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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul cilchA, il est filmA it partir de I'engle supArieur geuche, de gauche A droite, et de heut en has, en prenant le nombre d'Imeges nAcessaire. Les diagrammes sulvents iliustrent la mAthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 '^ Jl^ ^1 t ?r «cr^ Al< i^, ^ii»*j ^^ W-, I OF THE T»RAD Jbetwebn hatd, Spain, Vomgd^ M^ WITH .;¥■ fbe ItnMrtatiods and £x|X)rtatioa8 of all CbmoMMiiciest particularly of the Woollen Manimdures. DelivAr'd in two Reports made to the Gomnv* iConeif fer Publick AooounKi ■¥■■' . ■MMlAi II I > ■fWiM By CHARLES DAFMVAVT, L. L. !* Late lofye&xa Ocneral 1 Bilf, iti C>idW| >: %feiaii (PiiceaiO ' mm l4.fl!"WWI,'* .%' ' * t'.:. A r Mil ODD A a H T 1 o aa AH.T Mzin:wT3a ^; II T I \7 .d^uhi^iuiiiM njIIooW mi ^mirynh A-^iiduH i 4V>* ; *>/i !0 m n ] i /l.KKVI'dHKa ?'^AHK\\0 vH -Oi?/^ tjih 1q ki^n;^0 ii't 3tpJ ■ X ii im O n ijq? ii' ■tiWI |i«»i ■*" ■'' -" ■*• .»tl »»» k. . ^^ \i o a ^ o A Cs) REPORT TO THE ./ HONOURABLE THE Commissioners, &c. PART L lii ■■ I Have receivM from this Honourable Board a Precept, dated july 17, 171 1. direding, that I (hould lay before you, diftind Annual Accounts for the Ten Years laft, to be attefted before You, on A 3 Oath Oath of the Importations and Exportations of all Commodities, particularly, the Wool- len Manufadures into, and out of this Kingdom, to and from what Places the fame were exported and imported, and up- on what Shippingfuch Exports and Imports were made, with my Obfervations how the Ballancc of the Trade of this Kingdom ftood each Year> with Refpeft to Foreign Parts, and the encreafe of Freight of Fo- reign Shipingufing this Kingdom, and whe- ther I have fufpefted any fliort or over Entries have been made of the Woollen Manufaflure, and of what Quantity, Va- lue, or any other Obfervations t have made, relating to the Trade of this Kingdom. In Obedience to which precept, I fhall give an Account of as many Branches of Trade as poffibly can be ext rafted from my Ledgers, from the Date of the faid Precept, to the fetting of the Parliament, and at prefent, fhall lay before you , fuch an Account as is requited, with an Efti- mate of the firft Coft or Value of the re- fpedive Goods and Merchandizes, and a State of the Ballance of Trade, for five Diftind Years, w/5. ivomChriJimas i6g<). to Chnjlmas 1704. C France, UollandJSpmn^ Between England ^ ticular Account of that Branch of out E^- portations. And becaufethe Tin to be madcby Con- trad, viz. 1600 Tun Stannery Weight, which reduced imo Aver dupois^ yields 1714 Tun 508 /. is more than is taken off by our Foreign Exportation, and Home Confump- tion, which may tend to make that Com- modity become a Drug abroad, and fo hurt the Kmgdom, I have thought it might be ufeful to give you the Exports thereof, from 1699. to 1710. in the Ten Diftinft Years* The long War, thefe Kingdoms have car- ried on, and no Treaty of Commerce ha- ving been fettled, during the flxort Inter- val of Peace, muft needs have made great Alterations in the Channel of Trade ^ and therefore I thought it would be a Satis- faftion to this Honourable Board, and give fome Light into the prefent Condition of Trade (where we have loft, and where we have gain'd, and how the Ballance may probably now ftand, which I perceive to be the Scope and Intention of your Precept) if I could lay before you any Account of our Dealings with t}ie reft of the Comer- cial World before the War, when Trade for fome Years at leaft had gone in a fettled Channel. In order to this, all poflible En- quiries have been made at the Cuftom* houfe, for an Abftrad of the Exports and Imports, for cJ'ne or two Years before the Com- ■ (9) Commencement of the War, but I cannot find any fuch Abftraft was kept. I hoped at lc2& to have been able to give you an Ac- count of the Importations of Wines and Brandies, for fome Years before the War, which were fo large a part of our Trade with France^ becaufe there has been a long time an Office at the Cuftom-Houfe, parti- cularly appointed to compute the Duties up- on thofe uoods, (but upon Search no Regi- fter is left of thofe Entries^ each Officer having taken away his own Papers, and a Neccffity at la ft appearing, to know the Qpantity andValue of fundry Goods Import- ed into, and Exported from, this Kingdom: Upon a Motion from the Houfe of Lords, an Examiner of the Exports and Imports was appointed, which Office began in the Year 1696. and was executed for fome Years with great Skill and induftry by my worthy Predeceflbr Mr, Cuffiford^ who in Pofting of his Ledgers, has fet a Valuation upon all the refpcdive Goods Exported from hence, according to their Current Price here at Home. And in the Imported Goods according to their Current Price A- broad : By the Judgment of the abJeft Fo- reign Merchants, to which Valuation I have kept, excepting in Inftances where there has been fome apparent Change, and upon examining it will be found, that both . of .1 I h (10) of us have come as near the Truth, as Things of this Nature can well be brought. In order regularly to confidcr and com- pute the Trade of England with any other Country, and to form any Judgment haw it is like to ftand hereafter in Cafe of Peace, it would be requilite to know how it flood before the War had made fuch altera- tions in divers Branches of it : But of thL no Trace is to be found at the Cuftom-Houfe before 1688. nor afterwards, till an In- fpeftor of the Exports and Imports was appointed, except what was laid before the Lords, from the year 1692. to 1695.10- clufivej whereof I can procure but Iraperfeft Copies. Out of the voluminous Books of Entries remaining in the Cuftom-houfe, to make fuch an Abftraft for three or four Years, as might let us into the Quantity and Value of Goods Exported and Imported, between us and the Nations with whom we Deal, would be the Work of more than two Years 5 tho* feveral additional Hands (hould be imploy'd. All the Light I have been able to gain in- to the Tranfaftions of paft Times, relating to the Exports and Imports, is from a Ma- nufcript remaining in the Cuftom-houfe, which contains an Abftraft drawn out al- moft in the fame form, as the Ledgers of my , Office,arenow kept with the then Valuations of all tie Commodities, but it only gives an ' ( II ) ati Accompt of the fevcral Goods and Mep chandizcs of the Growth of England^Expoxt- cd out of the City of LonJon;^x\A an Account ofthefeveral Goods and Merchandizes that wcte Imported into the faid City, from iff- chaelmafs 1662, to Micbaelmafs 166^ 5 and from Micbaelmafs 1668, to Micbaelmafs 1669 ^ but it takes no notice of what we properly call the Re-expotts, visi. Foreign Goods, and Plantation Goods carried to other Countries by Certificate, in Time, or out of Time, whereof Confideration fliould be had in ftating the Ballance between two Kingdoms. *Tis to be wifh'd the like Ab- ftraS (which appears to me an authentick Copy, of what had been offer d to the Uoufe of Commons^ but in what Year I cannot find) could be obtain'd of the Out-Ports for the faid two Years, but it is not come to me : However, the Proportion which the Out- t^drts generally bear to London^ being known, I (hall be able to make from this Abftraft feveral Obfervations, that may be ufeful, relating to the prefent Pofture of our Trade , from thence you will have the total Value of all Goods Exported from the City of London^ to the feveral Kingdoms and Countries ^ and the total Value of all Goods Imported into the City of London^ for the two Years aforefaid. Alfo the Revenues of the Cuftoms in the feveral Voixsof England for one Year, from Micbaelmafs 1676, to Michael* Mkhaelmafs 1677^ as ^^ the Quantities of Goods containM in this Account 5 I believe they may have been fairly ext rafted from the Old Entry Books of the Cuftom-houfe, but as to the Valuation fet upon the faid Goods 5 I have much Reafon to fufpeft the Truth thereof, concerning which, I (halt make fome Obfervations in the proper Pla- ces, but fuch as it is, I have thought it might be for the Service and Satisfadbn of this Board, to annex to this Re^rt a Copy of the faid Manufcript : And in regard I Aall have a frequent occalion to rcfort to it 5 I (hall premife once for all, that the Duty of Cuftoms for the Port of London^ bear Proportion to the Duty of Cuftoms in the Out- Ports, as 1,268,095 /. is tp 546,081 /. viz.Bbout three Fouiths, according to which the Imports and Exports may be com- puted. And being before this Honourable Board upon Oath, and looking upon my felf, by the nature of my Office, bound to ad im- partially between the Crown and the Mer« chants, and oblig'd to ufe my utmoft En- deavours, as well to promote the general Good of Trade, as the encreafe of Hec Ma- jefty*s Revenue. In what I have to fay, you (hall find the utmoft Sincerity, as far as my Knowledge reaches, where I find the Duties fo high as to cramp Trade and hurt the Kingdom. I fliall not fail to re- mark •At, (13) mark it to you in the Series of this Report, and (hall do the like where there feems a Probability that the Merchandize will bear higher Impofitions, fince nothing can more tend to cncreafe our Foreign and Domefticfc Trade, and in Reality, to advance the Queen's Revenue, than that the Burthen fliould be fo hid, as at lead to be tolerable to the whole; I (hall proceed to (hew upon what Terms England (lands in Trade with the foremeu- tion'd Countries, all along taking notice where 'tis needful, of the Exports and Im- ports of the Years 1662 and 1668 5 and comparing them with the Times, ixom when my own Accounts begin, and are to end: Andfirft as to the Trade , i Between England and France^ r from Mchael, 16 Mich om Mchaelx 1662, to } lich. 1663. (^ /• J. d. Imports 647,706 : 16 : o ExportS375,o65: 6:0 o thelmp^s exc. tbcExp^* 272,641 : 10 :o from Michael 1668, to *i? - o^r - Michael 1669! P°^^^*°^>^99: 4:0 7668710 " ^^y^^l 54^583 : 16 ;o the Iippts exc. the Exp^^ 43 2,8g ,. : 1 2 : o ^ «•■ «c ( 14 ) Of this Over-ballance Francehsii upon us, I (hall have occafion to fpeak further by and by 3 and in the mean while fliall obferve, that our two moft valuable and national Articles in thofe two Years, were Lead and the Woollen Manufadures. " '' \(m from Mick\ 1 562, to Mic.1663. Exports from Afich. 1668, to Mich. 1669. Exports Lead 31,757^ / ^ . |Fod.at I1./.3 /• '• < >.Foder C 239,327:0:0 Wooll. Ma-C .^ nufafturc J 9^774: 0:0 Total of both 336,101 ; o ; o Lead 1 328 ^ ^Fod. at 1 1 / / , ^ ,^0 WFoder S '4'^^S- ^'^ Wooll. Ma-i /;q -^, , -nufafture 3 «8>$5i:i7:o Total of both 83,129 : 17 ; o W?f^, I can give no Account how it capie to pafs, that our Exportations of Lead were fo large in the Year 1662, unlefs (as I have been informed) there was an extraor* dinary Call for it,' on Account of the French King's Buildings, and for a Store of Bullets, and in that cafe there muft have been a great old Stock lying by in our Kingdom 5 for ;o (r5) for the Annual Produft of that Metal, will not come to the aforefaid Quantity over and above our own Confumption. Of the WoolLManufafturcs/ the Value of the long, Ihort* and Spanifif Cloths, in the< ycar,from 1662 to 1663, wasj In the Year, from 1668 to^,^ ^^ ,6^9 : ^^ Jl^,(5o2:o: >22,74o:o:o The Commodities moft profitable to France^ Imported from thence hither, were innens, French Wines, Brandies, Wrought ilk, Ordinary Paper, and Kid Skins, where- f I (hall give an Account in the difiiad: rticlesj /. J. J^ ^Linnen « 83,442 : i ;o t^oJ t M T— f 268,740 : o : o . . Wrou' SUk 3684'. ,^ ,3^ ^i Pound —-—J 30»789 ; o : p Ordinary Paper 1 © , 116,074 Reams! 38,691:0:0 Brandy i,o59Tun— 47,655 : o : o iKid SKins6592 Hvm. 21,131 : 10 :o Total 590*448 : 1 1 : o From i n ■' :1 (i6) 00 g, NO a NO « Linnet! 183,890 : 19 : •t';^ Wrou. Silk 6408! ,. .,«. „.^ ■§" Ordinary Papcrl g g 52,131 Reams J ^ '' Brandy 333 Ton - 19,985 : 0:0 ^ Total 490,8p5 : io:8 to < I fliall now proceed to (how how Trade flood between Ene;land and France, from Michaelmafi 1698, to Chriftmafs 171 2, During $11 which Time there was ;fome fort of Intercourfe between the two King- doms. And this Account comprehen(k the Out'Poyts as well as I^ndon. 4 o *. I '1 :■: 'ii^ fV, 2 "OsOO •^ OO o ^o yj -t O Crt fn 0»> >-< o NO o\ o o 1 ^ I M rr> t»i c« N ' >0 Tj- O Crt OS O ooo ^ f\ n f\ cr» 1^ rA e* O OO >-» M « c« M O Q — M ^O O O >o r*. r^ r* o H ' Trade ?, from 171 2, IS -fomc King, nds the 00 Os O "^ CX Ov o o >o y> »^ r^ ^ k4 X' »i4 . « -« V* J3 •? - JJ2 t^ v^ v^ v^ >o >o 00 ^ o 10^" m ^ v> O O. 3 '^ « -: -t el VO OVrJ- 'N « « -N I I o CK Soooo O O 0\ Wi NO >0 tM H .-I OS o ■-< CN OS O O O >o t^ r>. t>. M M »-" ►^ 00 O O M Os Ov O O ^ >0 t^l>i of o H Ci:5. ^>^ }M-^ J-Vf, B .J5i .r-^ ess 1 i g -S 851 ^ Sr,. ^ ^ (o ^2 e ^ o**^ -^ ^ S5 :;» ** ;;i ^ U C a> F5 V '^ 4 4 o ■* tf • 0\ g ON ST m ^ "^ n M ^ I 9 G CO C . . s r> ri" P. ^ O vwo Nt O 00 OS n en M • n i-i 00 en tJ- ^^ 00 m i/N rs CI en v> CI I 44 osfj; CO d 2 f5 MM- A*|. o 'iW"^ • • . Wx- > en ■sv4 (•4 • • V% O m ■'f' •» ^ i v\ ■f ^ On !^ r» O SG ^ c ?* °2. w5 ♦- rs 12 « « g oo OS BO cs CO V »-• (U >^:a •tj a,vo se c c 09 3 en O O o e3 O in If C3 • • • • • NM tv OS On tN, ^. tI- m c« n vs 5 o t^ OS OS CTS ^ w. so 00 ts. NO O H C U c Q IS I V* y*^ IT} 'sH' .A'U G -^ 'm U I '*<* f^ • J J • r O '4M •5: . go ^ t2- "I a O 4-< 00 M * • 00 NO (2 ^ N- c ('•-M -W-rW y^ -^■ ^ • • • • i: ' tv. vioojos v> vx crSoNo in OS t-r l-<*-NO cr n c» 60 ^ 5 O ^t-i -Si sISi ec n3 O a 1 ?73 C3 o 59^ H^ Ot > o:} lid vV A': v) ,fi »1 o a M ■ ,3 ^ ^^ oo ' •• • Ji fJdlf.v') '.-r" ^ •^ m .VN •• •• 1 /S «« :'-^ -^ * s NO *' ••'.■'\i- f M • CI O 1 1 J riji. J2 6 s ' ^ •Kft a A ** - M •— 4 U 1 o ^ o'S 'l^ O w c^ ^ M ^ J > * "^ ON Tf Os ON ^ • Onvn o »H m Cf\ CI tv. VNOO «j -:f •"L *^^ °^ '^^ 00 ^ cnrx m en NO ON OO O o 1^ s c a * CO C ^:5 ^ c^ ?W V*4 1^ HJ B^ a ' I ;i . ( 22 ) In the Inftance of France^ as well as in other Countries to which we deal, whereol I (hall endeavour to ftate the Trade, 'twill be proper I (hould give an account of th Value of our exported Cloth, viz* \ CLong Cloths u C .182: 10: I Total 24^10:09; F/>y?, From the foregoing Accounts, t Honourable Board will obferve , that fore the War the Dealings between two Kingdoms were very confiderable, what they were during the four Years Peace. Secondly, That in 1662 and 1668,' Balance between the Exports and Impc Hi! f,*H r ell as in whereof dc, 'twill nt of th( Aiticle. y fee ho xportatii 4 7 ;o : 09 ; :bunts, t ;, that etween iderable, ar Yearsr I i668,i md Imp(^ 1*1 (33) Fas very much on their fide ; that in tha mt laft Years of our Trade thither, we rer-ballancM them. TUrJfy, That the Bulk of Trade be- reen both Kingdoms, confided of but a jw Particulars. Fourthly^ That in the four Years Trade, Tuch as it was) England had what is ^mmonly called an Over*ballance of \ It has never been popular to lay down, ' at England was not a great Lofer by the ^encb Trade 5 but in Enquiries of this ind, Truth fliould be more hunted after an Popularity ; And I (hall endeavour to t this matter in as true a light as the na* re of it will admit of, and which lies obfcure for want of knowing right of tter of Faft; as to the Importations and xportations of Commodities between the fpeftive Kingdoms, fo far is beyond ontradiaion, that all the while England buriOied, and grew rich by an extendec) "raffick, (which was by Queen Elizabeth's eign, down to the Year 1640) Thar the wo Countries did not load one another fth Prohibitions of, or higl; Duties upon !«m4 :t r H ) each other's Produft or Manufaftures 5 which that Country would certainly have | done, that had found it felf any coniidera* blc Lofer by their mutual D-alin^s, which^ muft have been fcen and felt m fo long a Trad of Time : So that during this fpace, 'tis rather to be prcfumcd, both Kingdoms reciprocally found their Account by the Commerce that was between them, During the aifore- mentioned Period, the Strength and Power of France" was not become Formidable , and the prodigious Growth of the Houfe of Auflrta was what employ'd all our Fears ^ but as you know, about the Year 1660, the Face of Affairs in Europe changed ^ the Spanifb Monarchy was declined, and France became the rifing tmpire. ; -rv :;j;if ^ rr-s- And it rofe fo fafl, as to beget juft Ap- prchenfions to England for our future Safe- f^fis In the mean while, fever al good Pa- triots perceiving the Court then fatally running into French Intereft and Mea- furep, and finding it would be difficult to engage the People (newly come out of a Civil War) to follow and join with them in more National Councils, by Speculations merely Political, concerning the Progrefs \ rhq Vnnqh Arms and ' Power , tbey <5* M m ftiircs , ly have niidcra- , which fo long ng this I, both \ccount n them, od, the vas not )digious as what X know, Affairs onarchy le rifing .'r i:r re Safe- Dod Pa- fatally Mea- cult to ut of a h them ulations Progrefs tbey thought 4 :})} C as ) thought the beft courfc to awaken En* glijhmeny was to alarm them about the Danger they were in to lofe their Trade, and for this reafon, nothing was fo com- mon as to cry, That England was undone by the prodigious Over-ballance the French had upon us. To this purpofe, divers E- flimates were deliverM to King Charles II. to the Committees of Council, and to the Houfe of Commons ^ and fometimes the Court gave in to this matter, when great Sums of Money were to be asked in Par- liament to carry on a vigorous War a* gainft Yrance^ this Over-ballancc was made ufe of maliciouily, by fome who had a mind to difturb and defame the Govern- ■ ment. \r; tJ I Whatever Over-ballance France in par- ticular might have upon us, between the ■ Imports from thence and our Exports thi- ther, and admit this Over-ballance to have continued a long time, 'tis evident beyond all difpute, that England was every Year a Gainer in its univerfal Trade 5 whereof nothing can be a flrongcr Proof than the -. Mint- Accounts , Bullion being the true Superlucration in Foreign Traffick, and ' Plenty of Bullion occafioning a great Coi- nage. And from the time it has been fug^ - ': ■'-" • gefted (26 ) geftcd wc carried on fuch a lading and dcftruSive Trade with Trance^ viz, from i6S9 *^ the 2ift of December 1688, the Mint had full Eraployment, fince it ap- pears from the Mint-Rolls, that there was coined at this Period of Time, In Gold, In Silver, iy:A-; ^>274,858 ; 01 : 00 • 4,203,628:06 :o2 10,478,486 : 07 : 02 : If Enpjand has fufFer'd fuch a Drain as the Lois of a Million per Annum^ by its Dealings with one finglc Country, there could not have been fuch an immenfe Coi- nage in thofe Years 5 nor cculd the Bul- lion we received from Spam^ return'd as the Over-ballance we had in Trade with the Spaniards^ have anfwerM and made good fuch a conftant Iflue. Fiom whence follows, that this Ballancc againft us of a Million yearly, which has been aflerted in feveral Books, and m Memorials laid before the King and Council and both Houfes of Parliament, muft have been Chimerical, for Bye- Ends advanced by fome, and igno- rantly follow 'd by others. But in cafe of ^ General Peace (whenever it (hall happen) 'tis k 'H m ^L I' f|! and om 9 the >i|^ im ap- was ' '' ' i 1 d. '',* oo 1 03 ■^i ( 27 ) *tis cafy to be forcfeen this Difpute will alwajfs laft. They who may defire the Continuation of the War, or whofe Deal- ings to other Countries may lead them to obftruft all forts of Traffick with Trance^ will affirm fuch an Over-ballance 5 they who underftand^Trade in general, and who know there can be no found Peace between Countries, when there is not a fair Com- mercial Treaty, will deny it 5 from whence future Animofities and Breaches may pofr fibly arife. *Tis therefore humbly pro* pos'd , that this Honourable Board will dired their Precept to the Commiflioners of Her Majefty's Cuftoms, to lay before you the Book of Entries, as well for the Out-Ports as the Port of London^ from the Year 1668 to 1688 ; from which Books, in no long Traft of Time, and at no great Expence, an Extrad of all the Exports and Imports between both Kingdoms, may be made,, for as many of thofe Years as You in your Wifdom (hall judge neceflary. From any authentick Memorial I could ever fee, relating to the Lofs or Gain by this Traffick, it does not appear, that they who argued either way, went on Founda- tions to be relied on ^ Conjedures and Computations are commonly to be an- fwer'4 m i*f K: fwery by otfier Conjedures and Compu- tations, perhaps as plaufible ; but Demon- fl rations from Matter of Fadl, (fuch as the propos'd Extrads from the original Entries muft be) would put a final End to this Difpute, which for near thirty Years toge- ther did occrifion long and warm Debates in Parliament. < - .