three
-would be a double Set of Mariners, enough both for the Service of the
-Fleet and of Trade, the last of which would every Year breed more.
-
-This would also prevent great Mischiefs, which arise from pressing
-Sailors out of Merchant Ships whilst on their Voyages, many of them being
-thereby lost at Sea, and others have been detained in the _West-Indies_,
-to the Discouragement of Trade; and it would also prevent another
-Mischief, too much practiced abroad, where Captains of Men of War press
-Sailors from one Merchant Ship, only to make Advantage by selling them to
-another.
-
-[Sidenote: Foreign Trade.]
-
-I come now to the Trade we drive with Foreign Countries.
-
-[Sidenote: How this Kingdom may be said to be enriched by our Foreign Trade.]
-
-Here ’tis necessary to enquire, how each encourages our Product and
-Manufactures, how our Navigation, what Commodities we receive in Return,
-and how the Ballance of our Trade stands with either, that so we may be
-the better able to know, which of them we ought to encourage, and which
-to discourage; I shall therefore lay down such general Rules, as I
-presume will be allowed by all Unbiassed Persons; as,
-
-1. That Trade is an Advantage to this Kingdom, which takes off our
-Product and Manufactures.
-
-2. Which supplies us with such Commodities as we use in making our
-Manufactures, and encreases our Bullion.
-
-3. Which incourages Navigation, and breeds up Sailors.
-
-And consequently, any Trade which Exports little or none of our Product
-or Manufactures, nor supplies us with things necessary for the latter,
-nor incourages Navigation, cannot be supposed to be profitable to the
-Kingdom in general, though perhaps it may be so to particular Persons;
-especially if it carries away our Bullion.
-
-[Sidenote: East-Indies.]
-
-I shall begin with the _East-India_ Trade, which I take to be very
-prejudical to us, as ’tis now driven; because it exports our Bullion,
-spends little of our Product or Manufactures, and brings in Commodities
-perfectly manufactured, which hinder the Consumption of our own, and
-discourage the wearing such as are purchased with them; the chief Profit
-thereof arising from Underselling the Labour of our Poor, because ’tis
-bought there cheaper, than by reason of the Value of our Lands, and the
-prices of Provisions, they are able to work here. But having spoken fully
-of this in a former Discourse, and the Parliament having since been
-pleased, by an Act made in the 10th and 11th Years of his late Majesty
-King _William_, to prohibit the wearing of wrought Silks, Bengals, Stuffs
-mixt with Silk or Herba, of the Manufacture of _Persia_, _China_, and
-_India_, and all Callicoes painted, dy’d, printed or stained there. The
-Reason of which, is in the said Act set forth to be, The great Detriment
-the Nation received as the Trade was then managed, by exhausting the
-Treasure thereof, and taking away the Labour of the People, whereby very
-many of the Manufacturers were become excessively burthensome and
-chargeable to their respective Parishes, and others compelled to seek for
-Employment in foreign Parts, I shall not now repeat what I then wrote,
-but will consider how far the Remedy they then provided hath answered the
-End.
-
-The making this Law, gave a new Life to our Manufactures, and would have
-given more, if the true Intent of the Parliament had been answered: But
-we have since found that it has not; for it neither keeps our Treasure at
-home, nor prevents those Commodities from being worn here, which they
-design’d it should; and I very much question, whether any thing less
-than a total Prohibition of their Importation will do it; for though they
-are directed to be exported again, yet there is great Reason to believe,
-that they are privately brought back, both from _Ireland_, our
-Plantations, and other Places to which they are sent, to the Loss of his
-Majesty’s Customs, and the Prejudice of the Stainers and Painters her,
-besides the Injury to our Manufactures: Otherwise, how come such great
-Quantities to be worn and used here, when the Stock in hand hath been so
-long since spent?
-
-There are other Commodities, which the Company may trade in, and the
-Tract of Land within their Charter is large enough to afford an
-advantagious Commerce there, the Profits whereof might be returned
-hither, in things no way injurious to our Manufactures, such as Raw-Silk,
-Indigo, Pepper, Salt-Peter, Spices, Drugs, China-Wares, Coffee, Tea, and
-many other Things, if they were industrious to make Discoveries, as
-private Merchants would do, if the Trade lay open; and I believe it will
-not be disputed, that great Quantities of Raw-Silk, have been brought
-thence since the Making of that Law, than were used to be done before.
-
-I know it hath been alleadg’d, That by the Exportation of those
-Manufactures again, more Bullion in _specie_ is brought into this
-Kingdom, than is carry’d out for the buying them in _India_; but this
-was never yet made out, and it would be much to the Satisfaction of the
-People, who daily see that Bullion carried away, and also for the Honour
-of the Company, that it was done; which if it be really so, might be set
-forth in this, or any other Method that the Parliament shall think fit.
-
-1. Let them give an Account what Quantities of Bullion they export on
-every Ship they send abroad, and on what Commodities ’tis laid out.
-
-2. Let them set forth, how and in what manner, these prohibited
-Manufactures do, on their being Exported again, bring in as much Bullion
-in _specie_, as was carry’d out to pay for them in the _Indies_.
-
-And I think it a proper Work for a Committee of Trade, to receive these
-Accounts from time to time, and after a just Examination, to lay them
-before the Parliament at every Meeting, with their Opinions thereon.
-
-But if they only mean, that the Exportation of those Manufactures is a
-help to us in the Ballance of our Trade, which must otherwise be paid in
-Bullion, I answer, that our own Product and Manufactures always have, and
-are still sufficent to support the Ballance of our Trade.
-
-As for white Callicoes and Muslins, they have beat out the wearing of
-Lawns, Cambricks, and other thin _German_ and _Silesia_ Linnens, which
-has been the Occasion of turning many of those Looms to the Woollen
-Manufactures there, that were formerly employed in the weaving them, and
-hath abated the Exportation of great Quantities of Cloth; besides the
-hinderance Callicoes give to the consumption of _Scots_-Linnens, which
-being thin and soft, are as proper for dying, printing, and staining, as
-they are, and may be made as white.
-
-The _East-Indies_ is a bottomless Pit for our Bullion, which can never
-circulate hither again; whereas, if it was sent to any Part of _Europe_,
-there might be some hopes, by the Ballance of our Trade, to bring it back
-again; and when our Bullion fails, that Trade must cease of course, which
-it will soon do, if the Company continue to carry out yearly as much as
-our other Trades brings us in.
-
-I wish the Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom would be in Love with our
-own Manufactures, and those which are purchased with them, and that they
-would by their Examples encourage the using them, which would be attended
-with the Prayers of the Poor, besides the Advantage it would bring to
-their Estates.
-
-And as to Navigation, I think it will not be disputed, that long Voyages
-rather use Sailors than make them, both the Employers, and the Employed,
-chusing rather to make their first Experiments on short ones.
-
-[Sidenote: West-India and Africa.]
-
-I will next proceed to the _West-India_ and _African_ Trades, which I
-esteem the most profitable we drive, and join them together, because of
-their dependance on each other.
-
-[Sidenote: Whether Settling of Plantations hath been an Advantage.]
-
-But before I enter farther thereon, I will consider of one Objection, it
-having been a great Question among many thoughtful Men, whether the
-settling our Plantations Abroad has been an Advantage to the Nation; the
-Reasons they give against them are, That they have drained us of
-Multitudes of our People, who might have been serviceable at Home, and
-advanced Improvement in Husbandry and Manufactures; that this Kingdom is
-worse peopled, by so much as they are increased; and that Inhabitants
-being the Wealth of a Nation, by how much they are lessened, by so much
-we are poorer, than when we first began to settle those Colonies.
-
-To all which I answer; that though I allow the last Proposition to be
-true, that People are the Wealth of a Nation, yet it can only be so,
-where we find Imployment for them, otherwise they must be a Burthen to
-it: ’Tis my Opinion, that our Plantations are an Advantage to this
-Kingdom, though not all alike, but every one more or less, as they take
-off our Product and Manufactures, supply us with Commodities, which may
-be either wrought up here, or exported again, or prevent fetching things
-of the same Nature from other Places for our Home Consumption, employ our
-Poor, and encourage our Navigation; for I take this Kingdom, and all its
-Plantations, to be one great Body, those being as so many Limbs or
-Counties belonging to it; therefore when we consume their Growth, we do
-as it were spend the Fruits of our own Land; and what thereof we sell to
-our Neighbours, brings a second Profit to the Nation.
-
-These Plantations are either the great Continent from _Hudson’s-Bay_
-Northward to _Florida_ Southward, containing _Nova Scotia_,
-_New-England_, _New-Jersy_, _New-York_, _Pensilvania_, _Virginia_,
-_Mary-Land_, _Carolina_; and also our Islands, the Chief whereof are,
-_Newfoundland_, _Barbadoes_, _Antegoa_, _Nevis_, _St. Christophers_,
-_Montserat_, and _Jamaica_; the Commodities they afford us are more
-especially Sugars, Cotton, Tobacco, Piamento and Fustick, of their own
-Growth; also Logwood, which we bring from _Jamaica_ (but first brought
-thither from the Bay of _Campechia_ on the Continent of _Mexico_,
-belonging to the _Spaniards_, but cut by the Subjects of this Kingdom,
-who have made small settlements there) besides great Quantities of Fish,
-taken on the Coasts both of _Newfoundland_ and _New-England_: These being
-the Product of Earth, Sea and Labour, are clear Profit to the Kingdom,
-and give a double Employment to our People, first to those who raise them
-there, next to those who prepare Manufactures here, wherewith they are
-supplied, besides the Advantage they afford to our Navigation; for the
-Commodities exported thither, and those imported thence hither, being
-generally bulky, do thereby employ more Ships, and consequently more
-Sailors, which leaves more Room for other labouring People to be kept at
-work in our Husbandry and Manufactures, whilst they consume the Product
-of the one, and the Effects of the other, in an Employment of a distinct
-Nature from either.
-
-This was the first Design of settling Plantations abroad, that we might
-better maintain a Commerce and Trade among ourselves, the Profit whereof
-might redound to the Center: And therefore Laws were made to prevent the
-carrying their Product to other Places, and their being supply’d with
-Necessaries save from hence only, and both to be done in our own Ships,
-navigated by our own Sailors, except in some Cases permitted by the Act
-of Navigation; and so much as the Reins of those Laws are let loose, so
-much less profitable are the Plantations to us.
-
-Among these Plantations, I look upon _New-England_ to bring the least
-Advantage to this Kingdom; for the Inhabitants thereof employing
-themselves rather by trading to the others, than raising a Product proper
-to be transported hither, and supplying them (especially the Islands)
-with Fish (which they catch on their Coart) Deal-Boards, Pipe-Staves,
-Horses, and such like Things of their own Growth, which they cannot be so
-well furnished with hence, also with Bread, Flower, Pease, and other
-Grain; and from thence fetching the respective Products of those Islands,
-and sometimes Tobacco from _Virginia_ and _Mary-Land_, have carried them
-to foreign Markets, to the great Prejudice of this Kingdom: But to
-prevent this, they have been by sundry Laws obliged to bring them all
-hither, except what is consumed among themselves: By which Means this
-Kingdom is become the Center of Trade, and standing like the Sun in the
-midst of its Plantations, doth not only refresh them, but also draws
-Profit from them: And indeed it is a Matter of exact Justice that it
-should be so, for from hence it is that Fleets of Ships, and Regiments of
-Soldiers are frequently sent for their Defence, at the Charge of the
-Inhabitants, towards which they contribute but little.
-
-Besides the forementioned Commodities, we have from _Carolina_ excellent
-Rice, and there has been Cocheneel taken, which as yet is but a
-Discovery, and perhaps may not meet with any considerable Improvement,
-till that Colony is better peopled; what I have seen thereof in the Hands
-of a Gentleman who brought it thence, seems by its Figure, to be much
-like what we call a Lady-Cow, or Lady-Bird, but is very small, and I take
-it to be the _Fœtus_ of an Insect, which laying its Eggs on a Shrub
-called the Prickle-Pear, or something very like it, leaves them there,
-till Time brings them to Maturity, in the same Manner as the Caterpillar
-does with us in the Cabbage or Collard Leaves, wise Nature thus
-directing, that the _Fœtus_ may find its Food, so soon as it wants its
-Sustenance. It gives a very curious Colour when bruised, but being
-extraordinary small, does require long Time to gather in any Quantity,
-and Labour being very dear there, ’twill not yet answer the Charge; but
-by cultivating and improving the Plant, which now grows wild, and by
-being better acquainted with the proper Seasons to collect them, when
-they are at a more mature Growth, greater Quantities may probably
-hereafter be procured, and at less Charge; and I think it would be a good
-Step towards it, if an Encouragement was given on its Importation hither,
-in such a Manner, as to the Wisdom of the Parliament shall seem fit and
-proper.
-
-[Sidenote: Africa.]
-
-Now, that which makes these Plantations more profitable to this Kingdom,
-is the Trade to _Africa_, whereby the Planters are supplied with Negroes
-for their Use and Service; a Trade of the most Advantage of any we drive,
-and as it were all Profit, the first cost being some Things of our own
-Manufactures, and others generally purchased with them, for which we have
-in return, Gold, Teeth, Wax, and Negroes, the last whereof is indeed the
-best Traffic the Kingdom hath, as it occasionally gives so vast an
-Employment to our People both by Sea and Land. These are the Hands
-whereby our Plantations are improved, and it is by their Labours such
-great Quantities of Sugar, Tobacco, Cotton, Ginger, Fustick and Indigo,
-are raised, which employ great Numbers of Ships for transporting them
-hither; and the greater Number of Ships, employs the greater Number of
-Handicraft Trades at home, spends more of our Product and Manufactures,
-and makes more Sailors, who are maintained by a separate Employment; for
-if every one raised the Provisions he eat, or made the Manufactures he
-wore, Traffic would cease, which is a Variety of Employments Men have set
-themselves on, whereby one is serviceable to another, adapted to their
-particular Genius’s, without invading each other’s Provinces: Thus
-the Husbandman raises Corn, the Miller grinds it, the Baker makes it into
-Bread, and the Citizens eats it: Thus the Grasier fats Cattle, and the
-Butcher kills them for the Market: Thus the Shepherd sheers his Sheep,
-the Spinster turns the Wool into Yarn, the Weaver makes it into Cloth,
-and the Merchant exports it, and every one lives by each other: Thus the
-Country supplies the City with Provisions, and that the Country with
-Necessaries; now the advising a former Reign to monopolize this Trade,
-and confine it to an exclusive Company, was the same, as to advise the
-People of _Ægypt_, to raise high Banks to keep the River _Nilus_ from
-overflowing, least it should fertilize their Lands; or the King of
-_Spain_ to shut up his Mines, least he should fill his Kingdom too full
-of Silver: This Trade indeed is our Silver Mine, for by the Overplus of
-Negroes above what will serve our Plantations, we draw great Quantities
-thereof from the _Spaniards_, who are settled on the Continent of
-_America_, both for the Negroes we furnish from _Jamaica_, and also by
-the Assiento, lately settled by a Compact of both Nations: ’Twas these
-which first introduced our Commerce with that People, and gave us
-Opportunities of selling our Manufactures to them.
-
-But tho’ this Trade be now laid open, yet it will not be amiss to
-enquire what Reasons should persuade that Government to monopolize it,
-and what has been the Consequences thereof, in order to obviate any
-future Attempts that may be made to get it done again.
-
-As for the First; The Necessity of having Forts, Castles, and Soldiers to
-defend the Trade which could not be carried on without them, had then
-Force enough to prevail.
-
-But let us consider what these Forts, Castles, and Soldiers were, their
-Use, and whither the Trade is not as well secured now it lies open.
-
-The greatest Number of Soldiers, offered as I remember at a Committee
-formerly appointed by the honourable House of Commons to enquire into
-that Affair, did not exceed One Hundred and Twenty on the whole Coast,
-nor did their Forts and Castles appear to be any thing else than
-Settlements for their Factors, nor was it ever made out, or indeed
-pretended, that they were fitted to wage a National War, or to secure
-against a National Invasion, nor were there any Magazines laid up to
-expect a Siege from the Natives; nor could they hinder Interlopers from
-trading on the Coast of what Nation soever; but the Company having
-obtained Frigates from the Government, destroyed our own Merchant Ships
-(unless permitted on the Payment of great Mulcts at home) whilst they let
-others alone: This, together with the Powers given them in their Charter,
-to seize in the Plantations, such as had the good Fortune to escape them
-on the Coast, and also their Cargoes, discouraged private Traders, who
-else found no Difficulties, the Natives receiving them as Friends, and
-chusing rather to deal with them than the Company, whose Factories also
-being at remote Distances from each other, great Part of that Coast was
-untraded to.
-
-Nor do I see what Need there was to fight our Way into a Trade,
-altogether as advantageous to the Natives as to us; for whilst we
-supplied them with Things they wanted, and were of Value amongst them, we
-took in exchange Slaves, which were else of little Worth to the
-Proprietors; and there was no Reason to think, that the People of this
-Kingdom, who had settled such large Colonies on the Continent of
-_America_, (besides it several Islands) where there was at first such
-small Hopes of Advantage, without the Help of a Company, should fall
-short in securing this Trade, which carried with it the Prospect of so
-great a Profit.
-
-I will next consider the Inconveniencies that have attended this
-Monopoly, and the Advantage the Nation reaps by the Trades being laid
-open; we now send more Ships, and supply the Plantations with more
-Negroes, and vend more of our Commodities for their Purchase: Besides,
-every Negro in the Plantations gives a second Employ to the Manufacturers
-of this Kingdom; and had we many more to spare, the _Spaniards_ would buy
-them, and pay us in Bullion, so there could be no Ground for putting this
-Trade into few Hands, unless ’twas designed those few should grow rich,
-whilst for their Sakes, the Nation suffered in its Trade and Navigation,
-the Company having made this detrimental Use of their Charter, that they
-bought up our Manufactures cheaper at home, and made the Planters pay
-dearer for Negroes abroad, than could have been done, if there had been
-more Buyers for the One, and Sellers of the Other.
-
-It is not to be doubted, whether the vending our Manufactures, and
-encouraging our Navigation, on advantagious Terms, are the true Interest
-of this Kingdom, and that all Foreign Commerce, as it advances either, is
-more or less profitable to us; but the confining this Trade to an
-exclusive Company could promote neither; and I believe ’tis one great
-Reason, why we know so little of that great Continent, because the
-Company, finding Ways enough to employ their Stock amongst those few
-Settlements they had made on the Sea-Coast, never endeavoured a farther
-Inland Discovery; whereas, now the Trade is laid open, the busy Merchant,
-that industrious Bee of the Nation, will not leave any Creek or River
-untraded to, from whence he may hope to make Advantage.
-
-’Tis to Trade and Commerce we are beholding for what knowledge we have
-of foreign Parts, and it is observable, that the more remote People dwell
-from the Sea, the less they are acquainted with Affairs abroad. _Africa_
-is a large Country, and doubtless the Trade to it, may be much enlarged
-to our Advantage: Use and Experience, make us by degrees, Masters of
-every thing, and tho’ the first Undertakers of a Design may fall short
-of answering their private Ends, yet they often lay open beaten Paths,
-wherein Posterity do tread with Success, though they miscarried: Now that
-all Places are permitted freely to send Ships, and to have the Management
-of their own Affairs, Industry is encouraged, and Peoples Heads are set
-at work how they may out-do each other, by getting first into a new Place
-of Trade. Besides, the more Traders, the more Buyers at home, and Sellers
-abroad, and by this means, our Plantations on the large Continent of
-_America_, are better furnished with Negroes, for want of which the
-Inhabitants there could never arrive to those Improvements they have done
-on the Islands, the Company having given them little or no Supply, but
-chose rather to send their Negroes to the latter, because they were able
-to make them better Payments; but the Free-traders have since done it, to
-the great Advantage of those Plantations, and of the Nation in general.
