[Transcriber’s Note: Blank spaces within paragraphs (where
apparently figures were supposed to be) were marked with the symbols
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AN
ESSAY
Towards
Regulating the TRADE,
AND
Employing the Poor of this
KINGDOM.
The Second Edition.
Whereunto is Added,
An ESSAY Towards
Paying off the Publick Debts.
By John Cary, Esq;
LONDON:
Printed by S. COLLINS in the Old-Baily, and Publish’d by SAM.
MABBAT in Holbourn-Court in Grays-Inn. MDCCXIX.
ERRATA.
Pag. 22. line 28. between the Words (Stuffs) and the word (which) add
the Word (Imported.) p. 31. i. l. 31. for the Word (If) r. (In) p.
90. l. 24. instead of (a made) r. (made a) p. 115. in the Marginal
Note, instead of (Wives) r. (Widdows.) p. 131. l. 33. instead of
(Engaged) r. (Enacted.) p. 160. l. 30. instead of (what is) r. (is
what).
TO
The Right Honourable
Spencer Compton, Esq;
SPEAKER,
And to the Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of this
Present Parliament of Great-Britain, Assembled.
May it Please your Honours,
THE First Edition of this little Tract, Relating to Trade, the Poor,
was Humbly Dedicated to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, when
Governor of the South-Sea Company, which I then thought, as I still
do, might be of Service to the Nation, by alluring the Heir to the
Crown, into an Early Liking of Trade, and Setting before him the
Advantages that Accrue from it, with the Methods whereby it may be
Improved; and therefore I Contracted it into a Narrow Compass, to
Encourage his Reading it.
THIS Second Edition, whereto I have added some Sure and Practicable
Methods, for Discharging the Publick Debts of the Nation, with most
Ease to the People, I humbly Present to this Honourable House; If it
may be Usefull in your Debates, I shall think my self very Happy.
’TIS the Ballance of our Trade, that Supplies us with Bullion; if
That be in our Favour, it brings it to us, if Otherwise, it must be
Carried away.
THIS Ballance is Supported by our Manufactures, which keep our People
at Work, and Enable them to Maintain themselves by their own Labour,
who must else Stand still, and become a Charge on our Lands; and
therefore I humbly Conceive it to be our Interest, First, to
Encourage their being worn at Home, and then to give a Preference to
such things, as are Purchased for them Abroad, Rather than to those,
which are Bought for Bullion; And if our Trade was well Regulated, we
should soon become the Richest, and consequently the Greatest, People
in Europe.
I have made some Essay at such Methods, as I doubt not, being
Improved by your Wisdoms, and Strengthened by your Authority, may
Tend very much to the Effecting this great Work; And I humbly Offer
the Six Propositions following, as so many Fundamentals, Necessary,
for the better Ordering of our Trade, the Discharging of our Publick
Debts, and Supporting the Credit of the Kingdom, whereby His Majesty
will be Rendred more Glorious, both at Home and Abroad.
THE First is, a Committee of Trade, Made up of such Men as are well
Verst in the true Principles whereon it is Founded, and thereby
Enabled to make right Representations of such things, as shall be
Referred to them by the Parliament; who, Holding their Places,
according as they are thought Capable of Performing them, will be
Carefull to Execute those Trusts with Judgment, Honour and Honesty.
THE Second is, a Due Inspection into the Affairs of the Poor, and
putting an End to that Pernicious Trade of Begging, which I can
Assure this Honourable House, from the Experience we have had in
their Regulation at Bristol, may be done, and that the Poor may be
Trained up to an Early Delight in Labour; The Means and Methods
whereby That was Accomplished, though at first thought Impracticable,
I have set forth in the Appendix. pag. 143.
THE Third is, the Keeping of our own Wooll at Home, and Preventing
the Wooll of Ireland from being Transported any where else, save to
this Kingdom only; which I am Persuaded can never be done, by any
other Method, but by a Register, and that That will effectually do
it; towards which I have made an Essay in the following Treatise.
THE Fourth is, the Encouraging the Linnen-Manufacture in Ireland;
’Tis not Easy to Comprehend the Advantages that will thence arise
to both Kingdoms, when Each of them shall be fully Employed, on a
Distinct Manufacture; The Hands that are now kept at Work there, on
the Spinning of Wooll, might be then Turned to Linnen, and a great
Part of their Lands would be taken up, in Raising Flax and Hemp, for
which they are very Proper; and then a Stop might be put to the
Importation of those Great Quantities of Worsted and Woollen Yarn
thence, so Pernicious to the Poor of this Kingdom, the Spinning
whereof, if Imported in Wooll, would amount to many Thousand Pounds
per Annum, to be Divided amongst them; And it is Certain, that
Spinning is the most Profitable Part of the Woollen-Manufacture,
because it is done by Women and Children, who can no otherwise be
Employed.
