Printed by W. Bonny, for the Author, and are to be sold in London by Sam.
Crouch, at the Corner of Popes Head-Alley in Cornhill, and Tim. Goodwin,
at the Queen's Head, near the Temple; also by Tho. Wall, and Rich.
Gravett, near the Tolzey, in Bristoll, Novem. 1695.
TO THE
KING's
Most Excellent
MAJESTY.
May it please Your Majesty,
IT is not a Desire to appear in Print hath made me to write, or a fond
Opinion of what I have written, to affix Your Great Name to these Papers,
but a true Affection to my _Native Country_, and the Cause Your Majesty
is now engag'd in; A War, on whose good Success depends the Security of
Religion, Liberty, and Property, both to Your own Subjects, and likewise
to all the _Protestant_ Interest in _Europe_; A War, as it is absolutely
necessary, and must be carried on with Vigour, so it is like to be long
and chargeable, and so much longer, as we abate in Our Vigorous
Prosecution; A War, which may strain the _Nerves_ and _Sinews_ of our
Treasure before it be ended, and therefore as in _Martial Discipline_
great Wisdom must be used to secure those Posts where the Enemy bends
most of his Forces, so here 'tis Prudence to strengthen our Treasure, by
advancing and securing our _Trade_ which must bring it in; If this was
done, Taxes would be easily paid, and little felt, and without it this
_Nation_ will at last become Bankrupt, when its Expences exceed its
Profits.
The Foundations of the Wealth of this Kingdom are, _Land_,
_Manufactures_, and _Foreign Trade_, these are its Pillars, which ought
not to be overshaken, they have hitherto borne the Burthen, and felt the
Smart of the War, and 'tis time now they should slide their _Necks_ out
of the _Collar_, other ways may be found out to raise a greater Summ
annually than Your Majesty's Occasions will require, without Four
Shillings _per_ Pound on the first, Excises on the second, or a Tunnage
Bill on Ships on the last, an Act which lighted heavy on the Merchant,
and left no room to consider whither he gained or lost by the Voyage, or
whither the Ship returned home full or empty.
The Methods for Raising Money must be easie, when the annual necessary
Summs are to be so great, therefore it would be Policy in our Law-makers
to make use of those which may least hurt any part of our Vitals, such as
_Land_ and _Trade_ are; I mean that part of _Trade_ which is useful to
the Publick God, not that which is managed only for private Men's
Advantage; it may be possible to rate the Trader, and yet to spare the
_Trade_.
There are two things which seem to be of great Importance to this
_Nation_, and very necessary to be look'd into.
First, The better securing our _Plantation Trade_, so as it may more
absolutely depend on this Kingdom than it hath hitherto done; this will
not only encourage our _Navigation_, when all their Product shall be
imported hither, but also much advance Your Majesty's Revenues, when such
quantities of Tobacco shall not be carried thence directly to foreign
Markets; to prevent which, and secure Your Majesty's Duties when
Imported, plain and practicable Methods may be proposed; and the
Consequence thereof would be, that this Kingdom being the Mistress of
that Commodity, Your Majesty's Coffers would be filled, not only from its
Home Expence, but also by a Tribute raised from Foreign Nations, where it
would very much lie in Your Majesty's Power to set its Price; I do not
think new Imposts upon the Importer will so much advance Your Majesty's
Revenue as they will discourage the Merchant, 'twould be better to take
away those already laid, and instead thereof to raise a far greater Summ
on the Consumer, which may be done without the Clog or Oppression of
Officers, in such a manner, that it shall scarce be felt, either by the
Retailer or Spender.
The next thing is the securing our Wool at Home, and making this a Market
for all the Wool of _Christendom_, whereby _England_ would soon become
the Queen of _Europe_, and flourishing in its _Manufactures_ grow Rich by
the Labour of its People, and consequently might better afford to import
Commodities to be spent on _Luxury_; I take it to be one great Reason why
the Kingdom of _Spain_ still continues poor notwithstanding its _Indies_,
because all that the Inhabitants buy is purchased for its full Value in
_Treasure_ or _Product_, their Labour adding nothing to its Wealth, for
want of _Manufactures_; I am apt to think greater Steps may be made in
this than have hitherto been done, and our Wool may be kept at home, not
by punishing the Exporter with Death, but by apt Methods to prevent his
doing it; and when a Lock is put on _Ireland_ and _Rumny-Marsh_, Foreign
Countrys will more easily be prevailed on to send us theirs.
These things seem worth the Consideration of the ensuing _Parliament_, a
great many Members of the last to my certain Knowledge began to be much
in Love with _Trade_, and have often lamented the dark Notions That
_House_ had of it, for want of being put into a better Light by those who
ought to have represented it truly to them.
Which hath been a great Inducement to me in the writing this _Tract_,
that I might set forth the Interest of _England_ in Relation to its
Domestick and Foreign Traffick, and how both may be better improved to
the Advantage of the Nation.
King _Solomon_, who was pleased to encourage _Trade_ in his Dominions by
his Royal Example, soon found it to be the weightiest Jewel in his
Dyadem, bringing him in more Treasure from abroad, than all the Tribute
he received from _Judea_; The _Trade_ of this Kingdom hath always been a
profitable Ornament to the Crowns of Your Royal Predecessors, Kings and
Queens of this Realm, and it may be still so to Your Majesty's, if the
Causes of its languishing were inquired into, and apt Methods applyed for
its Recovery.
That it may please God to make this Nation happy, by giving Your Majesty
a long Life, crown'd with Victories over the Enemies of its Peace and
Tranquility, is the Prayer of
Your Majesty's most Faithful,
And most Obedient Subject,
John Cary.
TO THE
HONOURABLE
THE
Commons of England
IN
Parliament Assembled.
May it please Your Honours,
IT is the greatest Happiness of the People of _England_ that the Laws by
which they are govern'd cannot be made without the Consent of their
_Representatives_, who as they obtain good Ones from the Favour of their
Prince, so 'tis their own fault if they pass such as are bad.
Amongst all our Laws none tend more to the promoting the Wealth of this
Nation than those which advance its _Trade_ and _Manufactures_, by the
latter we not only imploy our Poor, and so take off that Burthen which
must otherwise lie heavy on our _Lands_, but also grow Rich in our
Commerce with Foreign Nations, to whom we thereby sell our _Product_ at
greater Prices than it would otherwise yield, and return them their own
Materials when wrought up here, and encreased in their Value by the
Labour of our People.
This little _Tract_ I humbly offer to this _Honourable House_, not to
direct, but with all Humility to lay before Your Honours an Anatomy of
the _Trade_ of _England_, dissected and laid open so as to discover its
Vitals, which have seemed to be struck through by some late Acts.
Whatever doth Prejudice to our _Manufactures_, or burthens our Foreign
_Trade_ above what it is well able to bear, stabs them to the Heart, and
where _Taxes_ are thus laid, they disable the _Subject_, and consequently
are so much more burthensome as they make him less able to pay them; But
when our _Manufactures_ are encouraged, and our Foreign _Trade_ made
easie, and well secured, the Lands of _England_ will be advanced, and
_Taxes_ paid without Discontent, because they will scarce be felt,
especially when equally laid; and in such a Manner, that every Man shall
pay his Proportion in a Regular way.
If what I have written may be serviceable to this _Honourable House_, I
shall think my Time and Labour well imployed.
That God will direct your Councels, to the Advancement of his Glory, and
the Welfare of this Nation, shall ever be the Prayer of
Your Honours most truly
Devoted Servant,
John Cary.
THE
PREFACE
TO THE
READER.