-
-As for the other Commodities brought in returns from _Africa_, _viz._ Wax
-and Teeth, one serves for a foreign Export, without any Disadvantage to
-our own Product; and the other is manufactured at home, and afterwards
-carried to Markets abroad: And as for the Gold brought thence, I need not
-mention how much it doth advance our Wealth, all allow it to be a good
-Barter.
-
-On the whole, I take the _African_ Trade, both for its Exports and
-Imports, and also, as it supplies our Plantations, and advances
-Navigation, to be very beneficial to this Kingdom, and will every Year
-grow more so, if it remains open.
-
-[Sidenote: Ireland.]
-
-I come now to discourse of _Ireland_, and of the Trade we interchangeably
-drive with that Kingdom, with whom it is necessary to maintain a good
-Correspondence, which must be done on such Terms, as may be profitable to
-us both; and I think nothing is more likely to answer this End, than the
-encouraging the Linnen Manufacture there, which it is highly our Interest
-to promote, and theirs to set upon, being for the most Part of another
-Nature, than what is made either in the _North_ or _South-Britain_; for,
-besides the Employment it will give to the Poor, large Tracts of Land
-will be taken up for raising Hemp and Flax, both which thrive well in
-many Parts of that Kingdom; on the other Hand, the low Labour of
-_Ireland_ being employed on that Manufacture, will no way prejudice ours,
-but make them better able to trade with us, for such things wherewith
-they are supplied hence, it being undoubtedly the Interest of this
-Kingdom, that all those Nations we trade with should grow rich, by any
-Methods that do not make us Poor; and more-especially _Ireland_, whose
-Profits are generally spent here.
-
-But then, how shall this Manufacture be carried on? Truly, the first Step
-must be, by furnishing Money on reasonable Interest, and receiving it
-again by such Payments as the Borrowers can make, and buying up the
-Linnens when made, and then the landed Men will encourage it, on their
-own Estates, and thereby enable their Tenants to pay their Rents better;
-which last Effect it hath already had in the North of _Ireland_, where by
-spinning the Yarn in the Winter Nights, and getting their Cloth ready,
-and fit for Sale, early in the Year, they provide for their _May_ Rents,
-without being constrained to sell their Cattle whilst they are lean, and
-their _November_ Payments do not become due, till they are fat, and their
-Harvest is over.
-
-Now these Loans must be made, either by a Joint-Stock raised for that
-Purpose, of by the Bank of _England_, which will be attended with good
-Security; for by reason of the Register settled there by Act of
-Parliament, I take the Securities of _Ireland_, to be rather better than
-those in _England_: and this way of lending Money, must likewise be very
-acceptable to all those whose Estates are under different Incumbrances,
-which may by this means be reduced into one, and paid off, as they can
-spare the Money by degrees.
-
-Nor can I see how any ill Consequences will attend the bringing the Money
-to _Par_ in both Kingdoms, I know it had none when the Crown-piece was
-some Years since reduced from six Shillings to pass at five Shillings and
-five Pence, and all other Money in Proportion; it neither caused an
-Alteration in the Rents to the Landlords, nor in the Price of the Product
-to the Tenants; and I cannot see why the falling it to five Shillings (as
-it passes here) should carry with it any ill Effect; the Lands of
-_Ireland_ would thereby be more worth to the Proprietors, who would then
-be more willing, and better able, to spend their Money here, when they
-were freed from such high Exchanges; besides the Advantage to the King in
-his Revenue.
-
-The Commodities we have thence are, Wool, Hides, Tallow, and Skins, all
-useful in our Manufactures; as also some Herrings, which we export again;
-and we ship from thence for other Markets, Beef, Pork, Salmon and Butter;
-we likewise supply them with Tobacco, Sugar, and other Plantation Goods;
-also with fine Broad-Cloth, Silk Manufactures, and several other things
-made here; and with sundry of our Products, as Lead, Tin, Coal, &c. of
-which last, so great Quantities are carried thither yearly, that it will
-scarce be credited, how much they say there it amounts unto; besides
-Muslins, Callicoes, China-Ware, Tea, Coffee, and other _East-India_
-Goods: They have indeed, discouraged the Importation of Callicoes, by
-loading them with a great Duty, but I wonder they do not totally prohibit
-them, for that single Commodity doth more Injury to their Manufactures,
-both of Linnen and Wollen, than all the Things they import besides.
-
-I should be very glad to see the Linnen Manufacture there brought to a
-good Perfection; and I am sure if the Government were at some Charge in
-doing it, ’twould not be ill laid out.
-
-[Sidenote: Canaries.]
-
-I shall proceed next to the Trade we drive to the _Canary-Islands_, which
-brings us nothing but what we consume, and I believe takes from us little
-of our Product or Manufactures; but since we must drink Wines, ’tis
-better to have them from the _Spaniard_ than the _French_; the first
-takes off much of our Manufactures, the other little; and I am apt to
-think, those Wines are paid for out of what we ship to _Spain_.
-
-[Sidenote: Spain.]
-
-This brings me to the _Spanish_ Trade, which I take to be very profitable
-to this Kingdom, as it vends much of our Product and Manufactures, and
-supplies us with many Things necessary to be used in making the Latter,
-and furnishes us with great Quantities of Bullion; I shall divide it into
-three Parts, _Spain_, _Biscay_, and _Flanders_.
-
-To begin with _Spain_, by which I mean, that Part from the Bay of _Cadiz_
-inclusive, Eastward into the Straits of _Gibraltar_, as far as
-_Catalonia_; whither we send all Sorts of Woollen Manufactures, Lead,
-Fish, Tin, Silk and Worsted Stockings, Butter, Tobacco, Ginger, Leather,
-Bees-Wax, and sundry other Things. And in Return we have thence, some
-Things fit only for Consumption, such as Fruit and Wines; others for our
-Manufactures, such as Oil, Cochineal, Indigo, Anata, Barillia, and some
-Salt, with a great Part in Gold and Silver, wherewith they are supplied
-from their large Empires on the main Land of _America_, whither they
-export much of the Goods we carry to them.
-
-The _Spaniards_ are a stately People, not much given to Trade or
-Manufactures themselves; therefore the first they carry on by such
-chargeable and dilatory Methods, both for their Ships and ways of
-Navigation, that other trading Nations, such as the _English_, _French_,
-_Dutch_, and _Genoese_, take Advantage of them; only their Trade to their
-_West-Indies_, hath, on strict Penalties, been reserved to themselves;
-but having no Manufactures of their own, the Profit thereof comes very
-much to be reaped by those who furnish them: Nor is it so well guarded
-and secured, but that the Inhabitants thereof have been plentifully
-supplied by us with Manufactures, and many other Things from _Jamaica_,
-and may be more, by the Liberty lately granted to the _South-Sea_
-Company, whereby we get greater Prizes for them, than when they were
-first shipp’d to _Cadiz_, and exported thence thither, which adds to
-the Wealth of the Nation: This I take to be the true Reason why our Vent
-for them at _Cadiz_ is lessened, because we supply _New-Spain_ direct
-with those Things they used to have thence before.
-
-By _Biscay_, I mean all that Part under the _Spanish_ Government, which
-lies in the Bay of that Name, or adjoining to it: The Commodities we send
-thither are generally the same as we do to _Spain_, and in Return we have
-Wool, Iron, and some Bullion, whereof the first is the best and most
-profitable Commodity, which could we secure wholly to our selves,
-’twould be of great Advantage to the Nation; but both the _Dutch_ and
-_French_ come in for their Shares; tho’ I am apt to think the former
-might be induced to bring it hither by way of Merchandize, if we did so
-far relax the Act of Navigation, as to give them Liberty to do it.
-
-The third Part of our _Spanish_ Trade is that to _Flanders_, whereby I
-mean all those Provinces that were formerly under its Government, but are
-now under the Emperors, whether we send Commodities much of the same
-Nature as those we send to the other Parts, tho’ not in so great
-Quantities, and among our Woollen Manufactures more coarse Medleys; also
-Muscovado Sugars and Coals, but not so much Leather as we have formerly
-done, being supplied with raw Hides from _Ireland_, which are tann’d
-there: We have thence Linnens, Thread, and other Things, which are used
-both at Home, and also shipp’d to our Plantations.
-
-[Sidenote: Portugal.]
-
-The next is the Trade we drive to the Kingdom of _Portugal_, and its
-Islands, where we vend much of our Product and Manufactures, little
-different in their kinds from what are sent to _Spain_; and from thence
-we have in Return, Salt, Oil, Woad, Fruit, and Wines, besides Gold and
-Silver: We have, since the Wat with _France_, increased our Importation
-of their Wines, which is more our Interest to do, than to have them from
-_France_, whence our Imports have been always more than our Exports would
-pay for, and to this Kingdom our Exports are greater than their Products
-can make us Returns, especially since we have desisted from bringing
-hither their Sugars and Tobacco, Commodities wherewith we are more
-advantageously supplied from our Plantations in _America_, and are now
-able to furnish foreign Markets cheaper than they can.
-
-These People were formerly the great Navigators of the World, as appears
-by their many Discoveries, both in the _East_ and _West-Indies_, besides
-the several Islands os the _Azores_, _Cape de Verd_, and also _Maderas_,
-where they have settled Colonies; to these they admit us a free Trade,
-but reserve their remoter Settlements on the Continent of _Brazil_ more
-strictly to themselves, whither they export many of the Commodities we
-send them, and in Return have Sugars and Tobacco, which are again
-exported to the _European_ Markets, though little of them hither: Besides
-which, they have of late brought from thence great Quantities of Gold;
-their Islands we supply directly with our Manufactures, and from the
-_Azores_ load Corn, Woad, and some Wines, which we receive in Barter for
-them, and are the Product of those Islands; the first we carry to
-_Maderas_, where ’tis again bartered for the Wines of the Growth of
-that Island, which are shipt thence to our Plantations in _America_: In
-these Settlements the Inhabitants live well, and are plentifully
-supplied, because they have wherewith to pay for what is brought them;
-but those residing on the _Cape de Verd_ Islands, being generally made up
-of Negroes, Molattoes, and such like People, and having little Product to
-give in Returns, are but meanly furnished, and have scarce enough to
-serve their Necessities, much less to please their Luxuries, Asses,
-Beeves, and Salt, being all we have from them, which we generally carry
-to our Plantations in _America_: some Salt we bring home; Beef might be
-made there very cheap, could it be saved, being purchased for little, and
-Salt for less, but the Climate will not allow it; only the Island of St.
-_Jago_ is rich, well governed, and a Bishop’s See, where they are well
-supplied with Necessaries, because they have Money to pay for what they
-buy.
-
-The _Portugueze_, as they are now become bad Navigators, so they are not
-great Manufacturers; some Sorts of coarse Cloth they do make, which is
-often shipp’d to the Islands of _Maderas_ and the _Azores_, where
-’tis worn with great Delight, and preferred before any other of the
-like Goodness, because its made in _Portugal_; and they did once attempt
-the making Bays, for which they drew over some of our Workmen, but it
-soon came to an End, and they returned Home again by Encouragement given
-them here, so prudent a Thing it is to stop an Evil in the Beginning.
-
-[Sidenote: Turkey.]
-
-The Trade driven to _Turkey_ is very profitable, as it affords us Markets
-for great Quantities of our Woollen Manufactures, together with Lead, and
-other Product, shipp’d hence to _Constantinople_, _Scandaroon_, and
-_Smyrna_, and from thence disperst all over the _Turkish_ Dominions, as
-also into _Persia_. The Commodities we have thence in Return are, Raw
-Silk, Cotton-Wool and Yarn, Goat’s-Wool, Grogram-Yarn, Cordivants,
-Gauls, Pot-Ashes, and other Things, which are the Foundations of several
-Manufactures different from our own, by the Variety whereof we better
-suit Cargoes to export again; and tho’ this Trade may require some
-Bullion to be carried thither, yet there is a great Difference between
-buying for Bullion, Commodities already manufactur’d, which hinder the
-Use and Consumption of our own, such as those brought from the
-_East-Indies_, or Things to be spent on Luxury, such as Wines and Fruit,
-buying therewith Commodities to keep our Poor at Work; these must be had,
-tho’ purchased with nothing else.
-
-[Sidenote: Italy.]
-
-To the several Parts of _Italy_ we send great Quantities of Lead and
-other our Product, and many Sorts of Woollen Manufactures, but chiefly
-those made of Worsted; also Fish, and Sugars, both white and brown, the
-last principally to _Venice_; We bring thence raw and thrown Silk, and
-Red-Wooll; also Oyl and Soap, (of the latter we now make a great deal in
-_England_,) both used in Working up our Wool, some Paper, Currants, and
-other things.
-
-Both _Venice_ and _Genoa_ have made some Attempts on a Woollen
-Manufacture, being furnished with Wool from _Alicant_, and those
-_Eastern_ Parts of _Spain_; wrought Silks and Glass are not so much
-imported thence as the formerly were, since we have fallen on making them
-here.
-
-[Sidenote: Holland.]
-
-The _Dutch_ likewise Buy many of our Manufactures, and much of our
-Product, as Coals, Butter, Lead, Tin, besides things of smaller Value,
-such as Clay, Redding, &c. which are exported to _Holland_, not only for
-their own use, but being a Mart of Trade for _Germany_, they disperse
-them for the Expence of those Countries; among whom they also Vend our
-_West-India_ Commodities, such as Sugar, Tobacco, Indigo, Logwood,
-Fustick, Ginger, Cotton-Wool, besides what they use themselves; they are
-an industrious People, but having little Land, want Product of their own
-to Trade on, except what they raise by their Fisheries, or bring from the
-_East-Indies_, whereof Spices and Salt-Petre are many times admitted to
-be brought hither, tho’ contrary to the Act of Navigation; indeed the
-Trade of the _Dutch_ consists rather in Buying and Selling than
-Manufactures, most of their Profits arising from that, and the Freights
-they make of their Ships; which being Built for Burthen, are imployed
-generally in a Home-Trade, for bulky Commodities, such as Salt from St.
-_Ubes_ to the _Baltick_, Timber, Hemp, Corn, Pitch, and such sorts of
-Goods thence to their own Country, which Ships they Sail with few Hands;
-and this, together with Lowness of Interest, enables them to afford those
-Commodities at such Rates, that they are often fetcht from them by other
-Nations, cheaper then they could do it from the Places of their Growth,
-all charges considered: ’Tis strange to see how these People Buz up and
-down among themselves, the Greatness of whose Numbers causes a vast
-Expence, and that Expence must be supplied from Abroad, so one Man gets
-by another, and they find by Experience, that as a Multitude of People
-brings Profit to the Government, so it creates Imployment to each other;
-besides they Invent new ways of Trade, by selling, not only Things they
-have, but those they have not, great Quantities of Brandy and other
-Commodities being disposed of every Year, which are never intended to be
-delivered, only the Buyer and Seller get or loose, according to the Rates
-it bears at the time agreed on to make good the Bargain; such a Commerce
-to this Kingdom would be of little Advantage, and would not advance its
-Wealth more than Stock-jobbing, our Profits depending on the improving
-our Product and Manufactures; but that Government raising its Income by
-the Multitude of its Inhabitants, who pay on all they eat, drink and
-wear, and almost on every thing they do, cares not so much by what
-Methods each Person gets, as that they have People to pay; which are
-never wanting from all Nations, for as one goes away, another comes, and
-every temporary Resident advances their Revenue; therefore to increase
-their Numbers, they make the Terms of Trade easy; contrary to the Customs
-of Cities and private Corporations with us, the Narrowness of whose
-Charters discourages Industry, and hinders Improvements both in
-Handicrafts and Manufactures, because they exclude better Artists from
-their Societies, unless they purchase their Freedoms at unreasonable
-Rates.
-
-[Sidenote: Hamburgh.]
-
-_HAMBURGH_ is another Market for our Manufactures; this City vends great
-Quantities of our Cloth, as also Tobacco, Sugars, and other Plantation
-Commodities, together with several of our Products, which are also thence
-sent into _Germany_; from whence we have in Return Linnens, Linnen-yarn,
-and other Commodities, very necessary both for the Use of our selves and
-of our Plantations, and little interferring with our own Manufactures.
-
-[Sidenote: Poland.]
-
-_POLAND_ also takes off many of our Manufacturers, wherewith it is
-supplied chiefly from _Dantzick_, whither they are first carried, and
-thence disperst into all Parts of that Kingdom, which hath but little
-Wool of its own, and that chiefly in _Ukrania_; but the Expence of our
-Cloth hath been lessened there, since _Silesia_, and the adjoining Parts
-of _Germany_, have turn’d their Looms to that Commodity, occasioned by
-our disusing their Linnens, and wearing Callicoes in their Room; we have
-thence some Linnens, also Potashes.
-
-[Sidenote: Russia.]
-
-_RUSSIA_ is likewise supplied by way of St. _Angelo_, with our Woollen
-Manufactures, and other Things, also with some Tobacco; but the Sale of
-the latter is decreased, occasioned (as I am informed) by the
-Indiscretion of our Merchants that imported it; who putting an excessive
-Price thereon, caused the Czar to encourage the Planting it in his
-Dominions, which being very large, and reaching from the _Mare Album_
-Northward, to the _Caspian_ Sea Southward, besides its vast Extent from
-East to West, affords Climates enough proper for it; by which means, we
-are in danger of losing the Sale of that Commodity, so profitable to the
-Nation, which we might have continued, if they had not been too covetous
-at first: We have in Return from thence, Hemp, Potashes, _Russia_ Hides,
-with some Linnen, and other Commodities, both useful at Home, and fit to
-be carried abroad.
-
-[Sidenote: Sweden.]
-
-_SWEDEN_ and its Territories, takes off great Quantities of our
-Manufactures, both fine and coarse, and some of our Product, besides
-Tobacco and Sugars, and other Plantation Goods; but the Sale of our Cloth
-hath been lessen’d there, occasion’d by their loading it with great
-Duties, on purpose to encourage a Manufacture of their own; their Wool is
-coarse, so consequently the Cloth made thereof must be ordinary; however,
-the late King encouraged the Wearing it, by his own Example, and thought
-it the Interest of his Kingdom so to do: Yet all sorts of Serges, Stuffs,
-and Perpets are carried thither, and I think as freely as before; from
-thence we have Copper, Iron, and some other Things.
-
-[Sidenote: Denmark and Norway.]
-
-_DENMARK_ is supplied from us with Woollen Manufactures, yet takes no
-great Quantities, and _Norway_ less, the People of the latter being
-generally poor; some Tobacco and Sugar is also shipp’d hence and spent
-amongst them.
-
-From these three last Northern Kingdoms we are furnished with Pitch, Tar,
-Hemp, Masts, Baulks, and Deal boards, all very useful to us, and without
-which, we can’t carry on our Navigation, and therefore we must have
-them, though purchas’d with Money; but the Parliament having encouraged
-the Importation of some of them from our Plantations on the Continent of
-_America_, our Dependence on them for those Things, will in all
-probability be lessened every Year: I look on any thing that saves our
-Timber, to be an Advantage to the Nation, which Baulks and Boards do.