IN the Year 1704, I was Desired by the Ministry, to give my Thoughts
of such an Undertaking, which I then did, and Printed some
Considerations Relating thereto, Adapted for that time, which I have
added in the Appendix, pag. 187.
NOR can This be any Prejudice to the Linnens of North-Britain, being
of quite different Sorts; which should also for many Reasons be
Encouraged, by such Means and Methods, as on due Consideration may be
thought proper.
THE Fifth is, the Carrying on the Fishery, which Deserves all the
Encouragement the Legislature can give it; and I think the Readiest
way to do it, is, by Incorporating such Societies, as are willing to
set upon it with Joint Stocks, but not Exclusive to any others, which
will Promote Industry, and Shut out Stock-Jobbing, the Bane of so
many Good Undertakings.
THE Sixth, and indeed the Foundation of all the Rest, is, the
Establishing a Substantial Credit, Large enough to Answer all the
Occasions of the Nation, both Publick and Private, which is the Wheel
whereon all the Rest must Turn, and whereby, not only the Trade of
the Kingdom, but also the Occasions of the Government, may be
Supplied, and the Publick Debts gradually Sunk, by a Good Management;
and This, I Humbly Conceive, cannot be Setled any other way, but on a
Parliamentary Foundation, any thing less, will be too Narrow.
IN the Year 1696, I made some Essay towards such a Credit, which I
then Presented to both Houses of Parliament, and have now Incerted it
in the Appendix, Pag. 165. But the Bank of England, having about that
time Furnished his Majesty with a Considerable Sum of Money, then
very much wanted, for the present Payment of the Army, which the
Ministry could not otherwise have Raised, though they Approved of the
Projection, were Unwilling to Disoblige at that Juncture, by Setting
up any thing like theirs, and so that Matter Slept then, as it had
ever done, if I had not Observed, that the Famous Mr. Laws had drawn
a Scheme from it, for the Service of France, as near as the
Constitution of that Kingdom will admit; Not that I think it can be
Lasting, the Foundation being laid on Sand; Yet it hath Served the
Present Occasion, to Pay off the Debts of that Nation, by an
Incredible Stock-Job, which must in all Probability, End in Confusion
and Discontent.
NOTHING can Support a National Credit, but a Steady Government, where
the Arbitrary Will of a Prince, cannot withdraw, or Lessen the
Security at his Pleasure; and had such a One been then Established
here, in all Probability, we bad been severall Millions less in Debt,
and not felt that Heavy Load of Taxes, which hath Opprest our Lands,
and Injured our Trade; Nor do I think those Debts can be Discharged
by any other way, Private Men now carrying off those Profits, which
should Sink them by Degrees.
THE Advantages of a National Bank, and the Good Effects it will have,
in this Free Government, towards the Lessening our National
Incumbrances, will plainly Appear, when it is Considered, that One
Hundred Pounds Borrowed, will Circulate Two, besides it self, and
thereby Reduce the Interest, to One Third Part of what is paid to the
Lender, but if it Circulates Three, then to a Quarter, and it may be,
to much Less, according as a Bank hath Credit, and is found Usefull.
BY this Rule, if the Publick Pays Four per Cent. for Interest, it may
by Circulation be Reduced to One, and there is no Doubt, but that a
Well-Constituted Bank, will be soon Fill’d with Money at that Rate;
the great Ground of Buying and Selling Stocks being, the Vast Sums of
Money which lye Dead on Mens Hands, who hope thereby to make some
Profit, but would be Glad to Dispose of it, on a Substantial
Security, at a Moderate Interest; Besides the Advantage it will be to
Widdows and Orphans, whose Money would be Safely Lodged, and bring
them in a Certain Income, for their Maintenance; And here will be no
Room left for Stock-Jobbing, which hath now gotten such a Footing,
even into our Publick Affairs, that the Parliament doth not give a
Land-Tax or a Lottery, where the Subscriptions to it are not Ingrost,
by those who have not Money, in Order to make an Advantage, by
Selling them to such as have, besides the Vast Charge in the
Management of Lotteries.
