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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 .Jf- '•■ I LETTER F R O Vi A Merchant of the City oi London^ T O T H E R— t H ble W — P— - Efq; UPON T H E* Affairs and Commerce of North Ame- rica, and the West-Indies j Our African Trade y- the Deflination of Our Squadrons and Convoys j New Taxes, and the Schemes propofed for railing the extraordinary Supplies for the current Year. Soli omnium contigit tibi ut pater patriae ejjh .1 antequam ficres. Plin. LONDON: i Printed for J. Scott^ at the Black Swan, in P(^ier* "" noJitr-Row^ 1757* ♦ • // I r'p ^^'^k> !SI:; i': '^^An'>t!-W ;pt'i ----- •x\^ , ? f - " A-i" .'^i/.^-*--^ — il J"" - * .:/'. TT ' •' ) f rf;' ;•• '. ;.;••■»' r I I . ■■ ■ ■ f ■ • ..•/' t \}}i ^iil I ...,., ..^ l:i '.Hif^r f#f* •%^- w «,,..-■**, ^% (. ,.- ,.^ 4 1 . ^* »^ *A •^ v" •/• •-»*-; tmm^: ♦♦♦'l'****4»**'^**<'*'**^** »^4^^'»»»»4>»4>»«t* !V ••'• * . ■ J , I T LETTER n J • ; , .^ FROM A /» r Merchant of the City of LondoHy TO THE ■j» . i ; R— tH- ble W- F/q; G*^. SIR, • * ?«")8C)G(^ H E Writer of thefe Sheets has S 'T § been converfant in Mercantile k.)@C)S(j»)( and Commercial Affairs for up- wards of Twenty Years, and in the Courfe of that Time he cannot fail to have made fuch Obfervations and Remarks upon our Trade and Navigation, as may tend at this Jundture, to the Advancement of both. He fhould not, however, have been tempt- ed to render public his Thoughts upon thefe Subjedts, if, in a Convcrfation "with a certain great Man, he had not been much foUicited thereto, and all his Arguments of Excufe, baffled by that great Perfuaiion, B 2 the (4) the Good of his Country. He flatters himfclf therefore, that you will not im- putp to Vanity what is founded in a quite different Motive, any more than think., him Prcfumtive in daring to dedicate this Piece to a Perfon of fuch diftinguifhcd Talents and Power. Though unknown to youperfonally, he may well plead a Know- ledge of your fuperior Abilities, as the principal Reafon of this Dedication ; the fecond is the Capacity you have of putting in Execution any wife and falutary Mea- fures that may be propofed. I Commerce and Navigation are fo im- mediately connected with the very Exi- gence of this Nation, that whoever (hould difcant upon the SyAem that England ought to purfue in her Politics, without firft marking how (he mud fecure her Trade, and fupport her Dominion of the Sea f would refemble the Dodtor who was entirely taken up with prelciibing for his Patient preventatives for the Tooth-ach, while his Lungs were decaying with a deep Confumption. Although I am not (o chimerically Syftematic, as to urge we have i 4 A', t r c 8 S > }t e >i ( 5 ) have no Connedtions whatever with the Continent; and that our Naval Force alone, without any Auxiliaries whatever* is fufficient, not only to protedt our Amcri^ can Colonies and Settlements, but alfo to fecure this Kingdom from all Invaders> and even pull down the Power of Franca even when flie (hould be united with the Houfe of Auftriay Spain^ Sicily and the Turk : A It ho* I am not infatuated with our Naval Strength to this Degree, Yet I am not unacquainted with the Superiority it gives U9 over all the Powers of Europe^ not excepting even that Maritime Power, who fo long contended with us for the Dominion of our own Seas, and which (he now quietly poffefles, when fhe has not a Fleet of twelve Men of War (fit to put to Sea) to fupport her Claim. Our Connexions with the Continent fh ::iid not be given up at this time to try Experi- ments upon our own Force, an EfTay of this kind might prove much more than we (hould like, that we are too opiniated with an eftablijhed Militia^ we build too much upon our Fleets, This is not the Period to execute new Syftems of Politics; theSeafon for i 1 1 if (6) f6r fuch Tryals Is Peace ; when no Enemy can thwart your Meafures but by counter- Negociations, — when you afe n6t every Moment threatened with fome new En- terprize, the Succefs of which may cir- cumvent every End propofed by Treaties, chough ever fo well modell'd. Have we not a recent Inflance of this in the Czarma? She engaged to furnifh us with 53000 Men upon receiving 400,000/. a year when they fliould be in Motion, and 100,000/. (a yearly Subfidy of which has been al- ready paid her) while they kept upon the Frontiers of Livo?jia^ to be ready upon the firft Call : What was the Sequel of this ? Thefe very Troops that were paid by the King of Great Britain to fight his Battles againil: the French King 5 were upon the King of PruJ/ias taking proper Meafures to fecnre his Dominions from being wrefted from him by the Emprefs Queen and the King oiPolaml^ conjundively with the French King ; deflined to traverfe Cotirlandy and make a Diverfion in favour of the Allies of France. So that in fadt we are paying the Czarina 1 00,000/. a year for employing c;3,oco Men againft us. The * ( 7) le ir J j I The Inference I would draw fronn this is, that Great Br i lain mud ever have Con- nexions with the Continent as long as (he would Trade to Advantage upon it j and where her commercial Intereft therewith is not concerned, (he has none. By a re- ciprocal commerical Intereft, with the Protcftant Powers of the North and G^r- manyy Inch a Cement might be formed, as to render all fubiidiary Gratifications need- Jefs j our Fleets fliould protedt their Trade when incroached upon, their Armies fliould defend our FolTefliGns when at- tacked, but without Fee or Reward. This is the Plan of Politics Britain fhould purfue. But a time of War is not the Period for laying a proper Foundation for fo great a Superftrudlurc. We muft con- tent ourfelves at prcfent with purfuing fuch a Plan as to prevent too great a Balance of Power in favour of the Houfe of Bourbon^ and when needful, employ fuch Bodies of Auxiliaries as may be ne- ceflary for ourProtedlion, or the Afliftance of our Allies, — at leaft untill our Militia (hall be formed and trained to a proper Dif. ( 8 ) Difciplinc : In the mean while your At- tention, Sir, cannot be too much fixed upon the Security of our Commerce, and the Force and Extent of our Navigation. In the Courfe of this Epiftlc, I (hall take the Liberty of marking what Provi- fions and Alterations may be neccflary for the Protedion of our Trade to North America^ the IVeft'Indies^ and the Coafl of Africa^ — which are Branches of our Trade, that cannot be too much cherifhcd and fupported ; and I (hall at the fame Time point out what appear to me the proper Deflinations of our Fleets for the Annoyance of th« Enemy, and of Con- voys for the Protedlion of our Merchant- men, from their Ships of War and Cruizers. I As the prefcnt Quarrels which fubfifl la EuropCy may be traced to the Squabbles, concerning our, and the French American PofTcfTions; although a Plan may have been concerted, between the Emprefs Queen, the Czarina, and the King of Poland^ for reducing the Power of the Houfc s $ f i 4 ( 9 ) tloufc of Brandenburghj and dividing among them it's Foflcliions, upon the firft favourable Opportunity, for a Difturbancc of the Tranquility of Europe i it is reafonable to fuppofe that before the Plan of a lading Peace can be formed for the contending Parties in Europe, the Limits of our American Colonics muft be firft afcertained, and ail caufc of Diftturbance upon that Head be removed; and as there is no likely hood of our hare- ing thcfe Matters fettled to our Advantage by the French Minifters, without we can firft prove by the Force of our Arms, as well as Treaties, (which are now broke) that our Claims are juft, and the Repofe of Europe will ftill be a great way off, even though the King of PruJJiay iliould by his fuperior Abilities and great Military Skill, as a Prince and as a General, fo extend his Conquefts in Bohemia and even Hungary, as to oblige the Queen of that Name to propofe Terms for a fpeedy Accommodation. To this End then I fhall give my Sentiments upon carrying on the War in America, in fuch a manner as to oblige by our Succefs, the French to C . leave ( 10 ) leave the juft Bounds of our Provinces unmolefted, and if a glorious Peace can be procured, to guarranty to us with the Powers of Europe, the Free and Unin- terrupted Poffefiion thereof. But as this may at firft feem not of fufficient Importance to gain the Attention of the feveral Powers of Europe, who will at the End of this War be contradling Parties in the Treaty of Peace; I fhall give a fmall fketch of the Extent, Pro- duce, and Advantages of our Norths American Colonies. i I m The EngliJIj claim all North-America to fettle in by the Difcovery of Cabot ^ in 1497. ^''^'^ ^^^' ^7> ^^ ^*P^ Florida in 25, called the Newfoundlands, till Sir Walter Raleigh's Voyage, in 1585. And from that Time named Virginia without Diftindion. The Englifi Settle- ments by Grants extend from Sea to Sea, or from Eaft to the Weft Coafts of the Continent, where New-Albion was ceded by it*s King, to Sir Francis Drake in 1577. King James the I. in 1606, made grants to i i ^i Ices :an the lin- i I r.