-
-[Sidenote: France.]
-
-The _French_ Trade hath every Age grown less profitable to our Woollen
-Manufacturers, as the Inhabitants make wherewith to supply, both
-themselves and other Nations, which they could not do, were they not
-furnished with Wool from hence and _Ireland_, their own being unfit to
-work by it self: Nor doth _France_ spend much of the Growth and Product,
-either of this Kingdom, or of our Plantations, and furnishes us with
-nothing to be manufactured here, so that the Trade we drive thither,
-turns only to their Advantage; which being generally for Things consumed
-among ourselves, and our Imports exceeding our Exports, must needs be
-Loss to the Kingdom; but if the Linnen Manufacture can be settled in
-_Scotland_ and _Ireland_, Paper, Distilling, and Silk Manufactures,
-encouraged here, the Ballance will soon be altered, especially since the
-_Portuguese_ have made such Improvements in their Wines; only their Salt
-we shall still want for our Fisheries.
-
-[Sidenote: South Sea.]
-
-As to the _South-Sea_ Trade, I cannot undertake to say much to it, being
-but lately entered upon, and limited by Act of Parliament to an exclusive
-Company, according to whose Management it may prove more or less
-Advantagious to the Nation; only in this I believe we may be certain,
-that they will never carry away our Bullion, as the _East-India_ Company
-does, but in all Probability, will bring us more.
-
-[Sidenote: What Foreign Trades are profitable to our Manufactures, and what
-are not.]
-
-And thus I have run through the Foreign Trades driven from this Kingdom,
-and shew’d how they advance its Interest, by taking off our Product and
-Manufactures, and supplying us with Materials to be manufactured again;
-wherein ’tis a certain Rule, that so far as any Nation furnishes us
-with things already manufactured, or only to be spent amongst our selves,
-so much less is our Advantage by the Trade we drive with them; especially
-if those Manufactures interfere with our own, and are purchased with
-Bullion. Therefore I think the _East-India_ Trade to be unprofitable to
-us, hindering by its Silks, Muslins, and Callicoes, the Consumption of
-more of our Manufactures in _Europe_, than it takes from us. The
-_Spanish_, _Turkey_, and _Portugal_ Trades, are very advantagious, as
-they vend great Quantities of our Manufactures, and furnish us with
-Materials to be wrought up here, and disperse our Commodities to other
-Places, where we could not so well send them ourselves; this _Spain_ doth
-to its Settlements in _America_; _Turkey_ to all its Territories, both in
-_Europe_ and _Asia_, and also to _Persia_; _Portugal_ doth the same to
-_Brazil_. The _Dutch_, _Hamburgh_, and _Dantzick_ Trades are very useful,
-as they supply _Germany_, _Poland_, and some Parts of _Russia_, with our
-Manufactures, and little interfere with us in theirs. _Sweden_ and
-_Denmark_ are profitable, both in what they take from us, and in what we
-have from them again. _Italy_ takes off much of our Worsted Manufactures,
-and sends us little of its own, save wrought Silks, whereof we shall
-every Year import less, as we increase that Manufacture at home; but
-above all, I esteem the _African_ and _West-India_ Trades to be most
-profitable to the Nation, as they imploy more of our People at Home, and
-give greater Incouragement to our Navigation by their Product; but the
-_French_ Trade is certainly our Loss, _France_ being like a Tavern, with
-whom we spend what we get by other Nations; and ’tis strange, we should
-be so bewitcht to that People, as to take off their Growth, which
-consists chiefly of things for Luxury, and receive a Value only for the
-Esteem we put on them, whilst at the same Time, they prohibit our
-Manufactures, in order to set up the like among themselves, which we
-encourage, by furnishing them with Wool.
-
-[Sidenote: The Ballance of each Trade.]
-
-The Ballance of that and the _East-India_ Trade, is always against us,
-from whom we have in Goods more than we ship them, and therefore must
-lessen our Bullion; the Ballance of _Spain_ and _Portugal_ is always in
-our Favour, and therefore must encrease it; as for the _Dutch_,
-_Germany_, and _Hamburgh_, their Ballances are not yet agreed on; some
-think we ship them most, others, that we receive most from them; I
-incline to the former: The Northern Crowns supply us with more than they
-take from us, but they are Commodities we can’t be without, at least,
-till we can be better furnish’d with them from our Plantations in
-_America_; _Turkey_ may require some Bullion, yet the Trade we drive
-thither is very beneficial to us; _Italy_ will grow more and more in its
-Ballance on our Side, as the Importation of wrought Silks is lessen’d,
-and turn’d into raw and thrown. Now considering, that almost the whole
-World is supplied by our Labour, and that our Plantations do daily bring
-us such Incomes, ’tis strange, if this Nation should not grow rich,
-which doubtless it would do above all our Neighbours, were our Trade
-rightly looked after.
-
-[Sidenote: What Nations chiefly cope with us in our Manufactures.]
-
-Those who cope with us in our Manufactures, are chiefly the _French_; but
-let due Care be taken to prevent their being supplied with Wool from
-hence, and from _Ireland_, and we shall soon see an Alteration therein:
-’Tis true, they have Wool of their own, but they cannot work it without
-ours or _Irish_: The Commodities they make, are generally slight Stuffs,
-wherein they use a great deal of Combing Wool; and these they not only
-wear themselves, but send them to _Portugal_, and other Parts, with good
-Success; to countermine which, We have fallen on making them, by
-Assistance of the _French_ Refugees; I wonder at the Fancies of those
-Men, who are always finding Fault, that we do not make our Manufactures
-as strong as formerly we did, wherein I think they are to be blamed, for
-we must fit them to the Humours of the Buyers, and slight Cloth brings as
-much Profit to the Nation as strong, and the same Employment to the Poor;
-yet where Seals and other Marks are set, let them be certain Evidences to
-the Truth of what they certify, either as to the Length of the Piece, or
-that the Inside is suitable to the Outside, or that ’tis truly wove,
-and without Flaws; the same with respect to the Colour, that ’tis
-woaded, or madder’d, or the like: But there is a great deal of
-Difference between this, and obliging the Manufacturer to make his Cloth
-or Stuff to a certain Weight and Thickness, without respect to the Buyer,
-or the Climate to which it is sent. As for the _Dutch_, as I take them to
-be no good Planters, so likewise no good Manufacturers, their Heads are
-not turned that Way, but rather to Traffic and Navigation. The
-_Flanderkins_ were once famous in the Art of Cloth-making, which they
-carried on by the Wool they fetch’d hence: But King _Edward_ the Third,
-by keeping our Wool at home, put a stop to that Manufacture. If therefore
-the prohibiting our Wool to be carried out, had at that Time so good an
-Effect and Consequence against those People, why should not our Care to
-prevent its being carried out now, have the same against the _French_? We
-cannot indeed hinder them from _Spanish_, but we may from our own and
-_Irish_. As for _Sweden_, I am apt to think their Manufactures will come
-to little. And as for _Germany_, the Woollen Manufacture is not so
-natural to them as the Linnen, which they would keep close to, if we gave
-them Encouragement, by wearing it here, and sending it to our
-Plantations, which would be more advantagious to us, than by the use of
-Muslins and Callicoes, to put them on fencing with us at our own Weapons,
-which they very unwillingly undertake. The Woollen Manufactures in
-_Italy_ are but small, and those chiefly among the _Venetians_, something
-among the _Genoese_; these we cannot hinder, being supplied with Wool
-from those Parts of _Spain_ which are near them, except we could promote
-a Contract with the _Spaniard_ for all he hath; and if it should be
-objected that we should then have too much, ’tis better to burn the
-Overplus at the Charge of the Public (as the _Dutch_ do their Spices)
-than to have it wrought up abroad, which we can’t otherwise prevent,
-seeing all the Wool of _Europe_ is Manufactured somewhere; and if the Act
-for burying in Woollen did extend to our Plantations in _America_,
-’twould be of great use towards the Consumption of our Wooll; thus,
-when the Nation comes to see, that the Labour of its People is its
-Wealth, ’twill put us on finding out Methods to make every one Work
-that is able; which must be done, by hindring such swarms from going off
-to idle and useless Employments, and by preventing such Multitudes of
-lazy People from being maintained by begging.
-
-[Sidenote: Difference in Employing our own Ships and those of other Nations.]
-
-And this is farther to be noted in our Trade with Foreign Nations, that
-where they fetch from us our Product and Manufactures, and make their
-Imports to us, in their own Ships, we get less by the Trade we drive with
-them, than if we did it in ours, because that doth also encourage our
-Navigation; and Freights are a great and profitable Article in Trade;
-therefore we get more by the _Spanish_ Trade, because we generally drive
-it in our own Bottoms; and we lose more by the _French_ Trade, when they
-bring us their Wines and Brandy, than when we fetch them ourselves; and
-accordingly we may take our Measures in judging of all other Trades.
-
-[Sidenote: Whether a true Judgment may be made of the Ballance of Foreign
-Trade.]
-
-It hath been a great Debate how the Ballance of our Foreign Trade shall
-be Computed, and what Methods we should take whereby to know it, and it
-has been thought, that the most proper way to make a true Judgment
-therein is, by taking an Account from the Custom-house Books of our
-Exports and Imports; but if this Method would do, yet I do not think
-there can be any Certainty, either of the one or the other, drawn from
-thence; for, as for our Imports, the Bullion, and such Things of Value,
-are not entered there, and seldom presented; and as to the Exports,
-seeing our Woollen Manufactures go out Custom-Free, the Entries there
-made of them cannot be depended on; but suppose a more exact Account of
-our Exports and Imports could be had, yet, since so great a part of the
-Trade of this Kingdom is driven by Exchange, and such vast Quantities of
-Commodities are Imported from our Plantations for Account of the
-Inhabitants there, the Produce whereof they leave here as a stock at
-Home, and that they are supply’d hence with so many Things for their
-own Consumption, I cannot see how any moderate Computation can be this
-way made of our general Trade, much less of that we drive with any
-particular Nation, the Commodities which we receive at one place, being
-often carried to another; thus we transport to _Italy_ the Sugars we
-receive for our Manufactures in _Portugal_, and bring thence Silk and
-other Things to be manufactured here, and yet we must not conclude we
-lose by the _Portugal_ Trade, because the Returns thence fall short by
-the Custom-House Books, or that we get more by the _Italian_ Trade,
-because it doth not appear by those Books how we exported Commodities to
-pay for what we Import thence; and as to the Profits we make by the
-Freights of our Ships, it doth not at all appear from them, nor at what
-Rates our Product and Manufactures are sold Abroad, or our Plantation
-Goods to Foreigners at home; so the Thing must still remain doubtful; and
-I know no more certain way to Judge of it, than by the Increase the
-Nation makes in its Bullion, which always arises from the over Ballance
-of our Foreign Barter and Commerce.
-
-[Sidenote: Committee of Trade.]
-
-And for the better Encouraging the Trade of this Kingdom, I think it well
-worthy the Thoughts of a Parliament, whether a standing Committee, made
-up of Men well verst therein, should not be appointed; whose sole
-Business it should be to consider the State thereof, and to find out Ways
-to improve it; to see how the Trades we drive with Foreign Kingdoms, grow
-more or less profitable to us; how, and by what Means we are out-done by
-others in the Trades we drive, or hindered from enlarging them; what is
-necessary to be prohibited, both in our Exports and Imports, and for how
-long Time; to hear Complaints from our Factories Abroad, and to
-correspond with our Ministers there, in Affairs relating to our Trade,
-and to represent all Things rightly to the Government, with their Advice,
-what Courses are proper to be taken for its Encouragement; and generally
-to study by what means and Methods the Trade of this Kingdom may be
-improved, both abroad and at home.
-
-If this was well settled, the good Effects thereof would soon be seen;
-but then, great Care must be taken, that these Places be not fill’d up
-with such who know nothing of the Business, and thereby this excellent
-Constitution become only a Matter of Form and Expence.
-
-In the Management of Things of much less moment, we employ such who are
-supposed to understand what they undertake, and believe they cannot be
-carryed on without them; whilst the general Trade of the Nation (which is
-the support of all) lies neglected, as if the Coggs that direct its
-Wheels did not need skill to keep them true: Trade requires as much
-Policy as Matters of State, and can never be kept in a regular Motion by
-Accident; when the Frame of our Trade is out of Order, we know not where
-to begin to mend it, for want of a set of experienced Builders, ready to
-receive Applications, and able to judge where the Defect lies.
-
-Such a Committee as this, will soon appear to be of great Use and
-Service, both to the Parliament in framing Laws relating to Trade, and
-also to the Government in the Treaties they make with Foreign Nations.
-
-As to the first, it hath sometimes been thought, that when that great and
-glorious Assembly hath medled with Trade, they have left it worse than
-they found it; and the Reason is, because the Laws relating to Trade,
-require more time to look into their distant Consequences, than a Session
-will admit; whereof we have had many Instances.
-
-To begin with the _French_ Trade; in the 22d _Car._ II. a new Import was
-laid on Wines, _viz._ Eight Pounds _per_ Ton on the _French_, and Twelve
-Pounds _per_ Ton on _Spanish_ and _Portuguese_: This Difference (with the
-low Subsidies put on their Linnens by former Acts, in respect to those of
-other Places) was a great Means of bringing the Ballance of that Trade so
-much against us, that the Parliament in the 7th and 8th of _Gul._ III.
-thought fit to make an Act, (and is continued by this present Parliament
-for a longer time) which in Effect, prohibited all Trade with that Nation
-for One and Twenty Years, by laying a great Duty on the Importations
-thence, in order to prevent a Correspondence, till the Trade should be
-better regulated.
-
-In the 14th _Car._ II. Logwood was permitted by Act of Parliament to be
-imported, paying five Pounds _per_ Ton Duty; the same Act repeals two
-Statutes of Queen _Elizabeth_ against Importing and Using it in Dying
-here, and sets forth the Ingenuity of our Dyers, in finding out Ways to
-fix the Colours made with it; and yet at the same time gave a Draw-back
-of three Pounds fifteen Shillings _per_ Ton on all that should be
-Exported, whereby Foreigners use it so much cheaper in their Manufactures
-than ours can here; which proceeded from a too hasty making that Law, and
-being advised, or rather abused, by those, who regarded more their own
-Interest, than that of the Nation.
-
-By an Act made 1 _Ja._ II. an Impost of Two Shillings and Four Pence _per
-Cent._ was laid on Muscovado Sugars imported from the Plantations, to be
-drawn back at Exportation; the Traders to the Plantations stirr’d in
-this Matter, and set forth, That such a Duty would discourage the
-Refining them here, by hindering the Exportation of refined Sugars, which
-was then considerable, and carry that Manufacture to _Holland_ and
-_Flanders_; but the Commissioners of the Customs prevailed against them,
-and the Bill past; the fatal Consequences whereof soon appear’d; for
-the Exporters of Muscavado Sugars, drawing back two Shillings and
-Four-pence _per Cent._ by that Act, and Nine-pence _per Cent._ by the Act
-of Tunnage and Poundage, foreign Markets were supplied with refined
-Sugars from other Places cheaper, by about Twelve _per Cent._ than we
-could furnish them hence, by which means we were beat out of that Trade:
-and though the Duty of two Shillings and Four-pence _per Cent._ was not
-continued on the Expiration of that Act, by the Parliament 2d W. and M.
-(as they did the Three-pence _per_ Pound on Tobacco) the bad Effects
-thereof being then apparent, yet ’tis Difficult to retrieve a lost
-Trade, trading Nations being like expert Generals, who make Advantages of
-the Mistakes of each other, and take care to hold what they get.
-
-By a Statute 4th and 5th W. and M. twenty Shillings _per_ Ton was laid on
-_Lapis Caliminaris_ dug here and Exported, on an Information given to the
-House of Commons, that it was not to had any where else; the Merchants
-concerned in exporting that Commodity, made Application, and set forth,
-that such a Duty would bring in nothing to the Crown, but be a total Bar
-to its Exportation; yet the Act past, and we were like to have made a
-fatal Experiment; for till the Statute of the 7th and 8th of the same
-King, which reduced the Duty to two Shillings _per_ Ton, the Exportation
-ceased; and in the mean Time, those Places which had been discouraged
-from digging, and calcining it, because we undersold them, set again to
-work, and supplied the Markets where we vended ours.
-
-What Injury was done by the Act made in the 9th and 10th W. III. for the
-more effectual preventing the Importation of Foreign Bonelace, &c. doth
-sufficiently appear by the Preamble of that made in the 11th and 12th of
-the same Reign, for repealing it three Months after the Prohibition of
-our Woollen Manufactures in _Flanders_ (which was occasioned by it)
-should be there taken off; but I don’t understand that is yet done, and
-it may prove an irrecoverable Loss to the Nation.
-
-I mention these Things with great Submission to the Judgment of that
-glorious Assembly, the Wisdom and Strength of the Nation; to whom I only
-presume with all Humility to offer my Thoughts, that it would very much
-tend to the putting Matters of Trade into a true Light before them, if
-they were first referred to a Body of Men, well versed in the true
-Principles thereof, and able to see through the Sophistical Arguments of
-contending Parties, to be by them considered, and well digested, before
-they received the Sanction of a Law.
-
-And as to foreign Treaties; I do not think our Trade hath been so much
-bettered by them as it might have been, for want of such a Committee; the
-Representations made by private Merchants, (who generally differ
-according as their Interests clash with each other) tending rather to
-distract, than to inform the Government; which would not be, if their
-first Applications were made to an experienced Committee, who had
-Judgment enough to substract out of them what was proper to be offer’d;
-by which means, our Demands might be rendered short and comprehensive.
-
-We have natural Advantages in Trade above other Nations, besides the
-Benefit of our Situation, the Foundation of our Woolen Manufactures being
-as it were peculiar to our own Growth, and may be retained amongst
-ourselves; an Advantage the _French_ have not, whose Wealth arising
-chiefly from the Exportation of their Wines, Brandy, Salt, Paper, Silks,
-and Linnens, both we and other Nations, have made such a Progress in them
-all since the War began, as to render theirs less sought for; whereas,
-nothing but our own Neglects, and ill Managements, can let our Neighbours
-into our Manufactures, which we may soon put a stop to, by securing our
-Wool at Home.
-
-[Sidenote: Insurance.]
-
-I cannot close this Discourse without speaking something of Insurance.
-The first Design whereof, was to encourage the Merchants to export more
-of our Product and Manufactures, when they knew how to ease themselves in
-their Adventures, and to bear only such a Proportion thereof as they were
-willing and able to do; but by the Irregular Practices of some Men, this
-first Intention is wholly obviated; who without any Interest, have put in
-early Policies, and gotten large Subscriptions on Ships, only to make
-Advantage by selling them to others; and therefore have industriously
-promoted false Reports, and spread Rumours, to the Prejudice of the Ships
-and Masters, filling Mens Minds with Doubts, whereby the fair Trading
-Merchant, when he comes to insure his Interest, either can get no one to
-underwrite, or at such high Rates, that he finds it better to buy the
-others Policies at advance; by this means these Stock-Jobbers of
-Insurance, have, as it were, turn’d it into a Wager, to the great
-Prejudice of Trade: likewise many ill-designing Men, their Policies being
-over-valued, have (to the Abhorence of honest Traders, and to the Scandal
-of Trade itself) contriv’d the Loss of their own Ships: On the other
-Side, the Underwriters, when a Loss is ever so fairly proved, boggle in
-their Payments, and force the Insured to be content with less than their
-Agreements, for fear of engaging themselves in long and chargeable Suits.