-a uo > A Reprefen ration to the late King iFrom the Lords Commiflioners for Trade and Plantations, bearing Date December 25, 1697, aflerts, that the French over-ballan- ced us in Commerce about a Million per Annumy and they mention a Computati--' on of one Year , where the Exportations from thence hither are faid to amount to' 1,136,150/. and our Exportations thither but 171,021/, Tis likewife there laid down, that there were imported from thence, ri'o :^r;: . /.ij^tT-^n '^ ' /. s. //. Silks to the value of ^- 500.000 : 00 : 00 Linnens to the value of — 500,700 : co ;oo Wine and Brandies to 7 the value of ]■ 217,000 .-ooroQ ■» ) i.-< r.f'r; - is' •' Total 1,017,700:00:00 ••■♦"irtr !' •*• 'TV But ll mi i*t.i,_ m 4 ^i , r ' * •But in the fwo Years' \i^1iereof I (lavi art Account, 'tl^6re are no fuch large Impor- tations 5 they' Ijkcwife fay, thsit Anno 1685, there was twenty thoiffand Ton of Wine, and fix thoufand Ton of Brandy imported ^ And. from Anno 1688 to Anno 168^^ up" watds of twentv thonfapd Ton of Wine, and about fix thdufand Ton of Brandy. As to the laft Year, the Profped: of an aj)proaching long War, might nake our Merchants very much enlarge their Inveft- ments from thence. As to the other In- ftances, it dbes not appear how the Fadfcs are grounded 5 but moft certain it is, ihat our Exportations to France never amounted t& near a Million : 'Tis likewife to be "doubted, that the Computations delivered to the late King in 1697 were not. right, and miftaken either in the Qtiantity or Va? lue of the Goods 5 and that ancient Errbi^ and former Prejudices wer6 rather followed than Truth confulted, which would ftill appear more manifeftJy, if the old Books of Entries were examin'd, • So far is eafy to trace, that the Accounts relating to the Imports from France hither, were not fairly ftated 5 but rather calcula- ted to pleafe thofe who did not like that Trade, V ( 30 > Trade, than to inveftigate the Truth; For I obferve in the Valuation of Wines and Brandies in that Account now laid before you, and mi^ht be extraded from Accounts laid before King Charles 11. and the Par- liament about the Year 1680, the Wines are valued at 36 /. per Ton, and the Bran- dies at 45 /. per Ton, according to which, in the Ballance between the Exports and Imports of both Kingdoms, the Amount of the Wine and Brandy came to. I. s. J. _ — 206,196:00:00 to 1669 \Brandy 19*985 :oo: 00 Annoi66'& fWine- i-t ti \ *',*'■■ _,: \ '. *ni /vi^j"*! J 11 \ Total 226,121:00:00 : i^'*' •i'i ':■.>) ! \'>m 'In which Account 'tis manifeft that thofe Liquors are valued as the Retailers fold them by the Quart m London^ and Inclu- ding the Prime Coft, Commiffion, Freight, Cuftoms, Merchants and Retailers Gain. Whereas in flaring the Ballance between two Countries, the Prime Coft only in the refpeAive Countries (hould be calculated. h.l 1Q j> ^:^^; Now ,-.'1 ■ "■n For and )efore ;ount$ Par- Vines Bran- 7hich, s and hnt of r. d. )o:oo )o:oo )o:oo t thofe rs fold Inclu- reight, [jain. etween in the lated. Now (31) Now Yis notorious that about that time the Prime Coft of Wine was about 8 /. per Ton , and of Brandy about 9 /. per Ton : In which Valuations I appeal to all the old experienc'd Merchants, who for- merly dealt to France. And according to this Valuation, in ftating the Ballance the Amount will be. /. Wine- Brandy s. d. 4S,8o8;oo:oo -2,977 : 00 : 00 Total 48,785 :oo;oo i Whereas the other \ ^26 Computation is Difference ,i2i :oo:oo 177,336:00:00 Mr. CuUiford has indeed valued Wines and Brandies higher for the 1698 Year to 1699 and fo downwards, but that might proceed from fcarcity of the Commodity it felf upon the Spot, which render'd the Prime Coft dearer, or other Accidents 5 whereas Peace, and a Number of Hands to cultivate the Vineyards, will probably bring Wines and Brandies to their old Price. u. v> i ,.■' There If it: There is the fame tvrong Valii^rori in the Inftatice of ordinary Paper, vrz. I s. \ 'A* d. iy\' oo vo "Vo Paper importedT 1 5 2 1 3 1 ReamSjWhich j is valued at 6 j. 8 d. r 50,710 : 00 ; 00 per Ream, and a-i mounts to j> -'-V5.r ..^. 7 ^Tv Whereas if PapeH ' were valued at the! Prime Coft, as it is I. . in my Books, the A- ^26,62 2 : 00 : CO mount of fuch a Qiiantity would be ^but '.f Difference- •24,088 : 00 : 00 ^v^ (which having been a large Importation, did alfo make a great Difference in the Ballance.) ■*\ In 1668 to 1669, I find likewife a high- er Value fet upon the Linnens than my Books bear 5 and indeed upon moft Com- modities oi French Growth or Manufafture, as *^ ! -^'.Ji ' J^ K. wvn I in \ J. oo <90- ,' las Vinegar, Rape, Salt, Rozin, Prunes, Tur- pentine, Annifeeds, e^c. exceeding Probabi- llity of Truth, whether out of Ignorance or lAffedation of Popularity, this Honourable [Board will be the bell Judges, if they are ileafed to call for the Reprcfentations con- rerning the French Trade, which from time to time have been laid before the Houfe of Commons. Whereas in the Value of our >wn Exports, comparing my Books with [he Computations of 1668. I find them >tetty near one another, allowing for the lifFerence of Time between 1668 and 711 1 therefore th^ French Trade having ^en fet in fo falfe a light, 'tis no wonder lat for 40 Years together we have had fuch fotions of anOver-ballance upon us, which light reafonalby provoke the Parliaii^ent lb often to defire a Prohibition of all Com- •inodities of Fr^wib Growth and Manufacture, iy the Proceedings between England and France from 1660 to 1668, it looks as if Iboth Countries were jealous that each fained upon the other in their Traffick, [nd fo endeavoured each to fecure it felf )y charging the other's Importations with ligh Duties, fome of them tantamount to Prohibitions , wherein the French feem to have been the Aggreffors 5 which their ife State would hardly have done, if they C had i 4' ' In !:;;!■ m\ i:'::( ?}:'.[ I- 'f had been fuch Gainers in the Ballance a is pretended, fince Retaliation wascertain«| ly to follow fome time or other. Before the Year 1660 they had laid a Duty of 50 Sols per Ton upon EngUfh Shipping, and the aforementioned Report takes notice, the Fr^wfiE? King, Anno 1654, 1660, 1664, and! i^'jt had encreafed the Duties on ourl Woollen Manufafture, our Lead, Tin, Coals, Tobacco, Sugar, Fifli, and other] Commodities, and reftrained the Importa- tion of our Woollen Goods to his Ports of | Calais and Diepe^ and other Commodities! to fome other inconvenient Ports 5 and in^j 1686 he laid high Impofitions on all our'i- BaJt'Indta Goods fent thither, and reftrain- ^ ed their Importation to feleft Ports. This we retaliated in 1 66 o,by our A(3: for encou-| raging and encreafing Shipping and Naviga-' tion, which fecures our Trade not onlyl from the Encroachment of Vrance^ but of j other Countries. There we lay 5 s. upon their Tonnage, till they take off the 50 Solz upon ours. In 1668 we laid a new Impofition upon their Wines and Brandies for two Years 3 In 1670 new Duties were laid upon their Wines and Vinegar for eight Years :i in 1667 an Ad pafled to prohibit ¥rencb Wine, Vinegar, Brandy, Linnen- Cioth, Silks, Salt, Paper, &c. for three Years 1 (35); irs 5 in 1678 an additional Duty was upon all Wines, moft of which Duties continued to 1688* re (hall not meddle with what has been }e in both Kingdoms fincc the year i688, [regard it is frc(h in your Memories, and 11 only take notice, that the Duties are fo as to hinder a free Trade fthofe upon Woollen Manufafture efpecially) being \France at leafl $0 per Cent, which is :fethan a total Prohibition. inglanjj without doubt, was wanting to )wn Intereft in the feven or eight firft rs of King Charles the Second's Reign, lot retaliating time enough with high ties laid upon their Goods, the high Im- jitions they had laid upon our Woollen lufaftures and other of our Produft : ^e had fo proceeded. Trade would have upon an equal foot between us 5 and the beft view I have been able to ^e in a matter fo intricate and at fuch iftancc of Time, I am rather enclin*d [think the Over-bal lance would have in on our fide. But from whence this jine Negligence took its rife, I (hall leave rourown Confiderations. C 2 Yqu 1 , ( 36 ) You fee that in the Year 1699, *hcre 1^ an appearance of an Over-bal lance on m French fide, and ^heir Imports hither ex] ceedcd oar exports thither 432,884/. buj whether this was ;ill Lofs to England^ anij a Gain to France^ is a great Qyeftion. By a Medium of three Years, from 169 to 1702 inclufivc, the Exports of Englanl to Holland exceed the Imports from there] hither 1,372,0 ''5/. per Annum '^ and yetij cannot from thence be argued, that Fn\ land got and Holland loft all this Money! for if fo, at this inftant, (the like Excefj in Traffick going on every Year to m time ; they would be exceeding poor bj their Trade with us, and we (hould grown very rich, which few take to the Cafe. But admit that heretofore wj loft by our Trade mihY ranee as, much the moft extravagant Computations amoui to, we (hall have a fair Opportunity whei ever a Peace comes, to fet this matter riglitj and to prevent fuch .. Mifchief for the fuj ture, in regard the Channel of Trade thro'l out Europe^ has this laft twenty Years rej ceived fuch confiderable Alterations. This long War has brought feveral of thJ Commodities that chiefly fwell the FrenA m- (37) importations hither intodifufc, or we are fal* pn into a traft of taking Gdod^ fcrving to the Tame purpofc from other Countries, or wc pur felves have attained td a good Manu- [adurc of thofe Goods 5 of all which I lall give fome particular Itiltainces. FirHy As to Linnens, which heretofore las been reckoned fo large an Importation, ind fuch a Weight againft Us in the Gene- ral Baliance , as to our Traffick with 'rance^ it*s evident, that in this Commo- lity Trade has taken another Channel, i^*«. From France into Germany^ I For the Linnen imported froml ^rance^Anno i688, to 1699, a->i83,89$ Imounted to ■ ) And The Linnens Imported from-> \Germany^ Anno 1668, to i669,>i2l,683 'amouiited to - ' j Which Importations of Ger-' \many^ Linnens from Chrijimasi 1699, to Chrijlmas, 1703, at a/ 51^737 Medium of Three Years amounted'*^ tp per Ann. ■ ' — i C3 From ;; I H I I U: C38) From fcvcral Obfervations I have hereto, fore made, it appears to me that the Qer. mans have for U)me time changed their E'a- brickof Linnen, but efpccially fince the Year i688, the War then begun with Fratice, having put them upon making a Commodity that might ftand in the room of French Lin- nens, which they have fo much Outod, that whenever a Peace comes, the French will hardly be able to retrieve it, but this will be more fully handled when the State of the Qerman Trade fhall be laid before You : Be- fides, we are come to a good Manufafture of thatCommodity in Ireland-^ for by a Medium of Seven Years, there was imported from Chrtflmas 1699. to Chr'iftmas 1705. Three Hundred Ninety One Thoufand, One Hun- dred and Forty Four Ells per 4nnum^ and the Manufadure goes on finc^ thai time, in- creafing, fo thrit there feems no great Hea- fon to apprehend, that French Linnens will be hurtful to us in the BaHance. ^ Secondly^ As to ordinary Paper, the Im- port thereof was indeed large, in the Year 1699, 3S has been ihown before^, viz. To thfe Value of 50,710/. But at Home we are very much improved in that Manufa- cture, and tho' we are not come u)j) to tl^^ french Perfedion, (and never can without ^ ( 39 ) - a Linncn^Manufaaure of our own) yet what wc make, and bring from other Parts fcrves our Ufcs. Infomuch that during the Four Tears interval of Peace, the whole Importations of French ordinary Paper a- mounted to but /. s. d^ 7584:9:9 Thirdly^ As to Kid-Skins, another confi- derabie Importations in the aforefaid Year, 1699, cither we make ufe of forpe Leather of our own for Womens Gloves, and other Purpofes in the room of French Kid-Skins, or we bring them from other Parts, as HoU land^ Germany^ Ireland^ EaB-Country^ Italy ^ Spain^ Scotland^ the Northern Countries, d^r. thofe imported from Holland were probably of French Produd, bought there and Im* pprted here by the Dutchf Fourthly^ The Silk Manufafture is of late very much improved in England^ fo that in cafe of a Peace, fuch Quantities of Vrench wrought Silks as heretofore, will not proba* bly imported^ /• s. d. In the 71662 jtaported to (30,789 :o : o the Value^ of - * ■ Ci4j4i8:0'Q Year^ 01662)! ?166§S Q 4 Whe35r Tuns, 3U A^68to 1669.3 S 3 And from the Years 1699, to 1702. I find by a Medium of the faid Three Years from Holland and Germany^ Rhenifli Wine ' Imported per Annum, 736I; Tuns. From whence it appears, that the Prohi- bition of French Wines has not encreafed the Confumption of Rhenifli Wine, as to the beft o^ my Remembrance, was expefted at that tir' In the 1 rifs 1662, and 1668, feveral Commodities were carryM from hence to France, from the Out-Ports only, as in parti- cqlay Fifli, i^fe. Cod, Herrings Red, Herrings white, *' 'I'l (44) white, ana Pilchards, thefe with feveral other Goods from the Out-Ports, fif an Account of them could be procured) might perhaps brin^ the Bal lance to be much lefs againft England then has been commonly fuggefted ^ during the three firft Years In- terval of Peace, Filh Exported to France in Proportion to the other Traffick : We had then with that Kingdom, was no Contemp- tible Article, the Value whereof fol- lows : /. s. Wi^^l To S' gii7oo;> ii 1699 5,062: 6 2,279: 7 d. 9 4 *-j\' From what has been already openM to this Honourable Board, it fuflSciently appears, what Difficulty there will be to compute any Sort of Ballance between England and France^ unlefs we had the Entries of the refpedive Goods between the intermediate Years, from 1669, to 1689. But fo far may betaken for granted. That all along, the French Im- portations increafed upon Us, and our Ex- portations thither diminifhed, by rcafon of the ■'^ M-/ (•45) the high Duties laid upon them in France^ which we did not take early care, as Ihave obferved before, to retaliate with the like Impofitions upon their Produd and Manu- fadures, in order to put the Trade in upon a more equal Foot between both Kingdoms, but to what Degree during thofc Nineteen Years they had an over-balance upon us does not appear 5 and if, in the Computations from Time to Time laid before the Publick, the EngliJJj Goods Exported were valued at the Prime Coft here, and the Fr^wiE^ Goods Imported, were valued as tlijey were Sold in London^ withCuftoms, Freight, cJ^^, upon 'em f which from what I have feen, and by the beft Information I can get, appears to have been the CafeJ there would be no con- fiderable Difference in the Value, between the Merchandize we carried thither, and what we brought from thence. But here will arife a Queftion, how far theExccfs between the Exports and Imports, may be deemed a certain Rule, whereby to judge, whether a Country gets or luofes by its Trade, for if it were in the Year 1662, and 1668, England did not only loofe by its Trade with France^ but was over-balan- ced in its Univerfal Dealings with all the reft of the Commercial World, as the fol- lowing Abftraft from my old Account, plainly (hews, ^nna w .; \ m PI C46.) /. r. ^. S >2' Yn^po^^s 4,016,019 : 18 ; o Jo /Exports 2,022,812: 4:0 CO . r, • *N NO I o ^Exports 2,065,274 : 19 : o >*j L The Imports ex- \ « o/c .,0.^ Here you may please to obferve, what an Appearance there is of an Excefs againft Us all the World over thofe Two Years, in which no Man in his right Senfes will deny, but that we carried on a thriving Traffick, On the other hand, this Honourable Board will fee^ upon perufing the annexM Ac- count, Viz, An Abftrad of the Comparifon of Five diftind Years of Exports and Im- ports from England to all Foreign Countries, or of what we Re-exported from our Plan- tations, and of our EasiJnciia Goods. And I believe it has been the fa»ne, from i688,to the Time the Books of my Office began, and con- l» ( 47 ) continues to the prefent Year, that our Ex- Ents exceeded the Imports to a very high egree, however it can hardly be affirm'd, and the Merchants upon the Exchange wHl fcarce agree, fthat during this time J E/ig- /^fi^ has carried on a Profitable Trade, at lead there appears no Over>ballance return- ed to us in Bullion, to fetthe Mint at Work, contrary wife our Species of Gold and Sil- ver fince that time, is by Degrees vifibly diminiflied, "hichisone certain Sign, that a Nation ca. les on a loofing Commerce 5 but the untying this Knot, and folvingthis Riddle, upon which the forming a right Judgment concerning the Prefent Pofture of pur Trade, fo much depends, will more pro- perly be done, when I come to treat upon the Head of the Ballance between Us, and Germany and Holland 5 to which Parts,, our Exportations fecm fo very large. Gentle* C48) I Gentlemen! EING direfted by your Precept to give the Exports and Imports between England and other Coun- tries, with my Obfervations hov*r the Ballancc of Trade flood 5 and having flated feveral Matters of Faft on the head of our Trade with France^ I (hall hutiibly proceed to offer what hasoccurr'd to rtic upon this Subjeft. Tirft, That 'tis utterly impoflible exaflly to date the Ballance between our G)Uti- try and another, all Trafficks having a mutual Dependance one upon the other' 5 and if a Nation gains by the general Bulk of its wholeTrade,which may be feen in a great variety of Inftances, that Nation is no more to regard how the Exports and Imports ftand between them and other Countries, than hereby to watch what Imports their Neigh*^ hours lay upon what is imported to them, and proportionably to lay frefli Impofitions upon what they receive from that Country, more efpecially if they are ufed with noto- rious Hardship by their Neighbours. Secondljy ^49) . ; That tho' fometimes there may feem to have been a great Over-ballance be- tween us and France^ yet it can by no means be affirmed that this was all Lofs to EngUnd ^ fince from this Over-bal- lance muft be dedufted what we fhould have brought from other Countries for our neceflary Confumption, as Wine, Linnen, Silks, and divers other Goods, fome where- of might come to us from France^ at eafier Rates than perhaps we could have had them from other Farts: And unlefs Rea- fons of State intervene, the Body of a Tra- ding Nation colleftively confidered, is to look out where foreign Goods are to be had at the low A Prime Coftj which is not only National Gain, but profitable to the Merchant. Thirdly^ That in laying fuch Duties and! Prohibitions, 'tis to be well weighed, whether your own People will really bar themfelves feveral luxurious Confumptions ; for if not, you will deal to great Difad- vantage ^ as for inftance, if you prohibit French Wines and yet will have them, it muft come from a third Hand 5 to that third Hand you are forcM to fell your na- tive ProduQ: at a cheap Rate, and to pay them dear for what they import from fo- ' D reign '„ ;i!' ii., .».' C 50 ) feign Parts ^ fo that both ways the thir^ Hand gains, and you lofe, and they are highly paid for the Carriage. Fourthly^ That high Duties and Impofi- fitions not only break fome of the Links in the Chain of Trade, but they generally end in a War between thofe Nations where they are made ufe of frequently, and with great Marks of Anger. Fifthlj^ That the beft Courfe of putting a Stop to lofing Trades, are Sumptuary Laws , and good Examples from the Court, which may effeftually difcourage foreign Fafliions, and the ufe of foreign Ap- parel. This does the Work without gi- ving Offence to your Neighbours by Pro- hibitions, which beget fuch Animofities between Countries, (oneftill outvying the other) when Injuries of this kind are be- gun, that at laft a third People, as Mr. Mun remarks in his Book of Trade, runs away with thofe Trafficks, by which both were formerly Gainers. That, generally fpeaking, there is nothing more needful, to know whether a Nation gets or lofes by their Commerce, than to contemplate whether their Luxuries encreafe, or diminilh, or are at a ftand : But when Falhior^s are rr , minded C 51 ) . ' minded in Courts, and Toys bear Staple Rate, then does a Country lofe, not get, by the Ballance of Trade. Sixthly^ That a Country whofe Wealth and Strength very nnuch depends upon Dealings extended to all the known World, Ihould if poffible avoid lofing its Traffick with any confiderable Country. England may be looked upon as a general Merchant, who fhould be ftored with Commodities to invite and pleafe all forts of Dealers, and we ftjould have a variety of Goods to fort our Cargoes, which cannot be had, while there is fuch a Gap as a total Inter- miflion of Commerce, with a Country a- bounding in fo many Produds natural and artificial, as France has always been. And if we did not confume among our felves all the EfFefls heretofore brought from thence, but fent part of them abroad, to carry on our Trade with other Nations, we might not be lofers in the Ballance, tho* the Imports from thence might ex- ceed the Exports thither. That fuch an Excefs between the Exports and Imports, as has been on our fide for feveral Years in our Trade with Holland^ is not always pro- fitable to a Country, and only fhews that a fingle Nation draws from us thofe Com- D 2 modities, » i-? 