THE following Treatise was the Imployment of some leisure Hours which I
thought could not be better spent, than in digesting so copious a Subject
as Trade is, I am sure could be no way more advantageously imployed to
the Nation's Interest, than by proposing Methods for its Improvement; I
have herein considered the State of England in respect to its Trade, its
Poor, and its Taxes for carrying on the present War: The first I have
divided into the Inland and Outland Trade; the Inland into three parts,
viz. Buying and Selling, Husbandry, and Manufactures; Under the former
Head I have comprehended all those Imployments whereby Men get by one
another, without making any Addition to the Wealth of the Nation in
general: Husbandry I have divided into Pasture and Tillage, and have been
the longer thereon to shew from how small Foundations the Primums or
Principles of all our Trade are derived; which indeed is wonderful, when
we consider that the Lands of England according to the Act of Four
Shillings in the Pound cannot come to above Eight Millions Five Hundred
Thousand Pounds sterling per annum, that whole Tax with Personal Estates
amounting to Nineteen Hundred and Seventy Thousand Pounds, whereof I
compute about Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand Pounds to be raised on
Personal Estates, so the Remainer is Seventeen Hundred thousand Pounds,
which being the fifth part of the whole (if that Tax were equally and
justly laid) the Computation is rightly made; but suppose they are worth
Thirteen Millions per annum, 'tis a very small Summ if compared with the
vast Expences of this Nation, which, with the Charges of carrying on the
War, maintaining the Civil List, and the Profits laid up by particular
Men, cannot be less than One Hundred Millions per annum, the rest is
raised by Manufactures, Trade, and Labour; the first of which (though the
third in my Division) is the most profitable part of our Inland Trade,
being That whereby our Product is advanced in its value, and made fit
both for our own use, and also for Foreign Markets; from whence are again
Imported hither sundry other Materials, the Foundations of Manufactures
different in their Natures from our own; these I have handled under
several Heads, and likewise shew'd by what Methods they may be improved,
and so have closed the Inland Trade: Before I enter'd on the Outland, I
have consider'd Navigation as the Medium between both, and given my
Thoughts how some Evils that attend and discourage it may be removed; I
have then proceeded to our Foreign Traffick, or the Trade we drive with
other Nations, which I have spoken to under several Heads, viz.
East-Indies, West-Indies and Africa, Maderas, Ireland, Scotland,
Canaries, Spain, Portugal, Turky, Italy, Holland, Hamburgh, Poland,
Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and France, and have endeavour'd to shew
how we get or lose by each, and by what Methods they may be improved, and
made more advantageous to this Kingdom.
As to the second part of this Discourse, the Poor, I have shewed how this
Habit of Laziness and Begging first crept in amongst us, how it may be
prevented from spreading farther, how Imployments may be provided for
those who are willing to work, and a force put on those that are able,
and how the Impotent Poor may be maintained, and those whose Labour will
not support their Charge assisted.
In the last place, I have proposed general Rules for raising of Taxes to
carry on the present War, and better Husbanding the Money when raised,
wherein I have rather aimed to shew that these things may be done, than
published Methods for doing them, which (because they would swell this
Discourse above it designed Brevity) are omitted here, as being more
proper to be laid before a Committee of Parliament.
AN
ESSAY
ON
TRADE, &c.
[Sidenote: Trade in general.]
THE general Notions of a _National Trade_ whereby it may be Discovered
whither a Kingdom Gets or Looses by its Managment are things well worth
our Consideration. It being possible for a Nation to grow Poor in the
Main whilst private Persons encrease their Fortunes: For as in the Body
Natural, if you draw out Blood faster then the Sangufying parts can
suply, it must necessarily wast and decay. So where the Exports of a
Nation in Product and Manufactures are outballanced by Imports fit only
to be consumed at home, though one Man may get by the Luxury of another;
the Wealth of that Nation must decay, all one as a private Person whose
Expences exceeds his Incomes, though he may for some time live on the
Main, yet in the end he must fall to ruin.
The Profits of _England_ arise Originally from its Product and
Manufactures at home, and from the grouths of those several _Plantations_
it hath setled Abroad, and from the _Fish_ taken on the _Coasts_, all
which being Raised by the Industry of its _Inhabitants_ are both its true
Riches, and likewise the Tools whereon it Trades to other Nations, the
Products coming from the Earth, and the Manufacturing them being an
Addition to their value by the Labour of the People. Now where we Barter
these Abroad only for things to be Eat and Drank, or wasted among our
selves, this doth not Increase our Wealth, but it is otherwise where we
change them for _Bulloin_, or _Commodities_ fit to be Mannufactured again.
[Sidenote: Its Original.]
The first Original of _Trade_ both _Domestick_ and _Forreign_ was
_Barter_; when one private Person having an Overplus of what his
Neighbour wanted, furnished him for its Value in such Commodities the
other had, and he stood in need of. The same when one Nation abounding in
those Products another wanted supply'd it therewith, and received thence
things equally necessary in their Roomes, and by how much those Products
exceeded the Expence, so much both the one and the other grew Richer, the
remainder being sold for _Bulloin_, or some _Staple Commodities_ allowed
by all to have the same Intrinsick Value. And as People increased so did
Commerce, this caused many to go off from _Husbandry_ to _Manufactures_
and other ways of living, for Convenience whereof they began Communities,
this was the Original of Towns, which being found necessary for _Trade_,
their _Inhabitants_ were increased by expectation of Profit; this
introduced _Forreign Trade_, or _Traffick_ with Neighbouring Nations;
this _Navigation_, and this a desire to settle rather on some _Navigable
Rivers_, then in remote Inland Places, whereby they might be more easily
supply'd with Commodities from the _Country_, and disperse those they
Imported from abroad.
[Sidenote: The Trade of England.]
I shall now take the _Trade_ of _England_ as 'tis divided into
_Domestick_ and _Forreign_, and consider each, and how they are
Advantagious to the _Nation_, and may be made more so.
[Sidenote: Inland Trade.]
[Sidenote: Buying & Selling.]
The _Inland Trade_ of _England_ consists either in Husbandry,
Manufactures, or Buying and Selling, the last of which is of least
Advantage to the Nation, and rather to be allowed for Conveniency then
encouraged, whereby one Man lives on the Profits he makes by another
without any Improvement to the Publick, Peoples Occasions requiring
Commodities to be Retailed to them by such small parcels as would fit
their Necessities, they were willing to give a profit to him who bought
them in greater. And as this way of _Trade_ came more in use, so the
first Buyer not only sold his Commodities to the Consumer at home, but
also dispersed them amongst those who were seated in the Country at a
distance in order to supply the Inhabitants there, who allowed them a
profit on what they bought; this begat the Ingrosing of Commodities, and
thence came in skill and cunning to foresee their Rise and Falls
according to their Consumption and prospect of supply; hence came the
vitiating our Manufactures, every one endeavouring to under buy that he
might under sell his Neighbour; which way of living being found in time
to have less of Labour and more of Profit than Husbandry and
Manufactures, was the occasion so many fell into it. From these Bargains
Differences arising encreased another sort of People which were thought
useful, whose business was either by their Wisdoms to persuade, or by
their Knowledge in the Laws to force the unjust Person to do right to his
fellow Trader, an Honourable imployment at first, and is still so in
those who keep to the strict Rules of its Institution, which Differencies
being to be Decided in the _Courts_ of _Justice_ (at first setled in
_Westminster-Hall_, and afterwards for the Subjects ease carried into the
_Country_ by Itinerent _Judges_) these _Orators_ were desired by the
Complainants to present their Suites to the King in those _Courts_, to be
heard and determined by his _Judges_, and to set forth the Case of the
_Plantiff_, and Produce Evidence to prove the Truth thereof against the
_Defendant_, who also appeared by another to make his Defence. But as
Suites increased, it was thought necessary to confine all to one Method
of Proceeding, which was called _The Practice of the Court_, therefore
another sort of People called _Attorneys_ were appointed to observe that
Mechanical part of the _Law_, and see that all was Regularly and Formally
managed; hence arose _Sollicitors_, who were to attend both, as well to
represent the Matter rightly to the _Orator_ or _Council_, as to see the
_Attorney_ fit things for a hearing, and also to Reward them for their
pains, so that this Produced another way of living seperate from
Husbandry and Manufactures: And as Trade increased so _Courts_ of
_Justice_ were Appointed in several great _Towns_ and _Cities_, which
being of different Natures, Multitudes of People gave Attendance,
expecting to get livelihoods by them.