AND as to Trade, the Bank of England hath been very Serviceable to
this Great Metropolis, by making a Little Money serve the Uses of a
Great Deal, but the Benefit thereof hath Extended no farther; And why
other Cities, and indeed the whole Kingdom, should not have the same
Advantage, (which it will, if a National Bank be Established, and
Chambers Setled where Desired,) I cannot Conceive.
AND here I must Refer to the Appendix, for the better Illustrating
the Benefit thereof, and the Manner of its Institution, as then
Intended, which must now admit of several Alterations.
IF such a Bank were Setled, the Charge of Managing it would be very
little, and the Kingdom might grow Richer some Millions every Year,
and the Government have an Addition to its Security, by drawing the
Cash of other Nations hither, whose Interest would thereby become
Interwoven with Ours; and Our Manufactures would be Encouraged, by a
Flux of Money, which is the Life of Trade; and This, with the
Easiness of our Government, would bring the Monied Men of Europe to
Settle here, which would be an Addition to our Wealth; The Trader
might hence be Supplied, with such Sums of Money, as he shall want,
and for so long time only, as he shall have Occasion to use it;
whereby the Fishery, and other Good Undertakings, may be Encouraged,
and our Wooll be certainly kept at Home; and the Gentlemen of England
may be hence Furnished with Money at the Common Interest, and be
Permitted to make their Payments, by such Parts, as they can best
spare it; the Want of which is now such a Clog upon their Estates,
that it destroys many Good Families; who, when they are once gotten
into the Usurers Books, can find no way to get out, till they have
Paid the whole Debt at once, so that their Estates are devoured, by
Procuration and Continuation.
NOR is it hereby Intended to put a Force upon any Man; ’twill be
the Interest of the Lender to put his Money into this Bank, where he
hath so certain a Security, and of the Bank to take it in; and on the
other Side, it will be the Interest of the Bank to Furnish Money on
the Terms here Mentioned, and of the Borrower to Receive it; and this
Single thing, will in time bring so great a Profit to the Publick, as
will very much Sink the Debts of the Nation, whilst a Common
Advantage is Interwoven with it.
NEITHER will this break in on the Priviledges Granted to the Bank of
England, by Act of Parliament; for though they are allowed to Lend
Money to the Government, on the Terms therein Mentioned, yet the
Government hath not bound up it self, from Borrowing of any Others,
and making their Payments in such a Manner, as shall be thought most
Advantagious to the Nation.
IF any Objections (not grounded on Private Interest) shall be made to
what I have here Offered, I believe a Satisfactory Answer may be
given to them, if this Honourable House shall think what I have
Written, Worth their Consideration.
ALL I shall further add is, that it can scarce be Matter of Doubt,
but that most Men will Part with their Securities on Private Funds,
and Rely on the General Credit of the Nation, though at a Lower
Interest, whereby those Funds will by Degrees, become a part of the
General Security, which, with what New Taxes shall be given, will be
so Helpfull in Circulation, that it will be next to Impossible, for
the most Malicious Projectors, to Lessen the Credit of such a Bank,
or to make a Run upon it; and those Taxes that are Heaviest on the
Poor, and most Injurious to our Manufactures, may be taken off: And
there will be this farther Advantage, that the several Offices, who
are Entrusted to Buy for the Use of the Publick, according to such
Sums of Money, as shall from time to time be Appropriated by the
Parliament, will be Enabled to Purchase all things on the Lowest
Terms, when their Bills on this Bank, shall be as Punctually
Discharged, at the time when they become Due, as if they were Bills
of Exchange, and in the mean time pass from Man to Man in Payment,
which will be an Addition to the Cash of the Nation, whereby a great
deal will be Saved in what they Lay out; and Men of Industry, but of
Small Stocks, will be Enabled to deal with the Government, which now
they cannot do; and will Endeavour who shall Supply it on the Best
Terms, when by such Payments, they shall be Furnished, to go to
Market again; And the Debts of the Nation will be so Incorporated
therewith, that it will be every Man’s Interest to Support its
Credit; and the Eye of a Parliament, which hath Power to make
Examples of Offenders, who through Fraud or Malice, shall Offer
Violence thereto, will be sufficient to Deter, from such Evil
Practices.
I am,
With all Dutiful Respect,
Your Honours
Most Obedient
Servant,
John Cary.
AN
ESSAY
TOWARDS
Regulating the TRADE,
AND
Employing the POOR
OF THIS
KINGDOM.