-
-Now, if the Parliament would please to take these Things into their
-Consideration, they may reduce Insurance to its first Intention, by
-obliging the Insured to bear such a proportionable Part of his Adventure,
-(the Premio included) as to them shall seem fit, and also the Insurers,
-when a Loss is fully made out, to pay their Subscriptions without
-Abatement, which will prevent both; and if any Differences should arise,
-to direct easy ways for adjusting them, without attending long Issues at
-Law, or being bound up to such nice Rules in their Proofs, as the Affairs
-of foreign Trade will not admit.
-
-[Sidenote: Wilful casting away Ships by the Owners.]
-
-I know, that by a Clause in a Statute made _primo Annæ_, the wilful
-casting away, burning, or otherwise destroying a Ship, by any Captain,
-Master, Mariner, or other Officer belonging to it, is made Felony,
-without Benefit of Clergy; but that Statute is so qualify’d, that it is
-difficult to convict the Offender, because the Fact must be done, to the
-Prejudice of the Owner, or Owners, or of any Merchant or Merchants that
-shall load Goods thereon, else he doth not come within its Penalty, so it
-doth not reach the Evil I here mention, _viz._ the abominable Contrivance
-of the Owners to have their own Ships destroyed, in order to make an
-Advantage by their Insurances; (a Crime so black in itself, that it
-cannot be mentioned without Horror.) These Men, when they frame their
-dark Designs, will take Care, for the Security of those they employ, that
-none besides themselves shall load Goods on the Ships they intend shall
-be thus destroyed, and it cannot be supposed that they receive Prejudice
-thereby themselves, so the Prosecution on that Statute is evaded; but if
-the Insured were bound to make out their Interests, and to bear a
-Proportionable Part of the Loss themselves, this would, as it were,
-naturally prevent such scandalous Practices.
-
-[Sidenote: Whether the Price of Labour is a Hindrance to Improvements in
-our Products and Manufactures.]
-
-Before I enter on the Business of the Poor, I will consider of a Question
-that hath arrisen, and I have heard sometimes debated by Men of good
-Understanding, which is, Whether the Labour of the Poor being so high,
-does not hinder Improvements in our Product and Manufactures; which
-having some Relation to the Subject Matter of this Discourse, I shall
-offer my Thoughts thereon, with Submission to better Judgments, _viz._
-That both our Product and Manufactures may be carried on to Advantage,
-without running down the Labour of the Poor.
-
-As to the first, our Product, I am of Opinion, that the running down the
-Labour the Poor, is no advantage to it, nor is it the Interest of that
-part of the Kingdom called _England_ to do it, nor can the People thereof
-live on so low Wages as they do in other Countries; for we must consider,
-that Wages must bear a Rate in all Nations according to the Price of
-Provisions; where Wheat is sold for one Shilling _per_ Bushel, and all
-Things suitable, a labouring Man may afford to work for Three-pence a
-Day, as well as he can for Twelve-pence, where it is sold for four
-Shillings; and this Price of Wheat arises chiefly from the Value of the
-Land; for it cannot be imagined, that the Farmer who gives twenty
-Shillings _per_ Acre, can afford it as low as he whose Lands cost him but
-five Shillings _per_ Acre, and produces the same Crop, nor can Labour be
-expected to be so low in such a Country, as in the other; this is the
-Case of _England_, whose Lands yielding great Rents, require good Prices
-for the Product; and this is the Freeholders Advantage; for supposing
-Necessaries to be the Current Payment for Labour, in such Cases, whether
-we call a Bushel of Wheat one Shilling, or Four Shillings, it will be all
-one to him, for so much as he pays, but not for the Overplus of his Crop,
-which makes a great Difference into his Pocket; you cannot fall Wages,
-unless you fall Product; and if you fall Product, you must necessarily
-fall Lands.
-
-And as for the second, our Manufactures, I am of Opinion, that they may
-be carried on to Advantage, without running down the Labour of the Poor;
-for which I offer,
-
-1. Observation, or Experience of what hath been done; we have and daily
-do see that it is so; the Refiners of Sugars sell for Six-pence _per_
-Pound, what yielded formerly Twelve-pence; the Distillers sell their
-Spirits for one half of what they formerly did: Glass Bottles, Silk
-Stockings, and other Manufactures (too many to be here enumerated) are
-sold for not much more than half the Price they were some Years since,
-without falling the Poor.
-
-But then the Question will be, how this is done? Truly it proceeds from
-the Ingenuity of the Manufacturer, and the Improvements he attains to in
-the Ways of his Working: Thus the Refiners of Sugars go through that
-Operation by easier Methods, and in less Time, than their Predecessors
-did: Thus the Distillers draw more Spirits from the Things they work on,
-than those formerly did who taught them the Art. The Glass-Maker hath
-found a quicker way of making it out of Things which cost him little.
-Silk Stockings are wove; Tobacco is cut by Engines; Books are printed;
-Deal Boards are sawn with Mills; Lead is smelted by Wind-Furnaces; all
-which save the Labour of many Hands, so the Wages of those employed need
-not be fallen.
-
-Besides which, there is a Cunning crept into Trades: The Clock-Maker hath
-improved his Art to such a Degree, that Labour and Materials are the
-least Part the Buyer pays for. The Variety of our Woollen Manufactures is
-so pretty, that Fashion makes a Thing worth twice the Price it is sold
-for after, the Humour of the Buyer carrying a great Sway in its Value.
-Artificers, by Tools and Laves, fitted for different Uses, make such
-Things, as would puzzle a Stander-by to set a Price on, according to the
-worth of Mens Labour. The Plummer by new Inventions casts a Tun of Shot
-for ten Shillings, which might seem to deserve forty.
-
-The same Art is crept into Navigation; Freights are much fallen from what
-they formerly were at, and yet Sailors Wages are still the same: Ships
-are built more for Stowage, and made strong enough to be loaden between
-Decks, and Voyages are performed in less Time. Wool is steved into them
-by such proper Instruments, that three or four Bags are put, where one
-would not else lye; Cranes and Blocks help to draw up more for one
-Shilling, than Mens Labour without them would do for Five.
-
-New Projections are every Day set on Foot to render the making our
-Woollen Manufactures easy, which should be rendered cheaper by the
-Contrivance of the Manufacturers, not by falling the Price of Labour:
-Cheapness creates Expence, and gives fresh Employments, whereby the Poor
-will be still kept at Work.
-
-The same for our Product; Mines and Pits are drained by Engines and
-Aquæducts instead of Hands: The Husbandman turns up the Ground with his
-Sullow, not digs it with his Spade; covers his Grain with the Harrow, not
-with the Rake; brings home his Harvest with Carts, not on Mens Backs; and
-many other easier Methods are used, both for improving of Land, and
-raising its Product, which lessen the Number of Labourers, and make Room
-for better Wages to be given those that are employed.
-
-Nor am I of their Opinion, who think the running down the Price of our
-Growth and Product, that so they may buy Provisions cheap, an Advantage
-to the inland Trade of this Kingdom, but of the contrary.
-
-To understand this rightly, let us begin with the Shop-keeper, or Buyer
-and Seller, who is the Wheel whereon the inland Trade turns, as he buys
-of the Importer and Manufacturer, and sells again to the Country; suppose
-this Man spends two hundred Pounds _per Annum_, in all Things necessary
-for himself and Family, as Provisions, Cloaths, House-Rent, and other
-Expences, the Question will be, what Part of this is laid out in Flesh,
-Corn, Butter, Cheese, &c. barely considered according to their first cost
-in the Market? I presume fifty or sixty Pounds _per Annum_ to be the
-most, whereon the Advance to him will not be so much, by keeping up our
-Product to a good Rate, as the Profits which will consequently arise in
-his Trade will amount unto: For by this Means the Farmer will be enabled
-to give a better Rent to his Landlord, who may then keep a more plentiful
-Table, spend more Wine, Fruit, Sugar, Spices, and other Things wherewith
-he is furnished from the City, suit himself and his Family oftner, and
-carry on a great Splendor in every Thing; the Farmer according to his
-Condition may do the same, and give higher Wages to the Labourers
-imployed in Husbandry, who may then live better, and buy new Cloathes
-oftner, instead of patching up old ones; by this means the Manufacturers
-will be encouraged to give a better Price for Wool and Labour, when they
-shall find a Vent as fast as they can make; and a Flux of Wealth causing
-a Variety of Fashions, will add Wings to their Inventions, when they
-shall see their Manufactures advanced in their Values by the Buyer’s
-Fancy; this likewise will encourage the Merchants to encrease their
-Exports, when they shall find a quick Vent for their Imports; by which
-regular Circulation, Payments will be short, and all will grow rich; but
-when Trade deadens in the Fountain, when the Gentlemen and the Farmers
-are kept low, every one in his Order feels it: It being most certain, and
-grounded on the Observation of all Men who have lookt into it, that in
-those Countries where Provisions are Cheap, the People are generally
-Poor, both proceeding from the want of Trade; so that he who will give a
-right Judgment in this Matter, must not consider Things only as they
-offer themselves at the first Sight, but as they will be in their
-Consequences.
-
-As to the other Part of _Great Britain_, called _Scotland_, I can say
-little with Relation to this Matter, my Knowledge of that part of the
-Kingdom being not sufficient to enable me to do it: But I am apt to
-believe, that the same general Maxim must hold good there also, _viz._
-That the Rates of Labour must be according to the Prices of Provisions,
-and those according to the Rents of the Lands.
-
-[Sidenote: The Poor.]
-
-Having thus gone through the State of the Nation with respect to its
-Trade, I will next consider it with respect to the Poor.
-
-And here it cannot but seem strange, that this Kingdom, which so much
-abounds in Product and Manufactures, besides the Imployment given in
-Navigation, should want work for any of its People; the _Dutch_, who have
-little of the two former, if compared with us, and do not exceed us in
-the latter, suffer no Beggars; whereas we, whose Wealth consists in the
-Labour of our Inhabitants, seem to encourage them in an idle way of
-Living, contrary to their own and the Nations Interest.
-
-The Curse under which Man first fell, was Labour; _That by the Sweat of
-his Brows he should eat his Bread_: This is a state of Happiness, if
-compared to that which attends Idleness: He that walks the Streets of
-_London_, and observes the Fatigues used by _Beggars_, to make themselves
-seem Objects of Charity, must conclude, that they take more Pains than an
-honest Man doth at his Trade, and yet seem not to get Bread to eat:
-Beggary is now become an Art or Mystery, to which Children are brought up
-from their Cradles; any thing that may move Compassion is made a
-Livelyhood, a sore Leg or Arm, or for want thereof a pretended one; the
-Tricks and Devices I have observed to be used by these People, have often
-made me think, that those Parts, if better employed, might be made useful
-to the Nation.
-
-Here I will consider,
-
-1. What hath been the Cause of this Mischief of Idleness, and how it hath
-crept in upon us.
-
-2. What must be done to restrain its going farther.
-
-3. What Methods are proper to be used, in order to make a Provision for
-those who are past their Labour.
-
-As to the first, we shall find that it hath proceeded, partly from the
-Abuse of those Laws we have, and partly from want of better; Licences for
-Alehouses were at first granted for good Ends, not to draw Men aside from
-their Labour by Games and Sports, but to support and refresh them under
-it; and as they were then a Maintainance to the Aged, so poor Families
-had Opportunities of being supplied with a Cup of Ale from Abroad, who
-could not keep it at Home; great Observation was also made to prevent
-idle Tipling, our Fore-fathers considered, that Time so spent, was a Loss
-to the Nation, whose Interest was improved by the Labour of its
-Inhabitants; whereas, Alehouses are now encouraged, to promote the Income
-of Excise, on whom there must be no Restraint, lest the King’s Revenue
-should be lessened; thus we live by Sense, and look only at Things we
-see, without revolving on what the Issue will be, not considering, that
-the Labour of each Man, if well employ’d, whilst he sits in an
-Ale-house, would be worth much more to the Nation, than the Excise he
-pays.
-
-But above all, our Laws to set the Poor at Work are short and Defective,
-tending rather to maintain them so, then to raise them to a better way of
-Living; ’tis true, those Laws design well, but consisting only in
-Generals, and not reducing Things to practicable Methods, they fall short
-of answering their Ends, and thereby render the Poor more bold, when they
-know the Parish Officers are bound, either to provide them Work, or to
-give them Maintenance.
-
-Now, if we delighted more in the Encouraging our Manufactures, our Poor
-might be better Employed, and then ’twould be a shame, for any Person
-capable of Labour, to live idle; which leads me to the second
-Consideration, What must be done to restrain this Habit of Idleness from
-going farther.
-
-Here I find, that nothing but good Laws can do it, such as may provide
-Work for those who arc willing, and force them to work that are able; and
-for this use, I think Work-houses very expedient, but they must be
-founded on such Principles, as may employ the Poor, for which they must
-be fitted, and the Poor for them; wherein Employments must be provided
-for all sorts of People, who must also be compelled to go thither when
-sent, and the Work-houses to receive them; and the Materials which seem
-most proper for them are Simples, such as Wool, Hemp, Cotton, and the
-like, which may either be sent in by the Manufacturers, or be bought up
-on a Stock raised for that End; these will employ great Numbers, of both
-Sexes, and all Ages, either by beating and fitting the Hemp, or by
-dressing and spinning the Flax, or by carding and Spinning the Wool and
-Cotton, of different Finenesses; and if a Reward was given to that Person
-who should spin the finest Thread of either, as they do in _Ireland_ for
-their Linnen, to be adjudged Yearly, and paid by the County, or by any
-other manner as shall be thought fit, ’twould very much promote
-Industry and Ingenuity, whilst every one being stir’d up by Ambition
-and Hopes of Profit, would endeavour to exceed the rest; by which means
-we should also grow more excellent in our Manufactures.
-
-Nor should these Houses hinder any who desire to Work at Home, or the
-Manufacturers from employing them, the Design being to provide Places for
-those who care not to Work any where, and to make the Parish Officers
-more Industrious to find them out, when they know whither to send them,
-by which means they would be better able to maintain the Impotent.
-
-It seems also convenient, that these Work-houses, when settled in Cities
-and great Towns, should not be only Parochial, but one or more in each
-Place, as will best suit it; which would prevent the Poors being sent
-from Parish to Parish, and provided for no where; and when once the Poor
-shall come by use to be in love with Labour, ’twill be strange to see
-an idle Person; then they will be so far from being a Burthen to the
-Nation, that they will become its Wealth, and their own Lives also will
-be more comfortable to them.
-
-There are other things which will employ the Poor besides our
-Manufactures, and are also equally Beneficial to the Nation; such as
-Navigation, Husbandry, and Handicrafts; here if these or such-like Rules
-were observed, they might be made more advantagious to all.
-
-As first, Let the Justices of the Peace have Power to assign Youth to
-Artificers, Husbandry, Manufacturers, and Mariners, and to bind them
-Apprentices for a Time certain, at such Ages as they shall think ’em
-fit to go on those Employments, who should also be obliged to receive
-them; and though this may at first seem hard, as hindring the Masters
-from taking Servants who may bring them Money, yet after some time it
-will not, when those who were so bound out themselves, shall only do for
-others, what was done for them before; and this also may be now made good
-to them, by such an Overplus of Years in their Apprentiships, as may be
-an Equivalent to the Money.
-
-And as for those of elder Years, who will rather Beg than Work, let them
-be forced to serve the King in his Fleet, or the Merchants on board their
-Ships; the Sea is very good to cure sore Legs and Arms, especially such
-as are Counterfeits, against which, the Capstern, with the Taunts of the
-Sailors, is a certain Remedy.
-
-Next, for Ale-houses, Coffee-houses, and such like Employments, let them
-be kept only by aged People, or such who have numerous Families.
-
-Let Masters of Ships be obliged to carry with them some Landmen every
-Voyage, which will increase our Seamen; and let the Justices have Power
-to force them to receive such as are willing to enter themselves, and to
-settle the Rates of their Wages.
-
-Let young People be prohibited from Hawking about the Streets, and from
-Singing Ballads; if these Things be allowed, they are fitter for Age.
-
-Stage-Plays, Lotteries, and Gaming-houses should be strictly look’d
-after, Youth, in this Age of Idleness and Luxury, being not only drawn
-aside by them, but also more willing to put themselves on such easy ways
-of living, than on Labour.
-
-These, and such like Methods, being Improved by the Wisdom of a
-Parliament, may tend, not only to the Introducing a Habit of Virtue
-amongst us, but also to the making Multitudes of People serviceable, who
-are now useless to the Nation; there being scarce any one, who is not
-capable of doing something towards his Maintenance, and what his Labour
-doth fall short, must be made up by Charity: but as Things now are, no
-Man knows where ’tis rightly plac’d, by which means those who are
-truly Objects do not partake thereof; and let it be consider’d, that if
-every Person did by his Labour add one Half-penny _per diem_ to the
-Public, ’twould bring in Seven Millions six Hundred and four Thousand
-one Hundred Sixty-six Pounds thirteen Shillings _per Annum_, (accounting
-ten Millions of People to be in the Kingdom) so vast a sum may be raised
-from a Multitude, if every one adds a little.
-
-Nor is the sending lazy People to our Plantations abroad (who can neither
-by good Laws be forced, or by Rewards be encourag’d to work at home) so
-prejudicial to the Nation as some do imagine, where they must expect
-another sort of Treatment, if they will not labour; ’tis true, they
-give no help in the Manufactures here, but That is made up in the Product
-they raise there, which is also Profit to the Nation; besides, the
-Humours and other Circumstances of People are to be enquir’d into, some
-have been very useful there, who would never have been so here: And if
-the People of this Kingdom be employ’d to the Advantage of the
-Community, no Matter in what part of the King’s Dominions it is; many
-hundreds by going to those Plantations, have become profitable Members to
-the Common-wealth, who, had they continued here, had still remain’d
-idle Drones; now they raise Sugar, Cotton, Tobacco, and other Things,
-which employ Sailors abroad, and Manufacturers at home, all which being
-the Product of Earth and Labour, I take to be the Wealth of the Nation.
-
-The Employment of Watermen on the River _Thames_ breeds many Sailors, and
-it were good to keep them still fill’d with Apprentices; also the
-Employment of Bargemen, Lightermen, and Trowmen, both on that and other
-Rivers, does the same, who should be encouraged to breed up Landmen, and
-fit them for the Sea.
-
-Idleness is the Foundation of all those Vices which prevail among us,
-People aiming to be maintain’d any way rather than by Labour, betake
-themselves to all sorts of Villanies; the ill Consequences whereof cannot
-be prevented, but by encouraging Youth in an early delight of living by
-Industry, and on what they call their own, rather than by Dependance on
-others, which will keep up a true British Spirit, and put them on honest
-Endeavours, and will get them Credit and Reputation, and give them
-Opportunities of advancing their Fortunes; and if such an Emulation went
-through the Kingdom, we should not have so many lazy Beggars, or
-licentious Livers, as now there are; nor is God more honoured among any,
-than He is among such industrious People, who abhor Vice, on equal
-Principles of Religion and good Husbandry, Labour being usually a Barrier
-against Sin, which generally enter at the Doors of Idleness.
-
-[Sidenote: Mr. Edward Colson's two Almshouses in Bristol.]