- ■K •# ( " ) to Two Companies, to One from Lat. 34 to 4 1 , to the other from 3 8 to 45. Carolina, Virginia Proper^ and Maryland^ fell to one, to the other New-England, New- Tork, New'jerfey, and Penfilvania, After- wards diftindt Grants being made of them, under the Names of Nova-Scotia, and New-Britainy Virgi?iia, or all North- America ^ became divided into lefs Parts undervarious Appellations. i^/r|^/;;/jPro/>^r, fettled in 1607, by King James, is bounded by Grant to the North, from Lat. 41. to the South as far as Lat. 36, 30. which was run by Agreement in 1729, and the Government and Property thereof are in the Crown. New-England, included in the general Virginia Patent, was granted 1606, and fettled in 1621, the Bounds Extend from Lat. 40 to 48 North, and Eaft, and Weji, from Sea to Sea, if not poflcfTed by any Chriftian State, as by Grant of James the L November 3, 1621. Nova-Scotia, ufurped by the French in 1603, and from whence they were dro\^e by Argal, in 16 13, was granted to Sir Wiiliam Alexander, in 1621, and the Limits were prefcribed to be St. hawrence\ C 2 River, 'i;^i I 9 9 ( 12 ) River, on the Norfhy and on the fFeJi Si, Croix, By a fecond Grant in 1635, it was enlarged to Kennebek River, to co-extend Nova-Scotia^ with Acadia (fo called by the French) granted by Lewis XIII. in 1633, which has been Five or Six Times Conquered by the Ejiglijh^ and given up to the French^ who in 1 7 1 3 by the Treaty of Vtrecbt^ ceded it entirely to Queen Ann^ excepting Cape Breton^ and the Property and Government thereof are in the Crown. Maryland before part of Firginia, granted to Lord Baltifnore, by Patent of King Charles I, dated yune 20, 1632, which was Named after the Confort of that Prince, was fettled in 1633, ^"^ extends North to Lat. 40, South a few Miles below 38, Eaft by the Ocean, and extends Wejl to the Head of the Fotomac River. The Property and Government hereof are in the Proprietor. The Two Carolinas^ now called North and Souths were one and the fame Country, till 1729. Some French Huguenots made an Incurfion here in 1562, and built Charles Fort at Tort Rcyaly but thefe were entirely de- moliflied in 1564 by the Spaniards y and thefe ■'»■ •4 (>3) thefc were cut ofF by the French in 1567, and from that Period it was unfettlcd (except by a few Englijh^ in the Years 1622 and 1653) till it was granted to Eight Proprietors in 1665, from Lat. 36. 30. to 29. and Weji to the South Sea : the Charter was vacated in 1728, and Seven of the Proprietorfhips or Shares were bought in by the Crown, in whofe Hands is the Government, and the People are poffefTed of the Property. New-- 'Jerjey lies between Maryland^ Penjihania^ and New-Tork, being part of the Dutch New Netherlands; taken froili them in 1664, and granted to the Duke of Tork, and by him to Lord Berkley, and Sir George Carteret, It was Recovered by the Dutch in 1672, but they reftorcd it to us in 1673, and in confequence thereof it was regranted to, and by the Duke in 1674, to the fame Proprietors, who divided it by a Line from South to North; Lord Berkley, had the Weft Jerfey, and Sir George Carteret, the Eajl Jerfey^ which are now united Property in the Proprietors, but the Government and Jurifdidtion were given up to the Crown in 1702, NeW'Torky '1, 11 ( 14 ) NeW'Tork, was firfl vifitcd by Hudfojz m 1608, who gave his Name to the River, bought the Country of the Indians, and fold it to the Dutch-^Cbarksl, laid claim and the States General difowned their Title to it, and the Dutch Company made an qffer of it for 2500I, but they retreated, built Forts, and called it all with New- Jerfey^ the New NetJjerlands, It was conquered with New-Jerfey^ and granted to the Duke of Yorky and call'd lorkfiire^ it's bounds iirft were iVor/Z> the River St. Lawrence^ and the South Sea,JFe/i ; but it is now confined to narrower Limits, towards the Sea Coaft, exclufive of i^o^ig^ Jjlandy but grows broavier towards the Country of the Six Nations, which is fuppofed to be comprifed therein. The Property and Governpient are in the Crown. Penfihaniay takes it's Name from the Proprietor William Fenriy granted by King Charles II. in 1680, it's extent is from the beginning of the 40 to the 43, deg. of Latitude; and from the 5th Deg. of Wefiern Longitude, from Dekivar River, excepting 12 Miles round Newcajile. In 1682, the Duke of 2^r^ granted to Penny t Os ) Peitriy a Slip of the New Netherlands from 1 2 Miles North of Newcaflky South to Cape Hinlopen in 38, 45, which part is called the Delaware or lower Countries. The Property and Government are in the Pro- prietor. Georgia 'till 1732, made part of South Carolina^ it was fettled, feparatedand granted to a Corporation for 2 1 Years ; at the End of that Time the Government was to revert to the Crown. Thefe are the PofTeflions in North Ame* rkdj to which Englandh2i% fo juft a Claim, and which being fituated in fo fine a Part of the Globe, as the fame Latitudes with the mod fertile Parts of Europe^ Africa^ and Afia^ would neceffarily produce fuch Fruits, Fifh, Beafts, (^c, as are not only ufeful in themfelves but profitable to Trade, Manufactures and Navigation, fince wc find that where the Summers are hotter, and the Nights colder than in England^ towards the Coaft every Thing can be pro- duced that can be here s and it is to be imagined that if the interior Parts of the Country, particularly of New England^ which are thus reprefented, were cleared from » ( i6 ) Irom the great Quantities of Wood that there every where cover the Surface of the Earth, infomuch that the Sun cannot pe- netrate to warm it -, the Fruitfulnefs of the Country would not yield to Greaf Britain^ But, let us confider the prefent Produdts of North America^ with Regard to Com- merce and Navigation, and we (hall be fufficiently fatisfied with its Importance to both, to let no Part of it ilip om of our Hands. GeGrgia, which is the mofl Southern Province, and which, till the Year 1732, was deferted by the Inhabi- tants of Soutb Carolina, of which it then made Part, on Account of its Vicinity to St. Augufiine, pofleffed by the Spa?iiardsy being fettled by Mr. Oglethorpe, has prof- pered abundantly, and produces Rice in great Quantities, Silk and Pot-afli; to which may be added coniiderable Crops of Indigo 5 and fince the Duly upon this Commodity has been taken off in Caro^ Una we plant it again there with great Suc- cefs, and by that meaosmay fave 200,000/. a year, which we have for fome years paid to the £]rfw/& for it. m Our J i ( 17 ) m m^ Our Trade to Virginia and Maryland is ftill of a more interefling Nature, fince it not only increafes the public Revenue with about half a Million of Money yearly, but brings into the Coffers of the Englijh Merchants near the fame Sum. The Staple Commodity of thefe two Colonies is Tobacco, but that of Virginia is chiefly the fweet Scented, and that of Maryland what is call'd Oroojioko j the former is principally confumed here and fent to France, and the latter is exported to Hol^ land, Germany, and the Baltic, The Advantage refulting to this Nation by the Tobacco Trade of Virginia and Maryland, may be partly nearly computed, by the Number of Ships there is employed and the Quantity imported, the greater part whereof is again exported. Upon si Medium of one year with another, there are 200 fail of Ships, from 100 to 400 Tons Burthen, freighted with Tobacco from thofe two Colonies to England, which import at leafl 100,000 Hogsheads, each Hogfliead containing above 400 weight : D Forty ■ f ( i8 ) Forty Thoufand Hogflieads may he con- fumed in Great Britain and Ireland^ Guern- Jc)\ J(-'rft'y, and the other inferior Britilli lilands, and for which Forty Thoufand Hogflieads of Tobacco, that are worth to us above 146,000/. Sterhng, we fhould be cbh'ged to pay ready Money to Foreigners, if thefe eftimablc Colonies were wrefled from us. The Sixty Thoufand JHogilieads, which we export, we now receive yearly 440,000/. Sterling for from Foreigners, in ready Money, or, what is the fame Thing, in Goods, for which they would take no other barter, and we fliould be oblisfed to pay ready Money for j but this is not yet all the Advantage we receive from the Trade of Virginia and Maryland. — This very Money, which is remitted here for Tobacco exported, is laid out by the Plan- ters Agents here in our Staple and other Commodities, which occcafions another Freight for as many more Ships : And to this we muft add a National Advantage, the Duty on the Forty Thoufand Hog- flieads of Tobacco confumed here, a- mounting to 500,000/. Sterling. I <* ■n It y * i i £ con- Guem- Britifli Dufand Drth to iild be gners, a-efled heads, yearly ers, in 'hing, :ke no jed to lot yet n the -This re for Plan- other lother nd to Jtage, Hog. I % i# J a- ( '9 ) It is evident from hence, how much the Article of Tobacco from thefe Colonies tends to maintain the Balance of Trade in our favour, and how much we arc inte- reftcd not only to protecl: Firg'mia and Maryland, but alfo to avoid, as far as pof- liblc, thtiir labouring Men from being drawn away from tiieir Work, in order to defend themlelves and their Country. To thefe Articles let us fubjoin, the vail Number of People that is maintained, and many of them enriched here at home by the Induftry of their Countrymen in thefe two Colonies J for, except their daily Food, there is hardly any Thing they confume or make ufe of but what is manufadured in, or fent from their mother Country j and the Shipping, amounting to between three and four Hundred Veffds employed in the Trade, fupports a great Number of our ableft Seamen, which adds to our Na- val Strength, and might be a Means of manning a formidable Fleet in time of Necefiity. It The next Province that prefents itfelf D 2 to I'l ( 20 ) to us for it's extraordinary Advantages to Trade and Navigation, is that of New- England^ on account of the Quantities of Oak, Fir and Pine, fit for Mafts for our Navy, and which might produce a fuffici- cncy of Pitch, Tar, Rofin and Turpen- tine, for all our home Confumption, and prevent our Trade to the Baltic in thefe Articles having fo much the Balance againft us. In the clearing of the Pro- vince of New-Englandy particular Care fliould be had to demolifli no Oak, Fir, or Pine of a proper Growth, or fofituated f.s to be convey'd to the Shore without rifking the breaking or fpoilingit: The Underwo®ds and Trees of inferior Nature, particularly thofe in the more Weflern Parts of the Province, Ibould be fell'd, for the making way for fowing Grain, &c. In this place. Sir, I cannot help remarking that a Claufe in the Ad of lid. Geo. lid, which prohibits the cutting of any white Pine Trees, of the Diameter of 24 in- ches, at 20 inches from the Ground, not growing within fome tradl of Land grant- ed to fome private Perfon before the 7th of 05lober 1690, without his Majefty's Licence, ^ •» ■^ ^% .Vi'; i ■ J? 1^ ■a:. Xii (21 ) Licence, may prove very detrimental to the growth of White Pines of a proper iize for Mafls in fuch places of the Pro- vince of NnV'Englandy which are the mod commodious for their Conveyance to the Sea Shore ; as many Places fo fituJited are actually in the Occupation of Settlers who have received their Grants of Land, fince the Year 1690, and as by this they will be induced to cut their Pine Trees fit for Mafts, before they arrive at the Dimcn- fions herein fpecified, and tlie Difficulty, Delay and Expence of granting Licences are fo great, that very few have been ap- plied for. I am not infenfible of the Inten- tion of this Claufe, which I apprehend was inferted with a view of preventing any White Pines, of the Dimenfions fit for Ships-Mafts, being exported to affift the French^ or other Naval-rival Powers in fur- nifliing their Fleets therewith, and for the more fecurely appropriating them to our own Ufe 5 but as Experience, Sir, has con- vinced us of the bad Confequcnce refulting to ourfelves from this Claufe, I and many more Merchants of this City, who have the Honour of the Britijh Flag, and the Com- merce ( 22 ) mercc of thefe Realms much at Heart, entertain hopes of feeing this Bar to the growth of Pines of proper Dimcnfions, (and fo fituated as to be conveniently fhip'd for Old Englandy) in the Province of New England, foon removed. It would be needleff, Sir, to add any more to a Perfon of your Judgment and Penetration concerning the removal of any Obftaclc to our Maritime Power; there- fore I (hall quit this Digreflion, and finifh my Account of the Mercantile Produdls of the Continent of North America^ with Nova Scotia, which gave the firft rife to our prefent Quarrel with the French, and which, it is to be hoped, will not be facri- ficed to them either in whole or in part, in the expectation of gaining their Friend- fliip, which if it were fmcere, would be too dearly bought at fo great a Price ; for the Province already produces befldes Timber, Planks, Deals, Hoops, Staves and other Sorts of Lumber ; Corn, Fruit, Peafe and other Pulfe, and in feveral Places there are large Woods, the Trees whereof are as fit for .Mails as thofe of Norway. I ^^ I > i »> i ^i W ( 23 ) Norway, If there were occafion, Shipping of all kinds might be conilrudtcd here ; the Oak Timber that grows in this Pro- vince being equal, if not fupcrior to that of Norway : But if it were only for the FKli that is caught upon the Coafls of this Colony, it would be of no fmall Impor- tance to us ; Whales, Codfilh and Salmon abound upon the Coaft, as well as Mack- rel. Pilchards, Shads, Trout, Scacows, &c. The mention of our jimerican Fifliery naturally leads to that of Neisofoundlaiid^ which for the Advantages it produces both to the Trade and Navigation of thefe Kingdoms, fliould be prefer'd to the Mines of Fcru, No one can doubt this, when he confiders that we bring from thence yearly between 2 and 300,000 hundred weight of Fifli, befides 4 or 5000 Hogflieads of Oil, by which a very large Sum of Money is faved or brought into this Kingdom an- nually, and a very great Number of our beil: Seamen trained and fupported. But the Quantities of Fifh brought from thence to Great Britain^ is not to be corn- par 'd t i ■ fi ^9 ■ par'd to what wc furrvifh from ttienctf^ to the Portuguejej Spiznijh and Italian Markets, as well as our Sugar Colonies and the other Weft Indian Iflands, fo that the increafc that this Trade makes to the National Stock, cannot be computed at lefs than 3 or 4000 Thoufand Pounds /^r Annum-, for a Ship of 100 Tons, with the Charge only of Viduals and Fiiliing Tackle for Twenty Hands, will bring to Market in Portugal, Spain or Italy 3000/, worth of Fifli, and frequently clear 2000/. for the Proprietors, fo that according to this Calculation, which is not over rated, 150 Ships only will clear 300,000/. and confequently increafe the public and pri- vate Stocks fo much. N ffi f I ■ I' i ■i- :<■ Having thus given as concife an Ac- count as I poffibly could of our North American Setdements, which needs no further Illuftration to prove their Impor- tance; it is time to confider the mofl: cfFedtual Methods of fecuring them againfl the Invalions of the French, who have long fince laid the Plan for wrefting them from us, being perfwaded that untill they ihall I»4 % I \ »-,» ( 25 ) fliall have weakcn'd England in her Com- merce by the lofs of her American Colo- nies, her Trade and Navigation will (if properly exerted) always protcdt her from the Power of Fra72ce -, and confequcntly the great Projedl of univerfal Monarchy can never be compajfTed by the French 'till they have deftroy'd our Commerce and Navigation, which they cannot more ef- fedually do, than by worming us out of the Continent of North America, In or- der to facilitate this, they are building a Chain of Forts to circumfcribe the Eng^ lifi Setdements, and cut us oiF from all Communication of Alliance, or Trade with the Indian Nations 3 to confine our Setdements within fuch Limits as the French are pleafed to prefcribe the Englijh Provinces : and alfo with a View of ioin- ing Loiiljiana and Canada^ and at the fame time making themfelves Mafters of the LakeSy and in the End render the whole Continent a PolTeflion of France, From this it appears it will be neceflary for the Protedion of our Setdements, to circumvent this Plan of Operations of E the \^ u ( 26 ) the French ; that is to fay, make ourfelves a communication, for forming Alliances, and Trading with the Indian Nations ^ render the Projedl of a Jund:ion between Louijidniay and Canada abortive, and dcmolifli the chain of Forts within which we {hall other wife be immured. The only Method that I can devife for fru- flrating this Plan, is to become Mailers of the Indian Countries fo as to fecure our- felves and prote mm '4^; >Iy m I m ^i ^ ^ ':V ( 3« ) tlic Colonies, who may have an Intereft of protradling the War, as long the Remit- tances for the Support of Troops pafs through their Hands ; for we have had feveral Hints of this Kind already, and the Siege of Cape Breton, it is faid, furnifhcd k)me flriking Examples of the Avidity of fome New England Agents, with Regard to Old Englajid's Money : With a Viev^ of entirely preventing any fuch Deceit, and of keeping the labouring People to their Work in the Colonies, it would be prudent to fend over a fufficient Number of Forces, with thofe Regulars that arc there already to oppofe the French Regu- lars, and engage as many Indians in our Service as may be neceffary to make Head againft their Indians ; for regular Troops, or even Provincials, that will not fubmit to the Indian Manner of fwamp Fighting, can never have any Share with the In- dians, It is faid we are to fend over Ten Thou- fand Men this Spring to reinforce the Troops under Lord Loudon j a lefs Num- ber will be infufficient, ^n^ yet we hear but it •ft ( 32 ) but of Three Tlioufand Hlghhuiders that are to be raifed upon this Occafion, lurely we cannot ff are Seven Thoufiind more of the Troops in Great Britain to be fent tOJ Akerica -, as our HanQverian and Heffian Auxiliaries, are to tairy here no longer* than the latter End of February : there- fore I^fliould think it expedient to engage as many Swifs in our Service, which might be effected at a veiy reafonable Rate ; not- \Vithftanding the War that is lighting up upon the Continent, fince the principal of the Cantons have refolved to have their Subje> out ( 34) of May next, they, with the Lidians in our Alliance, would bid fair for taking CrGivn Point by the End of June. But let it be remembered, that without this Reinforcement arrives in America^ and joins the Army before the French, at Crouvi-Pornt, can befufficiently flrengthen- ed from Europe, to make head againft us, all our hopes of the next Campaign, by Land, may be laid afide, fince if we do not fucceed at Crown-Point, and the French fhould penetrate but as far as Alban they would bid fair to alarm the Settlers, who would not helitate to fly to the Eajiern Parts. But not to permit my Imagination to bewilder itfelf any further with fuch a difagreeable Seer.*?, I will believe the prefent Admin iflration prudent enough to prepare, and have fuch a Number of Forces ready to embark by the End of March at farthcft, which fhould be the longefl: Term permitted for their tarrying on this fide the Atlantic. Then let me remind you, Sir, to be particularly careful what Contradlors you engage with, what Superintendents you employ, for fuch another ignorant Embark- mis in taking vithout )neric(iy mch^ at igthen- inft us, g"» by ; do not French Albanjy lie out D fly to [nit my further I will )rudent uch a by the fhould r their to be radlors ndents norant ibark- ( 35 ) Embarkation and Expedition, as that of lafl Year to America^ will not only go near to Ruin, or rather give up to the French^ all cur Colonies; but even 16 far exhaull: the public Treafure, by means of a Prolongation of the prefent War, (which can never be terminated to our Advantage, unlefs we fucceed in America^ and which however fuccefsful in Europe^ cannot recompenfe the Lofs of a lingle Colony in America) that our National Debt may be increafed from 85 Millions to 170 Millions, without our reaping one fingle Advantage from it to the Public, fome private Fortunes indeed may be made. If thefe Contradors are to be paid for 100,000 Truffes of Straw, at an extravagant Rate to be fent to America, which will be rotten before they arrive there, where any Quantity may be had for litde or nothing — If the Embarkation is defer*d for Three Months after every thing is ready, becaufe the Remittances cannot be made immediately, to pay the Troops in America a Year's Pay, and which fome principal Officers may chufe to have the Fingering of before thev fel out F 2 ' / Hi ( 36 ) — - — I fay Sir, if any fuch Impofition, or Impeuiment, {hould encreafe the Ex- pcnce of, or obflrudt our Spring Expctlitioa to America^ the People will on the one hand have realbn to Complain on the other to Mourn. But thefe are only meant as Hints, not as Piedidions, and I hope they will not be without their ufe. Therefore I fliall indulge myfelf with a Profped: of proper Mcafures in Americdy and they crowned vvithSuccefs fofar as to our being Maflers of Lake Champlain, which fliould be fecured to us by fome Armed Ships thereon, as well as a ftrong Fort, if Crown Point {hould be too much demolifhed, or found infufficient for the Protedion of th^ Lakes St. Sacrementy and Champlainy which J believe it would not, however it fhould be well Gairifoned. It would be necefTary alfo to keep fome Armed VefTels upon the Lakes Murony and Mt/higan, and a Fort built near the Bay of Saguinaniy upon the Lake Huron \ and another at MiJkouakmina.y upon Lake Mijkigan, would be a Means ^ .