[Sidenote: Of Trade in General.]
IN Order to discover, whether a Nation gets or loses by its Trade,
’tis necessary first to enquire into the Principles whereon it is
built; for Trade hath its Principles, as other Sciences have, and as
difficult to be understood: But when they are, ’tis easy to
discover whether a Nation gets or loses by its Management, and
without this, we are not capable of making any true Judgment, it
being possible for the Publick to grow Poor, whilst private Persons
encrease their Fortunes.
The Design of this little Treatise is to dissect and lay open the
Trade of this Kingdom, as it is now driven, that so those Branches
that shall appear to be Profitable may be Encourag’d, and those
that are Otherwise may be Amended.
The Profits of this Kingdom arise from its Product and Manufactures
at Home, and from the Growths of those several Plantations it hath
settled Abroad, and from the Fish taken on the Coasts, all which
being raised by the Industry of the People, are both its true Riches,
and the Tools whereby it Trades to other Nations, the Products coming
from the Earth, and the Manufacturing of them being an Addition to
their Value by the Labour of the People; now where we Barter these
things abroad for such as are only fit to be Eat and Drank, or are
wasted among ourselves, tho’ one Man may get by the Luxury of
another, yet the Wealth of the Kingdom doth not encrease: But it is
otherwise where we change them for Bullion, or for Commodities fit to
be manufactur’d again.
[Sidenote: Its Original.]
The first Original of Trade both Domestic and Foreign was Barter,
when one private Person, having an Overplus of such Things as his
Neighbour wanted, furnish’d him therewith for their Value in such
whereof the Other had Plenty, but he stood in need of; the same, when
one Nation abounding in those Products which another wanted,
supply’d it therewith, and received for them Things equally
necessary in their stead: And by how much the Products of any Nation
exceeded its Wants, by so much it grew richer, the Remainder being
sold for Bullion, or some Staple Commodity, allow’d by all to have
an intrinsick Value.
And as People encreased, so did Commerce, which caused many to go off
from Husbandry to Manufactures and other Ways of Living, for
Convenience whereof they began Communities; This was the Original of
Towns, which being found necessary for Trade, their Inhabitants
encreased by Expectation of Profit; This introduced Foreign Trade, or
Traffick with neighbouring Nations; and this a Desire to settle
rather on some Navigable Rivers, than in remote Inland Places,
whereby they might be more easily supply’d from the Country with
Commodities fit to export, and disperse thither those they had
imported from abroad.
[Sidenote: The Trade of this Kingdom.]
I shall now take the Trade of this Kingdom, as it is divided into
Domestick and Foreign, and consider each, and how they are
advantagious to the Nation, and may be made more so.
[Sidenote: Inland Trade.] [Sidenote: Buying & Selling.]
The Domestick or Inland Trade consists either in Husbandry,
Manufactures, or Buying and Selling; the last of which, whereby one
Man lives by the Profit he makes by another, brings no Advantage to
the Publick; Peoples Occasions requiring Commodities to be retail’d
to them in such small Quantities as would fit their Necessities, they
were willing to allow a Profit to him who bought them in greater; and
as this sort of Traffick came more in use, so the first Buyers, not
only sold their Commodities to the Consumers in the Places where they
dwelt, but also to others, who being seated in the Country at a
Distance, made an Advantage by supplying the Inhabitants there: This
begat the Ingrossing Commodities, and thence arose Skill and Cunning
to foresee their Rise and Falls, according to their Consumption and
Prospect of Supply. Hence came the Viciating our Manufactures, every
one endeavouring to underbuy, that he might undersell his Neighbour;
Which way of Living being found in time to have less Labour and more
Profit than Husbandry and Manufactures, was the Reason so many fell
into it.
From these Bargains Differencies arising, encouraged another Sort of
People, whose Business it was, either by their Wisdoms to persuade,
or by their Knowledge in the Laws to compel, the unjust Persons to do
Right to their Fellow-Traders (an Honourable Employment at the first,
and is still so in those who keep to the strict Rules of its
Institution). Hence arose Attorneys, Sollicitors, and other Officers,
which were found necessary to attend on those Suits, and other
Services of the Law.