-
-The third Consideration is, what Methods must be used to provide for
-those, who either are not able to work, or whose Labour can’t support
-their Charge; here I take Alms-houses to be good Gifts, where they are
-designed to relieve old Age, or educate Youth; not to maintain idle
-Beggars, or ease rich Parishes, but to provide for those who have been
-bred up in careful Employments, tho’ not able to stem the Current of
-cross Fortunes: Two such have been sumptuously founded, and suitably
-endowed, in the City of _Bristol_, _Edward Colson_, Esq; a Merchant and
-Native thereof, who is still living; one of them for twenty-four Men and
-Women, who had formerly lived well; the other for one hundred Boys, to be
-educated in the Principles of Vertue, and afterwards set out to Trades,
-whereby they may get their Livelihoods; a Charity so great in itself, and
-carried on so free from Ostentation, that the like is not to be seen in
-any Part of this Kingdom, of the free Gift of one Gentleman in his
-Life-time; which he hath settled in the Society of Merchants-Adventurers
-within that City, of whose Care and Fidelity in the well Management
-thereof, he is fully satisfied.
-
-Another way to provide for those who are true Objects of Charity, is, by
-taking Care that the Poors Rates be made with more equality in Cities and
-great Towns, especially in the former; where the greatest Number of Poor
-usually residing together in the Suburbs or Out-parishes, are very
-serviceable by their Labours, to the Rich, in carrying on their Trades;
-yet when Age, Sickness, or a numerous Family, may make them desire
-Relief, their chief Dependance must be on People but one step above their
-own Conditions; by which means these Out-parishes are more burthened in
-their Payments, than the In-parishes are, though much richer, and is one
-Reason why they are so ill Inhabited, no Man caring to come to a certain
-Charge: And this is attended with another ill Consequence, the wanting of
-better Inhabitants making way for those Disorders which easily grow among
-the Poor; whereas, if Cities and Towns were made but one Poors Rate, or
-equally divided into more, these Inconveniencies would be removed, and
-the Poor be maintained by a more equal Contribution.
-
-[Sidenote: Hospital for ancient Sailors and their Widows.]
-
-And that a better Provision may be made for the Relief of Sailors (who
-having spent their Labours in the Service of the Nation, and through Age
-and Disasters are no longer fit for the Fatigues of the Sea, ought to be
-taken Care of at Home) let a small Deduction be made from the Freights of
-Ships, and from Seamens Wages, to be collected by a Society of honest Men
-in every Sea-port; this, with what Additions might be made by the Gifts
-of worthy Benefactors, would be sufficient to raise a Fund, to maintain
-them in their old Age, who in their Youths were our Walls and Bulwarks;
-but it must be settled by Law, and no Man left at his Liberty whether he
-will pay or no; these are generally the most laborious People that we
-have; I do not mean those scoundrel Fellows, who often creep in under
-that Name, but the true Sailor, who can turn his Hand to any thing rather
-than begging, and I am many times troubled to see the miserable
-Conditions they and their Families are reduced to, when their Labours are
-done. Alms-Houses raised for them, are as great Acts of Piety as building
-of Churches, Age requires relief, especially where Youth hath been spent
-in Labour so profitable to the Public as that of a Sailor; and not only
-themselves, but their Widows ought to be provided for; in this, the
-Worshipful Society of the Merchants-Adventurers within the City of
-_Bristol_ are a worthy Pattern.
-
-And as for those who loose their Lives or Limbs fighting against the
-Enemy, themselves, or families ought to be rewarded with bountiful
-Stipends, which if raised by a Tax, I doubt not would be cheerfully paid:
-’Tis attended with sad Thoughts, when a Woman sees her Husband prest
-into the Service, and knows, if he miscarries, her Family is undone, and
-she and they must come to the Parish; whereas, if this Provision was
-made, the Fleet would be more easily mann’d, our Merchants Ships better
-defended, Sailors more ready to serve in both, and their Wives to let
-them go; but great Care must be taken, that Charity be not abused, by
-being put into the Pockets of those who are appointed to dispose of it.
-
-These, or such-like Heads, being laid down in a former Discourse on this
-Subject, the Magistrates of the City of _Bristol_ were the first that
-approved of the Scheme, and desired the Substance thereof might be
-reduced to Particulars, suitable for that Place; whereupon the following
-Proposals were laid before them, _viz._
-
-1. That a spacious Work-house be erected in some vacant Place within this
-City, on a general Charge, large enough for the Poor who are to be
-employed therein, and also with Rooms for such, who being unable to work,
-are to be relieved by Charity.
-
-2. That the Rules of this House be such, as may force all Persons to
-work, that are able, and encourage the Manufacturers of this City to
-supply them with Materials to work on; which they will be ready to do,
-having so good a Security as this will be, for their being returned to
-them again when wrought up.
-
-3. That all People who are not able to maintain their Children, may put
-them into this Work-house or Hospital at what Ages they will, where they
-shall be settled till the Age of ### Years, by which means they may in
-the end be of no Charge to the said Work-house or Hospital: And the good
-Effects will be these, Children will be bred up to Labour, Principles of
-Virtue will be implanted in them early by the good Government thereof,
-and Laziness and Beggary will be discouraged.
-
-4. That the antient People who are past their Labours, shall have
-Lodgings, and weekly pay, or be otherwise provided for, according to
-their Wants, who may still do something towards their mantenance, and the
-Women may look after the young Children.
-
-5. That the Rates of the Poor of this City, being all united into one
-common Fund, may be enough to carry on this good Work; by which means the
-Magistrates will be freed from the Trouble which they daily have about
-the Settlement of the Poor, the Parish-Officers will be eased, the Poors
-Stock will not be spent in Law, but they will be provided for, without
-being sent from Parish to Parish, and their Children will be settled in
-ways of being serviceable to the Public Good, and not be bred up in all
-manner of Vice, as now they are.
-
-6. That the Governors of this Hospital, or Work-House, have Power to
-force all poor People to work in it, who do not betake themselves to some
-lawful Imployment elsewhere, but spend their Time lazily and idly.
-
-7. That the said Governors have Power to settle out the young People at
-such Ages as they shall think fit; the Boys to Navigation, Husbandry, and
-Manufactures; the Maids in Service, and to bind them Apprentices for
-certain Years.
-
-8. That this will prevent Children from being Starved, by the Poverty of
-their Parents, and neglect of the Parish-Officers, which is now a great
-Loss to the Nation; forasmuch as every Person if imployed, would by his
-Labour add to the Wealth of the Public.
-
-9. That this will encourage Men of Charity to make Endowments, when they
-shall see their Bounties so well laid out.
-
-10. That Application be made, in order to procure an Act of Parliament,
-for the better carrying on this Work.
-
-Which Proposals being considered of in several Meetings of the Citizens
-appointed for that Purpose, were with some Alterations made the Model for
-an Act of Parliament, which past _Anno Septimo & Octavo Gulielmi Tertii_,
-being the first Act of that Nature, from which sundry Acts for many other
-Places have taken their Frame; and though the Promoters thereof, met with
-more difficulties and discouragements in the Execution, than they did
-expect, yet to the Honour of those Gentlemen it must be said, that they
-never looked back, but with the utmost Application, prosecuted what they
-had undertaken, till they brought it to such a State, as to render it
-plain and practicable to their Successors; and this good Effect it hath
-had, that there is not a common Beggar, or disorderly Vagrant, seen in
-their Streets, but Charity is given in its proper Place and Manner, and
-the Magistrates are freed from the daily Trouble they had with the Poor,
-and the Parishes they lived in, and are discharged from the Invidious
-Fatigues of their Settlements, when a great deal of what should have
-maintained them, was spent in determining what Parishes were to do it.
-
-I wish it could be said so of the two Metropolitan Cities of _England_
-and _Ireland_, where such Swarms of lazy Beggars pester the Streets, that
-they are not only troublesome, but also nauseous to the Beholders; and
-the Church Doors are so crouded with them, that you can scarce pass to
-your Devotion; nor do you know when you bestow your Charity rightly,
-those who do not deserve it, taking such Methods to move Compassion, that
-you cannot easily distinguish them from those who do.
-
-And since I have mentioned this Act, and the well executing thereof by
-the first Undertakers, I think it cannot be amiss to set it forth
-_Verbatim_ (being never yet printed, save only some Copies for the Use of
-the Corporation) together with the Steps whereby the first Guardians
-proceeded, and as it was laid before the Parliament _Anno_ 1700; which I
-have done in the Appendix, because it may probably be of use to those,
-who shall be willing to take Pains in a Work of such Service, both to God
-and the Public.
-
-But because this Act was adapted only for Cities and great Towns, and
-can’t be a Model for the Counties at large, I will here subjoin such
-Methods as may be proper to carry on this charitable Design throughout
-the whole Kingdom, if Power be given by some public Act of Parliament,
-for all Places to incorporate who are willing (but may not be able to be
-at the Charge of a private Act) and to build, or otherwise provide,
-Hospitals, Work-Houses, and Houses of Correction, for the better
-maintaining and imploying their Poor, under the Management of such
-Corporations; which in the Counties must be by uniting one or more
-Hundreds, whose Parishes must be comprehended in one Poors Rate, and each
-of them contribute to the Charge thereof, not by bringing them to an
-equal Pound Rate on their Lands and personal Estates, as in Cities and
-great Towns, but by Taxing every Parish according to what it paid before,
-there not being the same Parity of Reason for that way of raising Money
-in the Hundreds, as there is in Cities and Towns; because in the former,
-the Parishes do not receive an equal Benefit from the Labour of the Poor
-of other Parishes, as they do in the latter; which Hospitals,
-Work-Houses, and Houses of Correction, to be provided at the general
-Charge of the Parshies thus united, according to the Proportion that each
-of them pays to the Poor.
-
-The Guardians of these Corporations to consist of all the Justices of the
-Peace inhabiting within the several Parishes thus united, together with a
-Number of Inhabitants chosen out of each Parish, in proportion to the Sum
-of Money it pays; which Choice to be made every Year, or once in two
-Years, when one half of those that were first chosen must go out, and the
-Remainder stay in, to instruct those who were last chosen; the Electors
-to be the Freeholders of ### _per Annum_; and on the Death of any
-Guardian, another to be chosen in his Room, by the Parish for which he
-served.
-
-That the Guardians being thus settled, they shall have Power to choose a
-Governor, Deputy-Governor, Treasurer, and Assistants, Yearly, and to hold
-Courts, and make By-Laws, and appoint a Common Seal; and also to Summon
-the Inhabitants to answer to Matters relating to the Corporation; and to
-compel all People, who seek for Relief, to dwell in their Hospitals and
-Work-Houses, if they see fit; and to take in young People of both Sexes,
-and breed them up to work, who they shall also be obliged to teach to
-Write and Read, and what else shall be thought necessary, and then to
-bind them out Apprentices; and likewise to provide for the aged and
-Impotent, and to assist those whose Labours will not maintain their
-Charges, and to apprehend Rogues, Vagrants and Beggars, and cause them to
-be set at Work, and also to inflict reasonable Correction where they see
-it necessary, and to entertain proper Officers, and pay them out of the
-Stock; with a Clause to secure them from vexatious Suits; and they must
-be obliged once in ### at least to hold a General Court, where the
-Governor, Deputy-Governor, or one half of the Assistants, together with
-such a proportionable Number of the Guardians as they shall agree on,
-shall be present.
-
-That the Court shall once in six Months agree and settle how much Money
-will be necessary for maintaining and imploying the Poor for the six
-Months next ensuing, and certify the same to the Justices inhabiting
-within the said Hundred or Hundreds, at a Meeting to be had for that
-Purpose, who shall proportion the same Regularity in each Parish, and
-grant out their Warrants to proper Persons to Assess the same, and
-afterwards, other Warrants to collect, and pay it to the Treasurer of the
-Corporation; with a Power to inflict Penalties on the Assessors and
-Collectors, if they refuse or neglect to do their Duty, in Assessing,
-Collecting, and paying the said Money, according to their Warrants.
-
-That each Corporation be one Body Politic in Law, and be capable of Suing
-and being Sued, and be enabled to Purchase, Take and Receive, Lands,
-Tenements and Hereditaments, Goods and Chattles, for the Benefit of the
-Poor.
-
-These, or such like Methods, being rectified by the Wisdom of Parliament,
-will soon appear to be of great use to the Nation, and also to the Poor
-who are truly Objects of Relief; and will also put a Stop to wand’ring
-Vagrants, against whom, every Corporation will then be a Barrier, and
-none will expect Charity, but from the Parishes to which they belong, and
-who are the most proper Judges whether they deserve it.
-
-[Sidenote: Conclusion.]
-
-And thus I have gone through what I undertook, and have given my Thoughts
-of these important Subjects; wherein I have no other View than promoting
-the Welfare of this Kingdom, by improving its Trade and Commerce and
-providing for the Poor in a regular Method: Both which will tend to the
-Honour of His Majesty’s Government, and the advancing the Wealth and
-Prosperity of the Nation.
-
-FINIS.
-
-
-
-
-THE
-
-APPENDIX.
-
-Anno Septimo & Octavo
-
-_GULIELMI_ III. Regis.
-
-An Act for Erecting of Hospitals and Work-Houses within the City of
-Bristol, for the better Employing and Maintaining the Poor thereof.
-
-
-WHEREAS it is found by Experience, That the Poor in the City of _Bristol_
-do daily multiply, and Idleness and Debauchery amongst the meaner Sort,
-doth greatly Increase, for want of Work-houses to set them to Work, and a
-sufficient Authority to compel them thereto, as well as to the Charge of
-the Inhabitants, and Grief of the charitable and honest Citizens of the
-said City, as the great Distress of the Poor themselves; for which
-sufficient Redress hath not yet been provided: For Remedy whereof, Be it
-enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice
-and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in
-Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and
-after the Twelfth Day of _May_, which shall be in the Year of our Lord,
-One thousand six hundred ninety and six, there be, and shall be, a
-Corporation to continue for ever within the said City of _Bristol_, and
-the County thereof, consisting of the several Persons herein
-after-mentioned (that is to say) of the Mayor and Aldermen for the time
-being, and of eight and forty other Persons, to be chosen out of the
-honestest and discreetest Inhabitants of the City and County, by the
-Eleven Wards in the said City, and the Castle Precincts there, which to
-all Intents and Purposes, shall be from henceforth for ever a Ward within
-the said City, (that is to say) Four out of each Ward, and of such other
-charitable Persons as shall be Elected and Constituted Guardians of the
-Poor of the said City, in a manner as is herein after expressed: And the
-first eight and forty Persons shall be Elected at a Court for that
-purpose to be held within each Ward, by the Alderman of the same, or his
-Deputy, by the Votes of the Inhabitants of such Ward, paying one Penny
-_per_ Week, or more, in his own Right, for and towards the Relief of the
-Poor of the said City, or of the major part of them then present.
-
-And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that the said Eight
-and Forty Persons shall be chosen in manner, as aforesaid, the Twelfth
-Day of _May_ next following, and shall continue in their Office until
-others shall be elected in their Rooms, according to the Direction herein
-after-mentioned; and in case any of the said Persons so Elected, or any
-other Person so Elected in their Room, shall, after their respective
-Elections, happen to die, That then it shall, and may be Lawful to and
-for the Alderman of the Ward, for which such Person so dying was Elected,
-or his Deputy, at a Court to be held within the said Ward for that
-purpose, within the Space of ten Days next after the Death of such
-Persons, to Elect others in their Place, in manner, as aforesaid; which
-Court and Election, such Alderman, or his Deputy, is and are hereby
-required to Hold and Make: Which said Mayor and Aldermen, and Forty-eight
-Persons, and such other Charitable Persons, so Elected and Constituted
-for the Time being, shall be called Guardians of the Poor of the City of
-_Bristol_.
-
-And to the intent that the said Guardians so Elected out of the said
-Wards may have perpetual Succession: Be it further Enacted by the
-Authority aforesaid, That the said respective Aldermen for the Time
-being, or their respective Deputies, shall and may, and are hereby
-required, on the first _Thursday_ in _April_, in every second Year, from
-henceforth, to hold a Court in their respective Wards, and then and
-there, by the Votes of the Inhabitants of such Ward, so qualified, as
-aforesaid, or of the Majority of them then present, to Elect and Choose
-two of the honestest and discreetest Persons out of the said Inhabitants
-of the said City, to be Guardians of the Poor of the said City for the
-said Ward; which Paid two Persons, so Elected, shall be Guardians, and
-shall succeed the two Persons before that first Elected, and then being
-Guardians for the said Ward; and the said two Persons so first Elected,
-shall immediately upon such Election, and Notice thereof given to them,
-cease to be Guardians.
-
-And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Mayor,
-Aldermen, Eight and forty Persons, and such other Charitable Persons
-elected and constituted, as is herein mentioned and expressed, for the
-time being, shall for ever hereafter in Name and Fact, be one Body
-Politic and Corporate in Law, to all Intents and Purposes, and shall have
-a perpetual Succession, and be called by the Name of The Governor,
-Deputy-Governor, Assistants, and Guardians of the Poor in the said City
-of _Bristol_; and that they shall be enabled to Plead and Sue, and to be
-Sued and Impleaded by that Name, in all Courts and Places of Judicature
-within this Kingdom; and by that Name shall and may, without License in
-Mortmain, Purchase, Take, or Receive any Lands, Tenements or
-Hereditaments, of the Gift, Alienation or Demise of any Person or
-Persons, who are hereby, without further Licence, enabled to transfer the
-same, and any Goods and Chattles whatsoever, for the Use and Benefit of
-the Corporation aforesaid. And for the better governing of the said
-Corporation, the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Eight and forty Persons, or
-the Majority of them, shall have, and hereby have Authority to meet on
-the Nineteenth Day of _May_ next following, in St. _George’s Chapple_
-in the said City, or in some other convenient Place there, and shall on
-that Day, or any other Day or Time, that to them shall seem convenient,
-Elect and Constitute out of and from amongst themselves, the several
-Officers following (that is to say) one Governor, one Deputy-Governor,
-one Treasurer, and twelve Assistants, to continue in the said Office for
-one Year, and no longer; and from thenceforth the said Governor,
-Deputy-Governor, Assistants, Treasurer, and other Officers, shall Yearly,
-and every Year, by the said Mayor, Aldermen, Forty-eight Persons, and
-such other charitable Persons as shall be Elected and Constituted as is
-herein mentioned and expressed, or the Majority of them, be Elected and
-Constituted out of and from amongst themselves, on the Second _Thursday_
-in the Month of _April_, or any other Day or Time, as they shall think
-convenient, to continue in their respective Offices for one Year and no
-longer; and the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Forty-eight Persons, and such
-other Charitable Persons that shall be Elected and Constituted, as herein
-mentioned and expressed, for the Time being, or the Majority of them,
-shall have Power, in case of the Death of any such Officer so Elected and
-Constituted, before the said Year expired, to Elect and Constitute others
-in their Room, to hold the said Office for the Remainder of the said
-Year, and shall have Power and Authority at any Time or Times, for just
-Cause, to remove, displace, and put out any such Officer out of his said
-Office, and to Elect and Constitute another in his Room.