4; Hi ( 52 ; modltlcs, M^hicb we ufed to export to fe- vcral Countries with more Advantage ; and it muft undoubtedly be better for Eng* l/fb Merchants to do their own Bufinefs, than to have it done by others. Seventhly^ That if all Trades were not fo linked together in their Nation as they are, we might fafely prohibit or put a Clog upon th« Traffick of that Country, where we think our felves the Lofers 5 but 'tis to be doubted whether this can be done without difturbing other parts of our general Commerce. And I have heard Men of great Judgment and Experience in thefe matters, affirm, that without our Dealings with France, the French could not have dealt with Spii/9 and If^iy^ and with- out the Commerce that was between France^ Sfai»^ and luiy, our Traffick with the SfAn'tArds and Italians had not been fo large and profitable, as it was in thofe Days. ■ •■• ' ,-,; •;'-' ■ * - Eighthly, That our Trade would be but upon a narrow Bottom, if we confin'd our felves to the meer Barter of our own Pro- duct, for fuch Produft of other Countries as our own Confumption requires. But our foreign DeaUngs have been, and 'tis ■!■; 'tis to be ' ')ed, hereafter will be upon i better Foot ; and vye are conftantly to aini at a Superiucratlon of Wealth in times of Peace, that may fupport Us in times of War : We are farther to confider, that befides the Goods of our Native Growth, We have a vail Produ£t from our Planta- tions, and a great Variety of Commodi- ties from the Ea/i' Indies^ to be Re-exported to other Countries, which exhaufting our Bullion, will be detrimental to Us, uniefs fold Abroad ; for which Reafon, we arp to court as many Foreign Markets as pof- fibly we can, to put no Bar to the Trade with any Country, and to be well fatls- fy'd, if upon the whole, our own Produft and Re-exported Gopds find ^ fufficienc Vent, Qi 1/ y •■ .1 .Jinthly^ That generally fpeaking, the Trades of thofe Countries are more Gain- ful, to which we carry more Commodi- ties of ours, than we Import of theirs from thence, but this Rule does not always hold ; As for Example, In the hdian Trade, the Excefs is of their Side, and yet 'tis general- ly agreed, we are Gainers by that Traffick, and the Over-plus is return'd to us in Bul- lion, or Bills of Exchange ; in the Spam[b Trade, the Excefs between the Exports and • D J Im ' 1 (54) Imports was fometimes on theirSjand fome* times on our Side 5 and yet upon the whole, we were ever Gainers ; and 'tis from thence our vaft Quantities of Bullion were formerly derived. In the Portugal Trade, the Excefs between the Imports and Exports was always of our Side, but more efpecially fince we have had no Deal- ings with Spain^ infomuch that we almoft drain'd them of their Silver Coin, and begin to break into their Modyda*s of Gold 5 and when I come to lay before you the Spamjbj Italian^ and Portugal Trades, you will fee, that fince the Breach with Sfain^ our Por^ tugal Trade alone very much exceeded the Dealings we had before the laft War, with Italy ^ Spain^ and Portugal jSihogQthGr \Bnd the Over-Ballance was returned to Us, in Bullion or Bills of Exchange, upon lia/jf and other Places, nor are we always Gain- ers in the Ballance, where the Excefs be- tween the Exports and Imports isconftant- ly on our Side, with a very large Over- plus, as in the Inftance of Holland^ which will be farther explain'd, when you have aa Account of that Trade. '11 I, I hi' ■.i - * i- 1- 1.. : i:! "/' < T ■• \ .t' V • rwi f ,,,,.. The .^9 (55) The Premif?s confidered, 'tis humbly fubmitted to the Judgment of this Honou- rable Board, how far England^ from 1660 to 1688, might be Loofers by the Trade with France 5 Great Britain at that time, had no Marks upon it, of a Nation decli- ning in Wealth and Commerce ; the In- tereft of Money was low, the Species of Gold and Silver abounded, the middle Rank of Men had a large Proportion of Plate among 'em ; after a General Confla- gration, the City was rebuilt in a few Years, Magnificent Publick Edifices were erefted, the Farm-Houfes every where were in good Repair 5 the Tonnage of Mercantile Shipping, infinitely exceeded whai we have at prefeat,the Cuftoms with the Low Duties then lying upon the Mer- cfiant, produced in one Year as appears by the annexed Account, from Mtch4e(m4f 167^, XojAicbaelmas 1677, ' ? -> v/ :H-v-v., ■•)->? v,[ ., v^.>^.^ ^ ft s, d. 828,200 : 17: 4 All which I humbly conceive to have been the EfFefls of a Profperous and Ex* tended Trade, from whence we had accu- D 4 mulated r 56 ) mulated fuch a Mafs of Riches, as has ena- bled Us to carry on this long and expen- five War, with no Signs vifible to the reft of Europe^ of our being yet reduced in Strength and Power, •;l I fhall not fo far oppofe old and received Opinions, however {lightly grounded, as not to grant, That from the Time the French\2i\A fuch high Duties on our Woollen Manufaftures, as in the Years 1660,1664, and 1667, reftraining their Importation to Two Ports : And hom Anno 1686, when they began to lay high Impofitions upon, and. other ways to cramp our EaH-India Exports thither ; We might begin to fuffer in our Dealings with Prance^ tho' for di- vers Reafons founded in Matters of FaS ; I muft totally differ in the Quantum with the^ Computers of thofe Days, fome of which, and among the Principal Leaders, (as I have been well informed) wbilft they were exclaiming againft this Over-Ballance ia 1677, took care to lay in vaft Stocks of French Brandy^ by which they made no fmall Advantage to tLemfelves, whatever England was to get by the intended Prohi- ♦ u - - ■ *. I lijyiy^ tm IrMkh-] r 'j. It isena* sxpen- he reft :ed in jceiv'd ed, as [le the oollen 1664, tion to when upon, ■'I fid fa fuffer or di- Faft; with ne of adersy they lance ks of e no tever ^rohi- ■•■I It (57 ) Ithas^always been the Opinion erf thofe, who are well versM in the Nature of Trade, that a wife State fhould never enter into Prohibitions, but upon the utmoft Ne- ceflity, and upon the matureft Deliberati- on ; for the moft Sagacious Man cannot in the Beginning forejudge, all the ill Effefts fuch a way of proceeding may afterwards produce, how far it may break or interrupt Dealings with .other Countries, or what Branches of Profit it may utterly loofe and drive quite into another Channel, where in times to come, fuch Branches may al- ways lettkirr r|: J ^ The Freffch began to make this Breach in good Neighbourhood, and dealt with Us, as if they thought the Genius of Frafice bad got a perfed Maftery over the Genius of England^ otherwife they would not have fo impofed upon Us in Matters of this Na- ture, where though our Court would ot lee, the People muft needs feel, and where the Legiflature was certain to be allarm'd, and at laft to interpofe. i'iiiii, ' J* »-. - I -y t ■ i , . nt ^iQ-r ry^ . ' ^i& .:. ^ i'^n • ,:• 'ii;. As i I. s C58) As tke Duties now (land upon the repe- ftive Produft and ManufaSure of both Kingdoms, there can be no free Trade between 'em, without which there can be no found and compleat Peace, fo that when ever the War determines, their mu- tual Intereft will incline 'em to liften to Terms of a fair commercial Treaty, fuch as ought to be between Countries, who have no Intentions to enter into a new War. n !j ii l Y This Confideratioa has led me in Obe- dience to your Precept, to open to you (as far as all the Light I am able to procure will guide me) how the Trade flood be- tween Us and France heretofore, from whence your own Wifdom willcolle£k how it is like to ftand hereafter ^ I have fliewn, that as to their chief Natural Produft, Wine, we are falln to deal with Spdin^ Pertttgdl^ and Italy, :or that Commodity which ferves the Middle Rank of Men, (who muit always be reckoned the great Confumptioners) as well as French Wine 5 and as toBrandies that our ownHome-made Spirits are come into their Place. It has likewife been obferved to you in their Ma- nufafture. That as to Linnen, we have it from froi fick) aft in whj bet] an( thel tati be (59) from IreUni and Germany^ where the Traf- (ick for that Commodit)^ feems to be in a fettled Channel. Ldflly^ That we our felves are iznorov'd in the making of Silk and Paper, fo that whenever a Peace comes, though the Trade between both Kingdoms fhouTd be as free and open as ever it was, there will not be the fame want of, or call lov^Vrench Impor- tations as formerly ; all which mud needs be as well known to the Councils of ¥raftce as upon the Exchange oi London^ for which Reafons, he may juftly infift on fuch a Treaty of Commerce, as may put Us for at leaft an Age, out of all Fears to be Over- ballanc'd. Asthe War hasaltei'd the Channel of Trade in moft Countries, fo the fuperiori- ty the Queen's Arms have had in this iharp Difpute, has placed Her Majefiy in a higher and more Glorious Condition of treating with other Countriies, than Her Predecef- fors have lately been ; and as Her Power governs the Peace, fo it will be able to diftate the Articles and Terms on which it is to be founded, efpecially when She is to treat with a Country that at leaft ftands full as much in need of our Goods, as ';■ * :l (60) as we do of theirs ; our Importations from thence^ have chiefly been of Matters fer- ving to Luxury, and which may be had from other Places, whereas our Exports thither have generally beenof ufeful Com- modities, and not to be had at fuch eafy ' Rates from any other Country, as Lead Tin, and the Woollen Manufaftures, fo that if both Kingdoms can agree upon juft and equal Duties to belaid on their refpe^ Sive Corpmodities ; a Free Trade with "Frame can never be Dangerous to England^ and as to an Over-Ballanc^, that Nation will have it, who has the moft convenient Ports, whole People are moft induftrious and beft skilPd in the Affairs of Traffick, and who moft abound in Natural or Arti- ficial Prod u6ts,necefrary to the common Ufes or Ornament of Life. ,; ,, ,, ,,,, ^,v It niay be laid down as a Fundamental, That there can never be an open Trade be- tween Us and Vraace^ unlefs the Duties are ! leflen'd on both Sides ; But the Additional .Impofitions here being appropriated as . Funds for feveral Loans, how far Abate- ments in thofe High Duties can be made .with due Regard to preferving Credit, muft be determinM by the Wifdom of Par- liaments ; but fo far n^ay be fafely ad- ;. vang'd, ( 6i ) vanc*cl, that in times of Peace, the more the Merchant Is eas'd, the larger our Im- eortations will be, the Cuftoms will rife etter, and the Lenders upon the Fund will have a more ample Securiry ; which will be obvious to thofe who confider,what a fmall Sum the high Impofitions upon Trade have producM to the Publick, and that this Revenue, which in proportion to the Taxes laid upon it from time to time, JhouM have raisM four Millions fer Annum^ produced, by a Medium of three Years, vtz,. : U ^it: From Chriftmas 1708 to Chnjl-l ' was 1710 inclufive nett in-> 1,615,055 to the Exchequer S ,..■'.*'■ I ■"'..''■ /f Whereas the Tonnage andV Poundage, including fome' Farms, the new Impofitions upon Wine, Vinegar, the Duty onTobacco and Sugar, ^, r^.e; a>^^ the Duty on Frepich Linnen, Brandy, and Silk, produc'd for the Year ending the 2^th of September 1688, nett into the Exchequer — - — Difference - 599,561 So '^'\X I 1 I ■ > (62) So that thefe variety of additional Cu- ftoms, which have brought fuch a mifera- ble Load upon Trade, come aftually no more in aid to the Fublick, and towards the difcharge of Loans, than the laft-men- tioned Sum ; and this low Produce from fuch high Duties, is a Sign but too vifible, how much our foreign Traffick is dimi- nifhed. 'Tis true, we have been fupport- ed all along by the large Exports we have made of our native Produft, and our Plan- tation and Eafi-Mia Goods : But what will there be for our Produft and Manu- faftures in times of Peace, when other Countries can cultivate their own Lands, and fet their own People to work, is a great Qiieftion. Therefore to repair the Breaches this long War has made upon the Kingdom, our Bufinefs muft be to en- large and encourage foreign Trade, and to get Wealth by the fame Method our Anceftors attain'd to it^ which was to deal with all Countries that would fell us their Goods 9 and take off our Commodities ^ which has been the Courfe whereby our Neighbours the Dtdtch are come to make fuch a Figure in the Commercial World, who will be always ready to take up any part of Foreign TrafEck, we arefo impru- dent to abandon. The (6j) No Imagination can be vainer, than to think that Trade is to be rul'd and cir- cumfcribM by Art ; it muft be fufFer'd to take its own natural Courfe, and not be interrupted by Prohibitions, or high Duties equal to Prohibitions, unlefs upon Provocation from other Countries. They who think to promote the Confum- ption of their own native Produft, by an univerfalDifcouragement of foreign Goods, will find themfelves in procefs of time to have little or no Trade, and that their own Commodities {hall remain a Drug upon their Hands. A large Exportation of our own Produft, fuch as we have had for thefe laft 2J Years, is certainly very good for Efiglafid; and if we had not had it, we could not have paid our Troops abroad without drawing away all the Species of Gold and Silver. But the neceflity of the the Call for our Goods may ceafe or leffen, and in fuch a cafe, the Nati^js who re- ceive our Commodies will expeS wc Ihould take off a due Proportion of theirs, which exceffive Duties render impraftica- ble. If we expefl: to have large Dealings in the World, we muft treat others no worfe than they treat us. We muft buy as well as fell, and not flatter our felves with the ., hopes i: hopes of fubfifting merely by the Expor- tations of our own Growth and Manu- fafture. If the Duties upon the refpeftlve Com- modities of both Kingdoms cou'd be laid with fuch a due Proportion, as neither may have any apparent Advantage over the other, which is the moft either fide can in Juftice and Rcafon expeft, the Number, Safety, and commodious Situa- tion of the Ports in Her Majeftys Domi- nions, together with the Goodnefs and Utility of our native Produft, will at all times render us fuperior in an open Trade with FraKce, Tis obvious enough what muft be the true Intereft of both Countries ; 'England will defire, that our Woollen Manufactures and Ea/i'Mia Goods, may not be reftrain- ed by old or new Edifts to inconvenient Ports , and that a reafonable part of the high Duties laid on thofe Goods may be taken oiF: France will like wife propofe to be eas'd in the high Impofitions laid upon their Wines and Brandies, Linnens and Paper ; and both fides, if they intend to have an Intercourfe of Trade, will wilh to fee the Tariffe reduc'd to the Terms of that time , when both Kingdoms traded together to m i6 no together upon a more equal foot, which might be about the Years 1664 and 16^7. Whatever Matters of luxurious Vanity we heretofore brought from thence, or ihould we plunge our felves into all the ex- ceflive Follies of our Fathers, this will be fufficiently over-ballanced, if we can have a free Vent for our Edfi-Mia Goods in Frdftce • for i have heard experienced Mer- chants affirm,that (ix of 'em for feveral Years exported thither to the value of 300,000 L per Ann. in Eafi^IndU Commodities ; and all Europe over Muflin is ccme into the room of Lace, likewife no large Bulk of our fine Draperies, when a free ufe of 'em is allow'd in France^ will pay the prime Cod of fuch Wines and Brandies as we may want irom thence. •if When Trade (hall be put upon this E- quality of Duties, 'twill foon be vifible where the Over-ballance of Profit lies. It may be well remembred what vaft Qfiakiti- ty of Gold cam« over hither from France, during the four Years Interval of Peace : Experienced Merchants will alfo tell you, that notwithftanding the fevere Edifis a- gainft it, large Sums of Gold were brought E from ■I - ,1 (66) from thence to BngUni in Sf9eie^ in tbe times of King ChurUs and King Jdmts the Second, which might be one of the occa- fions that fix Miihons two hundred thou- fand Pounds in Guineas, were coinM thofe two Reigns : whereas if we had been fuch Lofers in the Ballance, our Species of Gold, and Silver muft have been fent thither, whereof nothing appears. pt 'Tis further to be confiderM, that the woollen Manufa3ure is not fo infepara- bljr annexed to the Englifb Soil, but o« ther Countries may attempt it, perad* venture withSuccefs : Looms have been elfewhere fet up, whatever Interruptions, they may have met with from a long War, that has entertained fo many Hands; But when thofe Hands are dif- arm'd, they muft be employM in the Works and Arts of Peace. Therefore to promote in foreign Markets the Vent of this Commodity, upon which the People of 'England fo much depend, we may fafe- ly recede from fome Points of Advantage in Trade of Importance to us. If our Circumftances can permit us to meet fuch of our Neighbours as are wil- ling to concur in Meafures to eafe one an- - other, '■;.).