Trade brought Riches, and Riches Luxury, Luxury Sickness, Sickness wanted
Physick, and Physick required some to seperate themselves to Study the
Natures of _Plants_ and _Simples_, as also those several Diseases which
bring Men to their ends, who in requital for their Advise and Medicines
received Gratuities from their _Patients_: These brought in
_Apothecaries_ and _Chirurgeons_ as necessary Attendants to their
Imployments, all which were maintained by preserving People in their
Healths; many also of ripe Parts were fitted for the Service of the
Church, others of the State; great numbers were Imployed in providing
Necessaries of Meat Drink and Apparel both for themselves and other
People, such as _Butchers_, _Bakers_, _Brewers_, _Taylors_, &c. Others to
fit things for their Pleasures and Delights, and by this means leaving
Husbandry and Manufactures flockt off daily to Livelihoods which may seem
to come under the third Head, who though useful and convenient in their
respective Stations, yet these Men cannot be said to Augment the Riches
of the Nation, only live by getting from one another, those two being the
profitable Imployments out of whose Product and Improvement it gathers
its Wealth.
[Sidenote: Husbandry.]
The next part of the _Inland Trade_ of this Kingdom is Husbandry, which
Anteceded Buying and Selling in point of time, though the other hath the
Precedence in this Discourse, and this consists either in _Feeding_ or
_Tillage_, by both which we raise great Store of Cattle, Corn, and
Fruits, fit for the Food, Service, and Trade of the Inhabitants.
[Sidenote: Feeding.]
To begin with _Feeding_; and here it would be endless to enumerate the
various sorts of Cattle raised and bred by the care of the _Husbandman_,
but those of most Note as they have relation to our Trade, are
I. The _Beef_; which as it Transcends the whole World in the goodness of
its Flesh, so it affords many Necessaries for our use and Trade, besides
its Service in _Tillage_, with this we both nourish our Inhabitants at
home, Victual our Ships for Forreign Voyages, and load them with the
several Manufactures wherewith it doth supply us, from the Milk we make
Butter and Cheese, from the Flesh Beef, from the Skin Leather, from the
Fat Tallow, and of the Horns several usefull Necessaries, of all which
the overplus above our home Consumption we Transport and sell in Forreign
Markets.
II. The _Sheep_; whose Golden Fleece being the _Primum_ of our Wollen
Manufactures does thereby Imploy Multitudes of our People, which being of
different lengths and finenesses, makes them of different sorts, whereof
they afford us a yearly Crop whilst living, and at their Deaths Bequeath
us their Flesh and Skins, the first serves for our Food, and the latter
we make fit to be used at home, and Traded with Abroad.
III. _Horses_; whose Labour is so necessary that we could neither carry
on our Husbandry or Trade without them, besides their fitness for War,
being the boldest in the World, and for all these uses are Transported
abroad, for the former to our _Plantations_ in the _West Indies_, for the
latter to some of our Neighbouring Nations; but their Flesh is of no use,
their Skins of little, the Leather made thereof is very ordinary, only
the longest of their Hair is used in _Weaving_.
There are many other sorts of Beasts, some whereof require no care in
raising, others little, others are more tender, such are the _Stag_, the
_Dear_, the _Rabbit_, the _Hare_, the _Fox_, the _Badger_, the _Goat_,
whose Skins are necessary for our Trade, and assist in our Manufactures.
[Sidenote: Tillage.]
_Agriculture_ is that whereby we raise our Corn by turning up the Earth,
the several sorts whereof are _Wheat_, _Rye_, _Barly_, _Pease_, _Beans_,
_Fetches_, _Oats_, which not only afford nourishment to our selves and
the Beasts we use in labour, but serve for Trade, as they give Imployment
to our People at home, and are Transported abroad more or less according
to the overplus of onr expence, and the want of our Neighbours, besides
the great Quantities used in our Navigation.
These Products of both sorts are clear profit to the Nation as they are
raised from Earth and Labour, whose Advantages arise chiefly from their
being Exported either in their own kind or when Manufactered, the
Remainder spent at Home tending only to supplying the use, not advancing
the Wealth of the Nation; now these Exports being according to the Rates
and Prizes they bear in other Countries, and those Rates arising from the
Proportion their Lands hold with ours in their Yearly Rents, are not so
great in specie as when workt up, Butter is the greatest, wherewith we
supply many Forreign Markets, and did formerly more, till by making it
bad and using Tricks to increase its weight, we have much lost that
Trade, and are now almost beat out of it by _Ireland_, which every day
makes better as we make worse, besides they undersell us in the Price, as
they do also in _Beef_, occasioned by the low Rents of their Lands, and
more especially by the _Act of Prohibition_, which put that Nation on
finding out a Trade in Forreign Markets for what they were denyed to
bring hither, which being Exported thence direct yeilds them greater
profit, the sweetness whereof hath encouraged them to take more care, and
this hath raised them from a Sloathful to be an Industrious People. As
for Corn, Forreign Markets are supplyed therewith both from thence and
other places in the Sound, also from the Western _Islands_, cheaper then
the price of our Lands will admit. But our _Plantations_ have still some
Dependance on us for our Product, and would more if that _Act_ was
removed, and _Ireland_ made a _Colony_ on the same Terms with them.
The other _Fruits_ of the Earth, as _Apples_, _Pears_, _Cherries_,
_Plumbs_, together with the _Herbs_ and _Plants_, also the _Fowls_ and
_Fish_ taken in this Land, serve rather for our Delight and Food than
Trade. Some _Cider_ we do Export, also Spirits raised by the _Distiller_
both from some of these, and also from many other things.
[Sidenote: Fish.]
On the _Sea Coasts_ we catch great Quantities of _Herrings_ and
_Pilchards_, which we save, and sell in Forreign Markets.
[Sidenote: Minerals.]
Nor is this all the Product of our Earth, whose Womb being big with
Treasure longs to be Delivered, and after many Throws brings forth
_Lead_, _Tin_, _Copper_, _Calamy_, _Coal_, _Culm_, _Iron_, _Allom_,
_Copperas_, and sundry other _Minerals_, which return us great Treasure
from Forreign Markets whither they are Exported; besides the several
_Shrubs_ and _Trees_ that adorn our Fields, among which the _Oak_, the
_Ash_, and the _Elm_, are the chiefest, these not only serve in Building
our Sips, but do also furnish us with Materials wherewith our _Arificers_
make many things fit for Forregn Commerce, and it were much to be wisht
better care were taken for preserving Timber, lest out Posterities want
what we so Prodigally squander away.
[Sidenote: Manufactures.]
The next thing is our Manufactures, whereby we Improve the value of our
Products by the Labour of our Inhabitants, and make them useful in sundry
manners both for our selves and others, fitting them for such Services as
of their own Natures without the help of Art they would not have been
proper, and those to suit the Necessities and Humours both of our own and
Foreign Countries to which we Export them, where they yield a price not
only according to the true value of the Materials and Labour, but an
overplus likewise suitable to the Necessity and Fancy of the Buyer, and
this adds to the profit of the Nation, and increases its Wealth.
These Manufactures as they Imploy Multitudes of People in their making,
so also in Transporting them, and fetching several Forreign Materials
used with our own, such as _Oyl_, _Dye-stuffe_, _Silk_, _Wool_, _Cotten_,
_Barrilia_, and many others, which are either Manufactured here of
themselves, or wrought up with our Product.
[Sidenote: Sheeps Wool.]