-
-And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said
-Governor, or in his Default, the said Deputy-Governor, or in both their
-Defaults, Six of the said Assistants for the Time being, shall have, and
-hereby have Power and Authority, and are hereby Enjoyned and Required
-from time to time, upon the Second _Thursday_ in every Second Month in
-every Year, accounting _January_ for the first Month, to hold and keep a
-Court or Assembly of the said Corporation within the said City of
-_Bristol_, of one and Twenty of the said Guardians at least, on the Days
-and Time, and in manner, and for the ends in this Act mentioned; (that is
-to say) The said Governor shall hold the said Court or Assembly between
-the Hours of One and Two in the Afternoon; and in his Default, the said
-Deputy-Governor, or any Six of the said Assistants, shall, after the Hour
-of Two, hold the same; and also, the said Governor for the time being,
-shall have, and hereby hath Power and Authority, at any such other time
-or times as to him shall seem meet, to Summon, Assemble and hold a Court
-or Assembly of the said Corporation, upon two Days Notice or Warning at
-the least to be given of such Court or Assembly to be held; and in case
-any twenty of the said Guardians, upon any Emergency, signifying it under
-their Hands to the Governor for the time being, That it is their Desire
-that an extraordinary Court or Assembly of the said Corporation may be
-called and held, the said Governor shall be bound, and is hereby Enjoyned
-and Required to call and hold such Court or Assembly at such Time as the
-said twenty Guardians shall so desire; and on his Refusal, the said
-Deputy-Governor for the Time being, on such Signification, shall be
-Bound, and is hereby likewise Enjoyned and Required to call and hold the
-said Court or Assembly, and on his Refusal, any six of the said
-Assistants shall have, and hereby have Authority to call and hold the
-said Court or Assembly; at all which Courts or Assemblies all and every
-Member and Members of the said Corporation for the Time being, are hereby
-Enjoyned to appear and be present, and not to depart from the same
-without the Licence of the said Court or Assembly, on pain to Forfeit
-such reasonable Sum and Sums of Money, not exceeding Five Shillings, to
-the Use of the said Corporation, as by the said Court or Assembly, or any
-succeeding Court or Assembly, shall be Assessed upon them, unless they
-can shew some reasonable Excuse to be allowed of by the said Court or
-Assembly; and the said Court or Assembly are hereby Impowered to Summon
-to appear before them any of the Inhabitants of the said City to answer
-to Matters relating to the said Corporation, who are hereby required to
-appear upon such Summons, and answer such Questions, on Forfeiture, to
-the Use of the said Corporation, of a Sum not exceeding two Shillings and
-Six-pence for every Default to be Levied as is herein after directed.
-
-And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, Thar the said
-Corporation, at the said Court or Assembly, shall have, and hereby have
-Power and Authority from time to time to make and appoint a Common Seal
-or Seals for the Use of the said Corporation, and to make and ordain
-By-Laws, Rules and Ordinances for and concerning the better Governing the
-said Corporation, and the Poor of the said City, and shall have, and have
-hereby Power to Purchase, Buy or Erect an Hospital or Hospitals,
-Work-house or Work-houses, House or Houses of Correction, and to provide
-other Necessaries they shall think convenient for the setting to work the
-Poor of the said City, of what Sex or Age soever they be, and shall have,
-and hereby have Power and Authority to compel such idle or poor People
-begging or seeking Relief, who do not betake themselves to some lawful
-Imployments, and such other Poor who do or shall hereafter receive Alms
-of the respective Parishes or Places where they Inhabit or Seek the same,
-or by any of the Laws now in force ought to be maintained or provided for
-by any Parish or Place within the said City, to Dwell and Inhabit in such
-Hospital or Hospitals, Work-house or Work-houses, and to do such Work as
-they shall think them able and fit for; and to detain and keep in the
-Service of the said Corporation, until the Age of sixteen Years, any poor
-Child or Children of the said City, left to be maintained by the said
-City, or any Parish or Place in the same, or begging or seeking Relief,
-or which by any of the Laws now in force ought to be maintained and
-provided for by any Parish or Place within the said City, or the Child or
-Children of any other Person or Persons, that are or shall be willing or
-desirous to place or put their Child or Children in such Hospital or
-Hospitals, until their said Age of sixteen Years; and after they shall
-have attained their said Age of Sixteen Years or sooner, the said
-Corporation, by Indenture, shall have Power to Bind and Put forth such
-Child or Children Apprentices, to any honest Person or Persons within the
-Kingdom of _England_, for any Number of Years, not exceeding seven Years,
-as they shall think convenient; which Indenture shall be binding to such
-Child or Children.
-
-And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Court
-or Assembly so constituted, as aforesaid, shall have, and hereby have
-Power to inflict such reasonable Correction and Punishment on any poor
-Person or Persons within the said Hospital or Hospitals, Work-house or
-Work-houses, House or Houses of Correction, that shall not conform to
-such Rules, Orders and Ordinances so made, as aforesaid, or misbehave
-themselves in the same; and that the said Court or Assembly so
-constituted, as aforesaid, shall have, and hereby have Power to appoint a
-Committee to consist of One and Twenty of the Guardians at the least,
-who, or any five of them, of which two shall be Assistants, shall from
-time to time, or at any time until the next Court, have Power to inflict
-such reasonable Correction and Punishment, as aforesaid, on any such poor
-Person or Persons offending as aforesaid.
-
-And for the better carrying on so Pious and Charitable a Work, be it
-Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be Lawful for
-the said Corporation, in their said Courts or Assemblies, from time to
-time, to set down and ascertain what Sum, or Sums of Money shall be
-needful for the Building and Erecting of such Hospitals, Work-houses, or
-Houses of Correction, so that the same do not exceed the Sum of five
-Thousand Pounds, to be raised within the Space of three Years, or any
-longer Time, as to them shall seem meet, by such Quarterly or other
-Payments, as they in their Discretion shall think fit; and also from time
-to time, to set down and ascertain what Weekly, Monthly, or other Sums,
-shall be needful for the Maintenance of the Poor in the said Hospital or
-Hospitals, Work-house or Work-houses, House or Houses of Correction, or
-within the Care of the said Corporation, so that the same do not exceed
-what hath been paid in the said City towards the Maintenance of the Poor
-thereof, in any one of the three last Years; and shall and may, under
-their Common Seal, certify the same unto the Mayor and Aldermen of the
-said City for the time being; which said Mayor and any two of the
-Aldermen, or any Five of the said Aldermen without the Mayor, may, and
-are hereby required from time to time, to cause the same to be raised and
-levied by Taxation of every Inhabitant, and of all Lands, Houses, Tythes
-Impropriate, Appropriation of Tythes, and all Stocks and Estates in the
-said City and County of the same, in equal Proportion, according to their
-respective Worth and Values: And in order thereunto, the said Mayor and
-any two of the said Aldermen, or any five of the said Aldermen without
-the Mayor, shall have power, and are hereby required indifferently, to
-proportion out the said Sum and Sums upon each Parish and Precinct within
-the said City, and by their Warrants under their Hands and Seals to
-authorize and require the Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor of
-each respective Parish and Precinct, to Assess the same respectively; and
-after such Assessment made, by like Warrant under their Hands and Seals,
-to authorize the said respective Church-wardens and Overfeers to Demand,
-Gather, and Receive the same, and for Non-payment thereof (being lawfully
-demanded) to Levy the same by Distress and Sale of the Goods of the
-Offender, restoring the Surplusage to the Party so distrained; and if no
-Distress can be found, then it shall and may be lawful to and for the
-said Mayor, and any two of the Aldermen, or any five of the said Aldermen
-without the Mayor, to commit such Offender to Prison, there to remain
-without Bail or Mainprize, till the same shall be paid: And after the
-same shall be received, to pay the same unto the Treasurer of the said
-Corporation for the time being. Provided always, That if any Person or
-Persons, Parish or Precinct, find him or themselves to be unequally Taxed
-or Assessed, he or they may Appeal to the Justices of the Peace of the
-said City and County, at their next General Quarter-Sessions after such
-Assessment made and demanded, who shall and hereby have full Power and
-Authority, to take and make a final Order therein.
-
-And for the Encouragement of such as shall be Benefactors to so good a
-Design, Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Man
-charitably disposed, shall give one hundred Pounds, or more, towards
-carrying on the said Work, It shall and may be Lawful for the said
-Corporation, at a Court where there shall be present three and thirty of
-the said Guardians at the least, to elect and constitute such charitable
-Person to be Guardian of the Poor of the said City, and to continue in
-the said Office, as long as to the said Corporation shall seem meet.
-
-And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said
-Corporation shall have the Care of, and provide for the Maintenance of
-all the Poor of the said City, of what Age soever they be, except such as
-shall be otherwise Efficiently Provided for by the charitable Gifts of
-other Persons, or in Hospitals or Alms-houses within the said City
-already erected: And in order thereunto shall have full Power to examine,
-search and see what poor Persons there are come into, Inhabiting and
-Residing within the said City or any Part thereof; and shall have Power
-to apprehend or cause to be apprehended any Rogues, Vagrants, or
-Sturdy-Beggars, or idle or disorderly Persons within the said City and
-the County thereof, and to cause them to be kept and set to Work in the
-said Work-houses, Hospitals or Houses of Correction, for the Space of
-three Years.
-
-Provided always, and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That this
-Act, or any thing herein contained, shall not any ways extend to give the
-said Corporation any Power or Authority over any Alms-house or Hospital,
-or any other charitable Gift or Use, within the said City, already Given,
-Settled or Erected, but that the same shall be wholly exempted therefrom;
-any thing herein to the Contrary notwithstanding.
-
-And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said
-Corporation in their said Court or Assembly, shall have hereby Power to
-choose and entertain all such other Officers as shall be needful to be
-employed in and about the Premisses, and them or any of them, from time
-to time to remove as they shall see Cause; and upon the Death or removal
-of them, or any of them, to choose others in their Place, and to make and
-give such reasonable Allowances to them, or any of them, out of the Stock
-or Revenue belonging to the said Corporation or Hospitals, as they shall
-think fit.
-
-Provided always, and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid,
-That no Officer or Officers, who shall be elected, chosen, appointed or
-employed, in the Execution of, or by Virtue of this Act, or any of the
-Powers or Authorities thereby given, shall be liable for or by reason of
-such Office or Execution, to any of the Penalties mentioned in an Act
-made the Five and Twentieth Year of the Reign of King _Charles_ the
-Second, for the Preventing the Dangers which may hapen from Popish
-Recusants.
-
-And it is further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said
-Treasurer for the Time being, and all other Officers belonging to the
-said Corporation, Hospitals, Work-houses, or Houses of Correction, shall,
-from time to time, before such Person or Persons as the said Corporation
-shall thereto appoint, account for such Moneys, Stock, and other Things
-belonging to the said Corporation, Hospitals, Work-houses, or Houses of
-Correction, as shall come to their respective Hands, or be under their
-respective Care, upon every reasonable Warning and Notice thereof, by the
-said Corporation to them respectively given; and on their Neglect or
-Refusal to Account, as aforesaid, shall or may be, by the said Mayor, or
-any two of the said Aldermen, committed to the County Goal for the said
-City and County of _Bristol_, there to remain without Bail or Mainprize,
-untill they shall become conformable, and Account, as aforesaid; and if
-upon such Account there shall appear any Thing to be in their Hands
-belonging to the said Corporation, Hospitals, Work-houses, or Houses of
-Correction, they shall pay and deliver the same, as the said Corporation
-shall direct, or give such Security for the same, as the said Corporation
-shall approve of, on pain to forfeit double the Value thereof, to be
-recovered by the said Corporation, by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint or
-Information in which no Protection, Essoign, or Wager in Law, or any more
-than one Imparlance, shall be admitted or allowed.
-
-And it is further enacted, That all other Pains, Penalties and
-Forfeitures by this Act appointed, shall be Levied by Distress and Sale
-of the Offenders Goods, by Warrant under the Hand and Seal of the said
-Treasurer for the time being, restoring to the Offender the Overplus.
-
-And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Person
-or Persons shall be sued for any Matter or Thing which he shall do in
-Execution of this Act, he may plead the General Issue, and give the
-special Matter in Evidence: And if the Verdict shall pass for the
-Defendant, or the Plaintiff shall be nonsuited, or discontinue his Suit,
-the Defendant shall recover his Treble Costs. And this Act shall be taken
-and be allowed in all Courts within this Kingdom as a Public Act; and all
-Judges and Justices are hereby required, as such, to take Notice thereof,
-without specially Pleading the same; and all Mayors, Justices, Sheriffs,
-Bayliffs, Constables, and all other Officers and Ministers of Justice,
-are hereby required to be aiding and assisting to the said Corporation,
-and to such Officers as shall be employed by them, or any of them, in
-Execution of this Act, or any of the Powers or Authorities hereby given.
-
-
-
-
-AN
-
-ACCOUNT
-
-OF THE
-
-PROCEEDINGS
-
-OF THE
-
-Corporation of Bristol,
-
-In Execution of the
-
-Act of Parliament
-
-For the Better
-
-Employing and Maintaining
-
-the
-
-POOR
-
-Of That CITY.
-
-
-
-
-TO THE
-
-Right Honourable
-
-AND
-
-HONOURABLE,
-
-THE
-
-Lords Spiritual and Temporal,
-
-AND
-
-Commons in Parliament
-
-assembled.
-
-May it please your Honours,
-
-
-I HUMBLY make bold to lay before You, an Account of our Proceedings in
-the City of _Bristol_, on the Act of Parliament for Erecting Hospitals
-and Work-houses for the better employing and maintaining the Poor of that
-City, which passed in the first Sessions of the Parliament begun at
-_Westminster_ the 22d of _November_, 1695, whereby the Power invested in
-the Corporation commenced from the 12th of _May_ 1696.
-
-The first Thing we did, was to choose four Guardians for each of our
-twelve Wards, as the Statute directs, which, with the Mayor and Aldermen,
-amounted to sixty Guardians, and made up our Court.
-
-The Court being thus constituted, at our first Meeting we chose our
-Officers appointed by the said Act, _viz._ a Governor, a Deputy-Governor,
-twelve Assistants, a Treasurer, a Clerk, and a Beadle.
-
-This being done, we order’d the Guardians who dwelt in each Parish, to
-bring in an Account of all the Poor in their respective Parishes, their
-Names, Ages, Sexes, and Qualifications. Also an Account of the Charges
-expended for maintaining them in each of the last three Years, that so we
-might bring it to a _Medium_. We also appointed certain standing Rules
-for the better governing our Debates, and ordered all Things done in the
-Court to be fairly enter’d in a Journal.
-
-We likewise considered which would be most for the advantage of the
-Corporation, to build Work-houses, or to purchase such Houses, which
-being already built, might be alter’d and made fit for our purpose.
-
-These Things spent much Time, and it was about the Month of _September_
-before we could settle the _Medium_ of the Poor’s Rates, in order to
-certify to the Mayor and Aldermen what Sum was necessary to be raised on
-the City for the next Year.
-
-But here we met with an unexpected _Remora_, Mr. _Samuel Wallis_ was
-succeeded in his Majoralty by Mr. _J. H._ and this Change made a great
-Alteration in our Affairs: For whereas the former had given us all the
-Incouragement we could expect from him, and had done us the Honour to be
-our first Governor, the latter resolved to obstruct us all he could. And
-because the Power of raising Money was vested in him and the Aldermen, he
-absolutely refused to put that Power in Execution.
-
-This, together with his other Endeavours to Brow-beat the Corporation,
-kept us at a stand till _October_ (97.) only our Court met, and discourst
-things, and we laboured to keep up the Spirits of our Friends, who began
-to sink under these Discouragements, and to despair of Success, the Work
-seeming difficult enough in it self; our undertaking being nothing less,
-then to put to Work a great Number of People, many of which had been
-habited to Laziness and Beggary; to civilize such as had been bred up in
-all the Vices, that want of Education could expose them to; and to cloth,
-lodge, and feed them well, with the same Sum of Money which was
-distributed among them when they beg’d, lay in the Streets, and went
-almost naked.
-
-Yet all this would not have discouraged us, could we have prevailed on
-Mr. Mayor to have joyned with us. We often sought it, and he as often
-refused us, till his time being expired, his Successor granted our
-Request; and then, having lost much time, we were forced to make large
-steps.
-
-The first we made was, a Vote to take on us the Care of the Poor of the
-City; and as I remember, this Vote passed in _October_ or _November_
-1697, though we had then no Money raised, nor could we expect any till
-after our _Lady-day_ 1698. So that from the passing that Vote to this
-Time is about two Years.
-
-The next step was to appoint a Committee of Twelve to hear the Complaints
-of the Poor, to relieve them, and set them at work; six whereof were to
-go out every Month, and to be succeeded by Six more, to be chosen by
-Ballating.
-
-We had formerly obtained from the Mayor and Common Council, in the
-Majoralty of Alderman _Wallis_, the Grant of a Work-house, which then lay
-unoccupied, and the Court had appointed a Committee to place as many
-Girls in it as it would conveniently contain, both as to Lodging and
-Working. This is that we called the _New work-house_.
-
-But all things having stood still so long, we resolved now to loose no
-more time; yet we had no Money, nor could we expect any in less than six
-Months, from the Poor’s Rates; therefore we resolved to make our
-several Loans for twelve Months without Interest to the Corporation on
-the Credit of their Common Seal; in which Design many of the Citizens
-lent their Assistance, whereby we became soon Masters of about six
-Hundred Pounds Stock. Likewise our Guardians, who were appointed to pay
-the Poor in their several Parishes, voluntarily advanced their weekly
-Payments, till they could be reimburst by the Treasurer. The other Stock
-we employed to furnish Beds, and other Necessaries for our Children to be
-taken in, and Materials for their working.
-
-We had now two Committees; one for the Poor, the other for the New
-Work-house.
-
-The Committee for the Poor met twice every Week: And in this Committee we
-proceeded thus:
-
-_First_, We voted that the Poor of the City should be visited in their
-respective Parishes, and that new Poor’s Rates should be made; and
-accordingly we ordered the Guardians of each Parish to bring together the
-Poor on a certain Day in some convenient Place, where the Committee met,
-and without Partiality endeavoured to provide for every one according to
-their Wants, we likewise took Notice of all the young Girls that were on
-our Poor’s Books, and of such whose Parents took no due Care of them:
-and these we recommended to the Committee of the New Work-house, to be
-taken in, and employed by them.
-
-Our Poor’s Rates we made in this manner: Every one that expected
-Relief, came before us with their whole Families, except such as was
-impotent and could not come: In our Books we put down the Name of the
-Man, the Woman, and each Child; together with the Qualifications of all,
-either as to Age, Health, Civility, &c. what each Person did, or could
-get by the Week, and in what Employment. We likewise set down for what
-Reason the Charity was bestowed; that when that should cease, or we could
-find out any other Way to provide for it, the Charity should likewise
-cease.
-
-Having thus seen the State of all our Poor, and provided for them, the
-Committee sat twice a Week in the Public Court, to hear and provide for
-all casual Complaints; which we did in this Manner: We ordered that the
-Poor in their respective Parishes, should first apply themselves to their
-Guardian or Guardians, who were to relieve them as they saw fit, till the
-next Sitting of the Committee, when they were to bring them up with their
-Complaints, if they were able to come; and this we did, lest the
-Committee (three whereof made a _Quorum_) should be deceived; who could
-not be supposed to know the State of all the Poor in the City, and by
-this Means we had the Opinion of the Guardian of each Parish; nor could
-he easily deceive us, because he brought the Poor with him, and thereby
-the Committee became Judges of the Matter laid before them. At these
-Meetings, Care was taken of the various Cases and Exigencies which
-offer’d, and in all Things there was a Regard, as much as could be, to
-put People on living by their own Labours.