* i» ■I. A other, in the high Duies that are fo great a Weight upon our mutual Dealings, thi$ dangerous RivalQiip may perhaps ceafe, and they may no longer think it their In- tereft to fet up a Manufadure not fo natu- ral to them as to us, and wherein, lee o- thers do their utmoft, we Ihall always ex- cel the reft of Eur Of e. t "•* To preferve for future Ages the Bal- lance of Trade on our fide, where ic i$ ((ener^lly fix*d, ever (ince we hegari tp ook abroad, no better Expedients occur to my Obfervation, than, F/r/?, Never to ercfl: the chief of our Strength, nor to employ the Bulk of our Expences hereafter, in Land-Armies to be paid abroad ; for tho' conihnt SuccefTes fliould attend us^ and tho' all the while our naiivc Produ£l (hould find a fu£Bcien( Vent in foreign Markets (which has been our Cafe more efpecially for thefe nine Years iaft pad) yet the maintaining and paying our Troops in fuch a War, muft mterrupt all the Profits to he expeSed from Trade, and give the Refuk of our Ha- zards and Induftry , to that Country in or near whofe Dominions the War is ma- E 2 nag'dy (68) , fiag^d, and leave US at the foot of the Ac- count Lofers, in what is caird the Ballahce. < Secoftdlj^ To avoid Prohibitions, where NecefTicy does not compel us to retaliate for the like Ofage. Thirdly, Moderate Duties, fuch as may not difcourage other Countries from deal- ing with us, aqd encourage our own Peo* pie to place their EffeSs in Trade, where their Wealth beft operates to the Publick Good. .- " . '^ ''^' '''''':::' '" : tir:v Fourthly^To enlarge our foreign Bufineft as much as poffible, whereiinto we are the better enabled by the immenfe, Sums now rifing in Bills, Stocks, and Tallies, which by the Eafinefs of their Transf&r, will ve* ry probably be found in Praftice to ferve all the Ufcs of Trade, as well as the Spe- cies of Money ; efpecially when a/firm Peace (hall have placed thofe Credits upon a furer Foundation than they ftand at prefent> Importation of Bullion, as has been re- mark'd before, is one of the piincipal Signs that a Country drives a gaintul TraiBck : On the contrary, whether it be for Drisi Ac [ice. here liate may leal- Pep^ rherc blick V ifinefs re the 5 now A^hich ill ve- ferve Spe- firm upon lid at en re- in ci pa I laihlul it be for ( 69 ) for the Ufes of Trade , or for the Pay- ments of Troops, if we annually export more Bullion, than from any View can be thought to come to us from abroad, we muft be Lofers in the general Ballance ; and in this cafe, Neceffity by degrees muft have carried off our Coin, either in Spe* cie or melted down. .,. ; - Till the Year 1695, there was no* Ac- count kept , ('at leaft that ever I could meet with) of the foreign Gold and Bul- lion exported, fince which time, viz. May i/, 1693*, and in fourteen Years eight Months, (as may be feen in the annexed Paper) there was exported of foreign Gold Coin and Bullion, and foreign Silver Coin and BulUion, to the value of, . ^ - vk^4'iK ^^"2^ 6,542,904:15:02!. Add to this, the Coin in Gold and Sil- ver carried away by the Officers and o- thers for their Hxpences, from the Begin- ning of the War downwards, amount, ing in the whole to a, very confiderable Sum ; befides, mod of the Shipping was before the Regifter, and whatever the J Millions of hammer'd Money in Tale E J wanted 4i 11 waiited of Weight, was dipt away, melt- ed down, and Exported : And allowing thefe Nine Millions, to have been dimi- nifliM but a third in Weight by the Clip, pers, (a moderate Computation) We.muft have loft this way Three Millions ^ fo that from 1688 to this Time, our Ex« portation of Bullion mufl: have been eve- ry Year in a large Proportion,, greater than our Importation thereof cou'd poffibly be, efpecially when We rcfleft what a long In* terruprion there has been in the Com- merce with Spdin^ from whence moft of our Silver was derived. iJ'jT ,Ji w i:& *' Some that may have an Intereft to de- fire the continuation of the War, (I mean the Principal Dealers in Stocks and Tal- lies) who have been the only real Gain- ers by it, will pretend that it has not in the leaft Degree damaged EngUtid : But the Landed Men will find aod feel here- after, more than perhaps at prefent , the Falfhood of this Affernon 5 they ground their Opinion upon the Large Exportaii- ons of our Produfl, Goods and Manufa* 3ures,which we have had for many Years ^ this Vent Abroad has indeed bceii our Support; and without it we muft have been impoverifh'd beyond retrieve : But hy^ui ' our u\ '(70 our Income from thence has not fo an- fwered our Expence, as to leave Us in near that Condition of Wealth, wherein We flourilhed before the Wat 5 which Point (hall be more fully handled, when I come to fpeak of the Trade between EngUnd and HoUni. X " Some of thefe Matters (hould be paisM over in Silence by me, if they cou'd be judg'd Secrets of Empire and not to be touch'd upon : But the Nature of our Funds is fucb, as expoles the Pofture of cur Af** fairs to ay, who will give themfelves the leaft trouble of looking into our Debts at Home, and Expences Abroad : Befides, I conceive my felf bound by the Oath I am to take at the Difcovery of this Report, CO conceal no Obfervation cha|: may have occurred to me, relating to the Ballance of Trade, which your Precept requires me to lay before You. '*,i 'm'^ v; ii.?iW In fuch an extended Traffick as we for^ merlycarry'd on, 'Tis difficult to deter- mine where we lofl*, ^all Trades being fo interwoven with one another J though it may be eafie to point out, where we chiefly gain'd; but it may befafely pronounced, ^ E 4 . . that •(70 that a Country, whofe Dealings are Uni- verfal, will have Profit from the whole, which Profit will be vifible in the locreafe of Coin and Bullion. We owe the Original of our Riches and Naval Power, to the generous and enter- prizing Spirit of our Fore-fathers, who compafs'd all the Globe lo make Difcove- ries, and obtain Settlements in the New World, which the SpAniJb Monarchy hop'd wholly to epgrofs ; We were not then dift couraged by Shipwrecks, Difappointinents and lofs of Cargoes ; when an Enterprize fail'd, others were ready to undertake it, and this Great and National Stock was generally carry'd on at the Expences, and by the Publick Zeal of private Men, till we came tq have ^ confiderable Share with the Spaniards in Jmerica, where doubtlefs We had enlarged our Dominions after the Death of King James the Firft, but for the Troubles, with which the Beginning of King Charles the Firft^s Reign was at- tended, and but for the Civil Wars that not long after fucoeeded, and which fo many Years employed our Thoughts and ff %*:-if'^ i i »{* '■ih-U -|i-:3 f 3ut JfJ.': It: 3^ •4.- t> J >/ { K i/VJ-j/.,i(^i .'; *^ The South Sex Company, as their Stocl? is, or probably will be much the largeft, fo they (eem to be upon a more laAing Foundation than the other Societies, in regard they are to continue till their mighty Capital can be repaid 5 for which Reafon, J they Pi i'^> U' (7^0 they ^e mprt bound to confulc the good of Pdfterity tbsM^ others, who have not the fame J^rpJTpeft of Duration ; from the Begin* ning, the EaH-IndU Company had doubt- lefs turnM their Trade to more National Profit, if from time to time their Terms in it had been longer ; they would have better fortifyM their Settlements, and in thofe wide Dominions they had Opportu- nities to enlarge their Dealings, fo as to have vended all the while greater Quanti- tities of our Native Produ^, and to have exported lefs Bullion, which would have made that Trade not fo invidious as it has pver been, j^j^^ i^j -^on W P I ^ ■ Si I %6 ■m ■ff 1-; \t' *Tis to be hoped, the South Sea Com* pany will take warning by their Errors, and endeavour to render their Traffiek a$ National as they can poflibly contrive to make it To become the Darlings of the People, they muft make large £xportations of our Native Produft, and confiderable Importations of Bullion, to fupply what of Neceflity will be carried off ever Year by the Eaft LmA and Esft hdU Trades. W .' - » K ' * -K (78) If this Courfe be taken, we fhall have the Over-Ballance of Trac!:, not only with Frd^ce^ but mod of our other Neighpours : We (hall make Provifion for another Year, which is not impolfible, let a Peace be ne- ver fo well fettled for the Prefent. And we fhall lay the Foundation for fuch a Sort of Treafure, as may not be liable to the variety of Accidents, to which Paper- Credit will ever be obnoxious. -*! r AB which is humbly fubmitted totbh Homurabk Board^ by m *>■».. . f».CT »» <.\ \ '■4 •'1 ■n'f>\ .1- U:\: FINIS. IM I I . THE : CONTENTS <^ TO THE First Part. Page np'fl'fi HeaJs of the CimmiOlonersl I of Accounts Precept to the Au* > y thor > The Method which the Author propofes to anfwer the Contents of the Pre^^ 9 cept The Proportion of the Cuftoms at the Port of London, to thofe of theOut^^i^ ports. The Ex; ports and Imports between Eng- Jand 26 baUance of 1 rade^ between England' - and France Prohibitions of Commodities prejudiciali . toTrade ^ y^ England it. The CONTENTS. ill -*.* Tntereft^ Page England voaniitig to its own thefirH eieht Tears o/K. Charles 11.3 ^ ^ The Loffei France has Ji4jiaifCd in it si Trade by the War^ and the Advan'>^j tages fd Great Britain thereby ) . Obfervations upon the Ballance of Trade ^ ar^dthe mojl profitable Methods tOQ^% make Great Bnrain the Gainer j The Advantages of the Portugal Tradei r^, Great Britain $'4 As the Duties nowftand upon the Pro-'S duct and Manufacture of both Kin^'l ^ ^ difms there can be no free Trade he-f^ ttueenthem J Thatt Great Britain w/9>Jm/?/)» infift upon fnch a Treaty as may put us out of fears of an Overballance for One ^^9 liifndred Tears Expedients propofed to preferve fori future A^es the Ballance of Trade>6j on our Side ) The Profitable Benefits Great Britain 1 ' may expect from the South Sea>73 Trade .- » —v ^ That the South Sea Company hath a^ better foundation to go tipon^ thant the Eaft- India, or any other Com-V'^^ pany j ^'^ ^ A Second III (3) Second Report, (be. N what (hall be faid upon this Subjeft, the fame Method, in a great Meafure, flialll?c follow'd, as was obferved in Treating of the Trade between France and En^land^ from the old Manu- fcript remaining in the Cuftom* Houfe, there (hall be laid before this Honourable Board an Account of the Imports and Exports, with the Exccfs for the Years 1663 and 1669, which, as Occafion offers, (ball be compared with the Imports and Exports of the Years irom 16^9 to 1704, with this Caution, that the Manufcript from whence thefe Accounts are extrafted, does not include thefe Out-Ports. Notice (hall like- wife be taken of the principal Commodities refpeftively, which compofe the Traffick that is between both Countries. You (hall have like- wife a particular Account of the Value of the fine Draperies enter'd for Exportation. And firft as to the general Exports and Imports, V2a. ,4. I A ^ Before y^' -^ (4) /. s. d. I " Ftom Michaelnms i (562, CI»r ports 491,^76 11 co to Michaelmas 1661, "J Exports 105,216 — 7— -co A3 T •5^ The Imports exceed the Exports, 386,160 — 4 00 Fioiri Michaelmas 1668, C Imports 501,674 16 00 M yJto 'Michaelmas 1669.' 2 ^^P°'^s 178,044 15 00 » " The Imports exceed the Expoits, 52:,6;6 — i 00 In this Place, as was intimated before upon the Head of France^ there is wanting an Account how Matters flood between us and Holland from 1669 to 1696-, but here follows the firft five Years Eflitnate of the ten Years Trade your Pre- cept requires to lay before you, A Comparifon of the EJlimate of the Imports and Exports of the following five Tears Trade to and from Holland, from Ghriflmas 16^9, to <■ Chriftmas 1704, viz. . > ,. >\ ^ ^ Imports in the 6 K o following Years. 17^0 i 4 ! I7«» 1701 ^'Z ^ T702 170Z } u 1 i7o> Eftimate. /. s. d. 527,072— 6 — 2!- 521,257—16 — 00 486,4^2 — 2-- -III 521,41^-^ 9— 7i 756,84 ^- ^"11 00- 00- oc- 00- 00- ''-'\ ^^ Total 2,814,014 — 18 — 08.1— -oc Excefs, — -00 — — 00 — — 00 — DC - — 00 -CO .-co "-U0 -00 —CO ■00- ■-00 ,*■ * From (W^^' ,••<* H -if- *'^ l.-''M v." d, CO -—CO . 00 )- ■—00 •—00 [ ——00 mthe count ^frora 1: five rPrs- ''•r ts and ide to s. d. -co -co —00 -oo —CO ■00 ./• From (5) B o Exports in tVie follcwing Years. 1699"^ 5 Tiyoo 1700 1 4, } 1701 »70il>:|^i7-2 1702 ; u ; 170? L170U 2 U704 Eflimate. Excefs. /. J. d. /. J. //. 1,769,182—15— 2 1242,210,- 9— Hv 2, 1 4 5, 1 86" 19- 8i i.<2:!,929,- 5- 8'> i,686,5$i~i8" 4 1250,119,-15- 4I, 2,417,890-00— I I:f 1895,476,-11- 4 i,3<5?,77J- 5- 87 1606,9? I, 19- 9i- f v Total, io,^82,686-i8--ii;- 1 7618,668-00-02.;,, From thefe Accounts, two Points are to be obferv'd ^ jR;;/?, That in the Years 1665 and 1669 5 our Dealings with HoUand were in- confiderable to what they have been fince the Beginning of the firil War, and ftill continue to be. 'SeconJly^ That in the faid two Years we brought from thence much more of their Com- modities than we carry'd of our Produfl: thi- ther, fo that, according to the Vulgar Notion, the Ballance of Trade at that Time was much to their Advantage. l^ote^ That in the Years 1663 and 1669 our Exports thither confided but of Forty Five Articles of the Rated Goods, whereas now the laid Articles are increafed to the Number of at leaft of One Hundred and Twenty, or One Hun- dred and Thirty, and fo proportionably in the Goods Paying at Valore7}u In the faid Years our principal Exportations thither were the Woollen Manufadure, Tin, Lead,Wrought-Brafs,Melairep,AUum,Wrought- Silk, Butter, and Morkins. ; ; ' ;m. A 3 And 4t-: m And the principal Impor ations from Holland were Linnens, Wrought-Silk, Thrown-Siik, Threads, Incles, Spicery, Madder, Battery, 3tock-Fi(h, Whale Fins, Hemp, Flax, Un- wrought-Copper, Rhenifh-Wine, Safflower, and Iron-Wire^ of which principal Articles the refpeftive Values ftiall be here incerted,that you may have before you fome View of our former Dealings with that Country. Exports, From Mi- cbaelmas 1668, to jMicbael' pias i66^» I. s. d' Woollen Msnofadures-at 79,95 ^«^io-«q Tin, C. 436 — c— .0 — at— 1^6^$ — c — Lead,— 27 Fodder— at— 297 — c — o Wrought Braf8,C. 828 at— 7,866--. u— Melanes, — ^,3^4 Ton at- 5; 7, t i c — o — Silk wrought, 1408 P. at- 3,168 — o — Butter,— 850 Firkini-at — 765 — o— n V^Morkin»,io25Skini"at — 2,765 — c— o I » ———ill Total, iv3,759— -ic— Whereof the fine Drapery or Cloths, Long, Short, and Spanijby are 3367 Pieces valued at 367^2—10—0 I Imports (7) olland -Siik, ttery, Un- r, and s the It you brmer s. i, -10— - C — - c— o - u— o - O — - 0—0 - C—0 -IC— -10— Imports. I ^Linnen— —••—*-*»(— 1 70,97 2 Silkwrought,io557i. at 25,73^ Silk Thrown — 2877 — it 2,87^1 XbreJids -^- at Spicery at I ncies-— -. - — — a t Battery,— 4330 C. at From Mi chaelmas ^, -r^^- — — 16^8, to ^ Stock Filh 233 C L.aft at Michael- mas 1 6 6^, 11,694- 11,459- 38,970. 4,194- WhakFina, 4026 Cat 16,104 Madder,— lo 891 — >a( 22,875- Hemp.— 2556 C at 6,4.71- Flax, ^751 C. -^at 8,19?' Rheniih-WinejjjTonat 99,690. SaiHower, — iS45?o — at 6,8 1 6- ^IroD Wire, 1 7(;8 Hun. at 9,906' 1* i. -OS— o -06—0 ^10 — o - ?— o -IC — o -00 — o -OC — o -00 — o . 6—0 -151—0 -00—0 •00 — o •op— o • 8—0 nports Tp^ltl 42i,40i-r-i2-."0 2^ote^ From the Port of London, in the Year 1665, there was Exported of Corn to Holland from hence but to the Value of 54/. and in the Year 1669 none at all. How it ftood as to To- bacco^ Eaft-India, and other Re-exported Goods, I cannot find, becaufe the Old Manufcript, an- nexed to the firft Report, takes no Notice of any Re-Exportations. In the following Abftrafl of the principal Ar- ticles of our Exports to, and Imports from Hoi- land, you will find, as to the Imports, no material Difference to what they were in the Year 1669^ but as to our Exports thither you will fee them increafed to a very great Degree, which I con-^ * A ^ (:eiv^ (8) . Ceivc to proceed frora the Alterations which War has made in the Channel of Trade. This Honourable Board will have before 'em, annexed to this Report, a State at large of the Trade between England and Holland for Five Years, vis:,. From Chrijlmas %6^q^ to Chrijlmas 1704: But in the Comparifon 1 am r.>out to make (to avoid Prolixity) I fhall only ]rw>ance thcYear'? from 1702 to 1703, wherein, the Five fir it Years, our mutual Dealings were the largeft. Anno 1703. I An Account of the Eight principle Articles of the Englijh Produft and Manufadure that were Exported to HoUand^ viz. ft' i. d. WooJIen Manufa^ure, at I?59»5i6-^ 4-00 Tort. C. ^ I,. Lead-Fcder 3<^46~-o— i— 14- AVf ought-Brafs, C. 41 ~i--o— 00- Melaffes, ,— r Nil. Silk Wrought, Butter, Morkins, Tin, *— - 42ZX Pound, — - 2425 Fiikins, 13600 r- -at —'^8,18^*^08— o .-^, Total 114,416-14-05 o . c Druggs vocau Balfam Natural,— -2265 < Borax Refin'd, • 3080 CafTea Lignea, 33409 • Joliup, • 27,683 Mulk, • 3,3 59J Long-Pepper, Pincall, Wormfeed, — l8l2- — 1078- -4454- -.4037- -33 59- — 2283- .13,449- - 6,265 — at — 1409- 16,607 — 59,687- = at — at -at — at -at -at- -at- -at s. J. -00-0 -00— o -10-8 .02-1 ■05-0 -09-3 -11-6 -12-6 Total 31,863-01-0 Ik ' I There are befides the abovefaid Druggs up- wards of Forty feveral forts more Exported to Holland J to the Value of 16^76$ I whereof the nioft confiderable are Myrrh ^ NuXy Verina^ Quicks Silver y Scammonyy Shell-Lake^ Stkk-Lake Turpen^ tine Common^ and Vermillion, Wood ii; Eraziletto, Fuftick, Logwood,— Redwood,- Wood for J)yers vocat. Ton. C. Q. L. I s. d. —3 5— 16— o-oo^at — 849— o J— 00 —7 1 —02—0—1 6— at — 949—02— 1 1 -864-oj-3-oi-at 12,873-17-074 —10— 00— 0-00— at — 545—00—00 ,, Total 15217-03-065 Tobaccos* Entered for Exportation 1. , , ^ ^ , *- , , 7,356,470 Pounds, at J M3,596,-i6-o5 Wooll vocat. Barhary Wooll, ^ Carmenia Wooll, T To the \^ o r Cotton Wooll, r Value ofr 7800-03-1 1 . Sfanifi Wooll, J The feveral Articles of the Eaft-India Goods Re-exported to Holland^ Anno 170^, are too ma- ny to be Enumerated: But I have annexed to this Report a particular State of the Value of all EaJi'India Goods, as well Prohibited as Unpro- hibited, that ware Exponcd to HoUand in Four diftinft Years, from Cbrijimas 1 701, to Chrijimas • 1705, ( '2 ) 1 705, to which the Board may have Recourfc for their own Obfervation^ but for the Year 1703, both together were Valued at 345647/. 6 s. 4^. iq. In all forts of Foreign Goods my Leidgers keep a particular Account of Gooas Exported in Time, and out of Time, and for the Year on which I am now fpeaking of, are as follows: * . Anno 1703. ,'0O"*^'^'3'- Total Value of the Principal ^ /. s. J. Articles of the Re-Exports, by ^604,652-0 — o Certificate, in timci to Holland, j \ Total Value of the Principal^ . ^,^ ,. :, .Articles of the Re-Exports, by r '■.-■ ' " Certificate, out of time, to Hol-Q 37>309— 0-0 land. " ■"■ ' — ■ — J If I And is kid before you to (how what a Prejudice is brought upon the Trade of Eng- la?id, by the high Duties laid upon all Com- modities, join'd with the Short and Narrow Limitations of Time allow'd for Drawbacks upon Debentures, in the Re-Exportation of the faid Goods. There can be no greater Profit to this Kingdom than what arifes from the Vent Abroad of what our Induftry .brings to us from other Countries. The high Excifes lately im- pofed have render*d Arts and Labour dear at Home, and confequently raifed the Price of our Native Produd and Manufaftures ^ fo that when the Neceflity ceafes among our Neigh- bours, '-';. -i» *' lat a Eng^ bm- rro^V acks the I to ent rorn im- r at our that igh- urs. ( 13 ) bours, Yis probable there will not be the fain^ Call for 'era, as there has been of late Years •, for which reafon, in our future Traffick, we muft not lay our chief Dependance upon the Exportation of our own Produft, which will be liable to many Accidents -, and therefore it is our Bufinefs to Encourage, and make Eafie in Foreign Markets, as much as poflible, the Sale of our own Plantation Goods, the Prime-Coft whereof comes to us at a low Rate, from the Fertility and Cheapnefs of Land, tho* Labour be Dear in thofe Parts, till a good Settlement of the Affrican Trade ihall have made 'Negroes Cheaper, Our Plantation Goods are not fo ne- ceiTary Abroad, as to invite over any confiderable Quantity with a load of Duties upon *em : And you fee the Article of Goods Exported, (out of time) amounts to but 37,^09/. whereas, if the Merchant had been at Liberty to chufe his own Market, his Re-Exportation had been larger. Tobacco, Sugars, Druggs, and Wood for Dyers, &c, brought from America^ and Re-Exported, are in a manner as profitable to the Publick, as if the Value thereof were brought Home in Bullion ^ upon which Account the Merchant fliou'd be freed from all unreafonable and need- lefs Reftraint. But upon this Head I (hall fur- ther enlarge, by the By, when I come to open the Matter of Drawbacks fo far, as to the prin- cipal Exports from England to Holland-^ and now as to the Imports from thence hither. .J Linnen (t4) I /. d. Xinneft,- to the Value of- 21J701-19-I1 Wroiight-Silk-68o9f J /. at i5j22-oa-c6 Thro^rn-Silk— i25o$/.