And first to begin with _Sheeps Wool_, whereof either by it self or mixt
with _Silk_ or _Linnen_ we make various sorts of pretty things fit for
all Climates, and proper for the wearing of both Sexes, wherein the
Invention and Imitation of our Workmen is so great that they have no
_Idea_ represented or _Pattern_ set before them that is not soon out
done; from a strong heavy Cloath fit to keep out cold in Winter they turn
their Hands to a fine thin sort which will scarse keep warm in Summer,
_Ladies_ may now wear Gowns thereof so light that they can hardly know
they have them on; from hence they fell on _Perpets_, _Serges_, _Crapes_,
_Stuffs_, _Says_, _Rattoons_, _Gauzes_, _Anthrines_, and many other sorts
fit both for outward Garments and inward Linings, of various Colors
Stripes and Flowers, some of them so fine and pleasant scarse to be known
from _Silk_; besides those multitudes of courser Clothes for the Poor,
also _Rugs_, _Blankets_, and all Furniture for Houses, and such a
Progress have they made in this sort of Manufactures, that a Man may have
his Picture wrought in _Tapestry_ with the same exactness both for Life
and Colors as if drawn with a curious Pencil; for this I refer the Reader
to those _Hangings_ at the _Custom-House_ in _London_, where he may see
the several Officers so lively represented in their Stations, that want
of Motion seems to be the only thing which differs them from their
Originals; One Workman endeavouring to exceed another they make things to
answer all the ends of _Silks_, _Calicoes_, and _Linnen_, of bare Sheeps
Wool, which if they were by Fashion brought into wearing would then be
thought as handsom; fine _Flannel_ for Shirts; white _Crape_ for
Neckclothes, Cuffs, and Head-Dresses; besides the pretty Laces, whereof
we see various sorts used about the Dead; and _Caduce_ of several Colours
in imitation of _Ribbons_; also Hats, Stockings, and many such things are
made of _Wool_ and other Mixtures, both worn at home and Exported abroad.
[Sidenote: Cotton Wool.]
The next Material for our Manufactures is _Cotton-Wool_, which is now
become a great Imployment for the Poor, and so adds to the Wealth of the
Nation; this being curiously pickt and spun makes _Dimities_, _Tapes_,
_Stockings_, _Gloves_, besides several things wove fit for use, as
_Petticoats_, _wastcoats_, and _Drawers_, of different Fancies and
Stripes, and I doubt not our Workmen would exceed the _East Indies_ for
_Calicoes_ had they Incouragment; with all which we supply Forreign
Markets besides the Consumption at home.
[Sidenote: Hemp and Flax.]
_Hemp_ and _Flax_ are the Grounds for another Manufacture, for though
Weaving of _Linnen_ is not so much used here as of _Woollen_, yet several
_Counties_ are maintained thereby, who not only supply themselves, but
furnish those Bordering on them with such Cloth as answers the ends of
_French Linnens_, besides which great Quantities of _Ticking_ of all
finenesses, _Incle_, _Tapes_, _Sacking_, _Girtwhip_, are daily made
thereof, also _Cordage_, _Twine_, _Nets_, with multitudes of other
Manufactures which Imploy the Poor, and bring by their Exports Profit to
the Nation.
[Sidenote: Glass.]
_Glass_ is a Manufacture, lately fallen on here, and in a short time
brought to a great Perfection, which keeps many at work, the _Materials_
whereof its made being generally our own and in themselves of small value
costs the Nation little in Comparison of what it formerly did when fetcht
from _Venice_; those noble _Plate Glases_ of all sizes both for Coaches
and Houses are things of great Ornament, and much used, which also shew
forth the _Genius_ of the _English_ People; and for common uses what
various sorts of Utensils are made of Flint fit for all the occasions of
a Family, which look as well as _Silver_, and 'twould be better for the
Nation they were more used in its stead; besides the ordinary _Glass_ for
Windows, and also _Glass Bottles_; all which find a greater expence both
at home and abroad by their cheapness.
[Sidenote: Earthen Wares.]
And as for Earthen Ware, though the Progress we have made therein is not
suitable to the other, yet it hath been such as may give us cause to hope
that time and Industry will bring it to a perfection equal if not to
exceed the _Dutch_.
[Sidenote: Silk.]
_Silk_ is another Material for a great Manufacture, which being brought
from abroad Raw we here twist, dye, and weave into different goodness,
both plain, stript, and flowered, either by it self, or mix'd with Gold
and Silver, so richly brocadoed that we exceed those from whom at first
we had the Art; besides great Quantities of _Ribbons_, _Silk Stockings_,
and other things daily made not only to serve our selves but also to
Export.
[Sidenote: Distilling.]
_Distilling_ is an _Art_ so exceedingly Improved in a few Years that had
it not met with Discouraging _Laws_ 'twould by this time have attained to
a great height; this brings great profit to the Nation, for next to that
of making something out of nothing is the making somthing of what is
worth nothing, therefore this Art ought to have been Handled very
chearily, to have been trained up with a great deal of gentleness, and
not loaden with _Taxes_ in its Infancy, like the _Hen_ in the _Fable_, we
had not Patience to expect its Treasure as Time and Nature could produce
it, but by our Avarice were like to discourage it in the beginning,
however it hath still bore up under all the weight laid upon it. 'Twas a
great mistake to appoint Measures by _Act of Parliament_ to the
_Distillers_ in their workings, Mens knowledge increases by Observation,
and this is the reason why one Age exceeds another in any sort of
_Mistery_, because they improve the Notions of their Predecessors,
therefore confining _Distilling_ only to Corn was an Error, 'tis true
other things were allowed to be used, but on such Terms and Restrictions
as were next to a Prohibition, had the makers of that _Law_ then
Prohibited _Coffee_ and _Tea_ to be drank in _Publick_ _Houses_ it might
more probably have answered their ends in advancing the price of _Barly_
by a greater consumption of _Ale_, and by degrees the _Distillers_ would
have fallen on that Commodity themselves, using it with other mixtures,
and thereby drawing from it a cleaner Spirit then it doth afford of it
self, which they might in time have Rectified to such a fineness as to
have increased very much its use. No Nation can give more incouragement
to the Mistery of _Distilling_ then _England_, whose Plantations being
many and well Peopled where those Spirits are so necessary and useful for
the Inhabitants, and these depending wholly on us for all things, might
have been supplied with them hence only, besides the great Quantities
used in our Navigation, therefore a total Prohibition of their
Importation from other Nations (who make them generally of such things
which are else of little value) would be very convenient: We have many
Materials of our own Product to work on, such as are _Melasses_, _Cyder_,
_Perry_, Barly, &c. all which in time they would have used, for as the
_Distillers_ found their sales increased they would have made new
_Essays_: It was a great discouragement both to them, and also to the
_Sugar Bakers_ and _Brewers_, to hinder Distilling on _Mellasses_,
_Scum_, _Tilts_, and _Wash_, a fault the _Dutch_ nor no Trading Nation
besides our selves would have been guilty of, and proceeded from ill
Advice given that _Parliament_ by those who under pretence of advancing
Corn designed to discourage _Distilling_, only took it by that handle
they thought would be best received in the House, which being generally
made up of _Gentlemen_ unskilful in Trade lookt no deeper into it than as
it answered that plausible pretence; whereas were Trading _Cities_ and
_Towns_ more careful in chusing Men well Verst in _Trade_ in 'twould be
much better for the Nation: I cannot omit what a worthy _Member_ of the
_House_ once told me in private Discourse, says he, I have always
observed that when we have meddled with Trade we have left it worse than
we found it, which proceeds from want of more Traders in the House, the
places we depend on for them sending such Members as are able to give us
but little Information, and so partial that we can take no true measures
of them; The truth is great Cities are to blame in this, who ought to
think none so fit to represent them in Parliament as those who have their
Heads fill'd with good Notions of Trade, such who can speak well to it,
and be heard when they speak; Trade and Land go Hand in Hand as to their
Interest, if one flourish, so will the other, encourage _Distilling_, and
it will spend Hundreds of things now thrown away.