§. Ipofition, the Ex- :pcditioii the one on |ints, not will not re I fliall if proper crowned ^lartersof 3uld be J thereon, 'wn Foint , or found of the ain<, Dwever it to keep e Lakes ort built the Lake mkimina.y a Means ■1 m i ( 37 ) of fecuring to ourfelves the Navigation of all the great Lakes, except Ontario^ and Superiory the Firft of which might be wrefted from the French, by feizing Ofwego and the other fupplied if it fliould be found necelTarv. If our EfTorts could be (o far crowned with Succcfs, we mufl: imagine that the French would foon give up all their forged Claims upon our American PolTeflions, then we might ex- ecute a farther Plan of gaining over to onr Interefl, the principal if not all the Indian Nations, for as we can furnifli them with what Commodities they require, at a cheaper Rate than the French, they would not frequent the French Markets, but then perhaps we might not gain their Confidence and their real Alliance, (inftead of their pretended) — therefore the beft Method to gain this, would be by giving Praemiums to fuch FngliJJo as would intermarry with the Indians, then they would by* their own natural Ties, be rivited to our Interefl, as it would make part of their own. But prior to this we Ihould be particularly careful not to leave any of our /«///j;7 Allies, in the Lurch at the End Ml * IM % ( 38 ) End of the War, for otherv/ifc they might afterwards behave towards us, as they did towards the Fr^«r^ in 1702, when War breaking out between us, and the French, all the Artifices that the Frejich Mifliona- ries could pradlife, were infufficient to excite the Indiaiis to take Arms againft us i which was owing to the ill ufage of the Frenchy at the Treaty of Ryjwicky who then left the Indians to fhift for thcmfelves. Before I quit the Subjedt of North America y I am induced to take Notice of the ufefulnefs of a Fort or two being credled, and a Garrifon maintained near the IJle of ^lirpony or the Bay of MoluOy on the JJland of Newfoundlandy fince fatal experienced has convinced us that the French have found a PaiTage by the S freights of 'Belkijleyiot a large Squadron ; as by this Means they might be prevented rendering thii Paffagc of any Ufe to them for the • future, lince it appears that only one or two Ships of any confiderable Force can pafs or repafs this way at a Time, fo that our Forts would block up this PaiTage while a^ Pleet fo Stationed as Admiral ^, '. Bofcaivens % Ai I *■ Vi r-'fi 1^ -■<^. (19) Bi>fimve:i'^ was in 1755, would make furc of the French Fleet, between Cape Raye^ and the I/Iand of Sf, Paul, Perhaps fome other Fortifications upon the Southern Coaft of Newfoundlafidy as well as many Im- provements in the interior Parts of the IJland:, would tend not only to the Security, but alfo to the Advantage of that important Fifhery 5 but as I confider thefc Improve* ments fitter to be thought of in a time of Tranquility than at prefent, I ihall not infift upon any other Operations, being abfolutely neceflary at this Time at New^ foimdldndy than the ereding a fufficient Number of Forts, to Command the Streights of Belleijle this will be abfolutely Neceflary, fince it will appear in the fequel of this Treatife, that we can never keep a Squadron of proper Force upon the North American Station, for Convoys Coaftwife, and the impeding of any confiderable Fre7ich Squadron, both by the paflage between Cape Breton^ and the Southern part of Newfoundland^ and by the Streights of Belleijle. While •» ■1'. J: r II M ( 4° ) While we are thus bufied with North America^ let us not forget other Objedts, of great Importance, for fuch muft ever be our Weft Indian IJlands, on aceouht of the great Revenue and faving that accrue from thence by their Sugar, MolafTes, Rum, Cotton, and we might add if properly cuhivated (particularly on the IJland of Barbadoes) Indigo, Piemento, Oranges, Limes, Citrons, Pomegranets, Guavas, Plantines, Cocoa-Nuts, India- Figgs, Prickle-Pears, Melons, ^c. But although we have been alarmed for fome coniiderable Time, with the Deligns of the French upon the JJland of Jamaica^ that fo much envied Spot ! we have not yet fent any Force to oppofe what Attempt our Enemies may chufe to make upon it ^ and which according to the bed Accounts, there is neither Force by Land or Sea, to oppofe. But if Jamaica^ is in great Danger from the French^ at St. Domi?igOf who would be glad of an Opportunity of feizing it, if it were only to prefent His Catholic Majefty with it, in order to intice him to join his Arms with thofe of Fra?ice againft us, \ r d i¥^ m il ( 41 ) tvhat muft our Leeward Idsinds be, when we confider the French are now in aiftual T'olTeirion of Domlmca, Sf. Lucia, St, Vincejit, and Tobago, which fhould be neutral Illands ? Tobago, is not above 40 Leagues from Barbadoes, which at this Time is in a very feeble Condition, on account of the decay of all the principal Fortifications of that Illand 5 and if they were to feize upon this and Antigua^ which is not im- probable when we confider the Sn^allnefs of our Fleet in the Leeward Illands, and the want of Repairs in the Fortifications of Englijh Harbour, would not Sl Chrijio^ phers, Montferrat, Nevis, and the fmaller Iflands, to the Weftward of them, necefiTarily fall into iheir hands ? and then if Jamaica were in Security, it would be of no Ufe to us, as not a fingle Merchantman ^ could pafs or repafs to it, without a Convoy fuperior to the Naval Power of France, So that it evidently appears, if we leave the French in the quiet Pofleflion of the neutral Iflands, we Ihall run great Rifk of lofing all our Weji-India Trade. But on the other hand, if we fend a fufficient Fleet to protcdt our own Iflands, G and ! I I 111! ( 42 ) and drive the Frej7cb from their Ufurpations, at Dojmnica, St. Luda, St. Viuccjit^ and Tobago^ we may not only pofTefs ourfelves of thoic lllands, but fave confiderable Sums, that mull necelTarily be employed inlupcrior Convoys, if they continue there, even without attacking our Colonies ; and in the End prevent any future Squabbles, at a Time of Peace making, concerning their PoilefTors. il t-^ If we lliould have the good Fortune to fucceed, in dilpolTelhng the French from tliefe lilands, it will be neceffary to keep a fufficient Squadron Stationed here for their Protedlion, when Overtures of Peace may be made, or even after it's Conclufion ; for we may remember that in the very Interval between the CelTation of Arms in 'Europe^ and the Ratification of the Treaty of Utrecht ^ the Fr^;/^^equiped and fent privately, a Squadron with Troops, on board, to invade, take and deflroy the Britijh Caribee IJlmids^ as the envied Rivals of the French Sugar Trade. Antigua was to have been the firft Sacrifice, as x\\^ principal andmoft Advantageous to the Englijh, I Eiiglijh, ( 43 ) on AccoMnt of it's excellent irliirbQurs and Situation in theTrack of Na- vigation to the otlier Leeward Iflands, as idfoto Jamaica. But this Expedition failed j we may attribute the Fruilration of it to the Vigilance of the Inhabitants, as well as to fomc lucky Incident — for our Naval Armament was no wife concerned in oppofmg it. But the -Vengeance that failed being wreaked upon Antigua, fell upon Montjhraty and here Mr. CaJJarty who was Commander in chief of this French Enterprife, fpread fo much Defolation that the poor Inhabitants feel to this Hour, the unhappy Effedts of our not being prepared in that Quarter with a formidable Englijh Squadron, l^ we were not fufficiently apprifed at this Time of the Addrefs of the French, of making Incroachments upon our Territories, particularly in North America, to warn us againll them for the future, I fhould re- commend a flrid: Eye, to their not fetting Foot again in the (now) Neutral Iflands, by Artifice, if they could not by Force. But we are no longer blinded by Dciigns of this Kind, and if wp iliould ( 44 ) fhould be 1-^ppy enough to add Dommifa^ St» Lticia^ St. Vincent^ and Tobago^ to our other Poflefllons in the Weji-htdies^ we fhall, it's to be hoped, never lofe them again by JVdv/r/jhicroachments. To confider our Sugar Colonies in the Abftra(fl, is to confider the Anatomy of the Body without the Circulation of the Blood. The Vitals of our Weft-Indian Ifiands are our African Settlements -, if through Negligence^ Caprice^ wrong applied Parf.mony, or Ignorance, thefe ifliould ever happen to be loft — our Sugar Colonies are no more. This is of fo notorious a Nature, that every Adl of Parliament, which has been pafled for Extending or Improving our Trade to Africa , hag recited in the Preamble, the great Advan- tage of the Trade to Africa, for fupplying the Plantations and Colonies thereunto belonging, with a fufi^cient Number of Negroes. Thus it appears, then^that all our Efforts forthe Security or extent of our Weji-Indian Iflands, however they may promife fair for m ■^■i ^^:^ 1 1 'm ^ m ■■PS ( 45 ) for rivalling the French in the Sugar Trade (that vaft Commerce !) will be of no Avail, without we can properly defend pur Settlements upon the Coaft oi Africa y •and prevent the French continuing their Incfoachments upon our Rights there, which they have already begun upon the Coaft oi Guinea \ for theugh we have been pofTefTed of the Trade, particularly on the Gold Coaft, JVhydahy and Gambia, up- wards of Eighty Years, the French* are daily undermining us there, fo that if by open Force they do not exclude us from all Trade to Africa, they will at leaft by degrees worm us out of it, as they have already done upon the Gum Coaft; if we do not immediately take fuch falutary Meafures, as may eftedtually fruftrate this long and deep laid Delign of the French ; and as this appears a Matter of fo much Importance, I fhall examine it with feme Particularity. The firft Englijij Ships fcnt to Africa on account of Trade, was about the Year 1553, from that Time the Trade to that Country was carried on by private Hands tilt -kff T9 T 1 % 1 .. '! r n ' p !