-
-To such as were sick, we gave Warrants to our Physician to visit them;
-such as wanted the Assistance of our Surgeons were directed to them, and
-all were reliev’d till they were able to work; by which Means the Poor
-having been well attended, were set at work again, who, by Neglect, might
-with their Families have been chargeable to the Corporation; for some we
-provided Cloaths, for others Work; where we found People careful, but
-wanted a Stock to employ themselves and Children, we either lent or gave
-it; where they wanted Houses, we either paid the Rent, or became Security
-for it; where we found them opprest, we stood by them; where Differences
-arose, we endeavoured to compose them; so that in a little time all the
-Complaints of the Poor came to this Committee, which saved our
-Magistrates a great deal of Trouble, and Care was taken that none went
-away unheard.
-
-The Committee at first sat twice a Week, but now only once in a
-Fortnight; not that we grew slack in the Care of our Poor, but because
-their Number being so much abated, by those received into our several
-Work-houses, the Business not requiring their meeting oftner.
-
-The other Committee, _viz._ That for the new Work-house, having first
-furnished it in order to receive in the young Girls, began with such as
-were recommended to them by the Committee for the Poor; and this Method
-hath been generally observed ever since, both by that Committee, and also
-by the Committee since chosen for our other Work-house; not that either
-of them depends on the other, but because the first application for
-Relief is made to the Committee for the Poor.
-
-But before we took in the Girls, we first considered of proper Officers
-to govern them; and these consisted of a Master, whose Business was to
-receive in Work, and deliver it out again, and to keep the Account of the
-House, &c.
-
-A Mistress, whose Business was to look after the Kitchen and Lodgings, to
-provide their Meals at set Times, and other Things which related to the
-Government of the House.
-
-Tutresses to teach them to Spin, under each of which we put Five and
-Twenty Girls.
-
-A School-Mistress, to teach them to read.
-
-Servants in the Kitchen, and for washing, &c. but these we soon
-discharged, and caused our biggest Girls to take their Turns every Week.
-
-We also appointed an old Man to keep the Door, and to carry forth and
-fetch in Work, and such kind of Services.
-
-Being thus provided, we received in one hundred Girls, and set them to
-work at Spinning of Worsted Yarn; all which we first caused to be stript
-by the Mistress, washed, and new Clothed from Head to Foot; which,
-together with wholesome Dyet at set Hours, and good Beds to lie on, so
-incouraged the Children, that they willingly betook themselves to their
-Work.
-
-We likewise provided for them Apparel for _Sundays_; they went to Church
-every Lord’s Day; were taught their Catechisms at home, and had Prayers
-twice every Day; we appointed them set Hours for working, eating, and
-playing; and gave them leave to walk on the Hills with their Tutresses,
-when their Work was over, and the Weather fair; by which means we won
-them into Civility, and a love to their Labour. But we had a great deal
-of Trouble with their Parents, and those who formerly kept them, who
-having lost the sweetness of their Pay, did all they could to set both
-their Children and others against us; but this was soon over.
-
-Hitherto things answered above our Expectations; our Children grew sober,
-and worked willingly, but we very much questioned, whether their Labours
-at the Rates we were paid, would answer the charge of their Maintenance;
-and if not, our great Doubt was how we might advance it, without
-prejudicing the Manufactures.
-
-To clear the first, we supposed ourselves in a fair way, having appointed
-their Diets to be made up of such Provisions as were very wholesome,
-afforded good nourishment, and were not costly in Price, _viz._ Beef,
-Pease, Potatoes, Broath, Pease-porridge, Milk-porridge, Bread and Cheese,
-good Beer, (such as we drank at our own Tables) Cabbage, Carrots,
-Turnips, &c. in which we took the Advice of our Physician, and bought the
-best of every Sort. They had three Meals every Day, and as I remember, it
-stood us (with Soap to wash) in about Sixteen-pence _per_ Week for each
-of the one hundred Girls. We soon found the effect of their Change of
-Living, Nature being well supported, threw out a great deal of Foulness,
-so that we had generally twenty down at a Time, in the Measels,
-Small-pox, and other Distempers; but by the Care of our Physician, and
-the Blessing of God on his Endeavours, we never buried but Two, though we
-have had seldom less than one hundred in the House at any Time.
-
-Having thus provided for their Diets, we next appointed their Times of
-Working; which in the Summer was ten Hours and a half every Day, and an
-Hour less in the Winter; by which means we answered the two Objections
-raised against the Poor, _viz._ Thar they will not work, and that they
-spend what they get in fine feeding.
-
-But we soon found, that the great Cause of begging did proceed from the
-low Wages for Labour; for after about eight Months time, our Children
-could not get half so much as we expended in their Provisions. The
-Manufacturers, who employed us, were always complaining the Yarn was spun
-coarse, but would not advance above Eight-pence _per_ Pound for Spinning,
-and we must either take this, or have no Work. On the other side, we were
-labouring to understand how we might distinguish, and put a Value on our
-Work, according to its Fineness. This we did by the Snap Reel, which when
-we were Masters of, the Committee made an Order, That the Master should
-buy in a Stock of Wool, and Spin it up for our own Accounts, and then
-proceeded to set the Price of Spinning by the Snap Reel, wherein we
-endeavoured to discourage coarse Work, and to endeavour fine, because we
-saw the latter was likely to bring more Profit, not only to the Poor, but
-to the Kingdom in general. We likewise ordered some Things to be made up
-of the several Sorts of Yarn, at the Rates we had set them; and on the
-whole, we found the Commodities made of fine Yarn, though they were much
-better than those made of Coarse, yet stood us in little more; because
-what the one exceeded in the Charge of Spinning, was very much made good
-in Abatement of the Quantity used. We therefore sent to the
-Manufacturers, and shewed them what Experiments we had made; but finding
-them still unwilling to advance above the old Rate, the Committee voted,
-that they would give Employment to all the Poor of the City, who would
-make Application to them, at the Rates we offer’d to work, and pay them
-ready Money for their Labour.
-
-We soon found we had taken the right Course, for in a few Weeks we had
-Sale for our fine Yarn as fast as we could make it, and they gave us from
-Eight-pence to Two Shillings _per_ Pound for Spinning the same Goods, for
-which a little before they paid but Eight-pence, and were very well
-pleased with it, because they were now able to distinguish between the
-fine and the coarse Yarn, and to apply each Sort to the Use for which it
-was most proper: Since which, they have given us Two Shillings and
-Six-pence _per_ Pound for a great many Pounds, and we spin some worth
-Three Shillings and Six-pence _per_ Pound Spinning.
-
-By this Means we had the Pleasure of seeing the Children’s Labour
-advanc’d, which a little before I came up, amounted to near Six Pounds
-_per_ Week, and would have been much more, but that our biggest Girls, we
-either settle forth, or put in the Kitchen; and those we receive in being
-generally small, are able to do but little for some Time after.
-
-The Encouragement we had received on this Beginning, put us on proceeding
-further: The Court resolved to purchase a great Sugar-House, out of the
-Money directed by the Act to be raised for Building of Work-Houses, and
-fit it up for the receiving in the Remainder of the Poor, (_viz._)
-ancient People, Boys, and young Children; which was accordingly done, and
-a Committee was appointed to manage it. This we called the _Mint
-Work-House_, because it had been hired by the Lords of the Treasury for
-that Use.
-
-The Committee began to take in the Boys in _August_ last; these we
-cloathed, dieted, and governed, much after the same Manner as we had done
-the Girls, but put them on a different Employment, (_viz._) Spinning of
-Cotton Wool, and weaving of Fustians: We have now about one hundred of
-them together, who settle well to their Work, and every Day mend their
-Hands; they get us already six Pounds _per_ Week; they are likewise
-taught to read, and we shall hereafter teach them to write.
-
-We next took in our ancient People; and here we had principally a Regard
-to such as were impotent, and had no Friends to help them, and to such as
-we could not keep from the lazy Trade of Begging; these we cloath’d as
-we saw they needed, and put on such Employments as were fit for their
-Ages and Strengths, having our Eyes chiefly on those to which they were
-bred; we found it difficult at first to bend them down to good Orders,
-but by Degrees we have brought them under Government.
-
-Then we called in all the Children that were on our Poor’s Books, and
-put them under Nurses; those who can speak and go, are carried down into
-the School, to learn their A, B, C, &c. As they grow up, we shall put
-them into the working Rooms.
-
-The Boys are kept at a Distance from the ancient People, who do also
-lodge in distinct Apartments, the Men in several Chambers on one Floor,
-and the Women on another; all do something, though perhaps some of their
-Labours comes to little, yet it keeps them from Idleness: Both the Old
-and Young attend Prayers twice a Day, (except the Bedridden, for whom
-other Care is taken) and go to Church twice on _Sundays_.
-
-We have now three standing Committees, (_viz._) For the Poor, for the New
-Work-House, and for the Mint Work-House: The first gives all Directions,
-and makes all Allowance, for the Poor, without whose Order no Guardian
-can act any Thing considerable, except in Cases of absolute Necessity,
-which at the next Meeting of the Committee he must give an Account of,
-and desire their Approbation. The other two Committees have Power to act
-in the Affairs of that Work-House for which they are chosen: They receive
-in both Old and Young; they bind forth Apprentices, correct, order the
-Diet as they please, oversee the Working, sell the Manufactures, when
-made, order the Payment of all Moneys, which cannot be done unless the
-Note be sign’d by the Chairman; and generally direct every Thing
-relating to those Houses.
-
-The Accounts are made up thus: The Treasurer’s Account is audited every
-Year, by a Committee chosen for that purpose; at which Time he is
-succeeded by another Treasurer, chosen by the Court: The Accounts of the
-Guardians who pay the Poor in their several Parishes are audited every
-three Months, by a select Committee chosen likewise by the Court, and are
-then paid by the Treasurer: The Accounts for each Work-house are audited
-by the respective Committee every Month, when the Master adjusts, not
-only his Account of Cash, but also of each particular _Specie_ of Goods
-he hath under his Care, the Ballance whereof is still carried forward to
-the next, which when allowed of is signed by the Chairman: And the
-Account for each House is so stated, that it shews at one Sight, what the
-House is indebted; what Debts are out-standing, and from whom; what Goods
-remain in the House, and the Quantity of each _Specie_.
-
-At the making up these Accounts, nothing (unless very trivial) is
-allowed, for which an Order is not produced, or found entered in our
-Books, so that ’tis very difficult to wrong the Corporation of any
-thing, if the Guardians should endeavour it.
-
-These Committees keep their Journal Books, wherein all they do is fairly
-transcribed, and signed by the Chairman.
-
-This is what at present occurs to my Memory touching our Work-houses at
-_Bristol_. I have been as brief as the nature of the Thing would admit:
-The Success hath answered our Expectation; we are freed from Beggars, our
-old People are comfortably provided for; our Boys and Girls are educated
-to Sobriety, and brought to delight in Labour; our young Children are
-well lookt after, and not spoiled by the neglect of ill Nurses; and the
-Face of our City is so changed already, that we have great reason to hope
-these young Plants will produce a virtuous and laborious Generation, with
-whom Immortality and Prophaness may find little Incouragement; nor does
-our hopes appear to be groundless, for among three hundred Persons now
-under our Charge within Doors, there is neither Cursing nor Swearing, nor
-prophane Language, to be heard, though many of them were bred up in all
-manner of Vices, which neither _Bridewell_ nor Whippings could fright
-them from, because, returning to their bad Company, for want of
-Employment, they were rather made worse, than bettered by these
-Corrections; whereas, the Change we have wrought on them, is by fair
-means. We have a _Bridewell_, _Stocks_, and _Whipping-Post_, always in
-their Sights, but never had occasion to make use of either.
-
-What is done in that City, I humbly hope may be carried on by the same
-Steps throughout the Kingdom; the Poor may be set at Work, their Wages
-advanced without Danger to our Manufacturers, and they thereby enabled to
-live on their own Labours, whereby the Charge of the Poor’s Rates may
-be saved, and a great many worthy Benefactors encouraged to give, when
-they shall see their Charity so well disposed of. This I have great
-reason to hope, because we have had near one Thousand Pounds freely given
-to us within the Compass of one Year, and much thereof by Gentlemen who
-dwelt at a Distance from us, only were willing to encourage a Work they
-saw likely to be carried on, which might be of good Example to the Nation.
-
-    I am,
-
-    Right Honourable
-
-    And Honourable,
-
-    Your Honours most
-
-    Obedient Servant,
-
-    JOHN CARY.
-
-
-
-
-AN
-
-ESSAY
-
-Towards Settling a
-
-NATIONAL CREDIT.
-
-By John Cary, Esq;
-
-The Fifth Edition, Corrected.
-
-LONDON:
-
-Printed in the Year M.DCC.XLV.
-
-
-
-
-To the Right Honourable the LORDS Spiritual and Temporal, and to the
-Honourable the Commons of ENGLAND in Parliament Assembled.
-
-
-HAVING lately presented your Honours with _An Essay on Coin and Credit_,
-the chief Design whereof was to shew the Necessity of Settling a
-well-grounded Credit in this Nation, for Support of the Government, and
-carrying on its Trade; I do now with all Humility lay before you
-Proposals to answer that End, which I have not clogg’d with Compulsion
-to the Subject, supposing nothing of this Nature can be good, where a
-common Consent, grounded upon Interest, doth not make it valuable.
-
-Banks, as I humbly conceive, ought chiefly to be calculated for the Use
-of Trade, and modeled so as may best content the Traders. What gives them
-Satisfaction, will answer all other Occasions of the Kingdom. Money
-passes through the Hands of the Nobility and Gentry, only as Water doth
-through Conduit-Pipes into the Cistern, but Centers in the Hands of
-Traders, where it circulates, and may be said to be used; and among
-these, Ease, Profit, and Security, are Arguments to keep a Bank always
-full: Besides, when the Streights of the Government are taken of, greater
-Sums will come into Trade, which are now drawn out, in order to make
-Advantages, above what the Profits of Trade will bring in.
-
-The Heads whereon I propose to build this National Credit, are these
-which follow:
-
-That a Bank be erected on the Credit of Parliament, the Profit or Loss
-thereof to redound to the Nation, whose chief Chamber shall be settled in
-_London_, but lesser Chambers in other Places of this Kingdom, at such
-Distances, as may best answer the Occasions of the Country, which
-Chambers to account with that of _London_, and that to Commissioners
-appointed by Parliament.
-
-That this Bank shall take in what running Cash shall be offered, and
-shall give their Notes for it; and shall also allow Interest after the
-Rate of ### _per Cent. per Annum_, after the first ### Days, till those
-Notes be paid, and shall also pay it again to the Proprietors, or any
-Part thereof, when demanded.
-
-That if any Man put in his Money for a Time certain, not less than ###
-Months, he shall receive Interest from the Time of paying it in, to the
-Time he is Repaid.
-
-That this Bank shall let out any Sum again on reasonable Security, either
-Real, Personal, or Goods, receiving Interest after the Rate of ### _per
-Cent. per Annum_, till the Borrower shall think fit to pay it in, which
-he shall do, by such Parts as will best suit his Occasions, and be
-discharged from the Interest of what he so pays, and only pay after the
-Rate aforesaid, for so much as doth remain in his Hands.
-
-That Lombards be erected to attend this Bank, for the Benefit of Traders,
-under Regulations, which may Encourage Trade.
-
-That for the Benefit of Returns, the Notes given in any one Chamber of
-this Bank, shall be demandable in any other, together with the Interest
-due till Payment, the Receiver allowing for such Returns after the Rate
-of ### for each Hundred Pounds, in the Chamber where he receives his
-Money.
-
-That to prevent Counterfeits, all Notes given out at any Chamber, shall
-be made payable to ### or Order, and assigned from one to another, each
-Assignee to be Warrantee for the Note, both to the Bank, and also to
-every later Assignee.
-
-That these Notes shall be taken by the King in all Payments, which will
-make them current among the Subjects.
-
-That this Bank do supply the King with all Loans at _per Cent._ Interest
-_per Ann._ from the Time of borrowing, to the Time the Money is paid in
-again, and that it hath the Taxes, or Funds settled by Act of Parliament,
-for its Security.
-
-That all Debts contracted to this Bank, shall be of the same Nature with
-Debts contracted to the King, and be first paid out of the Estates of the
-Debtors; and that Extents shall lye accordingly.
-
-That an Account be kept of Profit and Loss in each Chamber, together with
-the Charges of the Officers, &c. And that it be return’d up every three
-Months, as also Accompt Current, to the Grand Chamber in _London_, where
-the whole shall be Examined by the Commissioners, and they be liable to
-the inspection of the Parliament.
-
-That Registers for Lands be erected in all Countries, &c. where desired,
-by Act of Parliament.
-
-That Bills be past on the Bank by such as are appointed to buy for the
-Public Use of the Nation, payable at the Time of their Agreement; by
-which means every one will endeavour to furnish the Government cheapest,
-when their Payments shall be punctual; the King will save a great deal of
-Money, paid now for Procuration, Excessive Interest, &c. and the Fleet
-and Army will be well paid.
-
-That the Commissioners do once every Year at least, make up the Accounts
-depending between the Public and the Bank, allowing ### _per Cent._
-Interest as before; and make Application to the Parliament for its
-Reimbursement.
-
-That Bills and Bonds be made Assignable by Law, and the Property be
-thereby transfer’d to the Assignee.
-
-That Trustees may put the Money belonging to _Orphans_ into this Bank,
-which shall be a Discharge to them for so much of their Trust, the
-Interest to be duly issued out for the Maintenance of the said _Orphans_;
-and that all Plate and Bullion belonging to the said _Orphans_ be by the
-Trustees coined up at the next Mint, and the Money put into the Bank for
-the use of the said _Orphans_.
-
-That the Money in this Bank be freed from Taxes.
-
-Concerning which Credit I shall briefly speak to these Four Things.
-
-I. First, _Its Security_.
-
-II. Secondly, _Some of those Advantages the Nation will reap by it_.
-
-III. Thirdly, _I shall make some Comparison between this Credit, and the
-present Bank of_ England.
-
-IV. Fourthly, _I shall set forth the necessity of setling the Nations
-Credit in this present Sessions_.
-
-I. As to the _First_, It hath the Legislative Power of the Kingdom of
-_England_ for its Foundation, a Security strong enough, and nothing else
-can be so, to build this Great Superstructure upon, the well modeling
-whereof, will keep it from being subject to the Designs of private
-Persons: This will last so long as the Peoples Liberties last, for no
-Change can weaken it, so long as the People of _England_ have a hand in
-making their own Laws, whose Common Interest will be riveted and made up
-with the Security of this Bank, that they will in a short time become one
-thing, so that nothing less than a Conquest will be able to shake it:
-This we cannot fear from any Nation besides the _French_, nor from them
-neither, till _Holland_ is first subdued; therefore, as those States must
-first truckle, so far will our Bank be more secure than theirs: _France_
-cannot erect a Bank on any sort of Security, because the Will of the
-Prince being his Law, alters according to his present Occasions: Nor can
-_Spain_ do it; where, not only the Government but also the Profits
-thereof, are divided amongst its Ministers: As for _Sweden_, _Denmark_,
-and _Portugal_, the Princes of _Italy_ and _Germany_, few believe their
-Circumstances to be such, as to render them capable of erecting a Bank,
-which may draw the Eyes of _Europe_ to look towards it; _England_ only
-can do it, for as an easy Government is its own Security, so that
-Security encourages Trade, and these two, accompanied with the Profits
-offered to a running Cash, will make all _Europe_ desire to settle their
-Monies here.