-at 15966-00-co Threads, - to the Value of 5 1 , 1 3 8-05- 1 1 1 SfMcery,-. 113607} /. - at 27,469-10-03 Juices, — to the Valqe of -i 6,860-^04-04 O Battery, —3298-0-0 Stock-Fiflij — 1 0000 18,961-19-11 1 50-00-00 .1 ^ Whak-Fins, C. 1 1 3 6-3-9 ^^ 9094-1 2- 1 1 f . Hemp, --2452-2-00— at 2061-1 j-06 ■*• "^ Flax, 4645-2-23 - at 6,124-14-084 unwroughtO)p*— 2— at 0002-00-00 Rhcnifli-Wine,367jTonat 17447-08-07 Safflower, — — Nil. ——0000-00—00 Iron-Wire, C* 429— j-o —at. 2793-07-06 Madder, — 15154-2— i-at 24,84 j-oo-o4i Brandy, Ton 203-1-16316202-13-9 Wainlcot-- Boards, ^— — . ati •10,490-01-0 155053 Total 440,629-1 5-o2{ ■^ k 'tm In Stating thefe Comparifons to help the Rea- ders Memory, I muft be foinetimes compelled to Rjepctitions, , v k. ? ^'iJiH Grofs ■M*^. (15) /. J. d* Grofs Importations r 1 69 9-^ 50 1 674- 1 6-00 from Holland^ Anno \1703 — 522413-09-07J ■ ■ ■ Difterencc 20738-13-074 •MaHVl>M« h^RlmmSdX ^ <5^9-42 1 401-1 2-0 Anno -. 1 ' 703-440629- 1 5-ai '\-" Difference 1 9228-03-2 J But to fet this Matter in a clearer Light, I Ihall give an Account of the whole Exports and Imports between both Countries, from Seven di- ftinft Years, from Chriftmas 1698, to Chrijlmas 1705- .-#. ■r* -, v=. t *• V.T #-;.■- ^»-- J. I »».'.. i V . f F/Z. .^.^T-^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k // ^«^% y.^^^ K. ^.%^ A % 3^ 1.0 1.1 UilM 125 1^ U2 12.2 :S |1£ 12.0 >& i. I IL25 III 1.4 1 1.6 Hiotographic Sdences Corporalion ^ m \ v> ^. % -^^-V 3: >WiST MAIN STRUT WnSTBR.N.Y. USM '716) S71-4i03 4^ ;\ «.% ,^ ^ ^ ( 1 ••• <* »•• From Chrijlmas 1698 to Chrijlmas 1699, Enter Exportation to the Value 98 tO>' 'd fori lue of) I456I42-OI-02J The Exports exceeded > ^,^^ , the Imports, , \ 94J542^i6„-o5j ■INI' From Chrijlmas 1699 to"^ Chriftmas 1700, Enter'd for > 1769282-16-02 Exportation to the Value of) i,,B^M^aMiw>a ^■^•i»"«a'M ••■■■■■■■Ml The Exp.exceeded the Imp. — 1242210-09- » i\ From Chriflmas 1700 to') Chrijlfnas 1701, Enter'd for > 2i45i86-i9-o8^, Exportation to the Value of) ^"■— ■* The Exp. exceeded the Imp.— ^-162 J929-0J-08I? From Chrijlmas 170J to^ Chrijlmas J702, Enter'd for \ 1686551-18-04 Exportation to the Value of) The Exp. exceeded the Imp. — 1 2 501 29-1 5-04^, From Chriflmas j-joji to) Chrijlmas ijo^, Enter'd for> 241 7890-00-1 j^$ Exportation to th^ Value of; The Exp. cxce54?4 the Jmp. — 1895476-1.1-04 3 JFrpq^ 'ErotOiChriJlmai 170J top L j. J. Cbrtftmas 1704, Ittportedji^ -75^43-03—11 to tke Value of '•-^ i^^^m ■' 1 From Cbrifttfias 1704 ta' GkHftfHOs 1705, Imported ^-572216-05-021 to the Value of - ■*«t*a«»i .f^ V Ci J i t ■i: Ffott Chriftm Exporti rhcEs Fron Chriftnii Export ThcE3 'r 4 «. A^. 9 1 I.- ^ ^* <■ -^ ■ The venYffi The venYft J^iO ^ - « 1 - ^,.M.^^ « ^i». 'In -» • i »\ '*•■ ^'t .b.\; '. A;:t X.''' ' r-.«. ,i#*' « ■ •: ;!>< * V» "♦- <;i(».i- ■ .V 1. ~ ',( !i '.i.-ii f v."'?Ui .From ■■■-* * * t Froi )ur In feveral ceedinj from \ )FQUgtl Imp Imp ^i*ti»--.r''*--- - -'^- -.-* -**«.■*■««. . ■»*,.. From Chrifimas ijo2 to^ /. ^/ St. ChriJlmM 1704, Entered for C 2 j6 J775-CJ-08} Exportation to the Value of) The Exp. exceeded the Imp. — 1606951-19-094 From Chrifimas 1704 too Chrijlmas 1705, Enter*d for > 1726711-15-06^ Exportation to the Value of S The Exp. exceeded the Imp. -1: 1 54495-10-0 ji The Meditim of the Se-1 . ven Years Exports,/*? AnAsS *? J79?4-07-» H The Kledianr of the Se-7 „ i. ven YearsIiHpott,^^ Ari. is J 549« J2-o»-o2* ?' > »•-'»■ Difference 13 88 io9(-o6-o8S iMi< From the foregoing Accounts it appears that our Imports from Holland have continued for feveral Years in a Manner at $ (land, feldom ex- ceeding flalf'a MilUon^^r Annum^ for we bring from thence but very little more than we )rought in the Year 1669, t^i^. .. ... Ix&^eHAnrto i7o^,------i-i5 5^,2 16-^0^6 Imported -4wwa 1669,---- ^-Jot,674-oo-o DifFereilde-— ^ 75,542-00-0 7 : ] i ( ^^ ) Tis true this Account, extrafled from the ol Manufcript, does not include the Out-Ports which would increafe the Article above on fourth Part, whereas our Exports to HoUan^ ; have' every Year increas'd, and fome Years thi Exccfs on our Side has been one Million andi^ Half, but, by a Medium of Seven Years, almoflj^y J^^ One Million Four Hundred Thoufand Pounds/;*"^^.^? Annum: But whether or no this feeming Ove Ballance in Trade with the Dutch be to the Pro fit of this Kingdom, fhall be impartially exal^?"^^^ rain'd and ftated in the Sequel of this Report, i''^^^^' If, according to the Vulgar Notion, this largff'^ P^^ Over- Ballance had been all clear Gain, to Zw^- land, it would have been fome kind of Recora pence for the Interruptions fo long a War hajj^^^^j brought to other Branches of our Foreign Tra ficks ^ but it fhall be open'd to this Honourabl ave be the] If the rodigic rted t lad per rodud 'ufficier aranc ore tl irtuni raf&cl Whe -J iW»-. tfft.im'' ^ If, for thefe laft Twenty three Years, th| jD«rc^hadfo far augmented their Luxuries, ai ^^^ 'J Board, that nothii>g can be more fallacious than ^\^ becaufe a Country takes off more of our Com modities than we do of theirs, to argue froii thence, that our Dealings with that Countr] "^S^^^' are always beneficial to us, and that, when thii happens, there is a cpnftant Superlubration oi oilr Side. Our to want for their own Confumption that va Bulk of Commodities they have conftantlj fetch 'd from this Kingdom •, and if we had beei all along fo reform*d in our Manners, as to ftan jn little Need of Foreign Goods, Holland mul 6631 ^8. hav ( ^I ) 1 the ol(f^^^ ^^^^ Sr®^*^ Lofers, and we great Gainers, jj.pjjj.jgly the Dealings that have been between us. ove oni ^^ ^^^y ^^^ ^°^ ^^^"^ their Accounts in the //^//^^Irodigious Quantity of EfFeds Annually Ex- fears th J^'^^^ ^'*^*'^^'' ^^^^ hence, and if fo wife a State m and #^^ perceiv'd it felf to carry on a loofing Trade, . alnioll''^y would have put a Stop to this Mifchief, ei- )unjgy,^lhcr by Prohibitions of,or high Duties upon our ^a OverJ'^^^^ and Manufadure, for which they had a the Pro Jpfficient Pretence from the Additional Irnpofi-- illy exal'^"^^^^^^^'^^^^ ^^"^P^^^'^ to lay upon their leport. I'l^nens and other Goods^ but they have been ■his largf ^ prudent to be frighted with the felfe Ap- i to EmV^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ Over-Ballanee, well-knowing the nore they brought from hence, the better Op- ortunities they had to enlarge their general rafficks. When we examine into the Particulars of his great Exportation, we find moft of it to onfift in Commodities not for their own Con- umption, but rather to be re-exported. To Countn ^Sin therefore with vhen thi' '''^^^ - — r •:hrf'rt?'*> ration oi -^^^ Woollen Manufa^nres. i Recora War h: ign Tra )nourabli ous than )ur Com 5ue froii F r ears, thi Our Export of this Commodity to Holland xuries afr^^ heretofore but inconfiderable, vi^. Anno that val i663 but 68,199/. ^^^* ■■ - 1i onftanth , / had beei s to ftani « , ^anJ mul '..■Jl^. , 4'K. >■' -'■ ■ hav( • ^ \ -' ' I. i J.. Jf * • Bj Anno v4 fi t V ■'■ (ao ;» Anno i66g. Anno 1703,' Difference 1 2 59,572-10-0 I ' • ■ .1 I i j 1^ ; ' « Which is well near the whole Over-Ballancc \ we are thought to have in our Trade with Holland. ■ "'"■■ '■'* !:.;>'-' ;'■'"•■' ■■' '^''■-X-fPK ''V:^ The Value of our Exports to Holland^ iij ; three Articles only of the Woollen Goods a- ; mount to more than Quadruple the Value of ' our Exports from London thither (Certificated ' Goods excepted) formerly did, vi^. ii.lTi'' ^ **-•,.>->■• T '.'-.■ » '/fintf 1669, the faid Export-;^^i78,o44-oq-o Anno 1703, the Export of Per-\ q ^ " petuanas Serges and Stuffs,- j79»»S27-^PO-o It cannot be well imagined, that in Thirty ". four Years the Dutah are fo increased in Num- bers of People, Wealth and Luxury, as to want fuch Qiiantities of thefe Commodities for their own Confumption over and above what they were wont to call for, from whence muft fol- , low. That they purchafe thofe iramenfc Car- *' goes to Re-export to other Countries, and fo they are become in a more extended Degree than heretofore, the Carriers of our Com mo- . - dities T: ■•lo-o —00-0 t— lo-ol ■ 'i ■■ ■ iallancc e with *»<5/, in oods a- 'aluc of tificated s. d, 4.-00-0 7-r-pO-O Thirty 1 Nura< to want or their at they uft fol- fc Car- and fo Degree Commo- dities f>3) ditics to Foreign Markets •, that is to lay, They fupply thofc Parts which we, for Want of In- dimry, have not cmbrac'd, or where our Traf- fick has been interrupted by the War. 'Tis ca- ly to prove that,for the laft Twenty Years, great Parcels of our fine Draperies, and other Woollen Manufaftures, went into France thro* Flanders^ by the Q)nnivancc of Governours, and by &mpofitions with the French Farmers, to the Value, as I am well inform'd when in HaUgnd about fix Years fince, of near 300000/. per Ann. Since the Trade with the Spaniards has been Jnterruptcd, they rauft have carry'd of the fame Goods great Qiiantities to Portugal^ otherwife how could they difpofe of all the Bays fent from hence to Holland-^ which Article of Bays^ from 1699 to 1704, amounts to, at a Medium of thefaid five Years, 92^26!* per Annum, a larger Proportion than they can poflibly be conceiv*d to c(mfume themfelves, and from Fortugd it muft have found its Way to Spain and the Wifi» Indies. The &me may be laid of Perpetuanas, Serges^ Says, and other Stuffs, as alfo of Stock- ings. Woolen and Worfted, for Men, Women, and Children. During both the Wars, not only the fine Draperies but Manufactures from the long Wool got into France from the Frontier Places, which turned to the Profit of HoU land, and of late Years fince, they have fo much enlarg'd their Trafficks, and accumulated fuch a Stock of Wealth to fupport their Trade, they havc^arry'd up the Rivers into Germany great B 4 Parcels ■If} [i'i- ■Vi, ( M ) Parcels of fine Cloths, Stuffs, Says, and Serges, which our Merchants were wont formerly to Export to Hamburgh^ and other Parts of the German Empire upon their own Accounts: And if this were not their Cafe, and ifth^Dutch did not carry much of the Englifb Produft to Germany^ the vaft Trad of that Country con(i- der*d, our Dealings thither would be much greater than they are^ whereas by a Medium of Seven Years from Chrijlmas 1698, to Chrijimas I7C^5, our Dealings with Germany ilood thus : Ik iru^j' 'lo rn i^ * ¥• A PifFerencc-7-1 6 1 ,270 D )'} :. mmt T ajo'/: ;i Which is no conGderable Exc^fs from fo large find populous a Country •, efpecially when 'tis jCohfider*d what Quantities of German Linnens hiave been Imported hither fincc the firft War yjixhFfance^ viliich Germany Linnens muft have been anfwer'd by an adequate (ipantity of our -Woollen Manufaftures, \ixhtT>ut<;b did not in- tercept us in the Traffick by our own Com- inoditics from the Premifes, This Honourable £oard may obferve that Holland 1% no Lofer in the Over-Ballance we feem to have again ft *eiu between the Exports and .Imports, which Over- :Ballance arifes chiefly from |he Article .of Woollen Manufaftures, . But •;fj w # irges, to the mts: ^utch \& to :onfi- luch iin of hnas is: ■ uifij . . i. '■ "\ Afim large n 'tis mens War have f pur >t in- >om- rable ;r in *eiu Wttr * .of But ( ^5 ) But here mayarifc a Qpeftion, How far this Article of our Forcic;n Exportations may be rely'd on, bccaufe of the iSufpicion of Over-Entries by the Merchants of fuch Goods as pay no Cuftoms Outwards, in particular the Woollen Manu- fedures, which Point (hall be handled and fet in a clear Light towards the latter End of this Report. ^'^ m\ Tin. , ■ ' ./' :"' itj'i This is another of the Commodities which the Dutch take from us to Re-export to other .Countries* )*-« tt,-^ -t^: yfH trwr "* """•tS^"''' '^^'■■-■' ■■•"■. '-^ ■-•*-■ ;\-4..^A**^'^-'. jrfiVT r^rv Exported to HoUaUd, ■%} itM/:: ipuiw v^K^q^;- i;i;S. yn-.i:. .t»'ij^ oa.. /. 9, i. fr«, S ^'^•' *^^*» *o ^^^- ^^^?»*i C. at %l I ji.^^rC. 78-15-0 *roirj ilf;ir.i668,ioiW;V.i6694J6C.at?/.i5i./tfrC. 1635-00-O •Wi^MtMMMMMi^ OCT -'\ >^, •*.. . ■, t^i*^'' • .>-r:r, » j/ 5/»^^ the War^ ly a Medium of Ten Tears. Exported to Holland, per Annum* From Chriftmas, 1699, to Chrijlmas, 1709, 5937 C. ? 21 979-4^0 at 3/. izj.^ei' C. J 57> ^ » i ■ ■■ ■ f he Exportation of this Commodity, as well 1 - M 1 11 X IS divers others of our Native Prodaft, has ve- ry much encreasM during the whole Progrefs of the War *, for to all the Countries, with whom we dealt, there was Exported, From Afi-5 1667 jto Micha-c 1663— i $3 Tons, chaclmas^ c 1668 ? elmas^ c 1669—240 Tons, Which the Board, from the foregoing Ten Years Medium, may obferve to be much in- creafed. Of thefe 7 The loweft was about-^-^S^j Tons, ten Years. 3 The higheft was about-^1375 Tons. %\'f. nris likewife obfervable, that during what may be call'd the Interval of Peace, there was no great Variation in this Export, which was as follows : From ^1698^ to r 1699-::-^^ 1243 Tons. Cbrifi' > 1 6 9 9 >Cibyf/?-y 1 700 — — — 1352 Tons. tnas^ J 1 7oo3 was^ C 1 70 1 rr""""" ^ ^9^ Tons. The Ten Years Medium was— 1094 Tons. Three Years Medium in Time of ? ^ ^. rp^^^ Peace was ^^97 Tons. Medium of the Excefs, rr^os Tons. V. ."^ . - • '■ . 'Tis not difRcuIt to account for the Reafons why our late Exportations of Tin fo far exceeds thofe of former Times: All our Neighbours, as well ^ / ;refs with Tons. Tons, Ten :hin- Tons, Tons* what e was Krasas Tom Tons. Tons, Fons. Fons. ron9* }fons reeds s, as well vrell as ourfeives, are increasM in the Luxufi* 0U6 Ways of Living, fuch who heretofore were content with Pewter arc now ferved in Plate and fuch as made ufc of Trenchers, Wooden- Platters, and Earthen Ware, will now have Pewter: All which is vifible within Forty Years, and has occafion*d this great Call of 9 Commodity almoft peculiar to us. ■ - ^ Tis probable this Exportation has been rather more than lefs than in the Periods here taken No» tice of '^ for the two laft Years, Ending at Chriftmas next, whereof, as yet, no Account can be given, but 'tis to be f€ar*d that, at this Inftant, the Markets Abroad are over-glutted with this Ma- terial, in which the Perfons Interefted in the Credits upon Tin, have, perhaps, of late forced a Trade, infomuch that Peace, and a flowing Traf- fick every where, may not probably, for fomc Time, enlarge this Export, wherewith France and other Countries have been fupply*d by way oi Holland. If we have rais'd, and continue to raife out of the Earth more Tin every Year than our Home Confumption, and the l/fes of our Neighbours require, we muft expeft to have it become a Drug, which will both hurt the Q^^en in her Civil Lift, and, to a Degree, prejudice the whole Kingdom in m general Ballance with other Countries. : -. There is Yearly more Tin made in the King* dom than is taken ofF by our own Home Con- sent, which ia fumDt by our Fdreigi the IP ( ^8 ) the Six Yckrs the Queen's Contraft is to laft, muft needs render this Commodity a Drug, tJpon Enquiry, this Honourable Board will find. That Including Michaelmas Coinage, . viz. 428 Tons, there will remain upon Her Ma- jcfty's Hands unfold 4659 Ton$, which Peace pd a free Trade will not be able to carry off m feveral Years. ' t ^v- / As the Cafe ftands at prefent, Holland is the great Magazine for Tin ^ the Neceflities of fach as have it upon their Hands, either as Merchan- dize or Security, drive it thither, and the Dutch iet what Price they pleafe upon tiiis Rich Pro- duft of England, to the Damage of the Pub- lick. =-'--? "rr-r'- ^'f rS .* *ir To obviate this Mifchief, all reafonable Ways fhould be thought on to promote the Confump^ tion of the Metal here at Home, whereby th^ Markets Abroad will not be over-glutted with If there be fuch a Want among the Common People of Half Pence and Farthings, as is af- firm'd by all Retailers, perliajs , it would not be amifs to fet on Foot a Coinage of Tin Half Pence an^ Farthings.— The Coinage to be at Her Ma- jefty's Expence, and to herfole Profit: — For Experience has (hewn how unfafe it is to truft fuch an Und^rtakipg to private Hands. This Coinage will take off about looo Tons of the Dead Stock now lying by, and give the Re- mainder a freer Vent in Foreign Markets*; - » k- ♦»■ ♦i.*'^ t •.» il.w << n, •portatfen to Holland, in parrreuJarC '^''>^'^" '^""°J t v^tothe Vahieof-— •— ■ ■'^ What fart of thfe Comiftodity is far their own Confumption, Jind what Part they Re-cx- p^ort to other Countries, does riot appear tome, but i) far is certain, — whert Corn bears^ a high Price in Foreign Markets, they fend large Car- foes of it to the Places where it finds a good ''cnt : And it has been known, that in Years of Scarcity, they bring us baCk our own Wheat, bccaufe of the PrMmtumwc give upon Expor-^ tation, and which they arc ensibied to do, by havii3g large Granarie^' almoft in every Great Town, wherein they ftorc large Qpantities in cheap Years, m anfwer the Demands of other Countries. — And they will always havd the feme x^dvantage over us, till the Wifdom of the Publick here think fit to creft Granaries in this Kingdoro,which will not only be Advantagious to cur own Foreign Trade, in the Exportation of this Commodity, but lifccwifc become bencfeil to all our Manufadures, which muft be deadly or cheaply Wrought, as Corn comes Dear of Chca^ to the Common-People. As the Cafe now ftands the Dutch have too great a Shartt^in a Pletitiful Year of Corn here j whereas, if, like them, Wd had Publick Granaries, the Superfluity of fiwiw " %\ Years (30 Tears would Sell better in Foreign Markets, and fupport our own Poor in times of Want: And to mc it feeras, that nothing could more contri- bute to put the General Ballance of Trade al- ways on the Side of England^ than by good Oe- connomy in the Publick to keep Corn conftant- ly at fuch a Rate, as if the Price of Labour and Manufadure may at no time be overhigh. Halving made thefe fliort Remarks upon the three Principal Articles of our Native Produft, whereby our Neighbours, from the Beginning of the War till now, have made fuch confiderable Advantages, by R!e-Exporting the faid Goods to other Countries, and by being weil Paid on both Sides for the Carriage, moft of which Profits would have accrew'd to England^ if we had been oar own Merchants, and Exported the faid Com- modities direAly from England^ as heretofore we did. And if, efpecially during the laft War (by letting Holland carry on almoft a Free-Trade with France^ while our Hands were bound up) we had not fufFer*d that Country to be in the Nature of a Free-Port, with an Univcrfal Mar gazine, where all the Commercial World had Liberty to Buy and Sell. And having open'd thefe Points afs well as the ftiortnefs of Time, and the Impoffibility of procuring the Fafts of Trade for fome Years, an- tecedent to the Wiir would permit me, I (hafU proceed to make fome Obfervations upon the chief of our Plantation and Eafl-India Goods fent from hence every Year to Holland. Tobacco^ t. ,*<- AX^rV ( 3» ) Tobacco* How the Re-exports of this Commodity ftood before the firft War does not appear to me, from any Authentick Account, or Memorial, I could ever meet with. There is hereunto annexed an Account at large of the Tobacco Imported into England^Wi tendiftind Ye^rs,from Chrifimas 1699 to Chrifimas 1709, with an Eftimate of the firft Coft or Value thereof: And an Account of the Tobacco enter*d for Exportation for the fame yearsjdiftinguifhing the Quantities by Certificate, m time, and the Quantities by Certificate, out of time, taking Notice of the Value in England^ zi- ter the Duties are drawn-back, \in time) and of the Value of the Tobacco (out of time) which has not the Benefit of Drawbacks. Vik% ^ »> i,?