■■ ( 46 ) till the Year 1758 ; when Queen Ehza- beth^ by her Letters Patent, conflituted a Company for the more effeditual carrying on the faid Commerce, which was at that Time only for Gold^ Elephants Teeihy and Malaquetta ; for the Englijh, not then hav- ing any Settlements in the Wejl-Iiidiesy had no Occaiion for Slaves. In the Reigns of yames^ and Charles I. the Company was greatly encouraged ; but the Dutch hav- ing in the Year 1637 taken feveral Forts on the Coaft of Africa^ they committed great Depredations on the EngliJJo, in or- der to oblige them to leave off trading to that Part of the World. King Charles II, being apprized of this Behaviour of the Dutch y the better to enable his Subjeds to carry on the faid Trade, againft the unjuft Pretenfions and Ulurpations of thefe New-comers, by his Letters Patent of the loth of January 1662, he in- corporated a Body of Merchants, by the Title of the Company of Royal Adven- turers of England to Africa, I " ■>*?. h:¥ (I I;,. I,- The Subfcriptions for carrying on this precarious Trade not anfwering the Ex- pedation a ■A^ ( 47 ) pc(ft?.tion of the Merchants incorporated by this Patent, their Affairs foon became in a very embarralled Situation, and they were involved in great Debts and Difficul- ties, by which they were rendered inca- pable of continuing their Trade in an ad- vantageous Manner ; in confequence of which they agreed for a certain Sum of Money, to furrender their Charter to the Crown, and to affign all their Eftates and Effedf, both at home and abroad, to cer- tain Merchants, who intended to eredt a new Company, for the more cffedtual carrying on the Trade to jifrica. Purfu- ant to this Agreement, the King, having accepted of the Surrender of the faid Char- ter, did, by his Letters Patent of the 27th of September^ 1672, incorporate the late Royal African Company, with a Power to trade in Africa^ from the Port of bailee to the Cape of Good Hope^ during the Term of a thoiijand Tears^ exclufivc of alj. his other Subjeds. The Company, by Virtue of this Royal Grant, made a confiderable Progrefs in ereding Forts, and fetding Fadories ; but their 1) I i ( 48 ) their Trade being laid open by Parliament in the Year 1697, ihey were rendered un- able to fupport the faid Forts, wherefore j^ it was cnaded, that all private Traders to 4 Africa fhould pay 10 per Cent, to the Company for the Privilege of trafficking upon that Coaft. From the Year 1 7 1 3 to 1730, whilfl the Company had no Allow- ance from the Public, for the Support of their Forts and Settlements, private Tra- ders made great Fortunes, while the Com- pany, not without fome Mifmanagement, funk under the weight of their Burthen, infomuch that they were obliged to apply to Parliament for Relief, who granted them 10,000 A a Year till 1746. From that Period to 1749, the Affairs of that Company were entirely at a Stand, no Grant having been made for three Years, and the Company were indebted 130,000 /., their Forts and Caftles in a ru- inous Condition, their Credit and Repu- tation loil. At this Time the Parliament took the Trade to Africa into Confideration, and an menf 1 un- efore rs to 3 the :king 13 to llow- DTt of Tra- k-.om- ment, •then, apply anted SLffairs >tand, three ebted a ru- lepu- )k the and an -ft ^ riyi. C( C( ( 49 ) an Ad: was pafled in Confequence, by which it was ciiaded, " 1 hat all his Ma- *'jcily\> Subjeds, who fliall trade to or *' Ironi any of the Ports or Places oi Africa, *' between Cape Blanco ^ and the Cape of " Crood Hope^ fliall for ever after be a Body " Corporate and Politic, in Name and in Deed, by the Name ^f 7he Compa?iy oj Merchants trading to Africa^ and by the " fame Name (hail have perpetual Succef- ** iion, and fliall have a common Seal; ** and by that Name lliall and may fue, *' and bo fued, and do any other A61, '' Matter, and Thing, which any other " Body Corporate or Politic, as fuch, can *' or may lawfully do»" — ** That it ** Ihall not be lawful for the Company, *' ellabliflied by this Ad, to trade to or ** from Africdy in their Corporate or Joint " Capacity, or to have any joint or tranf- ** ferrable Stock, or to borrow or take up '* any Sum or Sums of Money on their ** Common Seal."—** That the Diredion ** and Management of the Affairs of the " iaid Company hereby eflablifhed, fhali " be in and by a Committe of Nine Per- ** fons, to be chofe annually, as hereaf- H (( tcr 'I i:,. (so) ter is ajention(id, who arc to meet and' afTcmblc together, from Time to Time, as often as ihall be necefl;u v, nt feme Place in the City of London, and the Committee-men for the Time being, or any five or more of them, or the ma- jor Partfo aflembled, fliall from and after the thirtieth Day of ywiCy 1750, have full Pourer, from Time to Time, to make Orders for the governing, main- taining, prefcrving, and improving the Forts and Fadories already built, with- in the Limits aforefaid ; and to appoint Governors, Deputy-Governors, or any other Officers, Civil or Military, of or forthe faid Forts and Settlements, and them to remove and difplace when they fliall fee fit ; and to make Orders and Re- gulations for the better Government of the faid Officers and Servants abroad, and to take Security from thcni for their good Behaviour, and for their paying due Obedience to the Regula- tions eflablilhcd by this A(5t, and to fuch Orders and Regulations the faid Committee fhall from Time to Time liiink proper to make -, fo as no Order 1 y the (iiiii " Committee, Ihall teiul to hiy any Kc- *' Ihaint wlKitfoevcr on tlie faid Trade or *' Traders to or from Africa^ contrary to '' the true Intent and Meaning of tills '' Ad." The Freemen hy this Ad arc to pay 40 J. for their Freedom, who are to eled tiie Nine Members of the Com- mittee, three of whom are to be of hon- don^ three of Brijiol, and three oi Liver- pool. By this Ad it is aifo enaded, " That *' the faid Committee fhall and may from ^^ Time to Time, in veil fuch Part of the *' Money in their Hands as they Hiall *' judge necellkry in' the Purchafe of *' Goods, and Stores, which after the fame *' are infured, which they are hereby ** impowered and required to procure to " be done, are to be fent and exported to *' Africa^ there to be fold, difpofed of, " and applied for the fole Ufe, Preferva- ^' tio.i; and Improvement of the Forts *' and Settlements there, and for the Pay- "' ment of the Salaries and Wages to the *' Officers, and other Perfons employed ** for keeping and preferving the faid '■* Forts and Settlements, and not otherwife: " But # "! . 1 :' 1 1' . 1 1 : ,'■ '' ' 1 :' •■ i I. 1 ( 50 " But it (hall not be lawful for the faid " Committee to carry or caufe to be carried ** or exported from Africa^ any Negroes or " other Goods, in return for the faid " Goods they fhall fo export from Great ** Britain^ or in any other Manner to " carry on any Trade to or from Africa." " — That the faid Committee, out of the ** Monies they iliall receive, fhall dedudl ** annually a Sum, not exceeding the Sum *' of eight Hundred Pounds, for defray- ** ing in the firfl Place, the Salaries of " their Cleiks, and Agents at hondoii^ ^^ Briftol and Liverpool, The Houfe Rent ** of their Office in London^ and all other ** Charges of Management, Commilfion, '' or Agency in E?igla7td^ and the Refidue ** of the faid Eight Hundred Pounds fliall ** be fhared and divided among themfelves, ** as they fhall judge proper, as a Com- " penfation for their Trouble and Attend- '* ance in the faid Office of Committee " Men ; and the refl of the Monit-s which " the faid Committee fhall receive for the " Admillion of Perfons into the Freedom •* of the faid Company, fhall be applied ?* and appropriated wholly to the Main- tainance, ^Ja^:^■. to fV cc (C (C <( cc cc C( cc CC lEC ( 53 ) tainance, Support and Improvement of the Forts and Settlements already built, or which hereafter fhall be built on the Coaft of Africa, which fhall be in the PoirefTion of the (aid Company; and for keeping them in good Repair ; and for providing Ammunition, and other Stores, and Officers and Soldiers to de- fend the fame ; and for paying the faid Officers and Soldiers; and to and for no other Ufe whatever." -"Si Thus the old Royal African Company was aboliflied, having received in confe- qucnce of a Refolution of the Houfe of Commons of the 28th of January 1752, the Sum of 112,142/. 35. 3^. as a full Compenfation for their Charters, Lands, Forts, Caflles, Slaves, Military Stores, Books, Papers, and all other Effeds what- ever, to be applied as follows : 84,652/. 1 2 J. 7^. to fatisfy the feveral Creditors ; 1695/. 3 J. to the Com miffioners appoint - ed to examine and ftate the Creditors Claims; 23688/. 155. 5^. to fatisfy fuch of the Proprietors of African transferable Stock, as were poiTeft of the fame on the "I i'! ( 54 ) the 31 ft of December 1748, being 10 per Cent, and 2105/. 