[Sidenote: Sugar-baking.]
Refining of _Sugars_ hath given Employment to our People, and added to
their value in Foreign Parts, where we found great Sales, till the
_Dutch_ and _French_ beat us out, and this was much to be attributed to
the Duty of Two Shillings and Four Pence _per Cent_ lately laid on
_Muscovado_ Sugars, whereby they were wrought up abroad above Twelve _per
Cent_ cheaper than at home, and though that Law is now expired, yet 'tis
harder to regain a Trade when lost, than keep it when we have it.
[Sidenote: Tobacco.]
_Tobacco_ also hath employed our Poor by Cutting and Rowling it, both for
a home Consumption, and also for Exportation, the latter we decay in
every Year, but Methods may be offered in Parliament to render those two
Manufactures of _Sugar_ and _Tobacco_ more advantageous to the Nation
than ever hitherto they have been.
[Sidenote: Tanning.]
_Tanning_ of _Leather_ is an Employment which ought to be encouraged, as
it furnishes us with a Commodity fit to be manufactured at home, and also
to be transported into Foreign Countrys; I know the Exportation of
_Leather_ hath been much opposed by the _Shooe-makers_ and others who cut
it at home, and represented as attended with ill Consequences, one
whereof is the making it dear here, but would it not be of much worse to
confine and limit that Employment to an _Inland_ Expence, on the other
side would it not naturally follow that when _Leather_ rises to a great
Price the Exportation must cease because _Ireland_ would under-sell us,
and would it not seem an unreasonable Discouragement to Trade if
_Tobacco_, _Sugar_, and Woollen Manufactures were debarred from
Exportation only because they should be sold cheaper here; for suppose
the occasions of the Nation could not consume all the _Leather_ that is
made, to what a low price must _Hides_ be reduced, for no other reason
but that the _Shooemakers_ may get more by their _Shooes_? 'Tis true, if
they could make out that those Countrys must then have their _Shooes_
from us who now have their _Leather_, I should be of their Minds, but it
must needs have a quite contrary effect, especially whilst Ireland is
able to supply them: This proceeds from a very narrow Spirit, and such as
ought not to be encouraged in a Trading Nation; _Ireland_ hath already
made great Progress in this Mistery, occasioned by our Imprudence, and
should we give Encouragement to other Countrys we might too late repent
it. A good Export for _Leather_ would cause a great Import of _Raw
Hides_, which would be more Advantage to the Nation than if they were
tann'd in _Ireland_, and sent abroad thence.
[Sidenote: Iron.]
Nor can I omit _Iron_, which is the great foundation of sundry
Manufactures, not only used at home, but wherewith we supply our
Plantations and other Places abroad, as _Howes_, _Bills_, _Axes_,
_Cases_, _Locks_, _Nailes_, and a thousand such Necessaries, the
Workmanship whereof adds much to their Value.
[Sidenote: Clockwork.]
There are many other things which may be and are daily improved amongst
us; as _Clockwork_, wherein we sell nothing but Art and Labour, the
Materials thereof being of small value; I have seen _Watches_ and
_Clocks_ of great Prizes made for the Courts of Foreign Princes.
[Sidenote: Paper-Mills.]
[Sidenote: Powder-Mills.]
[Sidenote: Artificers.]
[Sidenote: Methods to improve our Manufactures.]
_Paper-Mills_ are a Benefit to the Nation, as they make that Commodity
from things of themselves worth little; so are are _Powder-Mills_; also
Artificers, who bring advantage to the Nation by supplying it with things
which must otherwise be had from abroad for its own use, as also with
others proper to be sent thither for Sales, and when Exported are more or
less profitable as the labour of the Subject adds to their value; In like
manner things are cheaper to us when we pay only for the first Materials
whereof they are made, the rest being work done at home is divided
amongst our selves, so that on the whole it appears to be the great
Interest of _England_ to advance its Manufactures, and this I humbly
conceive may be done these several ways.
[Sidenote: By imploying the Poor.]
1. By providing Work-houses for the Poor, and making good Laws both to
force and encourage them to work; but designing to speak larger to this
before I close this Tract shall referr the Reader to it.
[Sidenote: By freeing the Manufactures from Customs.]
2. By discharging all Customs payable on them at their Exportation, and
also on the Materials used in making them at their Importation; for as
the one would encourage the Merchant to send more abroad, so the other
would enable the Manufacturers to afford them cheaper at home, and 'tis
strange that a Nation whose Wealth depends on Manufactures, and whose
Interest it is to outdo all others (especially in the Woollen) by
underselling them in Foreign Markets, should load either with Taxes.
[Sidenote: Logwood.]
[Sidenote: Dying and dressing our Woollen Manufactures at home.]
Here I cannot but mention that of _Logwood_, a Commodity much used in
_Dying_, which pays Five Pounds _per Tun_ Custom in, and draws back Three
Pounds Fifteen Shillings when shipt out, by which means the _Dyers_ in
_Holland_ use it so much cheaper than ours; now if it was Imported Custom
Free, and paid Twenty five Shillings _per Tun_ at its Export, the _Dyers_
there would use it so much dearer than ours here, and I think it would be
well worth Inquiry, whither a Prohibition either total or in part of
Shipping out our Manufactures thither and to the Northern Kingdoms undyed
or undrest might not be made, I am sure it would be of great Advantage to
this Kingdom if it might be done without running into greater
Inconveniencies, which for my part I do not foresee, the _Dutch_
discourage their being brought in dyed or drest, that they may thereby
give Employments to their own People, and increase their Navigation by
the consumption of great quantities of Dye-stuff, and the same reasons
should prevail with us to dye and dress them here, But this deserves the
consideration of a Committee of Parliament to hear what may be said both
for and against it.
[Sidenote: By not importing things manufactur'd.]
3. By discouraging the Importation of Commodities already manufactured
either from our own Plantations or other Places, such as clay'd and
refined _Sugars_, wrought _Silks_, _Calicoes_, _Brandy_, _Glass_,
_Earthen Ware_, _Irish Frizes_, _Tann'd Leather_, _Gloves_, _Lace_, &c.
and instead thereof we should encourage bringing in the Materials whereof
they are made, to be wrought up here; this may be done by Laws, and also
by being in love with our Home Manufactures, and bringing their Wearing
into Fashion.
[Sidenote: By freeing the Manufactures from Excises.]
4. By freeing the Manufactures from burthensome Excises, which do much
discourage small Stocks, who are not able to carry on their Trades and
make Provision for such great Payments; the _Distillers_ have long
groaned under them, and I fear the _Glass-makers_ now will, especially
those in and about _London_, who have another load by the Duty of Coals,
besides the Swarms of Officers to which we lay open the Houses of those
Men who deserve all the Encouragement we can give them, and ought to have
things made as easie to them as may be; had the like Methods been used to
our Wollen and Leather (as was intended) we might have repented it at
Leisure; Taxes when laid on our Manufactures ought to be raised by such
easie Methods as shall give least trouble to the Makers: Trade ought to
be handled gently, and he that considers the Expences of this Nation at
Five Pounds _per Head_ comes to Forty Millions, and the Lands of
_England_ but to Twelve, will imagine easie Methods may be found out to
raise a greater Tax annually then we pay, without loading either Land or
Trade as now we do, a Scheme whereof may be easily drawn up.
[Sidenote: By not exporting Materials till Manufactured.]
5. By prohibiting as much as may be the Exportation of things to the
Plantations fit to be manufactured there till they are first done here,
thus 'tvvas better _Shooes_ vvere Transported to the Plantations than
_Leather_, so things made of _Iron_, than _Iron_ it self, this vvould
employ our People, and add to the value of vvhat vve ship out.
[Sidenote: By securing the Foreign Trade.]
[Sidenote: Counrts of Merchants.]