-
-Seeing then, that nothing but the same Power which first constituted this
-Bank can destroy it, (a Power with whom we intrust our Lives, Liberties,
-and Estates) I cannot see the least Room left for distrust; for what
-Advantage can any future Parliament expect by a design of seizing this
-Bank, when the Treasure thereof may be drawn out, whilst they are framing
-the Law; and the Consequence thereof will be, the Ruining their own
-Estates, for which they can promise nothing to themselves, save the being
-possest of empty Papers.
-
-What farther Hazard the Nation can run, must proceed from the Neglect of
-the Managers, or the Fraud of under Officers, which, Care in the First,
-and Security for the Last, will prevent.
-
-II. The next Thing is to shew the Advantages which _England_ will reap by
-setling the Credit here proposed; whereof some do immediately attend it,
-others are consequential.
-
-Those which immediately attend it, are,
-
-1st, The Rate of Interest will hereby be brought lower, to the Advance of
-our Lands, and Encouragement of our Trade, by Methods altogether as
-profitable to the Usurer, who will be willing to let his Money Cheaper,
-when it shall never lie dead without his Consent, his Security be
-unquestionable, and freed from the Charges of litigious Suits, which so
-frequently accompany doubtful Mortgages.
-
-2dly, Both Gentlemen and Traders will hereby be supplied with Money to
-serve their Occasions, on such reasonable Security as they are able to
-give, when that Security shall be strengthned, by having the Preheminence
-above all other obligations; they may also have Liberty to pay it in by
-such Proportions, as they can best spare it, when it shall be equally the
-Interest of the Bank to receive it so, which will never want new
-Opportunities to let it out again.
-
-3dly, This Credit will give us an Esteem in Foreign Parts, draw their
-Moneys hither, and consequently their Trade, and thereby their People,
-all which will be an Advantage to _England_.
-
-4ly, It will supply the Government with Money to carry on the War at
-moderate Interest, and make its Credit good; whereby the public Revenues
-will reach farther to serve its Occasions, and the Ministers of State be
-freed from many anxious Thoughts, which now make them uneasy.
-
-5ly, It will make Returns from place to place in _England_, both cheap
-and certain, which will help our Inland Trade, and prevent Robberies, now
-too much encouraged by travelling with Money; It will also be profitable
-to our Foreign Trade, by bringing Exchanges low in our favour.
-
-6ly, The Frauds put on the County, by Counterfeit Notes will be
-prevented; for though the Method of Indentures and stained Paper now used
-by the Bank of _England_, may be a Security to it self, yet it is not so
-to any one else, seeing Art is able to counterfeit every Thing, at least
-so like, as not to be easily discover’d: Now, what Satisfaction will it
-be to those who have received their Notes instead of Money, to be told by
-the Managers that they are counterfeit, when they know not where, nor
-from whom to get Reparation; whereas, being Assigned from Man to Man,
-they are taken on the Credit of the Assignor, who runs no other risque
-thereby, save his Warrant that they are truly what he pays them for.
-
-7ly, This Bank will be free from Stock-Jobbing, the Bane of all good
-Designs, which will find no room here, because it cannot be divided into
-private and particular Interests.
-
-The Consequential Advantages will be these,
-
-1st, By this means the Taxes for carrying on the War the ensuing Year,
-together with the Twenty-five hundred and Sixty-four Thousand Pounds,
-which fell short on the Salt Fund, may be raised, by Methods, wherein the
-King’s Revenue, and the Peoples Profits, shall go hand in hand, without
-Anticipations.
-
-2ly, The Funds now settled on our Manufactures, which discourage our
-Trade, and ruin our Poor, may be sunk and taken off; such as those on the
-_Glass-makers_, _Tobaccopipe-makers_, _Distillers_, and others, many
-whereof have yielded little to the Government, above the charge of
-Collecting, and the best of them have done great Mischief to our Trade;
-now seeing these are only so many several Modus’s of raising Money,
-those Methods must doubtless do best, which least injure our Trade.
-
-3ly, The Debt due to the Transport-Ships may be paid off, and those
-People, to whose early Loyalty and Reduction of _Ireland_ is very much
-owing, be contented.
-
-4ly, The Mints may be kept Imployed, and the Kingdom thereby filled with
-Coin.
-
-5ly, Our Wool may be kept at home, which I humbly conceive can never be
-done, till a good Credit be settled, any thing less will not be large
-enough to cover the Sore intended to be cured.
-
-6ly, The Plantation Trade may be better secured, especially that of
-Tobacco, and Methods may be proposed to render it more profitable, both
-to the King, and also to the Subject.
-
-7ly, The Bank of _England_’s Notes may be brought to Par, and Tallies
-of all sorts in a short time be paid off at their full Value, which I
-humbly conceive will be difficult to be done, any other way, the settling
-a Credit on either, or grafting them both together, seem improbable
-Methods to answer those ends.
-
-I humbly hope to make Proposals in this present Sessions for putting
-these into practise, if a good Credit be timely settled.
-
-Besides these, many other Advantages will accrue to the Nation, many of
-which I have set forth in my before recited Essay on Coin and Credit.
-Pag. 27, 28, 29.
-
-III. The third Thing is to make some Comparison between the Credit here
-proposed, and the present Bank of _England_; which I humbly conceive is
-so shaken in its Reputation, as hath rendred it uncapable to be made the
-Foundation of a national Credit; and whilst we labour to recover it, we
-may run the hazard of destroying our Trade, disturbing the Government,
-and keeping our selves under a lingring War, whilst we encourage the
-_French_ King, to try his utmost Efforts, hoping, that our Difficulties
-at home, will force us to accept of a dishonourable Peace.
-
-’Tis certain, nothing can be the Support of a National Credit, which is
-not better, or at least so good as Money; and this is not to be found in
-the Bank of _England_, whose Notes whilst they are One _per Cent._ worse
-than Specie, will always keep their Coffers empty, because no Man will
-put into it a hundred Pounds in Money, when he can purchase a Note of the
-same Value for Ninety-nine; and the Consequence will be this, that the
-Lender, or rather the Jobber, will never rest till he is repaid, that so
-he may be making advantage by a new Purchase; and if this will be the
-Effect of a Credit worse only by One _per Cent._ than Money, what will it
-be when ’tis sunk to sixteen; Whereas, on the other side, when a Credit
-is better than Money, the Coffers will ever be full, because all Men will
-endeavour to put in their Money, and be impatient till ’tis done; and
-thus it will be, when the Lender thinks himself secure, and makes more
-Profit by having his Money in the Bank then in his Chest, who will
-therefore receive out no more at a Time, then his Necessities shall
-require, and for the same Reason, those to whom he pays it, will
-endeavour to return it thither again so soon as they can.
-
-IV. As to the fourth Thing proposed, The Necessity the Nation lies under
-to have its Credit settled this present Sessions, it will appear, if we
-consider, how _London_ now stands in Competition with all _England_
-besides, as to the Specie of Money, and how it will stand before another
-Sessions: ’Tis generally agreed, that about one Moiety of the Money of
-_England_ is already Center’d in that great City, and the rest is not
-enough to pay the Debts owing to it, together with his Majesty’s
-Revenues, Bonds already entered into, and Taxes now to be given, for Six
-Months longer, besides the Foreign Bills, which are generally made
-payable there, all which must be return’d in Specie; for though by an
-Act of this present Sessions: Intituled, _An Act for the farther
-Remedying the ill State of the Coin of this Kingdom_, it is among other
-things provided, That all Money that shall be brought in upon Account of
-Taxes, or Revenues, or Loans, at Five Shillings and Eight Pence _per_
-Ounce, shall be carried to the next adjacent Mint, in order to be
-Re-coined, yet this will no way be Serviceable to the Country, unless a
-Credit be settled, it must otherwise be sent up to _London_ after coined
-for want of Returns, the Debts due to the Country being paid there in
-Bank, which is Sixteen _per Cent._ worse than Money, and those due from
-the Country demanded in Specie, so that the Money of _England_ is every
-Week brought up thither; and then, if it be next considered, what Methods
-are left to the Country to draw it back again, _viz._ by Provisions and
-some few other Things, ’twill be reasonable to believe, that seeing the
-supply made from that City to the Country is greater than what is made
-from the Country thither, all the Cash of _England_ will center there in
-a short Time, to the Ruining of the other Trading Cities, and disabling
-of the Country to pay future Taxes; and this will make the dependence on
-_London_ still greater, till by its own Bloatiness it must at last burst,
-when the Estates of the Traders shall consist only in Debts due from the
-Country, which must still lye out for want of a Specie to pay them in; so
-that all the Advantage _London_ will receive, is, that it will be last
-ruined.
-
-Now if a good Credit be settled out of Hand, and the Mints continued in
-the Country, the Money that is now there, may be still kept there, and
-Methods found out to increase it, and the Trade of _England_ carried on
-with an equal Circulation in all places; this will keep up the Rents of
-the Lands of _England_, which must otherwise fall in their Values,
-suitable to the distance they stand in from that great Metropolis.
-
-If it be objected, That the Management of this Credit will be very costly
-to the Nation; I humbly conceive, that the Profits thereof will not only
-support its Charge, but also bring in a great Overplus, which may be
-usefully Imployed to the Nation’s Advantage; yet were this Objection
-true, nothing can be termed good Husbandry which spoils our Trade, the
-stopping whereof but for one Month, will be many Millions lost to the
-Kingdom.
-
-If by rectifying this, or any better Proposal from a more thinking Head,
-the Credit of the Nation may be settled in this present Sessions, I have
-reaped the End I aimed at, the Good and Welfare of my Native Country;
-which I humbly submit to your Honours great Wisdom, and shall be ready to
-explain any Thing that may seem doubtful, when I am thereto commanded.
-
-    Your Honours,
-
-    Most Obedient Servant,
-
-
-
-
-SOME
-
-CONSIDERATIONS
-
-Relating to the carrying on
-
-The Linnen Manufacture
-
-IN THE
-
-KINGDOM
-
-OF
-
-IRELAND.
-
-By John Cary, Esq;
-
-The Fifth Edition, Corrected.
-
-LONDON:
-
-Printed in the Year M.DCC.XLV.
-
-
-
-
-SOME
-
-CONSIDERATIONS
-
-Relating to
-
-The Linnen Manufacture
-
-In the Kingdom of
-
-IRELAND.
-
-
-THE Linnen Manufacture in _Ireland_, being a Subject so much discours’d
-of the last Sessions of Parliament, I humbly presume to offer some
-Thoughts how it may best be carried on.
-
-But, before I enter upon it, I will consider the State of that Kingdom,
-with respect to its Foreign Trade; the Ballance whereof I take to be
-against them, and must therefore be supplied, by carrying out their Coin,
-which is already grown so scarce, that ’tis to be fear’d, in a short
-time there will be little left.
-
-To explain this, I will lay down some of those Steps, by which the
-Ballance of Trade daily alters to their Prejudice.
-
-1st, The great Fall of their Products, _viz._ Wool, Tallow, Hides, Beef,
-&c. which are abated in their Prices above one Third of what they yielded
-before the War; so that should the same Quantities of those Commodities
-be bought up for Exportation, as formerly there were, yet they would not
-amount to the Value they then did.
-
-2ly, The Ports of _Spain_, _France_, and _Flanders_, which were their
-great Markets, being now shut against them, the Profits which they made
-by their Foreign Trade in the Times of Peace, over and above the first
-Value of the Commodities exported, are also lost to the Kingdom.
-
-3ly, The Prohibiting the Exportation of their Woollen Manufactures,
-whereby their People were employed, and their Labours sold to Foreign
-Nations, hath very much lessened the Ballance of their Foreign Trade,
-
-4ly, The great Sums of Money spent in this Kingdom by the Nobility and
-Gentry of _Ireland_, who come over hither for Pleasure, or necessary
-Attendances, on the Court, Parliament, or private Affairs, and send
-hither their Children for Education; the Purchases they have lately made
-of the Forfeited Estates; and the yearly Remittances thence for the Rents
-of Lands belonging to the Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom, do all
-make against them.
-
-5ly, The great Consumption of Commodities among them from this Kingdom,
-which, though it encreases our Trade, and makes it our Interest to
-Support that Kingdom, must be allowed to be a Prejudice to them.
-
-All which being laid together, it seems apparent to me, that the Ballance
-of their Trade must every Year grow more against them, till their Money
-is drawn away, except some New Manufacture, fit for Exportation, be
-encouraged amongst them.
-
-And I think none more proper than that of Linnen; which, besides the
-Employment it will give to their Poor, will also take up large Tracts of
-Land for raising of Hemp and Flax; and being a Manufacture no way
-Interfering with our own, we may take it from them, in Barter for what
-they have hence, without any Manner of Prejudice to the Trade of this
-Kingdom.
-
-Besides, The People of _Ireland_, being employed on the Linnen
-Manufacture, would by degrees be taken off from making so much Worsted
-and Woollen Yarn as they now do, which they send hither at Cheaper Rates
-than we are able to make ’em: The Price of Labour in all Places being
-according to the Rents of Lands, the Poor can afford to work there on
-lower Terms than it can be expected they should do here: On the other
-side, if the low Labour of the Poor of _Ireland_, was employed on
-Spinning of Linnen Yarn, it would be an Advantage to the Kingdom of
-_Ireland_, to have it sent hither, because it would enable us to make our
-Fustions, and other Manufactures, where it is used, cheaper than now we
-do; whilst our own Poor might be employed on Spinning of Wool; and we
-might afford to give them better Wages, without fear of being beat out of
-our Manufactures by any other Nation, provided Care was taken to keep our
-Wool at Home.
-
-The next Thing to be considered is, how this Work may be best carried on;
-which I am of Opinion must be done by a Corporation, with a Joint-Stock,
-sufficient, not only to buy up what Linnens shall be made, but also to
-furnish the Kingdom with Money on easy Terms; which will likewise
-encourage the Raising of Hemp and Flax.
-
-If the High Rates of Interest in _Ireland_ be considered, and the present
-State of the Linnen Manufacture there, ’twill not be difficult to see,
-how unlikely it is to be carried on by private Stocks, who can make Ten
-_per Cent. per Annum_, by letting out their Money; ’tis true, the late
-Act hath reduced it to Eight, but that Act having no regard to
-Incumbrances entred into before the 25th of _March_, 1704, I do not see
-how it will much help the People of _Ireland_ at this Time, when the
-Scarcity of Money does disable them to discharge prior Engagements; so
-that private Men have Opportunities enough to settle theirs at Ten _per
-Cent._ which in all probability they will rather chute, than to lay it
-out in Linnens, unless they can be assured of a far greater Profit, than
-they can make by letting it out.
-
-Besides, as Interest is now managed, ’tis both a Clog to the
-Gentlemen’s Estates, and a Discouragement to Traders and Manufacturers,
-considering, that the whole Sum borrowed must be paid in at once; by
-which means, being got into the Usurer’s Books, they can scarce ever
-find the way out; Now if the Borrower had Liberty to pay in the
-Principle, by such Parts as he is able to raise it, and the Interest for
-so much to cease from that time, this would encourage Industry, and
-promote Improvements, both in Product and Manufactures, which are the two
-Things that encrease the Wealth of a Nation.
-
-An Infant-Manufacture must be carried on at a small Profit, and must as I
-may say, Fight its way through; which cannot be done, where Interest
-carries such a Load with it; and, therefore, I am of Opinion, that
-nothing less than a Joint-Stock, can make _Ireland_ Flourish; which will
-in the Consequence turn likewise to the Advantage of _England_; the
-Gentlemen of _Ireland_, being by these Means made more easy in their
-Circumstances, and having their former Incumbrances brought Lower, will
-spend more of their Money here, and wear more of our Manufactures there.
-
-Nor will this way of Lending out Money be any Disadvantage to a
-Corporation, who will find fit Opportunities of Employing their Stock, as
-fast as it is paid in; and the Profits thereof being returned hither in
-Linnens, they may afford to sell them cheaper than private Stocks can do.
-
-But I do not think this Work can be presently brought about; ’twill not
-be easy to persuade the Landlords nor Tenants of _Ireland_, to leave off
-the way of Husbandry they are now upon, and to turn their Lands to Hemp
-and Flax, till they see some Encouragement; but when they shall find this
-new Product bring ready Money, they will soon Set upon it; if the
-Manufacturer receive ready Money for his Cioath, he will be able to pay
-ready Money both for Materials and Labour, which Circulation will
-Encourage both the Farmer and the Manufacturer; and by Degrees, Hemp and
-Flax-seed will be Sowed in all Lands proper for them, and the Owners will
-soon see the Difference, between raising Commodities, for which there is
-a present Demand, and such, as lye on their Hands: For though _Ireland_
-may in time produce greater Quantities of Hemp and Flax than they can
-work up, yet not more than _England_ may Take off, without Prejudice to
-any Foreign Trade we drive; and their Number of Hands will in all
-Probability be encreased by the _French_ Refugees, who will be glad to go
-thither, where they may be employed in a Manufacture, so natural to them
-as Linnen is; which will also give a fatal Blow to the Kingdom of
-_France_ in that Manufacture.
-
-The People in the North of _Ireland_, make good Cloth, sell it at
-Reasonable Rates, and would every Year make much more, had they Vent for
-it; and it is to be observed, that Money is not plentier, nor Rents paid
-better, in any Part of _Ireland_, than there.
-
-The Rents of _Ireland_ grow due at two Times of Payment, _viz._ 1st of
-_May_, and 1st of _November_, the first becomes payable whilst their
-Cattle are lean, which puts the Tenants under great Straits, and forces
-them to sell very low, if they are prest for Money; but the Second
-Payment is more easily made, their fat Cattle being sold, and their
-Harvest over: This is the State of that part of the Kingdom that depends
-on Feeding and Tillage; but where the Linnen Manufacture is, the Tenants
-are much easier; they spin in the Winter Nights, and at other leisure
-times, which being wove into Cloth, and whiten’d early in the Year,
-provides Money for their first Payment, without selling their Cattle
-before fatted for a Market.
-
-It is necessary for a new Undertaking, to be attended with some lucky
-Accident; the Linnen Manufacture can never be begun in _Ireland_ at a
-more seasonable Time than now, being imported hither Custom-Free, when
-all the other Linnens of _Europe_ pay considerable Duties.
-
-The Gentlemen of _Ireland_ at this Time, seem to be Discontented, they
-find themselves Uneasy, but cannot tell where the Sore lies; therefore,
-sometimes they Complain of one Thing, and sometimes of another; but the
-true Ground of all is this: Their Exports are lessened, whilst their
-Imports encrease upon them, and the Specie of their Money decreases every
-Day; by which means their Rents come in slowly, their Products fall on
-their Hands, and will more, as they encrease above their Expence; so that
-their Improvements rather turn to their Disadvantage; and their Lands
-must fall (which ’tis our Interest to keep up) unless some new Product
-be encouraged, which may be Manufactured amongst them: If this was done,
-They would soon see where their Interest lay; and though I do not believe
-they would all fall on sowing Hemp and Flax, nor is it necessary they
-should, yet there would be so much Land turned that way, as might
-restrain their other Products, within the Compass of their Exports, and
-Home Consumption, and cause a Circulation of Money through all Parts of
-the Kingdom.
-
-This will give a greater Employment to the Poor of _Ireland_, and
-encourage People to settle among them, without any Manner of Prejudice to
-_England_; and Create a mutual Friendship, and a profitable
-Correspondence, between both Kingdoms.
-
-And as the Establishing such a Fund will be an Advantage to that Kingdom,
-so it will bring a considerable Profit to the Undertakers, besides the
-Benefit which may arise from it to the Government, during the Continuance
-of this War.
-
-FINIS.
-
-
-
-
-
-
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