12s, 3/ to fatisfy fucli proprietors as were polTeired of Stock fince Jthat time, being alter the Rate of 5 per Cent, Since the Year 1749, the Parliament has granted every Year the Sum of J 0,000 /. (e^icepting the Years 1750, 1753 and 1755, when 16000/. were granted) for the Support and Repair of their Forts and Settlements upon the Coaft of Africa, It is now time to confider in what con- dition thefe Forts really are, and whether they could oppofc an attack made by our powerful Enemy the French^ as there is too much Reafon to apprehend they are upon the Point of making by a Fleet which lately fail'd from Br ell ; whilft, as I am informed, we have not three Men of War upon the African Coaft to pro- ted them. I. fames Fort in the River Gambia^ though mounted with 36 Guns is not able to reiift any European Eneiiy. 2. Anj'.a- * Isdha I' m Af-m ■X ( 55 ) 2. Annd?miho Fort not yet finifhed, 3 . Taniumquerry Fort, of\ ^ot able ta 1 3 Guns. I make any 4. Winhebah Fort^ of 16 Wefiftanceto Guns. I an Europe- 5. AecraFort,o^i^6GMnsJ ^« Enemy. 6. Wydah Fort, formerly of 3 5 Guns, but now defertcd. 7. Commenda Fort, of 3i\ " '' ' Guns. \j J 8. Suamdee Fort, of 20 V" ^^"^'^^ Guns. outof Re- 9. nixcove Fori, of 30 ^^^^' Go s, ) ID. Cape Coajl Cajile, of 4o\ Guns. 1 1 . Fort Royaly of 1 2 Guns. . , / 12. Phipps^ Tower, of 5 Guns. J 3 . Quee?i Anns Point, of 5 Guns. In a State of Defence proper to keep the Natives ill Awe. ¥ By this Account, which I do not pre-* tend to pubhfli as authentic, but which was given me by a Perfon trading to the Coall:, who lately came from thence, and who h '■'■ ;i ' ■ 1 ■ r ; 11 ;•! I'M' ; 1 1 ; M ( 56 ) who could have no view in deceiv lotwithftanding o ing me ^ it appears that notwithftanding our thirteen Forts, a Fleet of only Eight Men of War could drive all the Englijh from Ajr-ica^ by which our Sugar Colonies would be ruined, from whence we fhould then get no Sugar, Rum, MelafTes, Cotton, Ginger and Aloes, in return for our Woollen and other Man ufaduresfent from here, which pay Duties to the Crown ; and which alfo they furnifli to our North American Settlements, in return for Ship- ping, Horfes, Boards, Staves, Hoops, Lumber, Timber for Building, Fifh, Bread, Bacon, Corn, Flour, and other Plantation Neceffaries ; — for then, by means of the French^ ingrofling the Slave Trade, (and with it that of Elephant's Teeth, Gums, Dye-woods, Drugs, Bees- Wax, Gold, ^c) upon the Coaft of A- frica, they would ruin our Sugar Colo- ny Planters, and furnifli all the fo- reign Markens, as well as our own, with Sugar, which, by the fame Means, and new Impofts, they did, till lately, with Indigo. c 1 •;* '■^W. ( 57 ) A Mutter of fuch great Importance, td have ilipt the Obfervatlon of the late M ry, may perhaps be not fo ex- traordinary ; as its efcaping your Atten- tion, Sir, only for one Seffion of Parlia- liamcnt -, fince the Method of fecuring our Poffeffions upon the Coaft of ^Jrica, appears to me, to only demand a fmall Squadron of Men of War being ftati- tioned there, and proper Funds for the Repair and Support of the Forts already credled, and rendering them fit to oppofe any Enemy, as well as the Natives ; for it cannot be furprizing that they fhould be in fo dcfencelefs a Situation, when only 10,000/. a Year has been paid for their Maintenance, (except three Years 16,000/.) fincc the Conilitution of the new Com- pany, when the Royal Jlfrican Company climated at a Time they were 130,000 /. in, Debt, and had no Hopes of a Parliamen- tary Support, that their Forts could not be kept upon a refpedlable Footing under 20,900/. z s. b d. a Year, according to the following Diftribution, £. s. d. Ciipe-Coajl Caftle 7779 o^ o^ I Ma- I ^.f I' • /,■• J, ^ I 1 96 12 06 (58 ) AnamibGe (confider-^ ing the great F.xpeiice| we have lately been at, I for the rebuilding it, j and which is uniinilh'd, (hoidd at prelent be rated higher). 1'anfumquerry.^ Winnebak, Accrny Commenddy SitccondcCy DixcovCy Prampriim James F or t at Gambia^ ^(^20,900 2 06 Now, in order to make up a Sum fuffici- eient for the Maintenance of thefe Forts and Settlements, it will be necefTary for the Parliament to make a yearly additi- onal Grant of at lead: 10,900 /. 2 s. 6 d. which Expence c?in never be put in Com- petion with the Advantages refulting from this Trade ; and of which there is much greater Reafon now, than at any other 651 12 06 898 12 06 1369 12 06. 1369 17 06 1 07 1 02 06 1008 02 06 n'^s 02 06 0000 00 0(> na^ 4242 C2 06 I ( 59 ) rtither TiinCj to be particularly carcfui y fince if the Event of the French Arma- ments fent to Africa fliould not turn out to our Diflidvantage (which can hardly ■be hoped, without we difpatch a Squa- dron there immediately, or reinforce tliat in the Wcji -Indies^ in fuch a Manner as to enable it to detach a Nur"^ cr of Ships upon theCoallof^/mv/, without weaken- ing itfelf, fo astorilk all our Sugar Illands) their Plan of purfuing this Commerce, >by the great Encouragement given to it 4ibove any other Branch of Trade, \\\ iorder to benefit their Sugar Colonies, which by this Means fupply almoft all Murope with this Commodity j by the Advantages they have at home, and the •large Price they fell their Negroes for, (which is much more than any Britijh Subjedls can get for theirs) muftin the End (without we exert ourfelves, as well by proper Encouragement to theTraders, as in fupporting and improving our Forts and Settlement pon the Coall:, which fhould be properly guarded by our maritime Force, to avoid Surprize in the Interim) prevail ^ jUid they mud rival us in the Slave, I 3 Gum, w '-i '1 m ( 6o ) ^ Gum, Gold, and Elephant Tooth Trades, if not drive us from the Coafl itfelf, and, by a neceflary Confequence, monopolize the whole Sugar Trade^ by which they will not only ruin our Colonies, bid faif for Supporting all their unwarrantable Claims upon our North - American Settle- ments, but at the fame Time drain this Kingdom, and that of Ir eland, of 131,300/. annually, our Exports included, for what fl^ould be our own Connnodities our SuQ^ars. This will not appear exaggarated, when we conlider the real Situation of the Forts upon the Coafl, the Addrefs of the Fj'cnch m inticing the Natives into their Iiiterefl; and the Advantages given by them both in the Slave and Sugar Trade — for Inftance, the French exempt one half of their Duties on Sugar, and and all other American Produdls, taken in Exchange for Negroes, carried to their Plantations, in Africa. If ( ^>' ) II ijt lliould be judged that this is a Time not fit to cncreafe any Annual Giants, when the Support of the War /demands fo much, and we have as yet not found ways and Means for the extra- ordinary Supplies it will require this Yearj a Means might be found of procuring the African Company what deficiency there is in theirannualCirant, by repealing in part jh: Claufe of the A61 of their Inflitution which enafts. " That the faid Committee ^* fliall and may from Time to Time invefl " part of the Money in their Hands, as ^* they fhall judge neceflkry in the purchafe ** of Goods and Stores, but it fhall not «' be lawfull for the faid Committee ** to carry, or caufe to be carried, or *' exported fi'om Africa^ any Negroes, " ^c. % For if they were permitted to pur- f:hafe, Slaves with the Money in their Hands in exchange for Goods and Stores, before they applied it to the Payment of Salaries, ^c. They might find a Means of doubling the Sum Granted, by which they would require no additional Supply from the Government, which vv^ould in my \ See p. 51 and 52. I I I; ! f I) < 6s ) my linmble Opinion, be a Mcanr. cf •advancing the Negroe Trade, and terminate to the Advantaore of our r--ar Colonies. For by this Means tb-^ Tii'ders upon rhc Coaft might be f\ir': Guns, 3 of 60, one of V^ 30, and I of ao. One in the Eaft- Indies of 6, confiding of I of 74, I o^ 6^' 2 of 50, I of 30, and I of 20 Gaps. And we may rea-" fonably compute their different Convoys, ati 18 of thcfe Rates. K 2 ]6l9l3|5|3 111 II I"' So St V r 68 ; , t So, that according to this Computation, the French will ftill have the following- Ships in Harbour, ready for Expeditions, 5 of 80 Guns. 6 of 74 and 70 Guns. 20 of 68, 66, 64, and 6c Guns. 5 of 50 Guns. 6 of 30 Guns. 10 of 28, 26, 24, and 20 Guns. 2 of 12 Guns. (. ,. 54 Now, according to the following Dif- tribution of our Fleet, we fhall not only have fuperior Squadrons to the French, Rationed in every Place requifite for the Protection of ourTrade, and the Security of our Colonies and Settlements, as well in America and Africa^ as in Afia ; but alfo 73 Ships of different Rates (fome of which we may fuppofe in Dock either building or reoairino-) to detach as well as to rein- force any of the ftationed Squadrons as for fuch Expeditions gs may be requifite to i ^i o ( 69 ) to undertake againfl: the Fj-efub Colonies, Settlements, &c, RATES. Deftinations, » I a. I a. I .J. I g. I «: 1 I i Upon the Coaft ofO England^ to convi)y V Coaftwife • .) Cruizing in the Channel, ferving alfo for Convoys to the Dutch and FUmiJh Merchantmen . At Deal At the l^ore ' At Chatham At Port (mouth and^ Spit head, ?i\\vay?^rth6y i upon any Emergency ^^ At Plym uih in the Soufidy and in the Har- bour of Hnmoazr, al- ways ready Upon the Coaft of Ireland, ferving alio for Convoys to Mer chantmen to and from Erg land Jn the Bay of Bifcny At Gibraltar, andN i n the Mcditerraneun, to prevent the "French coming into the Oce- an, or a Junction of \ their Fleets, or the [ Spfivi/h, in cafe of a War with Spain. j 5 / 2 3 4 2 8 I I I 1 I I 2 Z 4 6 I 3 I 3 2 I 2 4 3 I I I 6 5 2 I 1 7 5 2 I I' I,; Carried over Dc/Iifiations \ , ) Defiij2ations» ( 7° ) RATES. s.is.l'a.i-fc 1^1 2:1 f Brought forward At yatnaicOt and, the Letnuard' JJlarJs, to replace, from Timej to Time, thofe upon the Coaft of -frica, that iiial) be foul, or in want of Repair Conllantly upon the' Coaft of /Ifricot being replaced, when foul, \^c. from the Wefi- Indian Squadron. At biorth- America In the Ea ft- Indies Convoys. For Wefi - Indians. Convoys.half of which | to be kept at Jamaica atd Antigua ; and the ether half at Spitheadt or Plymouth, to go and come alternately ; two in each Convoy beiiig detached, in a certain Latitude , with the Merchantmen boand to North* America . ^ For Mediterranean, Spani/h, and Portugueje Convoys For Eaji- India Con- voys, as far as St. lie- iota Fof Baltick Con- ^ voys. S 28 '1 »3 8 3 2 18 I 21 I 4 I 8| 37| 531 W I27I 25 m 4 I 8 I 40 i 62 1 22 1 35 1 26 (70 Of the 73 Ships remaining as yet un- applied, we may reafonably fuppole there may be 20 of the following Rates, either building, repairing, or unfit for Service, (^nz. I of the 2d Rate, 4 of the 3d, 2 of the 4th, 7 of the 5th, 2 of the 6th, and four Sloops) then our refervcd Fleet will confifl of the following Rates 1 of the I ft Rate, 2 of the 2d 9 of the 3d 5 of the 4th 9 of the jth ' 13 of the 6th, and 14 Sloops. 