K i n g's Most Excellent Majesty in Council,
The Humble Petition and Representation of _Samuel Baker, Samuel
Storke, John Bayeux, Richard Jeneway, Robert Hackshaw, Joseph
Low, Joseph Paice, George Streatfield, William Parkin_, and
_John Evered_, Merchants of _London_, trading to _New-York_, in
behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Persons concern'd in
the _New-York_ Trade.
_S H E W E T H_,
That by an Act passed in _New-York_ the 19th of _November_, 1720,
entitled, _An Act for Encouragement of the_ Indian _Trade, and rendering
it more beneficial to the Inhabitants of this Province, and for
prohibiting the selling of_ Indian Goods _to the_ French, all Trade
whatsoever is prohibited in the strictest Manner, and under the severest
Penalties, between the Inhabitants of _New-York_ Government, and the
_French_ of _Canada_, or any Subjects of the _French King_, or any
Person whatsoever, for or on the behalf of any such Subjects; and which
Act was to continue in force for three Years.
That the Reasons assigned in the Preamble of this Act, for the passing
thereof, are, For that the _French_ at _Canada_, by means of _Indian_
Goods purchased from the Inhabitants of _New-York_, had not only almost
wholly engrossed the _Indian Trade_ to themselves, but had, in great
measure, withdrawn the Affections of the _Five Nations_ of _Indians_
from the Inhabitants of _New-York_, and render'd them wavering in their
Faith and Allegiance to your Majesty; and would, if such Trade was not
prevented, wholly alienate the Minds of the said _Indians_, which might
prove of dangerous Consequence to the _English Interest_ in _America_.
That this Act was sent home for your Majesty's royal Consideration, but
your Petitioners do not find that your Majesty ever signified your
Allowance or Disallowance thereof; from whence, and from the Act's being
to continue but three Years, your Petitioners humbly conceive the same
was suffered to lie by probationary, to see whether the said Act, in its
Effects, was really advantageous or prejudicial to the _British Trade_
and _Interest_ in _America_.
That your Petitioners have received Advice, That the Government of
_New-York_ either have, or are about passing an Act, to revive and
continue the said Act for prohibiting all Trade between _New-York_ and
_Canada_.
Upon which Occasion, your Petitioners humbly beg leave to represent to
your Majesty, That the said Act, tho' in the first Intention of it, it
might be well designed, yet, in its Effects, it has proved very
pernicious to the _British Trade_ in general, and to the Interest of
_New-York_ in particular: For, besides the Nations of _Indians_ that are
in the _English_ Interest, there are very many Nations of _Indians_, who
are, at present, in the Interest of the _French_, and who lie between
_New-York_, and the Nations of _Indians_ in the _English Interest_; and
this Act prohibiting all Trade between _New-York_ and the _French_ of
_Canada_, or any of the Subjects of _France_, the _French_, and their
_Indians_, would not permit the _English Indians_ to pass over by their
Forts, so as to carry on a free Trade with _New-York_, but prevented
their Passages, as much as possible, whereby that most considerable and
only valuable Branch of Trade from _New-York_, hath, ever since the
passing the said Act, very much lessened, from the great Difficulties of
carrying on any Trade with the _English Indians_, and the Prohibition of
all Trade with the _French_; and all the _Indian Goods_ have, by this
Act, been raised in their Price 25_l._ to 30_l._ _per Cent_.
Whereas, on the other hand, this Branch of the _New-York_ Trade, by the
Discouragements brought upon it by this Act, is almost wholly engrossed
by the _French_, who have already, by this Act, been encouraged to send
proper _European Goods_ to _Canada_, to carry on this Trade; so that
should this Act be continued, the _New-York_ Trade, which is very
considerable, must be wholly lost to us, and center in the _French_.
And your Petitioners further beg leave humbly to represent, That as they
conceive nothing can tend more to the with-drawing the Affections of the
_Five Nations_ of _Indians_ from the _English Interest_, than the
Continuance of the said Act, which, in its Effects, restrains them from
a free Commerce with the Inhabitants of _New-York_, and may, too
probably, estrange them from the _English Interest:_ Whereas by a
Freedom of Commerce, and an encourag'd Intercourse of Trade with the
_French_, and their _Indians_, the _English Interest_ might, in time, be
greatly improved and strengthened among the _Indians_ in general, who,
by such Latitude of Trade, might be link'd to our Friendship in the
strongest Ties of their own Interest, as well as Inclinations.
That therefore, and as the said Act was, in its Effects, so plainly
destructive and prejudicial to the Trade and Interest of these Kingdoms,
and so much for the Interest of the _French_, and greatly promoted that
Mischief which it was intended to prevent,
Your Petitioners most humbly pray your Majesty, That you would
be graciously pleased to give the necessary Directions to your
Governor of _New-York_, not to pass any new Act for the reviving
or continuing the said Act prohibiting Trade with the _French_
of _Canada_; and that if any such Act, or any Act of the like
Tendency, be already passed, that the same may be repealed. _And
your Petitioners shall ever pray_, &c.
_Samuel Baker_,
_Rob. Hackshaw_,
_Jo. Lloyd_,
_Sam. Storke_,
_J. Bayeux_,
_Sam. Fitch_,
_Rich. Jeneway_,
_Jos. Lowe_,
_Asher Levy_,
_John Paine_,
_J. Bull_,
_Fra. Wilks_,
_Wm. Parkin_,
_John Gilbert_,
_Jos. Paice_, jun.
_Rich. Mico_,
_Jo. Miranda_,
_Geo. Streatfield_,
_John Everet_,
_Thompson Hayne_.
* * * * *
_At the Court at_ St. James'_s the 30th Day of_ April, 1724.