6. By defending the Merchants in their Trades who export the
Manufactures, and making it as easie to them as may be; To this end good
Conveys should be allowed, and good Cruisers maintain'd to preserve their
Ships, it being certain that what-ever is diminish'd out of the Merchants
Stock doth so far disable him in Trade, and then consequently lessen his
Exports and Imports; _Courts_ of _Merchants_ should be also erected for
the speedy deciding all differences relating to Sea Affairs, which are
better ended by those who understand them, than they are in
_Westminster-Hall_, where all things are tried by the Nice Rules of Law,
to whom after much Attendance and Expence they are often referred by the
Judges, by this means they would see short ends to their differences, and
not be detained at home to attend long Issues; but there can be no
general Rules given for these _Courts_, which must be settled according
as they best suit the convenience of every Trading City.
I am of opinion that the Trade of this Kingdom might be secured with no
greater Expence to the Government than now 'tis at, but then better
Methods must be taken, and Men employed whose Interests it is to see them
put in Execution: When we first began this War the Nation had many
Difficulties to cope with, the _French_ seemed to vye with us at Sea,
whilst their Armies outnumber'd ours at Land, but now blessed be God the
Scale is turned, we force their Garrisons and storm their Castles whilst
they look on unable to relieve, and at the same time our _Navy-Royal_
blocks up theirs, whilst our smaller Fleets Bombard their Sea-Port Towns,
we not only ride Admirals in the _British_ Seas but also in the
_Mediterranean_, and yet do now suffer more Loss in our Navigation than
formerly we did; The _French_ are come to a new way of fighting, they set
out no Fleet, but their Privateers swarm and cover the Sea like Locusts,
they hang on our Trade like Horse-Leeches, and draw from it more Blood
than it is well able to spare, whilst we still go on as we did, without
new Methods to countermine them; The _French_ King breeds up a Nursery of
_Seamen_ at our Charge, whilst his Subjects are made Rich by our Losses;
the Act for Cruisers was well design'd had it been as well put in
Execution, the Parliament thereby shewed what might secure our Trade, but
left things so discretionary to the Managers, that the Merchant knows not
when he receives the Benefit thereof, or how to complain if he doth not,
and by this means is in a worse Condition than he was before the making
that Law, adventuring larger because he thinks he Trades securer; I
confess for my own part I value nothing that cannot be reduced to a
certainty in its practice, things seem difficult to those who do not
understand them, if we are to Besiege a Town we make use of Soldiers, if
to storm a Castle, Engineers, if to build a Ship, _Carpenters_, and so in
lesser things, and yet Gentlemen are thought fit to sit at Helm, and
steer the Ship wherein is Embarqu'd the Treasure of our Trade, who are
altogether unskill'd therein, on whose good Conduct the Nation's Weale or
Woe depends; Thus things do fall into Confusion, whilst Men undertake
what they do not understand and set the Nation in a flame, whilst they
injudiciously guide the Chariot of the Sun; This makes Foreign
Commodities dear, and advances the Prizes of Materials used in our
Manufactures, so that as Trade grows worse Expences grow greater, and at
the same time no Body is a Gainer, The Merchant pays such high Fraights
and Insurances, that he gets little by Trade tho' he sells his Imports
for great Prizes; and yet the Insurers complain they lose by
underwriting, and therefore advance their _Premios_, which is a new
advance on Trade; and the Owners of Ships get nothing by their Fraights,
because they pay great Wages to the _Saylors_, and meet with such Delays
both at home and abroad that the length of time eats up all their
Profits, so that Fraights must rather rise than fall; nor do the
_Saylors_ get, who generally brought home more Money to their Families in
the time of Peace at three Years end when they served for Twenty-four
Shillings _per Month_ than they now do at Fifty, one lost Voyage bringing
them more behind-hand than two good ones put them forward; Now if Heads
well verst in Trade were set at work, Methods might be thought on to
secure all with little Charge to the Government, and hereby the Kingdom
might flourish, and be supplyed by the Merchant with Commodities cheaper,
whilst the Insurers underwrote for less _Premio_, Fraights let on lower
terms, the Wages of Mariners fallen, and All got more than now they do;
our Numbers of Seamen might then be increased, and every Ship that goes
abroad be a Nursery for the Fleet at home; Privateering, which is now
become a Trade amongst the _French_, must then necessarily sink all
concerned therein, its own Weight and Charge would crush it did we
prevent their taking Prizes; and no doubt the Merchants of _England_
would not oppose such Regulations in their Trades as they saw were to
their Advantage, or refuse to be at some Charge when they saw those
Payments saved Money in their Pockets, and that the management of things
was put into the Hands of Persons engaged in the common Interest of Trade
with themselves: This seems to me of great Importance in our
Manufactures, when the foreign Materials shall be furnished cheaper to
the Maker; besides if Trade were well secured the War would scarce be
felt, Losses by Sea discourage the City, and the ill Consequences thereof
reach the Country, whereby both suffer more than by all the Taxes they
pay towards carrying it on.
[Sidenote: By lowering the Interest of Money.]
[Sidenote: Banks & Lombards.]
7. By falling the Interest of Money; this would very much quicken Trade,
and indeed is the true Measure of it, the Merchant would be better able
to cope with Competitors abroad in the Manufactures when his Interest did
not eat so deep as now it doth, and the Maker would be enabled to sell
them cheaper at Home; if Interest were fallen 'twould make all Trades
flourish, for whilst we stand not on the same Terms with our Neighbours
herein we must expect to be undersold every where by them; the _Dutch_
pay but Three _per Cent_, and are thereby enabled to Trade so much lower
than we can; the truth is 'tis a shame Money should yield more by being
put to Interest than 'twould do if laid out either in Land or Trade; the
first doth not clear Four _per Cent_, the latter will not bring the
Borrower Five for all his Pains and Industry when the Userer is paid,
whilst the other runs little Risque, and is a Drone in the
_Common-Wealth_; as for Orphans and Widdows, (which is the main Objection
against it) let their Expences be lessened suitable to its Fall, and for
all other People, let them employ their Money in Trade if they think
'twill yield more; And here I judge it not amiss to mention Banks and
Lumbards, which I take to be so many Shops to let out Money, for which
they receive such Security, and for such time, as stands most for the
conveniency of Trade, and therefore the more the better, because every
one will endeavour to underdo another.
[Sidenote: By rectifying the Currant Coin.]
8. By rectifying the Currant Coin of this Kingdom, which is now so
debased that Men rather truck than sell for Money, not knowing whither
the next Man they deal with will take what they just before received for
their Goods; this makes Payments precarious, and _Trade_ uneasie, mony
rising and falling on Men's Hands daily, so that now nothing is more
uncertain than that which should be the Rule of certainty in the value of
all other things.
I do not think it convenient to advance our Coyn, but let Bullion be of
the same value when coined as it was before, else we have not the true
worth of the Commodity we sell for it, but are deceived by the Stamp,
which may be counterfeited by the _Dutch_ and other Nations for the
profit of the Overplus, besides it will seem ridiculous for a Man to give
Twenty Shillings worth of Silver for Eighteen Shillings of the same
specie, only because it is medall'd; this will necessarily be followed by
the advance of Silver suitable, the consequence whereof will be the
selling our Manufactures abroad cheaper, as we receive less Bullion for
them, and the whole Profit redound to the King of _Spain_, whose _Indies_
by the advance of his Bullion will be worth more than they were before;
nor will this hinder its being carry'd abroad, perhaps it may keep our
Coin at home, but not our Silver, which will be still carried out in
Specie; not that I am of their Opinions who think the advance of Money
would raise the price of Foreign Commodities among us, our own Experience
shews it will not, we buy and sell as much for Twenty Shillings in
Farthings as for so much Silver Coin; nor will their comparison with the
_Portugal Trade_ hold here, for when that King advanced the value both of
Peeces of _Eights_, and also of his own Coin, the Importer was obliged to
advance the Price of his Goods, because Silver was the Specie wherein he
was to make Returns, which he received not as it was worth in Coin but in
value by the Ounce, whereas had he laid it out in Commodities the Case
had been otherwise, I make a great difference between Money as it is the
Medium of _Trade_, and as it is the Commodity we make returns in; there
are better Reasons than this why Coin should be kept up to its true value.