53 II 11 As thefe 53 Men of War, as well a9 the preceding 1 97, flaould be conftantly kept in Commiflion, and therefore com- pletely manned, we muft include them in the Number that require their Com- plement) fo that our whole Fleet in Commiificn, and ready for Service, will require 73,640 Seamen, including Ma- rines J as will be fcen by the following Eilimatc. N^ - r ■ r Total N°of Ships. 5- 10- 49" 67. 31- 48. 40- ( 72 ) Rates 250 I- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- Sloops Men recfuifite* to man them to their Complements. 4250 7500 25680 13500 10560 4400 73,640 Thus it appears, that to man our whole Navy (llich a one as may regain our LolTes, ii. the Mediterranean^ and at leaft an Equivalent for thofe in America^ 'till when we cannot hope either for an ad- vantageous, honourable, or lafting Peace) it will require 18,640 Men more than the Parliament has granted this Year for our Navy, which will put us to the ad- ditional Expence of 765,280/., including Oidnance for Sea-Service ; the 55,000 Men allowed this Year, occalioning an Expenceof 2,860,000/. including Ord- nance for Sea-Service. But l-i (73 ) But what will 700,000 /. appear, when put in Competition with the Advantages we may promife ourfelvcs from fuch a Navy ! It would be needlefs to repeat in this Place, both his Majefly's Recom- mendation of vigorous Meafures, and their Efficacy : Surely then our Bulwarks, our Floating Towers, which alone com- mand us the Refpedt both of our Friends and Fees, , inould be put in fuch a State of Defence, and fo empioyed, as to draw all the Advantages we can reap from them ; and I beHeve no body can be fo very void of Confideration as to imagine they are any diing more than a burthen- fome Expence to us, as long as they are in Ordinary \ why then ihould we hefi- tate to put all the Ships in Ccmmiffion that can bear the Seas ? I need not, I believe, afk this Qu^efhon a fecond Ti^iie, Sir, of you, — but, perhaps, 'm return, you may complain of the want of Hands : I own the Complaint may be juli, but it is not irremediable. I % ( 74 ) I could have wIHicd to ha\'e fccn, at the End of the lall War, a Projed exe- cuted which was then propofed, of regi- flering all the Seamen who h.ad been em- ployed, and continuing them a fmall an- nual Pra:;mium, in permitting them tq ferve the Merchants in any fliort Voyages, and be ready, upon Call, on any Emer- gency : This Scheme, Sir, would have prevented that tyrannical Method of P/rf- fmg^ which, after all, does but ill fuc- ceed ; however, it has been judged ex- pedient, and therefore it Ihould not be condemned, until fome other can be de- vifed. ^ ■ , . I I have taken the Pains to examine ma- ny Sclicmes that I have heard for the man- ning our Fleet upon an Exigence 3 but none :ippears to me effcdaial, but that of obliging every Sea-port in England^ Scoi^ land^ Ireland^ Gticrnfey^ Jerjly, Many and the oilier inferior lilands (particularly the OrliKcys^ as the Scotch are the beffc Sailors) to furniili a fllpulated Number in Ptoportion to the Shipping they actually employ : ( 75 ) Employ : This Ihould be extended to 4>^orth America^ that Seminary of Sea- men ; which, lam told, mi by tlie NeceiTity of raifing Taxes, as well to pay the Interefl thereof, us for Douceurs or Prajmi- urns to the Jobbers, which generally render a lov, T;tereft to the Proprietors of Stock, a vcrv hio;h one to the Govern- ment, that fome other Means ihculd be tried. The only Expedient that cm be devifcd for preventing diefc Evils for die future, is the ralnn^ the Supph.-s with- in the Year ; and this iliould be done. By this tlie .Nation would fave both the Inter ell lii Intereil: and Praemium necellhry to be paid with Borrowing and Jobbing, which might be applied to pay off Parr, of the National Debt -, and this would revive Public Credit, fet the Stocks above Par, and turn into the Channel of Com- merce, that Money which the Jobber would find no Opportunity of applying to a more lucrative Advantage. By this Means alfo, that Diffipation and Profufi- on, which are the conjlant Attendants upon Lazinefs, would diminifli ; for when the public Funds began to be de- creafed, by hung ^md off', Intereil would raturally lowerj and excepting what could be employed in Mortgages, and other private Securities, and for which that exor!).itant intereil, that now is given, would be no lonp-er an Inducement J the Mais of the Publick Debt would b«f thrown intr; Commerce, and our idle An- nuitants and Stockholders would fnid diemfelves under a NccelTu.vof being vSc- ful to their Country, by cncreafing our Commerce, and drawing the Wealth of odier Nations to this Emporium of Trade. I'his would not be the only Advantages refulting ( 85 ) refulting from raifmg the Supplies withni the Year ; for as then all our Contradls would be paid with ready Money, our Fleet and Army v/ould not only be fur- nillied with better Provifions of every kind, but mueh cheaper 3 and if they gained only Ten per Cent, as there is much Reafon to believe, they would by prompt Payment, upon Five Millions,, which vre may fuppofe will be expended this Year, in Contrails npon our Navy and Land Forces, we fliould make a Sa-*"» ving of 500,000 /. Eterl. which might be applied cither to paying off Part of the National Debt, or towards raifing the Sup- plies for the following Year ; and by that Means v/e might difcontinuc any oppref- five Tax to the Poor, producing that Sum. But without noticing any other Advan- tag^e that miirht reafonablv refult from this Scheme, I will confr ler the moft eligible Means of railing the Supplies requifite for the current Year, v. ithin the Year. The S I ■■! (86) The Parliament has already made the following: Provilions, viz, ^ s. d. By the Land-Tax,^ at 4 J. which is given ( 2000,000 00 o for 3 The Duty on Malt,] Mum, Cyder and Per-/* 750,000 00 o ry, given for J And the Guinea^ JLoltcry, from whence the Goveniment is io , , referve one Moiety of / S^5^^^^ ^^ o the Produce . 1,050,005/. 5^. being TheTotal whereof is but 3,275002 126 But as it is computed that the Service of this Year, cannot be effectually per- formed, for Icfs than Nine Millions, we flill ftand in need of near Six Millions, therefore other Provifions muft be made. The Plan which flands foremoft in the Clafs of reafonabic (Ji^es, for railing the extriiOrdinary Supplies, is a new Affeff- ment ( 8/ ) ment of the Land Tax, by wliich it is computed a r*iillion a Year more may be brought into the Government, than is at prefent produced by ito This certainly is a very juft Expc(iient, and whatever OppoHdon fome few may make to it, under pretence of the Ilardfliips they would labour under, in Paying an exad: C^iota J as tht Improvements they have been at the Expence of, are the Caufes of the increafe of tliclr Lands ; fliould be looked upon as only regarding fome few Particulars, whof.^ Interefl fhould always fubmit to that of tlie Community otherwife we fhall find all Lav/s LnciTediual fince the Execution of them, muil clafli with the Intereft of fome Individuals. This Plan, then, can meet with no Antagonifls, but fuch as are prejudiced by their Interefl, of the Land Tax Adl, being ineffedtually executed ; Biit as tliis new AiTeiiment cannot be m;:',de for this Year, or perhaps the Next, sve cannot comprehend it within the Schemes for raifing the Supplies for the current Year. Mr. ii-\ 1 i i I- 1 ' ■' •I :' { 88) ! • i 4 !K Mr. PoJllethwayt\ perfonal Tax, feems 1:o have a great Analogy with that pro- pofed upon Iloufes y and as this latter carries with it a greater flicility in the Execution, and at the fame Time does not wear the Ajti^earancc of a Poll Tax, and is not fo opprefive to the Subjcdl, I am inclined to give it the Prcferance. It docs not follow that every Perfon uf the different Ranks, rated in his Liil:, fliould be polTcffcd of Fortunes, or be in circum- ftances equivalent 3 and if any compulfioni were to be ufcdto oblige every Perfon to give in an exadt Account of his Fortune or Effed:s, it would be difagreeable to all, and particularly detrimental to the mer- cantile Part of Lis Life; othervvife a Per- fon with a very lender Income, perhaps an uncertain one, would be neceffitated to pay an equal Tax v/ith oneof anover-grown Fortune. Lav/ and Phyfic would furnifh us with many Inflances of this kind ; for in both, f(i)r the general, either great For- tunes arc made by the Prad-itioners, or clfe they periih Secundum Ndturam, or ftarve according to Law. But in rtfped: to ( 89 ) to the Tnx upon Hotiles, as no body would chufe to live in one of greater Rent thaa his Circumflances could afford ; neither would he be affcflcd at a higher Rate, than bore a Proportion to the Rent of his Houfe. T. The Tax Upon Houfes, at a reafon- able ConnputLition, is fuppoled to produce a Million and half; without including thofe under 5 /. a Year, which Ihould be entirely exempt ; lince they can be inha- bited by none but poor Artifls and La- bourers. ; 2. A Tax Upon Servants, in and out of Livery, would certainly produce a great Income on the one hand 5 or it we could fuppofej (which to judge by the Extra- vagance and Luxuriance of the prefent Age is not probable) that any confiderable Number would, by this Means, be thrown out of Place, they could not be more oppor-" tunely difengaged for his Majefty's Service^ cither by Land or Sea. But as it is rea- fonable to imagine, not an Eighth Part of v/hat are employed would be difmiffed on N this 4 -'n J! PI '' H this Account, and as I have heard It com- puted, there are 250,000 in Great-Bri^ tain ; if they v/ere taxed, upon an Aver- age, at 5/. each, this Tax would produce, at leafl:, a Million. 