*A • The general Imports oi^PoundWt. Tobacco at a Medium ofv ^^ q q /^.^^ ^ a the faid Ten Years,Rraountsr ^^>^ >^^^^ f^^ ^^' to in Quantity, J -^| k i^ a... Whereof Re-exported to all Foreign Ports by the< fame Medium for the laidr -? ; t?:^^ i : -k Term in Quantity. J .li By Certificate (in Time)- 17, 5 80,1 07 per Ann* By Certificate (out of Time) 1 7,900 per An. ;,;. -,\ t^:/. Total 17 598,007 per An, 1 .1 i :>^!i',.% i. And rftood , from could sed an ;d into J 1699 lefirft of the s fame ificatc, out of md^ af- and of which tfer An, -if i<^ er Ann* ^jer An, per An, And And to Holland In Particular^ f' ,.iii.j. found Weight. ^^'' •J.529J 'Out of Time Total 7v85i,i57 i^i;*^^' a»A< ■AMb, According to which Acdottiit olir Hoiiiei Cdfl** fqmption appears to be about. 11,260,659 Pound "^ti^t per Annum. ^f /i«i i*^^ r '^ ■:^ \ This Produd of oUf PlaAtaltiorts catryM to Htflland,hrm^s conGderable Profit to that Coun- try •, befides that, the Manufafturing of it, whcii there, employs a great Number df their People'j what Prop6rtion of it they confume themfelves cannot well be Stated t Bat fo fat is known, that they mi^ it with the Tobacco of their o^n Growth, viz. For France 6nt Third Inland,'ahi two ThirdsT/r^/Tj/X making it Finer or Courfei*, and adding to, or diminiihlng the Quatitity of FJrmzi?, and making fome up only with bur Tobacco Stalks mixed with their own IJeaVes, according to the UjTc pf the Country whcrcuh- tothey expQrtit. /'^r?^ ;ir I have feen an Account tdkeuin tja^ of the Tobacco Growing in three Provinces, vifs^ Utrecht^ G^elderland^ Overyfell^ and part of the Dutchy 01 Cleye J which Provinces, feven' Year$ before^ had yieided but Eight Millions of Pbuod^ C Weight "I 1 '^M (34) Weight per Annum •, and they went on, encrea- fing every Year the Plantation of this Commo- dity, till in 1706 they came to raife thirteen Millions of Pounds Weight, which is near half as much 36^ by a Medium of ten Years, is brought ffom ail our. Plantations-, the Account! men- tion appears to me Authentick : And I the ra- ther take Notice of it, to (hew how much it con- cerns England not to Difcourage this Commodi- ty by high Duties, or by Cramping it in the time allow'd for Drawbacks^ iM /•'* ■•'*}*' \ rt/TT tirfl^ Becaufe it is a Plant that may fee raifcd in Europe^ as well as in America^ and it is not im- ppflible fo to improve it, as to bring Virginia To- bacco out of tife Abroad. Secondly^ *Tis one of our moft confiderablc Re-exportat!ons,and the Want of it will be found in, the General Ballance of our Trade with other Countries. , Thirdfyr Part of the Additional Duties there- upon laid, are Funds for feveral Years ^ and if the Importation fliould diminifli, thofe Debts will work off but flowly ^ befides. Her Majefty will fiB4 deficient the Funds allotted for the Mainte- nance, of Her Civil Lift. ; ; ^A^ ,^ ^ ?; V, Fourthly^ If the high Duties, and other Dif- courageraents, fhould bring our Weft-Indian Co- lonies to lay afide, in any great degree, Planting Tobacco, they muft, for a Livelihood^ turn their Labour and Land to fome other Ufes very pre- judicial, to thcic Mother Kingdom. ..rigbV/ • ' v^ ' Without r )Crea« mmo- irteen r half ought men- he ra- t con- modi- e time raifed lot im- i^To- Jerablc ? found 1 other there- i if the ts will y will ^ainte- er Dif- lan Co- ianting rn their ry pre- Vithout (35) Without doubt the Duties upon this CpoKPo* dity are fo high, and fuch as put us in danger in a manner to loofc this Importation, fo Profitable to the Publick,tho"tis to befear'd a fmqll Benefit to the Planters for fomc Year? laft paft : But 'tis continued for fo long a Term, the Fund of Se» curity for fuch large Sums, that *twill be very difficult to propofe Expedients whereby the Mer* chants may be Eas'd, and the Planter more En* couraged. Hereafter, in Times of Peace, perhaps the Wifdom of the Parliament may think it pro- per, cither to kffen the Duties, or to bring part of them nearer to the Confumers, fo that the Merchant may Pay, at the Importation, a due Proportion of the Duty, and the reft to be Paid by the Second Buyer, or Retailer, at his Recei- ving of his Goods ^ to which may be added^ that, generally fpeaking, when the Impofitions are exceffive, as in this Cafe^ where the Duties ar^ lelTen'd, the Importations will encreafe, and up* on the whole the Revenues from thence arifing will be augmented. .. - ; it ¥ ' JEaJi'InJia Goods# ^^^,■ *Tis to be wifli'd this Honourable Board cdul4 h&ve an Account of the Exportations in th^fe Commodities for Four or Five Years, antecedent to the Firft War ; and to what Countries they were exported : If this could be obtained, 'twpuld not be difficult to find a Valuation near the Truth of the laid Goods at that Seafon, and from C d thence ■ ■■ 1;'. (30 thence a good Computation might be made how far, in the general Ballance of Trade, England is a Gainer, or Lofer by^ this Branch of our Fo- reign Traffick : As the Cafe now ftands, Amflerm dam and Rotterdam are in a manner the Maga- zine for the Wrought-Silk, Bengali Stuffs mix'd with Silk, or Herha of the Manufafture diferfia^ China^ or Eafl-India^ and of all Callicoes Painted, Dyed, Printed, or Stained tl -re. The Ufe of which Commodities being Prohibited here, are chieiiy fent to Holland, This Country taking off by a Medium of Four Years, from Chrijlmas 1701, to Chrijlmas 1705, 94,916 L 4J. id, per Annum. .-."ef'-^ • ■ ■ • •', h' Which Goods being Bought Cheap in the Indies^ and Sold dear in Europe^ ought to turn richly to the Importers Account : But *tis to be fear*d our Neighbours make a greater Profit from *em than England, which lends out its Bullion, runs all the Hazards of the Sea and By-Captures, and is at the Expence of Forts, Caftles, and Fac- tories, to fupport this Tratfick. And our Eajl^ India Company muft Deal to this Difad vantage, fo long as they have in a manner but one Mar- ket ior the faid Commodities-, whereas, if they Were permitted in our Home Confumption, we| fliotild fet the Price upon them, and not the] Hollanders : And fince other Countries willhave thefe Silks and Stuffs, *tis certainly more Natio-I nal Profit that England (hould Sell them Dear .than Cheap Abroad ^ and as to the Price at Home it Imports not the Nation, whether it is High or Lowjfinceit is amongour feives. Whether! Icfs Coul •;>■>. chow land 19 ur Fo- 4mflerm Maga- 5 mix'd fetfia, ainted, Ufc of re, are taking mjlmas id, per in the to turn :is to be •fit from Bullion, aptures, ind Fac- jr Eafi- irantage, [le Mar- , if they tion, we not the ^illhave 2 Natio- im Dear It Home High or Whether . ( 37 ) Whether they interfere or no with our Wool- len Manufadures Abroad, (hall not be here Ar- gued ^ onlv fo far may be fafely advanced, that for thefe laft Thirty Years, in which the Eaft^ India Trade has been carry'd on to the higheft Pitch, we are not Decreafed in the Manufafture* from Long-WooU, but rather the contrary, and to a large Degree. Perhaps, indeed. We have not made a Proportionable Increafe in the Ex- ports of the Fine Draperies: However, upon the whole, for thefe laft Twenty Three Yeats, we have no reafon to Complain as to this Principal Branch of our Exportation, if the Entries there- of, made by the Merchants, are in any degree near the Truth. Nor does it appear to me, from any Obfervation I can make, that Eajl-India Goods have hurt the general TrafEck of our Woollen Manufadures in Foreign Markets:. Thefe Silks and Stuffs feem rather a Commo- dity calculated for the middle Rank of People^ they are too Vulgar to be Worn by the beft ; Sort, and too Coftly for the loweft Rank, fo that the Ufe of them remains in the middle Rank^l (who the Luxuries of the World ftill encrea- fing) would wear European Silk^ if they had not Eaft'India Stuffs, and Painted Callicoes, where-^ by the Vent of our Woollen Goods Abroad would certainly be leflfen'd. ^..kj, * ^ The Publick fhould never enter into the dnd!-^ Icfs Difputes between Merchants Dealing to one Country, and Merchants Dealing to another, gnd between ^he Manufadures of one Comma- C J ditjr, ■1^ 1^1 dky, ind the Manufafturcs of another •, Lat ra- ther contemplate what is moil advantageous to the whole Body of the Kingdom, and how the general Trade thereof may be enlarged, and to lay afide the narrow Notion of fuch as think to advance the Vent of our Produd, by Prohibi- tions of the Goods from other Countries ^ for England never Throve oy Trade but while (he wasan Univerfal Merchant ^ nor can (he Reco- ver Herfelf till (he falls into Her former Courfe of Dealings with the Commercial World. , There are many ftill of Opinion, that the TEaft'India Trade is prejudicial to this Kingdom, by exporting every Year fuch quantities of Silver-, but they dd not copfider, that if our Re-Exporta- iion^ of £2/7-/nii^ Commodities had not been fo large to JKfoi/iJfiii, and other Countries : We rauft have carry'd out the Species of Money for the Psiymeat of our Armies in thofe Parts , for the pver-ballance ariiing from our Native Produd, atid Plantation Goods, would not have fufHced: ISVhich Oyer-ballance in the Whole (as noted \Moxt to Holland ovAy^ 7 Amounts to, by a Me-^ 00 .. ^ j diumof Seven Years, } h^m^^P' ^f • , Whereof, by a Medium"] ^ 6f Four Years^ the prohi- tiled, and XJnprohibited I (Goods of the Growth of v Eafi'fhdia^ carryM to Hoi- md, are valued at — — — 259,31^ {fer Ann^ Aii4 U at ra- ous to w the md to ink to ohibi. ;s^ for ileflie Reco- i^ourfe at the igdom, Silver^ Kporta- 5cenfo e muft for the for the 'rodud, ifficed: noted ?r Jnn, T Ann^ 4^4 f 39 ) And the faid Goods have not only helped in the Remittances for the Troops in noUand^ but they have been likewife helpful in the Ballancc of Trade with Icveral other Countries*, fo that all the Bullion Exported to carry on this Traffick, is not loft to England^ but in the Circulation of Trade, returns with Advantage, otherwife we muft have been quite exhaufted, fomc Time ago, with this long and expenfive Wan However, if our Eafl-lndia Comiiiercc has been Gainful to us ^ the Dwrcfc have been Shar- ers to the Profit, and fo will ever be, fo long as the Prohibition is continued : Befidcs, their Neighbourhood gives them perpetual Opportu^ nities of running thefe Commodities into all Her Majefty's Dominions, whereby they SeU Dear what they Buy Cheap from us, to the Prejudice of our Trade. •Tis fubmitted to Wifer Heads, whether, ini- ftead of a Prohibition, it would not be better for the Publick to lay a Duty of ^bout golfer Cent, upon the Wrought-Silk, Bengalis, Stufis mix'd with Silk, or Herba of the M mufafturc of Perfiay China^ or Eajl-India, and upon alj Callicoes Painted,Dyed,Printed or Stained there, which are for \Jk at Home, however with fuch a Drawback only upon the Re-export as may not hinder Exportation, and yet be fomc Bar to running the faid Goods into leveral Ports of Her Majefty*s Dominions, which new Duties are pi:QpQs'4 for the following Reafons, C4 Btfi. _...^?l? ■ • 1; (40) , P^Jt So many Branches of our Confump- tion arc already engaged, that 'tis very difficult to find out any Security to anfwer the prefcnt Debts of the Kingdom, many of thofe Debts having at prefent no fettled Fund. Nor can thefe Duties be a Burthen upon Trade, becaufe tjiey will be in the Nature of an Excife laid ppon the Confumptioner. Secondly y To take off the Prohibition will en- courage the EaJl'Indla Company (whofe Char- ter i3 for a long Term of Time) to enlarge their Trade in xhc In4les^ viz. by making New Set- tlements, and by engaging deeper inthcCoaft- *]rrade than as y^t they have thought it their In- tereft ,^p do, which will te^rminatc in a greater Expojrtatfon tp thofe. Parts, every Year, of the ]jl|^oollen and pjther En^lijb Mapufadlures, info- jhuch that they may come in Time to manage this Trafif elf with carjryingout of the Kingdom Ipi^t y^ry littlf Bullion ^ and if they can bring this about the Cpmmoduies brought from thence, ppjiigtit at a iow Rajte, apA Sold well in moft of the Foreign Markets whereuntp we Deal, will highly contribute to incline the Ballance of our Trade with other Countries to the Sidp of ]£n^land^ Jhfrdljfj \yhen the|:j» flialj be two forts of Buy- ers at the Cai)dle of thefe Goods, viz, thofe who bid by Comipiflion froip H^//^w^, and pur own JL^inn.en Drapers, and otl^^r pealers in fhpfe Co m^ jnbdities, the JDwf^^ will not have it fo much in i^heir Power to f^t theif owii Pricb upon thfcm, • . ^ ' ^ ' aji4 fump- ifRcult )refcnt Debts or tan )ecaurc fe laid ill en- Char- 5 their w Set- Coaft- eir In- jreater of the , info- panage ngdom ngthis :hence, noft of I, will of our iidp of fBuy- fe who r own Com- ich ill them, <40 sxiiLonJoHy inftcad of Rotter Jam and Amjlerdam^ will be the great Magazine for Eafi^lndia Wares, as heretofore it was : It being a certain Rule, that a People who will be Gainers in Trade muft, ns m^ch as poflible, have their general Ware-houfe at Home, and be their own Merchants. The Fafts retatins; to feveral Articles of our Exportations to Holland^ have been here ftated, to (hew how wrong their Notion is, who pro- nounce, becaufc we carry more to a Country of our Growth and Manufaftures than we bring from thence of theirs, that we muft always be Gainers in the Ballance of Trade with fuch Country. This would, indeed, hold, if the Peo- ple, with whom we had Dealings of this Nature, confura'd among themfelves all the Merchan- dize exported to them. But, as in the Cafe of Holland^ where our Produfl: and Manufaftures, our Plantation and Eaji-India Goods are the chief Materials wherewith they drive their Trade with other Nations there, the more of thefe Commodities they take from us, the more they enlarge their Univerfal Traffick, and con- fequently increafe their Riches. Nothmg can be more abfurd than to imagine, that the 1,382,102/. per Ann, the Sum, by a Medium of feven Years, in which we feem to Over-ballance Holland^ is all Superlucration to England^ arifing from the Trade we drive with the feven United Provinces : If fuch a real O ver- ^all^nce had accru*d, a confideraWe Over-plus '' '^- " hJuft t-A- .V a *y^>:* •^i*^, ■ » I < 4« ) muft have been cverjr Year rcturn'd to m in Bullion, as heretofore it was in the gainful Traf- fick we carry^d on with Spain : Whereas, on the contrary we have exported to Holland above four Times more Gold apd Silver in the laft Fourteen Years and Eight Months, than to all other Eitropean Coun|trieSf An Account whereof follows, vizi. '^ > '%.) «"' ^: / ■■' f: i i^ I.; V a iM I. J. J, Export- r Holland — rw— -^ 656,791-7-3 cd to cOtherjEwr^/?^iZwCoijntr.-i4P,75o-o--o I. The Truth of the Cafe therefore appears to be, that, efpecially during this laft War, (while our Trade with France and Spain has been ii*- terrupted) large Quantities of the Woollen Ma- nufeaures. Corn, Tin, Tobacco, with divers other Commodities, have been fent to Holland:^ which Goods, in the former Courfe of Trade, we exported direftly ourfelves, and *]aoflly in our own Shipping, to the Incr^afe of our Navi- gation, which the War having rendered difficult, and their Ports being lefs expos'd than ours tp the Danger of Privateers, as well in Ships Outward as Homeward bound, the Hollanders have in a great Meafure got to be the Carriers of our Goods ^ but as our Exports thither have increas'd all along, lb our Exports to other Parts muft, in Proportion, have diminiflied, and what we feem to have gain*d by our Dealings there, we have loft in the general Ballance of our Tradg ( 4? ) JTradc with Other (Xantrie«. Nor is this large fcKportaiido in i^micuhr to HolIanJ^ for thefe laft Twenty three Years, to be lookM upon as a certain Mark that the Trade of this Kingdoni has had a gradual and natural Increafe during the laid Terra, and fuch a one as it enjoy'd Thirty or Forty Years antecedent to the firft War. On the contrary, late Exports thither feem rather forc'd, and the Effeds of divert Antecedents, many of which have not contri- buted to our Advantage, while Navigation to other Parts was infecurc, while we had no Trade with France and Sj^ain^ and while the Bufinefs of the War took off our Thoughts from Trade, ^nd while, at the fame Time, fuch vaft Sums were every Year to be drawn from England for the Subnftance of the Troops A- broad, and Payment of the Subfidies. Such as were concern'd in the Remittances thought Holland the beft Market for our Native Pro- dud, and re-exported Goods, and found it their Intereft to drive thither the whole Stream of Trade, infomuch that v/hereas, in the Year 1703, i s.d. The Amount of the Ex-«j ports to all Foreign' Parts is > 6,644, 103— 0-0 Valued at '■ — -^ --. ^- *: '\'*^ The Amount of the Ex-% - ' ' ' - '- ^ '-'^' f>orts to Holland iingly is va-V2,4i 7,890-0-0 ued at—- — r— . -- * ■' '■■; Thus ( 44 ) * Thus almoft a third Part of our Univerfal Exportation terminates in the Country, which :wrill thereby be enabled to govern the Trade of zll Europe^ if the Channel thereof does not re- ceive fome Alterations by a Peace. I, Befides the Neceffity of Remittances to pay the Troops, other Realons have contributed to drive fuch Quantities of our Produfl: to Hol- land^ which Reafons, perhaps, will not ceafe when the War determines j the Dutch, more , efpecially for thefe eight or nine Years laft paft, have been deeply concerned in all the Funds in their own, and in the Hands of Engltjh and French Merchants Refiding here, and of the Jews. They are known to have confiderable Sums in the Annuities, Lotteries, Eajl-India Bunds, Stocks of the Companies, and all the Loans that are in Courfe of Payment : And the Produce of fuch Effefts lodg'd here muft be return'd to them either in Bullioii, Bills of Ex- change, or Commodities, which will be a con- ftant Drein to England, and a Weight againft us in the Ballance of Trad^ in that Country, fo long as the Funds continue. > Whether there will be the fame Demand from Holland for our Prodiifl: afi4 M^^^f^^ures in Time of Peace, as there has been during the War, is a Queftion few are able to decide. As the Cafe has flood for fome Time, they have ha4 Opportunities fo to enlarge their fr^ffick, by the Means of our Materials, as to fender them, perhaps, lefs weary of the Waf than rcrlal ^hich Ide of It re- pay [ed to HoU ceafe more paft, ds in 7 and f the erable India 11 the And uftbe fEx- i con- gainft intry, mand £hires 5 the As have ffick, ;nder that) ( 45 ) fomc of our Neighbours fcera to be : War beings feldom a Burthen to Nations that can fo con-^ - duft their Affairs, as in the mean while not to have their Foreign Traffick obftruflcd : 'Tis true, our Exportation for Twenty three Years has been very large ^ but there has been a long Gap with our Dealings with Spaitiy where our Profit was certain, and from whence there was a conftant Over-Balknce return'd to us in Bul- lion: Whereas, what Superlucration we may have made between the Exports of o\ r Goods, and the Imports of their Commodities from Holland^ Portugal^ Italy ^ and other Countries,' have been intercepted from us by the War, and what Over-plus we may have made has gone to the Payment of the Troops we maintained, upon the Spot, and the Profits arifing to us from this mighty Exportation have fo fallen fliort to- wards Supporting our whole Expences of the War, and Carrying on thofe Branches of Traf- fick which, unavoidably, muft be managed with the Species of Gold and Silver, as the Eaft Land and Eafl'India Trades. That notwithftanding the Over-Ballance which the Entries Inwards and Outwards feemingly give to England, we inuft, from the Beginning of the lirft War, have exported, by Degrees, fo much Bullion as has impair'd us at leaft nine Millions in th^t Sort of Wealth Tis to be hoped, Peace, and a welleftablilh'd Commercial Treaty, will reflore Trade to its former Channels, and when this happens, thofc f. n Exportations ^1 jf\ u ■m Expoftations wiH find their Way to other CountrieSj with more National Profit, which lately have been in a Manner confin'd to Hol- land: And till Trade is in this Courfe, Navi- gation will at beft be at a Stand, and we (hall iK)t incrcafe in our Breed of Seamen. , I have thus open'd the principal Heads of our Dealings to Holland, and from the Premifes the Wifdom of this Honourable Board will beft determine how the Ballancc of Trade has late- ly flood between the two Countries, and which Nation has probably been the Gainer (tho* the Excefs of Trade feems to be fo much on our Side, and ag^inft Holland) and I have chiefly inftanced the Year 170^, to avoid Prolixity, but the fame holds in feveral Years antecedent and fubfequent. As to the principal Articles of our Imports from Holland^ in the Year 1703, /whereof you have already the Particulars, Amounting in the whole to 440,209/. you may pieafe to obferve, that moft of them confift of Commodities for our own Confuraption, and which contribute very little towards Carrying on our Traffick with other Countries : 'Tis true, fome of their Materials are ufeful to us in our Manufadures-^ their Linnens, which is the higheft Branch of their Importation, Amounting to 219,701 /. are chiefly for our own Ufe, and what Linnens we export t»> our Plantations are moftly from the German Looms • generally fpeaking, there is little brought thence which may rtot as well be V ; V- - . ^ had z (47) hacl from other Countries, and for this Rcafon we may juftly infift upon Advantageous Terms in any future Treaty of Commerce that (hall be made between us and them. If they objeft the high Duties we have been compell'd to lay upon their Linnens and other Commodities, we may objed the fame to them, for they do, by- way of Excifes upon the Confumptioner,inipofe as much upon our Commodities as we do upon theirs by our Cuftoms, with this Difference, that they raife Money for the Publick in a Manner lefs hurtful to Trade, and more cafi to the Merchants than we have yet been ah to find out. ;. V . ,.