And for the more easie calling it in when the Parliament shall see fit, I
think 'twere best to cry down all clipt Money at once, only to be
received for six Months by the King in his Taxes, who may send it into
the _Mint_, and if the Computation be allowed that we have about six
Millions of Coined Silver Money in the Kingdom, suppose four of it to be
clipt, the Taxes of _Customs_, _Excise_, _Aids_, &c. which we pay in six
Months will require near that Summ; and if there remain Two Millions
unclipt, it will serve the ordinary Expence till so much new Money can
come abroad, at the end of which time let all the rest be called in by
the same Method; This will bring forth the Broad Money, which is now
hoarded up, and during this Scarcity both the King's occasions and those
of _Trade_ will be very much answer'd by _Gold_ and _Bank_ Notes; and for
better preserving our new-coined Money, let none for the future exceed
Shillings, or at most Half Crowns, and those be made broad and thin, with
the Ring on the Extent of the Circumference, which will prevent both
Clipping and Drilling, and if the Stamp be not deep 'twill prevent
casting.
As for the _Iron_ and _Counterfeit-Money_, (which is supposed to be about
a Million) it must be lost to those who have it; and I suppose a Tax of
about Fifteen Hundred Thousand Pounds will make good the other.
[Sidenote: By discouraging Stockjobbing.]
9. By discouraging _Stockjobbing_; This hath been the Bane of many good
Manufacturies, which began well, and might have been carry'd on to
Advantage if the Promoters had not fallen off to selling Parts, and
slighted the first Design, winding themselves out at Advantage, and
leaving the Management to those they decoyed in, who understood nothing
of the thing, whereby all fell to the Ground; This may be prevented (I
mean so far as concerns Corporations) by Laws framed for that end, or by
Clauses in their Charters.
[Sidenote: By taking away Priviledged Places.]
10. By taking away all Priviledged Places, and making it easier for
Creditors to recover of their Debtors; Men now betake themselves to
Sanctuary, and spend what they have at defiance with those to whom they
owe it; on the other side if Laws were made for the more equal
Distribution of the Estates of those who fall to decay, with a Reserve of
some part thereof to themselves on a fair Discovery, and a force on the
minor part of the Credits to agree with what Composition should be made
by the major, so many People would not then be necessitated to such
Methods, or be ruined by lying in Goals, as now there are, but be enabled
to put themselves again into ways for a future Maintenance; Misfortunes
may and often do befal industrious Men, whose _Trades_ have been very
beneficial to the Nation, and to such a due Regard ought to be had; but
for those who design under the shelter of a Protection or Priviledge to
spend all they have, and thereby cheat their Creditors, no Law can be too
severe.
[Sidenote: By preventing Exportation of Wool.]
11. By strengthening the Laws against Exportation of Wool by such
practicable Methods as may prevent its being done; and such may be
thought on; for when a Nation's Interest doth so much depend thereon, no
Care can be too great, or Methods laid too deep; Laws concerning _Trade_
whose sole Strength are Penalties (and especially such as end in Death)
rarely reach the thing aimed at; but practicable Methods, whereby one
thing answers another, and all conspire to carry on the same Design,
hanging like so many Links in a Chain, that you cannot reach the one
without stepping over the other, these are more likely to prevent
Mischiefs; Its one thing to punish People when a Fact is done, and
another to prevent the doing it by putting them as it were under an
impossibility; now where the Welfare of the Kingdom lies so much at
Stake, certainly it cannot be thought grievous to compel a submission to
good Methods, though they may seem troublesom at first.
Thus there have been severe Laws made against carrying the Plantation
Commodities directly thence to Foreign _Markets_, and stealing the
_Customs_ when brought home, and what effect these have had we all know,
thousands of Hogsheads of _Tobacco_ being yearly Ship'd to _Spain_,
_Scotland_, and _Ireland_, both from _New-England_, and other Places;
whereas Sound and Practicable Methods may and are ready to be laid down
to prevent both, with few Officers, and fewer Penalties.
[Sidenote: The ill consequences of sending our Wool.]
And that we may better see the Mischiefs which attend the carrying abroad
our _Wool_ unwrought to other Nations, let us consider the Consequences
thereof in what is Shipp'd to _France_, whose _Wool_ being very course of
its self, and fit only for _Ruggs_ and ordinary _Cloth_, is by mixture
with ours and Irish used in the making of many sorts of pretty _Stuffs_
and _Druggats_, whereby the Sales of our _Woollen_ Manufactures are
lessened both there and in other places whither we export them, and by
this means every Pack of _Wool_ sent thither works up two besides it
self, being chiefly combed and combing _Wool_, which makes Woofe for the
_French Wool_, and the Pinions thereof serve with their _Linnen_ to make
course _Druggats_ like our _Linsey-Woolsey_, but the _Linnen_ being spun
fine and coloured is not easily discerned, also the finest short _English
Wool_ being mix'd with the lowest _Spanish_ makes a middling sort of
_Broad Cloth_, and being woven on _Worsted Chains_ makes their best
_Druggats_, neither of which could be done with the _French Wool_ only,
unless in Conjunction with ours or _Irish_, _Spanish Wool_ is too fine
and too short for _Worsted Stuffs_, and unfit for Combing, so that
without one of those two sorts there cannot be a piece of fine _Worsted
Stuff_ or middle _Broad Cloth_ made, no other _Wool_ but _English_ or
_Irish_ will mix well with _Spanish_ for _Cloth_, being originally of the
same kind, raised from a Stock of _English Sheep_, the difference in
fineness coming from the nature of the Land whereon they feed; of this we
have Examples in our own Nation, where we find that _Lemster Wool_ is the
finest, next, part of _Shropshire_ and _Staffordshire_, part of
_Glocester-shire_, _Wilts_, _Dorset_, and _Hampshire_, part of _Sussex_,
and part of _Kent_, _Somerset_, _Devon_, and _Cornwall_, these are most
proper for _Cloth_, some small part for _Worsted_; _Sussex_, _Surry_,
_Middlesex_, _Hartfordshire_, and some other Counties produce _Wool_ much
courser and cheaper; But then _Barkshire_, _Buckingham_, _Warwick_,
_Oxon_, _Leicester_, _Nottingham_, _Northampton_, _Lincoln_, and part of
_Kent_ called _Rumny-Marsh_, the _Wool_ in most of these Connties is so
proper for _Worsted_, that all the World except _Ireland_ cannot compare
with it, therefore requires our greater Care to prevent its Exportation,
and more especially from _Ireland_, whence it is often Exported to our
Neighbouring Nations, and sold as cheap as in _England_.
[Sidenote: By making Bonds and Bills Assignable.]
12. By making _Bonds_ and _Bills_ assignable, and being Assigned and
Transferred from one to another, the Assignee to be capable in his own
Name to Prosecute the Debtor whose _Bond_ or _Bill_ it is, without using
the Name of the Assignor, or any _Letter of Attorney_ from him to require
or recover the same; by this means young Men of small Stocks and Credits
may on sale of their Goods and taking _Bills_ for Payment return to
Market again, and purchase with those _Bills_ such Commodities as they
want to carry on their _Trades_; this also will produce a great
Punctuality amongst Traders, for all Men to keep up the Reputation of
their _Bills_ will endeavour to be exact in their Payments, that so they
may be currant, and freely accepted in Commerce, every One's Credit will
then be esteemed according as he is punctual in the payment of his
_Bills_; Besides, this Punctuality will produce another good effect,
those _Bills_ will be bought up by mony'd Men for the Advantage of their
discount, and it will by degrees lessen the Extortion of Usurers.