3. A Tax upon Saddle -Horfes, kept for Diverlion, might be a further Means of increaling the Revenue for the current Year. ft ! I MM i ! I .4 Nobody (but the Proprietors) could object to a Tax bting laid upon all public Diveriions. For Inftance, a Mafquerade Ticket (hould be doubled, and the addi- tional Guinea appropriated to the public Service ; a like Tax to be laid upon thofe of Ridottos. The Boxes at the Opera fhould be a Guinea, and the Gallery half a Guinea ; the Playhoufe Boxes y s, 6 d. Pit 5 J. Fif ft Gallery 4 s. Upper Gallery 3 s. The Admittance at Vauxhall and Ranelagh doubled 5 all w^hlch additional Prices fhonld be ap[>lied to make up the V- »p]ies for the cur- tni; Year. Thefe lafl: two Taxes cann::, I imagine, be eflima- ted at lefs then half a Million, confider- (91 ) ihg the great Number of Cavaliers, and public- diver fioti Refor'crSy that abound in this Age of 7roubk and Plcapire, 5. Next to this might folio v/, aTax upon Taverns, Bagnios, and what are called French Wine-houfcs. It is unrcafonable that the firfl of ihcfe, feme of which take 40 /. a Day, fhculd be obliged to pay no more, in a Tax for a Licence, than a little Alehoufe, that vends, perhaps, half a Crown's worth of Liquor in the fame time. The fecond of thefe, if they can be fuppofed of any Ufe, ftiould at leaft be liable to fome Import, fince of all other Places their Rates are the mofl extravagant, and their Profits the ^reatefl y and indeed mofl, !f not all of them, may be put upon ihQ fame Footing with the French Wine-houfes, which every body knows are Nicknames for Brothels. If, as it is pretende.', li^Q^t Mifcreants (the Keepers of Brothels) can find rfteans to elude the Execution of Juflice, they fliould be obli- ged to make fome Atonement to the Pub- lic the only way they can -, and a Tax, ever fo enormous, cannot be thought too N 3 burthenfome 111 :; IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT.3) fe {./ ,.v % .^- A ii. < / > y # Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 ^^ iV ■1>^ :\ \ ^9) .V ^' O^ >*". '•!<^ '9) ^^ifi.y*w«*^' I P I : ( 92 ) burthenfome upon them, fince the entire . Deflrudtion of them, would be one of the grcateft Services Society could receive from any incfFedual Tax. The Taverns may merit fome Commiferation ; for that Rea- , fon I fliouid think their additional Tax (hould not be above 40 or 50 /. per An^ num. ; But the rating of this fhould de- pend, in fome Refpedt, upon their Vent of Liquors, and particularly French [Wines. ^ 6. The foregoing Tax naturally leads to another, that every Subjedt, who is npt enervated with Luxury, would rejoice to fee impofed, particqlarly at this Period, when our inveterate Foes are torturing their Imagination to devife more effectual Means of ruining our Trade, and deflroy- ing our Navigation. Undoubtedly, Sir,' you anticipate my Meaning 5 for I certain- ly vvould ^dvife a Tax, amounting to a Prohibitiori of French Wines * and Bran- dies, * As Ireland is to be fo much protected ^if ths foregoing Plan of the Deftination of our Fleets, ^c. fliould ( 93 ) dies. I fear again our great Propenfity to Voluptuuufnefs, would induce us, at the greatefl Expence, to indulge this, as well as many more of our over-governing Ap- petites ; but I know of none that can be tolerated, which (hould be fo much clog- ged as this with Impofts. The five lad Taxes muft needs be aU lowed to center, and indeed exifl, in Lux- ury, (nor can the preceding, which does not extend to Houfes under 5 /. per An-^ num, he fuppofed to affedt much, if at all, the poo: Manufacturers and Labourers); and furely no Rationalifl: will aver, that they are not fixed upcn proper Objcd:s ; for if Men will run headlong to their own Ruin (which the four lall Articles tend particularly to facilitate) it is but reafonable the State, who fuffers fo much in one Re- fpedt fhould be executed) It would be but reafonable that {he fhould furnifh us, at leafl:, with a Sufficiency to bear the Expence fhe will put us to ; and as French Wine is purchafed there as cheap as Port is here, and IS drank in very great Profufion ; furely a Tax upon it, at this Time, would neither be improper, or det^crtal to the Health or Purfeof the Irijl), m^ r ■ ( 94 ) ■ ■ peel by It, (hould draw fome Advantage from it in another. 7. To give the Ladies an Opportunity of contributing to the Exigencies of the State, a Tax upon Jewels might be a Means of making them doubly ornament- al to the Sex, — to difplay their Charms and their Patriotifm, both at once, to a greater Advantage. And as I have a very great Opinion of the Patriotifm, both of the Ladies and Gentlemen of the prefent Age ; it would be proper to give them i every Opportunity of teflifying it} for this Reafon alfo 8. A general Free-Gift fhould be fet >v on foot, whereby all Perfons, of what- ) ever Rank and Denomination, might give further Teftimony of their Attachment to their Country 5 and as many rich Perfons9 though they might indulge themfelves in all the preceding, and many other Luxu- ries, would ftiil be confcious, that they did not aflifl:, in Proportion to their For- tunes, the State in its prefent Exigence: By this Means they might difburthen their ) \ (95) their Confcier.ces, and relieve their Coun- try. As Smuggling is the prii"kcipal Caufe tl^at our prefent Duties, do not furnifli the State with the neceilary Supplies to cany on the War, without further Im- polls J and as thele public Pvobbers, the smugglers, at the lame Time they are fo detrimental to us, are of the greatcfl Ad- vantage to our declared Enemies, if a Means could be devifed of ccnfiderably checking if not entirely dcmoliiliing their deteftable Trade, furcly it would be prudent at this Time to execute any Sheme, that promifed ihefe Advantages. Although thefe illegal Traders, extend their Commerce to many Articles of French aiid other Products, it is Notorious that the Smu<2:G:iin2: of Tea, is the Prin- cipal fource of their illegal Gains ; this would be at an End, if the prefent Tax were taken off that Commodity, and an Import put upon every Family that ufed this Herb, which mii^ht be eafily Eifedled, by obliging the Mailer of every Family, to make AfTidavil; whether or no any Tea .• v/ere f t. -^ (96) were ufed in his Houfe ; iince it is not to be fuppofed that any fuch would per- jure himfelf, for faving, — if the Mailer of the greateft Family, 20 s. a Year, which fhould be the higheft Tax ; or 5^. a Year, if of the loweft fort that drink Tea. But if it might be appre- hended that fome would Tranlgrefs ; the Pillory, pr fome adequate Punifhment fliould, as in other cafes of Perjury he flricftly Infiicled, bciidcs a pecuniary Fine, upon any diat will dare tranfgrefs. The fair Dealer would receive great Benefit by it, as none could afford to fell Tea cheaper than the Market price; which is now done in every part of this Kingdom, but more particularly upon the fVe/iLTn, Soulheni, and Eajicrn Coafls of 'England^ in fo much tlvat it's computed above Two thirds of tlie Tea drank in Great Britain is run. The perplexities and difqiiietudes given the fliir Dealer, by E,xcife Oilicers, on pretence of fearching, would no longer continue. The Eajl-Tiidia Company would be great Gainers by this, as well as the Confumers > and the FidHic Revenue which upon an Average, I (97) Average, has received for fome Years pail: 130000/. upon Tea, would be very much increafed if not doubled by this new method of Taxation. • If thefe Inftitutions could not furnifh the State with a Sufficiency to carry on the War with Vigour, many others, of the like Nature, might be tried ; fo that nothing can apologize for not endeavour- ing (with all Probability of Succefs) to rail'e the Supplies within the Year, by which fb many evil Confequences will be removed. tiaving thus. Sir; taken the Liberty to give you my Sentiments, in this pubhc Manner, upon the Affairs and Commerce of North America y and the Well -Indies -y our African Trade ; the Deilination of our Squadrons and Convoys -, new Taxes ; and the Schemes propofed for railing the extraordinary Supplies for the current Year ; I have nothing at prefent more to add, but to delire you, if you think any of my Obfervations upon our North A- merican Colonies, the Security of our WeJl'Indian Trade, and that of Africa^ with our Settlements upon that Coaft, up- on which the former fo much depends > merit Attention, to not let the prefent Opportunity flip of turning them to Ad- vantage O .i I r .0" r vantage ( 98 ) • to pay particular Regard to what I have urged in regard to the Defti- nation of our Squadrons and Convoys, with the Neceflity of our Navy being re- inforced 5 as upon that our All depends ; not only as a commercial Nation, and as Sovereigns of the Ocean, — bnt alfo as a People. What I have faid, with Refpedt to new Taxes and Imports, may, per- haps, furnifh fome Hints, before *it is too late, to raife the Supplies within ihq Year ; and in fuch a Manner as not to be burthenfome to the laborious Part of us. I am, SIR, ivitb all due Deference^ Tour moji obedient^ and very humble Servant y A Merchant of LondoTU I N I S. ■ ••] ERRATA. p. £f. I 17, r. defiant for difeojit. Ibid- 4 /.from the bottom, fcr pyezientaik'es, y. freventhes. P- t>j ;. 19. for 53C,oo, r. 55,000. ib, in laft /. for 53,coo r. 55,cco. ■ P. 9, /. 16, dtitand. P. 31, /. 1. for of I. in. P.^ 1. 3. from the bottom, for Emigranis^ r. Ennp-ants, P. 4^9^' !• ^^'^ I75°» ''* 1558. P. £;s* /. 6, for Jecra, r» Jccra. ib. /. 7, for Irydab r. Mydah, P. 56, 4 A frcni the bottom, for Markers r. Markets. P. 79, /. 14, for //.vv.'n' r. may* I\ 60. lait A for in v.from.