- tr..: But, upon the whole, let us do what we can, the high Duties upon our Importations will give the Dutch a perpetual Advantage in Trade over us, till thofe Duties are lefTen'd by Time, or by the Wifdom of Parliament, or till the Draw-backs upon Re-exportations can be let upon a better Foot. . .r , ; /, By the Statute of Tonnage and Poundage upon Goods and Merchandizes imported, and by other fubfequent Statutes, the Merchant, Importer, or Perfon Buying from him, in cafe the faid Goods and Merchandizes fliall be ex- ported in the Times limited by the faid feveral Ads, is entitl'd to the feveral Re-payments, or Draw-backs therein mention'd, and not other- wife. The Inconvenicncies from hence to the Merchants and the Publick appear to be^ i. ,. >« 1, ..» ».<^. « .» ('■„:r FtrJ}, S"- 1. or (48 ) ' -F/>^, In Cafe the Merchant keeps his jGpoclfl out of Time, they can then be fold dhly for the Home Markets, and confequently site pr9 tanto of lower Value than thole Commodities which are capable of being fold for any Market, cither at Home or Abroad. Secondly y The Merchants to avoid this Lofs, the Rifque of it, exports his Commodi- ties iii Time, to entitle hirpfelf to the Draw- back, for the Cuftoms are fohigh, that he will not venture his Goods for the Home Confump- tion only, and therefore exports them, tho* he has no certain Cuftomer for them Abroad, and the rather, by |Leafon that, if the Home Con- fumption reqtiires luch Commodities, he can import them again. Paying the Duties. Thirdly y This Manner of Exporting lays a great Charge upon the Merchandize in Freight, Infurance, Commiffion, and Ware-Houfe Room, which two laft Articles being certainly the Advantage of that Foreign Country whereunto they are exported •, (which is generally to HqU land) and not only fo, but this Neceflity of the Merchants fo nils that Country with our Commodities, that they can fet their own Price upon fuch Goods, as they or other's want jthem. ' ^^vo ; > v .-..r. - Fourthly, The Merchant, for Want of a fpee- dy Market, has often Occafion to borrow Mo- ney upon his Goods, which can only be done upon the Spot where his EflFefts lie j this car- ries another Benefit to Foreigners, and whereof • - they .4 s-wwwww^^ y for re pr9 odities [arket, Lofs, modi- Draw- e will ifump- lo' he cl, and Con- le can lays a rreighr, Room, ily the jreunto to Hoh OTity of ith our n Price J want ' *i ; «■»-•--' I a fpee- w Mo- )c done liis car- irhereof they (4P) they take Hiircafonable Advattt^cS tipotl out Merchant's Elapfing his Time of Payment, Fifthly^ The Merchant, from this Neceflity^ pays his Bonds in Debentures, and draws that Money from the Crown, for which Intereft is paid by the Publick in the Loans, and which would otherwife remain with the Publick^ un- till he has fold his Goods either for a Home or a Foreign Market* It being likewife demonftrablc^ that *tis better for the Merchant to pay Intereft- Money to the Publick, for the Term of h\$ Bond, which does not amount to fo much a9 the extraordinary Expences and Rifque in Send- ing them into a Foreign Ware-Houfe, belides that in general it depreciates our Commoditie$ when we are thus compel'd to clog the Mar- kets Abroad with them. ^-■^.^ After the Drawbacks are itiade^ the Cuftonpi$ become in the Nature of an Excife uppii Home Confumption, it fcems therefore to b« the Intereft of England (and what muft ter- minate in making Great Britain a Free-Port) rather to charge a Proportion of the new Du- ties, efpecially on the fecond Vender-, but fince this Courfe may not be pradicable at pre-* fent, the next beft Expedient to reftore and preferve our Trade, appears to be, That a lar- ger Time for Re-exportation fliould be allowed the Merchant-^ (however, not to difpenfe with the Payment of the Duties and Cuftomg at the certain Times on which they are payable by the iTisfoej^ive Afts of Parliament) nor could I * ' P ever lit ■I •t:.: ( 50 ) ever meet with any fubftantial Reafons to be given againft this Enlargement. When either of thefe Courfes fhall efteftual- ly be taken, no Country will have it in their Power to fet their own Price upon our Goods, and England will be the general Magazine for many Commodities of Foreign Growth and Produd:, thar ^^hich, nothing can more tend always to incline the Ballance of Trade of our Side, and to make this Ifland, as heretofore it was, the moft confiderable Market for Bullion. In Obedience to that Part of your Precept which direds me to lay before you, in what Shipping the Exports and Imports have been made, I humbly crave Leave to offer. That my Ledgers make a Diflindion as to the Shipping^ whether in Engl'tjh or Foreign Bottoms ^ but the Articles both of Exports and Imports are fo numerous, that to extrad them for any Number of Years, will be the Work of much Time ^ I have therefore done it only for one Year between England and Holland^ with which Year I believe the other Years held Prppojtion : The grand Totals whereof here follow, but a more particular Account for the faid Year you will find in the annexed Paper, vi^. ... , . . ._ . . , , rf-.j'j- ' f -^ ^wf/iL/Z' Bottoms?. Foreign Bottoms. /. /. Jmw^ Imi orted ^ C 289,844 " ' 2? 2,568 ' "'^'I'LO ^C .>.•■» i t • .-' I Gentlemen^ to be dual- their joods, le for 1 and ; tend of our fore it illion. i^recept t what e been hat my ipping •, IS J but )rts are br any ork of mly for tV, with rs held of here for the Paper, n Bottoms. /. 232,568 915,710 htlemefff (Sefitii emen. C<» ? ' < Ttlif T Having thus laid before you feveral Pafts, a$ i find them ftated in my Ledgers, which are extraftcd from the Entries made by the Mer- chants of Exported and Importtd Goods, I noM^ think it my Duty to offer a few Words in re- lation to thefe Accompts, more efpcciaily in Regard your Precepts direfls me to take No- tice, whether I have fufpeded any fhort and Over-Entries haVe been made of Woollen Ma-* nufaftures, and of what Quantity and Value. Mr. CulliforJ^s Office began from MtchaeU mas 16^6, who put the Books in the prefent Method^ I came in June 1765, and com-* pleated Mr. Cul/iforJ*s laft Year's Accompts. From the 30th of March i^co, the Woollen Manufactures went out free of Duties, and from that Time it was vifible there would be a great Uncertainty, ?,3 to the Entries Out- wards of all that Sort of Goods ^ and I did my Utmoft to procure a Claufe in fonde A& of Parliament to oblige the Merchant to a certairi and regular Entry of thofe Commodities, a$ well as of others, paying Cuftoras, well fore -feeing of what ill-Confequences it muft be to remain in the Dnrk in fo bnaterial a Branch of our Exportation^ and iippn which the general Trade of lEn^ynd turns fo much. In Order to prc- |?cflt thj^ Mifchief, a Claufe was ofFer'd, and P 2 ver^ < 52 ) very much infifted on in the Houfe of Coni- mons by Mr. Lowndes, but obftrufted by the Merchants, for Ends not ovcr-juftitiable, and the Claufe was not received. From the Time thefe Outward Duties were taken ofF, the Merchants have mide their En- tries at Pleifure, as well in the Out-Ports as in London, but generally they have enter'd greater Quantities than were really exported, to car- ry on feme Miftery of Trade, which, tho* it might prove of Advantage to a few Perfons here and there, could never be Profitable to the Publick, in regard it muft beget Uncertainty in Foreign Markets, and fometimes occafion a Want, and fometimes an Overplus of thofe Goods ^ and it refults at laft in a Trick of the Exporters to deceive one another, at which they would not venture when the Commodi- ties'had fuch a Duty upon 'em as the Merchant could not afford to play with -, but to what Va- lue thofe Over-Entries might amount, is not to be computed, for the proper Officers Recei- ving no Duties from thence, keep no perfeft Regifter as I can find-, and large Entries are frequently made, when perhaps lefs Quantities are Shipp'd off, which indeed are marked in the Body of the Cocquets by the Queen's Searchers, but no diftind Account thereof is kept •, fo that in Free-Goods 'tis impoflible for me to check, or correct by the Searchers Books the Entries brought up to ray Office. -^ ^ Obferving what was tranfaded, and finding i. . the I70I ted Com- >y the id the were tir En- sas in greater o car- tho* it Perfons : to the ertainty cPvfion a f thofe k of the : which »mtnodi- lerchant ^hat Va- , is not s Recei- ) perfeft [tries are iiantities :d in the earchers, j fo that check, ! Entries finding the (53> the Article of the Woollen Manufafturc ex- ported, fo much encreafe every Year, and fu- fpeding this might proceed from the foremen- tion'd Caufe, I had an Account drawn up, the Copy whereof is hereunto annexed, ftiewing the Qiiantity of the Woollen Manufaftures Ex- ported in Three Years, with the Amount of the Subfidy Duties paid thereupon •, as alfo the Qiiantities of the faid Goods enter*d for Expor- tation in three Years after the faid Subfidy Du- ties were taken off, with a Computation what the faid Duties would have amounted to, if the fame had been continued^ from whence the Board may make their own Obfervations hour far the Entries may be thought to exceed the Truth •, computing by the Duties, 'tis plain that the three laft Years exceed the three firft Years, 3s follows, i;i«. , . r ,,..... /. d. Three Years bef)re the^ Duties were taken off, from^ t«^^.^ , ^^x Mtch.i6o6toChnllmasi7^0.^ 129640-ol-oJ. the Subfidy amounted to— J Three Years after thej - . , Duties were taken off, fromr Chriflmas 1700 to CbriflmasQ 1 50,892— 08-oSt 1 70 J, the Subfidy is compu- J ted at — ■ I |M »<. Difference 21,252-07-01 j. •^•- Dj And (m ) And the Outward Duties upon the Woollen Manufadure being Five per Cent, there was Entred for Exportation, in the three laft Years, in Woollen Goods to the value of 425,040!. more than in the three Years before the Duty w s taken ofF^ but whether or no this proceedfs from a Re il increafe of our Exportations, or from the Over-Entries of the Merchants (as has been obferved before) is impoflible to deter- mine^ however, finding, as far as my Books can be made up, That this Exportation is every Year larger and larger, and that at the fame time there is a general Complaint all over UngUndy of WooU being a Drugg, I am rather inclined to believe, that there may be Over- Entries made of the Woollen Manufafture, not fo much in the fine Draperies, as in the Perpetuanas, Serges, Says and Stuffs, which the Board may obferve from the Six Years Comparifon hereunto annexed. if 'tis thought of any Confequence to the Publick to have a Yearly View before them how the Woollen Manufadure ftands, I cannot fee how 'tis to be compaffed, unlefs, by fome Law, the Merchant be oblig'd to make a Regular Entry of thofe Commodities, and under a Pe- nalty •, and unlefs, at the fame time, the proper Officers by the faid Ad (hall be direfted to keep an Account of the true Quantities Exported, to which thp Infpedor-General of Exports and Imports may have recourfe, in Order to Checque the Entries when they are to b^ paffed in his |.,edger§o .•'''■" ^t %' [ooUen *e was Years, [,040 1. Duty roceecls ins, or jnts (as deter- loks can every e fame 11 over rather I Over- are, not in the which c Years to the smhow mot fee e Law, Regular r a Pe- proper to keep rted, to ts and hecque in his (55) At a Scafon when there was fuch a want of Funds, as there has been for feveral Years laft part, and while there was fuch a Neceffity of Loading all the Importations to Englarid^ W% difficult to find a good Reafon why this fmall Duty of 5/. per Cent, upon the Exports was taken off. They who look upon this Proceed- ing with Impartial Eyes, muft efteem it no bet- ter than Affedation of Popularity •, 'tis true, for the Encouraging the Exports of your own Produd: and Manufactures, they ought to be under eafie Duties Outwards^ but at the lame time, for Encouraging Trade in general, the Duties Inwards ought not to be fo high, as to render the Merchant uncapable of carrying on large Dealings in the World, and to make the Exchange become a deferved Place ^ and 'tis well worth the Confideration of the Wifeft Heads, whether this free Export of the Woollen Goods, and the Bounty upon Corn Exported, be not rather a Profit of our NeighLours, than to the Body of this Kingdom. ' ■ ""■ ' '^" The Board will fee, from the annexed Paper, that the Duties upon the Woollen Goods, for the three laft Years, while they paid Subfidy, by a Medium of the faid three Years, amounted to 4j2ij/. js, id, per Annum, -^r* i-^\Ti This Sum laid a frefh upon Outward Goods, and which does not appear to be fuch a Bur- then upon Trade, as the Debts of the Nation may not render tolerable, would either be a - • ' - ' Qj. may come in ■;:'il good preftnt fund for Money, or may P 4 Aid ''!4'>^ J ■■ Aid and Eafc of fome Branch of our Importa* tion that is over-taxed •, and tho* but half of the former Subfidy (hould be laid, it would be a Means to prevent the Merchant from Over- Entries, and bring upwards of Twenty Thou- fand Pounds per Annum to the PublicK. In that variety of Eftimates that have been here ofFer'd to this Honourable Board, it mav reafonably be 'ifk'd, how far the Entries and Calculations thereof are to be depended on ^ in which Point, t^rithout any for^ of Difguife, \ fliall deliver my Opinion. As to the Entries Inwards: I have reafon to think there is a very little Difference between them and thofe Accounts in the Cuftpm-Houfe, terhereby the Duties are charged and aflertain'd, except where there is Allowances raadp for Dam- inagcd and DefcSivc Goods, which is no fqch Article as will make any Material Change in the general Computations. . As to the Entries Outwards: I doubt the Woollen Manu&ftures are not the pnly Iqt fiance of the Merchants Entrjng mote than he really Shipp'd off^ for tho* there are fome Dif&r ciiltics in the Praftice, yet, for By-Ends to liimfelf, he now and then makes Entries and ^pftroys the Cocquet. The Goods thus enter'd are perhaps never Shipp*d off, ?lnd yet the Quantiti^;s remain in the Bills of Entry; But an AccQMnt of all Pebentures, Goods, entituled to a Drawl) ick, n)uft of CouiTc be kept in the OiEce pf the Searchers^ becaufe they teftify in "••^ ' ' • thB porta* of the I be a Over- rhou- 5 been may i in mfe, I n ilbn to Jtwcen Houfe, tain'd, rDam- |o fuch nge in bt the ly lUr lan he rDiffir nds to es and enter'4 et the ; But tituled in the tify in the faid Debenture the true Qiiantities Shipped ofF. If the Merchant makes an Entry, as I am informed is frequent, when the Ship, or Vcffel mention'd in his Cocquet, is not capable of ta- king the Goods Aboard, in fuch Cafe he is obli- ged to make afrefti Entry, and take out a frefh Cocquet. -^ This Praftice begets fome uncertainty in the Entries ^ however, I have reafon to think none very Material : But the Number of Clerks I am ^Uow'd has never been fufficient to Compare and Checque the faid Entries with the Sear :hers Books, which if I were enabled to dp. the Led- gers would be as Authentick to all Intents and Purpofes, as any Accounts uf this Nacure can poflibly be render*d ^ and that I might be in a better Capacity to perform this Service, and for divers other Reafons, in the Year 1 704 1 gave a Petition to my Lord Godolphin^ and a Memorial to the Commiflioners of the Cuftoras, praying for a greater Number of Hands, as well for the Current Service, as to Retrofpeft into thePofturc of our general Trade, for fome Years anticedent to the firft Year ^ but the Commiflioners of Her M^jefty'3 Cuftoras did net think fit to make Ithis allowance. I have anne:?