[Sidenote: By confining to a method in Trade.]
13. By prohibiting Persons from following several Trades at once, _viz._
The Merchant from being a Shopkeeper or Retailer, and the Shopkeeper from
being a Merchant or Adventurer at the same time; hereby each Trade would
be better managed, and with more Advantage to both, for whilst the
Merchant employs his Stock abroad in Exporting the Commodities of the
Kingdom, and supplying it with others, the Retailer would keep his at
home, ready to buy up those Imports, and disperse them into the Country,
and both would go on unanimously in their Trades, because neither would
interfere in the others Business.
[Sidenote: My managing Treaties of Peace to the Advantage of Trade.]
14. By taking Care that in all Treaties of Peace and other Negotiations
with Foreign Princes a due Regard be had to our Trade and Manufactures;
that our Merchants be respected, and not affronted by the Governments
among whom they reside; that all things be made easie to them, and both
their Liberties and Properties secured; that our Manufactures be not
prohibited, or burthened with unreasonable Taxes, which is the same in
effect; that speedy Justice be done in recovering Debts contracted
amongst the Natives, and punishing Abuses put on our Factories by them;
These are pressures our Trade hath long groaned under, whereby the
Merchants abroad and Manufacturers at home have been much discouraged,
and the _English_ Nation hath been forced to truckle under the _French_
in Foreign Parts (especially in _Portugal_, and the Islands belonging to
it) only because that King sooner resented Injuries done to his Traders,
and took more Care to demand Reparation, than our last Reigns have done;
but blessed be God we have now both Power and Opportunity to do the same,
and there is no cause to doubt His Majesty's Royal Inclinations to make
use of both for the Good of his Merchants when things are duely
represented to him.
[Sidenote: Liberty of Conscience.]
[Sidenote: The Quakers in respect to Oaths.]
I should in the last place have added _Liberty of Conscience_, but that
being already settled by Law I need not mention it, only this, that it
were to be wisht some way might be found out to make Methods of Trade
more easie to the _Quakers_ than now they are; I am apt to think that he
who appears in the Face of a Court to give Evidence on his word if he be
a Man of Couscience looks on himself equally obliged to speak the Truth
as if he was sworn, and nothing will deter a dishonest Man like she fear
of punishment.
[Sidenote: The Importation of Materials to be manufactured will encourage
Trade.]
Nor will the prohibiting things already manufactured be any way a
hindrance to Foreign Trade, but rather an Incouragement; more Ships will
be fraighted, and more _Saylors_ imployed by the Importation of
Materials, besides the great Advantage to the Nation in the ballance of
its Trade, which must then be returned in _Bullion_ by so much more as
they cost less abroad than the others; and this will enable us to afford
a greater Consumption of Foreign Commodities spent on our Palates, such
as _Wines_, _Fruit_, and the like, all which fill our Ships, and are fit
Subjects for _Trade_ when the Profits of a Nation enable it to bear their
Expence.
[Sidenote: Navigation.]
[Sidenote: Manning our Ships of War.]
[Sidenote: Pressing Saylors.]
[Sidenote: Embargoes.]
And thus I have run through the several Parts of our _Inland Trade_, the
Profit whereof depends on our Product and Manufactures; Before I proceed
to our _Outland_ or _Foreign Trade_ I shall speak something of
Navigation, which is the _Medium_ between both; This is carried on by
Ships and _Saylors_, the former are the Sea Waggons, whereby we transport
and carry Commodities from one Market to another, and the latter are the
Waggoners which drive or manage them; these are a sort of merry
unthinking People, who make all Men rich save themselves, have often more
Money than is their own, but seldom so much as they know how to spend,
generally brave in their Undertakings, they go through any kind of Labour
in their own way with a great deal of chearfulness, are undaunted by
Storms and Tempests, the Sea being as it were their Element, and are
allowed by all to be the best Navigators in the World; they are our
Wealth in Peace, and our Defence in War, and ought to be more encouraged
than they are in both, but especially in the latter, which might be done
if better Methods were used to engage them in that Service, and better
Treatment when there; Now I should think if a List were taken of all the
_Saylers_ in _England_, and a Law made for every Person who enters
himself on that Imploy at the Age of Years to have his Name registred,
with the place of his Abode, and be obliged to appear on Summons left at
his House, and no Man to be forced into the King's Service till he had
been at Sea three Years, nor to stay therein above three Years without
his free consent, and then to be permitted to take a Merchant's Imploy
for so much longer, and during his being in the King's Service good
Provision to be made for his Family at home, and a Maintenance for them
in case of his death or being disabled, This would encourage them to come
willingly into the Service, which they look on now to be a Slavery
whereto they are bound for their Lives, whilst their Families starve at
home; This and the manner of pressing them discourages many, and hinders
very much the making of _Saylors_, People not caring to put their Hands
to an Oar lest the next day they should be halled away to the Fleet,
though they understand nothing of the Sea; I do not think too much Care
can be taken for the well manning our Men of War, but I would have it
also done with able Seamen, and not with such who will only stand in the
way, and are useless when most wanted, and this must not be done by
pressing, but by practicable Methods which shall draw every Man to take
his turn at Helm; I take _Embargoes_ to be no helps towards it, for many
_Saylors_ do then lie hid, who would appear to serve in Merchant's Ships,
and might be easily met with at return of their Voyages; by this means in
a short time there would be a double set of Mariners, enough both for the
Service of the Fleet and Trade, the latter would every year breed more;
let the Commanders of Merchants Ships on Arrival give in Lists of the
_Saylors_ they have brought home, for whose appearance their Wages should
be Bail, and then those whose turn it is to serve in the Fleet should
after due time allowed for finishing their Voyages be sent thither, and a
penalty on every Master of a Ship who carry'd a Saylor to Sea after his
three Years Prodict was expired; such Laws and Time would bring things
into regular Methods.
[Sidenote: Inconvenience of pressing Saylors from Ships on their Voyages.]
This would also prevent great Mischiefs and Inconveniencies which arise
from pressing Saylors our of Merchants Ships whilst on their Voyages,
many of them being thereby lost at Sea, and others detained in the
_West-Indies_, to the great Discouragement of Trade; whereas better ways
might be found out of supply the Men of War abroad, all Merchants Ships
bound to the places where they are might have a proportionable Number of
Sailors deliver'd them by the Admiralty to be carried out _Gratis_ for
their Use and Service; and this would prevent another Mischief too often
practised abroad, where Captains of Men of War press Saylors from one
Merchants Ship only that they may make profit by selling them to another.
[Sidenote: Short Voyages breed Saylors.]
It's supposed that no Trade raises more Seamen than that of Coals from
_Newcastle_, which imploys many Hundreds of Ships to supply the City of
_London_ and other Ports of _England_, and being a home Trade doth
thereby breed and encourage Saylors more than long Voyages would do.
[Sidenote: Oytland Trade.]
To come now to the Trade which _England_ drives with Foreign Countrys;
here 'tis necessary to enquire how each doth encourage our Product and
Manufactures, how our Navigation, what Commodities we receive in Returns,
and how the Ballance of Trade stands in either; among which I esteem none
to be so profitable to to us as that we manage to _Africa_ and our own
Plantations in _America_, and none so detrimental as that to the
_East-Indies_.
[Sidenote: East-Indies.]
To begin therefore with the _East-India_ Trade, which for many Reasons I
take to be mischievous to the Kingdom.
To clear this we are to consider how a Trade may be advantageous or
detrimental to a Nation, and then to draw Inferences thence applicable to
the above Proposition; I shall therefore lay down such general Notions as
may without dispute be allowed by all unbyassed Persons, which are these:
1. That that Trade is advantageous to the Kingdom of _England_ which
Exports our Product and Manufactures.
2. Which Imports to us such Commodities as may be manufactured here, or
be used in making our Manufactures.
3. Which supplies us with such things, without which we cannot carry on
our Foreign Trade.