^ed to this Report the faid Me- morial, to (hew there is no Bianie lies on me, if this Honourable Board does not iind thefe Ac- counts in that exadlnefs which my Naturnl Cu- yiofity leads me to reduce them : And it 1 am ppt m fuch readincfs to lay before them the ' • Stat? w 1 (58) State of our Trade with all other Countries as well as with France and Holland^ and (hall add no more upon this Head, but that if I had been aflifted with more Hands, you Ihould by this time have had an ampler Hiftory of our Foreign Trade. As to the Valuations upon the refpeftive Com- modities, I have therein follow'dmy worthy Pre- deceffor, but have been long inclined to think, that fomeof our own Native Produfts have been Over-valued, and that Time has made fome al- teration in the Price of Foreign Commodities, for which reafon I have not Pofted my Ledgers for thefe laft four Years, contenting ray felf with Regiftring all the Entries of Imports and Exports in Quarterly-Books, to which I can have recour^*:^ and from whence I can extraft Ac- counts upon all Occafions, ftill expeding that Peace would fix a more certain Price upon all Commodities, as well Foreign as of Home Growth, Exported and Imported. But fuppofe there may be fome Over-Entries not corrciSed and fet right with the real Quan- tity exported, it does not (hake the Reafoning Part of what has been here offered, only pro tanto as the Value of fuch Over-Entries may amount to, which, upon the whole, I take to be inconfiderable, except in the Goods not Pay- ing Duties Outwards, whereof the Entries may be made certain, if the Parliament is defirous to have a true Account, from Time to Time, of the Increafe, or Decreafe in tb^ Woollen Manu* fadures, from ^ (•19) From what has been here laid down, •tis evi- dent enough, that tho', by a Medium of fevcn Years, our grofs Exporrations to Holland have been i^(^^j^^-}^l per Annum -^ and tho', by the fame Medium, our grofs Importations from thence have been but 549,832/. per Annum, yet, as to Gain, the Ballancc muft have been on their Side, becaufe they have not carry'd from us Goods only for their own Confump- tion, but Materials for their Commerce with Other Countries, infomuch as it may with Safe- ty be affirm'd. That the fame War which in fo many Inftances has irapair'd England^ muft h?yL ^:^rought a vaft Increafe of Wealth to the Body of their People and of the feveral Branches of our Foreign Trade ^ whilft Tome of •em have been leflened, and others in a Manner quite loft, they have enlarg'd their Dealings, and Daily become Richer and Stronger from our Supine Negligence. , I Ihould not revive antient Fears, or endea- vour to awaken the Thoughts of Men upon this Sublet, were not the Fads lying before meconvi^ . caj Proofs, That in fome Parts they fupplant u , in others incroach upon us, and every where out-wit us -, in the mean Time we have behav'J ourfelves like a Young Man born to a great Eftate, who thinks his Condition fuch, that no Expence, and no want of Care C^n do him hurt, till at Lift his Creditors be- ua to i^^4l ii^ f'^r ^he Mortgages they have up- -'- ■'•' ■' ' y-' ■ '■ '-■ - ■ • on W' u B i'i C6o) on his Land, and till he finds his Rents will not anfwer the Intercft of what he Owes. . A Trading Country rauft full as much look after the Commerce of Trade, as the Bufinefs of the War, otherwife the Sinews of the War will foon flacken : But how far we have facri- ficed our Intereft to other Confiderations, will be feen wlien we have Leifure to look about us, and when Peace (hall have brought us into wifer and cooler Thoughts. To fuch (and they are not few) as are of Opinion, that the Dutch Bave been Loofers, and we Gainers by the War, becaufe of our great 7 /^rtations, thefe Que- ftions fliould be ofFer'd, low comes it to pafs that, for feveral Years, ^e bive been the Bor- rowers and they the Lenaers > How havc^ey gain*d the large Effefts they have in our An* nuities, and Stocks, and all other Funds > And whence is it, that at this Inftant the Bank of Amjlerdam contains more of the Species of Gold and Silver than perhaps is Current over all the reft of Europe^ when, at th^ fame time, 'tis plain to thofe who are not rcfolv'd to Ihut their Eyes, That we have Nine Millions lefs in Coin tbaa we had in he Year 1688. After fo many Millions have been expended to enlarge the Fame and Glory of this King- dom, and in Carrying pn a War with I-aqd- Armips, fo much out of our prpper Sphere, and beyond our natural Strength, 'twiU be fea- fonable p confider of fuch Ways as; n^ay l^a4 tp oVr future Safety, ancl repair the Loires [ts will Ih look fufinefs »e War facri- will mt us. Is into Id they Dutch War, Que- > pafs Bor- ' And ank of fGold all the 5 plaia Eyes, tbaa snded King. -aqd- »here, J Tea- olfes ( ^1 ) England has fuftain'd, by taking wrong Mti* furcs in the Support of this Alliance. Our Part had been td have carry'd on an extended War'by Sea, and to have diftrefs'd the Enemy in all their Ports at Home, and on their Weft'lndtan Co?&'^ and we fliould, in a larger Degree, have left to the Confederates the Care of their own Defence by Land ^ the chief Ex- penccs of Fleets are at Home among ourfelves, and keep our Treafure within the Kingdom. Land Armies either carry out Money in Spe- cie, or by Bills of Exchange intercept the Profits arifing from Trade, which is one and the fame Thing, and almoft equally tends to the Impo» vcriftiment of a Nation ^ befides, that large Sub- fidies always beget long Wars, where they who Receive, can never be fo foon weary of their Bufinefs as they that are to Pay. By Land- Armies we enrich other Countries, by great Fleets we cheriflx and maintain our own Peo- ple, and proteft our Trade from the Infults of our Enemies, and from the Incroachments of our Allies and Friends. Without Arrogating too much to ourfelves,' we may fafely fay, and Pofterity will be of the fame Opinion, That the Wealth of England has chiefly fupported the Confederate Arms ^ which Wealth was the Refult of a long and flouriftiing Trade : And what has been exhaufted from us is no other Way to be reftor'd, but by taking the fame Courfes whereby it was firft gotten. *Tis not to be deny'd but our Anceftors * I I. SI ;' Anccftors were carelefs in many Points, arid have (uffer'd our Neighbours to get many Ad* vantages over us, which a little Vigour in the Adminiftration might have prevented -^ but in thofe Days Riches flow'd in fo fall upon us, that many Omiflions in the State may be well excuff d •, befides the Power, firft of the Houfe of Aujlria^ and then of France^ was fo formida^ ble, and the Protefiant Intereft fo low, as might reafonably induce the Minifters of thofe Days to connive at fome Proceedings of other Coun* tries, however prejudicial they might be to the Commercial Intereft of Great Britain, But now Spain^ in whatever Condition of Strength a General Peace ftiall leave it, will not for fome Ages be able to do us Hurt -^ and 'tis manifeft enough, the Succefs of the Q^ieen's Arms have fo interrupted the Progrefs France was making towards Univerfal Monarchy, and fo broken the French Forces, that they will be glad for many Years not to deviate from the Paths of Peace •, fo that 'tis to be hop'd, the Calm which is like to follow fuch a long Storm, may give Her Majefty's Subjeds Oppor- tuinities to regain the Ground they have loft in Trade. There is nothing weaker than pretending to offer particular Rules how a Country may thrive by Foreign Traffick-, Trade muft be fufter'd to take its own Courfe^ and will find its own Channel. If Merchants are encourag'd, if their Intereft is aflerted with Courage in Courts Abroad, f, arid y Ai^ n the )utia n us, well ioufe night Days oun* ) the n of will and ecn's 'ance and will t the the long por- loft ; to nay ^r'd wn leir irtis ad. (^3> Abroad, and in all Negotiations with othct Countries •, and if the Duties are not fo high as to compel Men to withdraw their EfFcfls from Commerce, a Nation that has convenient Ports, whofe natural Genius leads them to Sea- AfFairs, who abound in fuch a rich Native Produd of their own, and who have fo many Hands Working for them in their American Plantations, can never fail of acquiring Wealth by Trade , provided, that by negligent or fear- ful Councils, they do not leave Room for their Neighbours wreft it from them. - As War ha^ been manag'd for thefe lafl: Hun- dred and Fifty Years, meerly by the Power of Money, no Nation can be acounted Safe, or Miftrefs of its Liberties, that is not in a Condition to contend with its Oppofites at the Weapon they make Ufe of ^ on the contrary, when 'tis vifible, that the Strength of a Peo- ple is wafted, fuch a People lies expos'd to the firft Invaders that have gather'd Wealth enough to fit out New Fleets, and raife New Ar- mies. They who haVe been for Flattering our Diftempers, and who have reap'd their beft Harveft from publick Poverty, will pretend there is as great a Plenty of Money in the Kingdom as formerly ^ but fuch as will take the Pains to enquire into the Condition of our Affairs, will find from Fads not to be confefled, that our Species of Gold and Silver is very much diminilhed : 'Tis true, we now have, and all r M ' t >l il C^4) all along have had an cxtenfivc Credit^ how-^* ever, England can never be reckon'd entirely Safe, till it poflefles fuch a Quantity of Coiti as may be Proof agrunft any fudden Emergen* cies of Invafions, new Wars, or future Breach of Treaties, and as may bear fortie due Pro- portion with Paper-Credit. But this is only to be expefted from Time and the Enlargement of Trade, to which the immenfe Stock we have in Paper- Credit will contribute-, and this Stock may be well look'd upon to be fo confi- derable, as to enable us hereafter to Cope with our Wealthy Neighbours ^ it being as tranf- ferrable as R4oney in the Bank of Amfterdam^ and will be thought to have as much intrin- fick Value, when we have the Profpeft of a Lafting Peace. ' But to give thefe Things a fix*d Price, to promote Navigation, to encreafe oiir Seamen, to make this Kingdom Rich in Reality, as well as in Opinion, and to bring in Bullion, all our Endeavours muft tend to the Advancement of our Trade. The World is large enough to employ the Induftry and Wealth of both Nations j and fincc the Expence of this long War is like chiefly to terminate in Rendering the Butch Secure, by a ftrong Barrier again ft the Power of France^ they cannot, by the Rules of Equity, complain of any Meafures we (hall hereafter take for our own Prefervation, and to recover thofc % -,..-,. . . . ... M> Branches how- itirely >fCoiti drgcn- Jreach ePfo- only ;ement e have this coufi- j with tranf- trdam^ ntrin- of a ice, to lamen, s well ill our ent of >y the I (ince sfly to , oya rance^ (iplain ce for rhofe inches , ('JO Sfaiiches of our TrafEck which the War h^$ either loft or interrupted- ^T would be too tedious here to take Notice, irt U^hat parts of Fofeign Trade v(re have, from time to time, bfen fupplantcd by our Neighbours, and particularly fince the very time our Arras and. 0)uncils have been chiefly ettoploy'd in main- taining the Common«Caufe : But as Occafion fliall offer itfclf, in treating of the Dealings be-» tween England and other Countries, I (hall, irt Obedience to theii' Precept, lay what has oc-* cur'd to mt before this Honourable Board* *Tisnotreafonablc to differ with another Coun* try becaufc their Conduft has been better and wifer thatt yours ^ but we are to Correft out own Ertors by their Wifdomt : Ouj* future Bu-* finefs, therefore, will be to Oppofe Induflry with Indufiry, and to fet up Tenacioufnefs, in what telates to Intereft againft the fame Principle,! wheii wc fee it is in others the only jRule where- by they govern all their Aftions< When \lre find out Neighbours Entetp/izing^ Vigilant, and Jealoiisin whatever has relation tg their Trade ^ and wheii we obferve *em flill en- deavouring to get Crouifid, and ne\rer yeilding any Point to us, but forming long Schemes, ca|* culated to take Effect many Yeats to come, in Order to enlarge themfelvcs at our Expence^ it will become good JPatriots to look about thetn^ and 10 take Care left in time England fhould be in a nm)S^ excluded fromi the Commerd^ ,1' y i IVbcta i m m II 1 ' tirl i :frP m (66) When ever vfc loofe our Tr.ide, wc muft bid farewell to that Wealth and Strength which have hitherto enabled us to preferve our Liberties againft the Defigns of Spain and France, the two Greatefl Monarchies that have been ere(fted fincc the Declenfion of the Roman Empire: Want of due Circumfpedion in a Point fo EiTen- tial to the very Exiftence of this Kingdom, ^lay, perhaps, in lefs than an Age, reduce us to be the Prey of fome Conquerors, notwithftanding our large Eftates in Lind, the Fertility of our Soil, the Richnefs of our Produft, and the Conveni- ence of our Ports, which Natural Advantages, if not well made Ufe of, and Direutch in Trade, wc muft, as well in time of' Peace as War, have a Fleet in readinefs ftrong enough, upon all Occafions, vigoroufly to affert our Dominion of the Sea: Trade has been evef obferved to follow Power, and to be influenced by it. That Nation which has the beft Navy will have the moft Merchant-Ships reforting to it for Ptolit or Protections and in fuch a Pofture you are Courted by your Friends, and Territ)k to youf Rivals. No Profeiiion of Men fooner feel the fiffeds of National Increafe, ot Pecreafe }Si Reputatiofl, than Merchants, if ^^ ./r ^ m fj'l 111 i ( I II (2,932,292-i7-6i:. Year, arc valued at — ■■ 3 From this Account, which in all Probabih'ty may be relied on, it appears that our Woollen Goods are above a Third of our Univerfal Ex- i ports : Nor is it neceflary to urge any other Ar-. gumeuts to prove how much it concerns £«/- land to be jealous in this Point, and watchml over this Staple, wherein any confiderable De* cay would affeft the whole Body of the Peo- ple. *Tis difficult to judge how far a Populous and Fertile Country, fo Abounding in Ships, and vfhofe Inhabitants are Frugal and Induftri- ous, and who have forin'd fuch a power full Do- minion, as is now compos'd by the Addition of fo large a Part of Flanders^ to the feven United , Provinces, may carry the Improvement of this Commodity, efpecially fince it daily grows more and more vifible that other Countries, befides Her Mijefty*s Kingdoms, afF.>rd Wool! proper for common Ufe; And where there arc fuch Numbers intent upon, and Subfiftina; by Mmu- faelure, they will ealily tind Materials for it. But tlio* our Neighbours (bould continue to prefer the Intereft of their Trafficks to all other E 4 Confi^f ( 7> ) Confidcrations^and tho' they fhould perfiftto en- large their Foreign Bufinefs to our Detriment, yet the Mifchief is yet without a Remedy, and It will always be within our Power to give our* felves Satisfaftion for any Injuries of this Na-- ture they (hall be obferv*d to offer, and this may be done withaut coming to any of thofe Extremities, to which commonly Nations havQ ^ecourfe, where one is &en to undermine thQ Other, -; Firft of all upon the Settlements of a Peace, in all future Treaties of Commerce we ihall si^ake with other Countries, we are to fence par- ticularly againft the Arts and Incroachments of tht Dutcb^ who, beyond all Difputes, arc our indfl (Jangerous Rivals in Trade \ we niuft bear a watchful Eye over all their Proceedings, and never yiel4 to *em in any point wherein Na* tional Intereft and Profit is concerned i nor can th^ Princes Confederated in this long War juft- ly find fault with fuch Conduft, fince the hea- vy Load of Debts lying upon us confider'd, *twill be as impoflible for England to fubfift un- der any great Decay of the Woollen Manufa- tfture, or under any confiderable Interruption in fevpral Bjranches of our Foreign Conimercp, as it Would be impoflible for the butch to maintain themfelvps without theii: Herring pilhcry, or that Part of their Eaji'lnd^a Trade they now ftand pofTefsM of ^ fo that if they will not bq contented to Live and let Live, and bear them- fcives towards t;s h^reaftei: m a Friendly ' '■ ^ . * Manner, toen- imenr, and ^re our* is Na^ id this thofe 18 have ine the Peace, e (hall ICC par- ents of arc our ift bear igs, and sin Nat* nor Can ^ar juft- he hea- ifider'd, )(ift un- ^lanufa- 3tion in x:p, as it maintain crv, or ey now not be • them- riendly ^ 73 ) Manner, ^nd ceafe to undermine us in every Part of the Commercial World, we inuft refort In the Declenfion of our Wealth to thai Relief; which the /?mi/)(> Seas at al! Times will have rea^y for us ^ and we mnft in good Earned un- dertake the Herring- Fifliery, which will give full Iraployment as well to the Rich as to the Poor, 1 (hall here add (ome Words of the Ju- dicious Writer Mr. Muns, •' f I will deliver my Opinion concerning oui^ Clothing, which altho' it be the greateft Wealth, and beft Employment to the Poor of this King- dom, yet neverthelefs we may, peradventure, employ ourfelves with better Safety, Plenty, and Profit in Ufing more Tillage and Filhing, than to truft fo wholly to the Making of Cloth, for in Times of War^ or by other Occafions, If fome Foreign Princes (hould prohibit the Ufc thereof in their Dominions, it might fuddenly caufe much Poverty, and dangerous Uproars, cfpecially by our poor People, when thei^ (hall be depriv*d of thqir M'^intenance which inot fo ea(ily fail them, when their Labours (hall be divided into the faid Diverfiry of Employments, whereby alfo many Thou(ands would be the better able to do good Service in Occafion of War, efpecially by Sea. It would not be difficult to prove, that not- withiimding the Difference of |ntere(l Money between 4 and 6 per (Jent» our Scituation and other ntturil Advantages will at all Times f^n4?r us Superiyur in this Trade, now more ^. , efpecially, ^f"'^^ h - iv' I. »: (74) efpeoially, that England and Scotland are Uni- ted ^ for before the Union, it could never be properly faid we had a Herring-Fifliery. - Mr. Muns^ who wrote not long after the Re- fioration, and always ftates his Fads with great Fidelity, values the Exportation of Fifli in his Time at 140C00/. per Annum^ but our prefent Accounts fall ftiort of this Sum. 'Tis true, by a Medium of Five Years from 1696 to 1701, in- cluGve, the Exports of Fifli amounted to 132,849/. per Annum *^ however, this Account was not natural, but rather feems to have pro- ceeded from the great Drawbacks allowM them upon Salt, for till that Way of Deceiving the Publick began to be put into Pradice, which was about 1698, the Entries amounted to but about 52,400/. per Annunty and began again to dirainifh, when lome Regulations were made in the faid Drawbacks, fo that from 1699 to 1709, the Medium of Exportation for the faid ten Years, has been 77,115/. Z'^?^ Annum^ which is little more than half of what was exported Fifty Years ago: It muft indeed be granted, that feveral of our Neighbours have enlarg'd their Flfhing for Cod ^ but whether they have not made this Improvement by our Negligence is left for others to determine. I (hall not at prefent farther enlarge upon this Subjed, defigning in forae other Report to lay the Fi(hing-Trade before this Hon)urable Board ^ but in reg ird this may happen to be the Subjed of Debate in Parliament, I have here- untQ mmmm 5 Uni- ^er be leRe- I great in his >refent , bjf a I, in- sd to :count cpro- them >g the vhich :o but ain to ide in "709, i ten ch is orted , that their ; not ce is ( 7O iintd atinexed an Accorapt of the Qiiality, Quantity, and Value of all Sorts of Fifli export- ed from England^ and to what Parts Beyond- Sea, for ten diftinft Years. The Variety and Intricafy of this Subjed hav« rendered this Report longer than I ex- pefted, for which, I ought to afk the Pardon of a Board whofe Time is taken up in Matters of fo much more Importance than I am able to lay before them. All which is humbly [nbmittcd by Charles Davenant. Jnfpeftor General's Office, Decemh^thc icth, I7H# - li /' -^- •' ^"■■^■■i-^ ■ upon rt to rable : the lere- untQ A N 1::;^ virCm ^m* j->i:w-^'^'^'^*:xAv.{ 'iUy-" #1 ■• «-. » »rfJ" *»s -'. g'^IU .. i ►»lf.5^. .i X .i.,rj:i-.lfT^ vt '>-HW/^>.=«i«i^«->i» in)nn.->'*w--i »i i»i■<■■'>. ^mit ■•mmim AN INDEX TO THE '*. : :;■;^i/ .V ^ Second Part ; 5yhich relates to the Trade of England with Holland^ Germany^ Weft- Indies^ 5cc, THE Trade with HoUancl in the Tears i65j and 1669,—^ »Page 3 TO^ Imports and Exports of England and Hol- land in the Tears 1665 and i66g compared ivith thofe from 1699 to 1704, with Ohfer^ vations thereupon^ • — r. 4 That the Exportations from England to Hol- land have Annually encreasd from 1703 to I7JO, ^ P. 9 jKfg^fc Duties upon Re-Exports very prejudicial to our Trade ^ — ■■■ P. 12 A particular Annual Account of the Importations from Holland to England, and Exportations from England to Holland from 1699 to 1704,'-^— ' : 2 ^' '^' ^^* " Great W: Wi ''I I,' lit i^u Tlie tli D B X. 0Udt Quantities of our Woollen ManiifaHures;^ durtng the Wdr^ carrfd thro* Flanders to France, — *- "• _\ >— P. 23 Of the Trade -*-— ' " ' »— **■ — ■ ■ P. 44 The Hfgh Duties upon Importations rtfiU always give the Dutch Advantage over us in Trade^-Vi^J The Advantages thdt Great Britain may receive by making it a Free tort. -* ■ ■ ■ ■ P.- 49 An Account of the Imports and Exports in Eng- lilh and Foreign Bottoms^ -^ ^— 'P, 50 Votwitk (landing the Exportations from Englaild have much exceeded the Importations from jHoUand, the D\iiQh have been Gainer s^-^V. 59 That Thi Thi mt 42 tbff The ItJDEX. That the People e>/ Great Britain ought not to repine at the Induflry of our Iseighhouring Vations^ but endeavour to imitate their pru- dent Managementy P. 69 The Fijhery of Great Britain to be encou- raged^ — -*■■ ' " 'P* 73» .).,i; Finis. r