Trade brought Riches, and Riches Luxury; Luxury brought Sickness, and
Sickness wanted Physick; which required some to separate themselves
to study the Nature of Plants and Simples, as also of those several
Diseases which bring Men to their Ends, who for their Advice received
Gratuities from their Patients: These brought in Apothecaries and
Surgeons, as necessary Attendants to their Employments; all which
were maintained by keeping People in their Healths. Many also of ripe
Parts were fitted for the Service of the Church, others of the State;
great Numbers were employ’d in providing Necessaries of Meat,
Drink, and Apparel, others in fitting things for Delights and
Pleasures, and by this means, leaving Husbandry and Manufactures,
flockt off daily to Livelihoods, which tho’ useful and convenient
in their respective Stations, yet cannot be said to encrease the
Riches of this Nation, but to live by getting from one another;
Husbandry and Manufactures being the profitable Employments, out of
which it gathers its Wealth.
[Sidenote: Husbandry.]
The next Part of the Inland Trade of this Kingdom is Husbandry, which
anteceded Buying and Selling in point of time, tho’ the other is
treated of first in this Discourse; and this consists either in
Feeding or Tillage, by both which we raise great Store of Cattle,
Corn and Fruits, fit for the Food, Service, and Trade of the
Inhabitants.
[Sidenote: Feeding.]
To begin with Feeding: And here I might enumerate the various sorts
of Cattle raised and bred by the Care of the Husbandman, but those of
most Note with respect to our Trade are,
1. The Beef; which besides the Excellency of its Flesh for Food,
affords many Necessaries for our Trade, and is very serviceable in
Tillage; with this we both nourish our Inhabitants at home, victual
our Ships for foreign Voyages, and load them with the several
Manufactures wherewith it doth supply us; from the Milk we make
Butter and Cheese, from the Flesh Beef, from the Skin Leather, from
the Fat Tallow, and of the Horns several useful Necessaries; the
Overplus whereof above our own Consumption we export, and sell in
foreign Markets.
2. The Sheep; whose Golden Fleece being the _Primum_ of our
Woollen-Manufactures, does thereby employ Multitudes of our People;
which being of different Lengths and Fineness, makes them of various
sorts; whereof they afford us a yearly Crop whilst living, and at
their Deaths we have their Flesh and Skins; the first serves for our
Food, and of the last we make Things, fit to be used at Home, and
Traded with Abroad.
3. Horses; whose Labour is so necessary, that we can neither carry on
our Husbandry or Trade without them; besides their Fitness for War,
being accounted the boldest in the World; and for all these Uses are
transported Abroad; for the first, to our Plantations in _America_,
and for the last, to some of our Neighbouring Nations: But their
Flesh is of no Use, their Skins of little, the Leather made of them
being very ordinary, only the longest of their Hair is used in
Weaving.
There are sundry other sorts of Beasts, some whereof require no Care
in Raising, others little, such as the Stag, the Deer, the Rabbet,
the Hare, the Badger, the Goat, and many others, whose Skins are
necessary for our Trade, and useful in our Manufactures.
[Sidenote: Tillage.]
Tillage is that whereby we raise our Corn by turning up the Earth;
the several sorts whereof are Wheat, Rye, Barley, Pease, Beans,
Vetches, Oats, &c. which not only afford Nourishment to ourselves,
and the Beasts we use in Labour, but serve also for Trade; as they
give Employment to our People at home, and are transported Abroad,
more or less, according to the Overplus of our Expence, and the Want
of our Neighbours, besides the great Quantities us’d in our
Navigation.
These Products are all clear Profit to the Nation, being raised from
Earth and Labour; but their chief Advantages arise from their being
Exported, either in their own kinds, or when wrought up, the
Remainder, which is spent at Home, tending rather to supply our
Wants, than to advance our Wealth: Which Exports being more or less
according to the Price they bear in other Countries, and those
arising from the Proportion their Lands hold with ours in their
yearly Rents, are not so great in Specie, as when wrought up. Butter
is the chiefest, wherewith we supply several Foreign Markets, and did
formerly more, till by making it bad, and using Tricks to encrease
its Weight, we lost much of that Trade, and are now almost beaten out
of it by _Ireland_, which every year makes theirs better; besides,
they undersell us in the Price, as they do also in Beef, occasioned
by the low Rents of their Lands.
’Twas the Act of Prohibition made formerly in _England_, that first
usher’d them into a Foreign Trade, their sole Dependance before
that time being on our Markets, and from hence they were supplied
with what they wanted; but being thereby prohibited from bringing
hither their Cattle and other Provisions, they endeavoured to find a
Vent for them in other Markets, which they did with good Success, and
to more Advantage; the sweetness whereof gave a spring to their
Industry, and put them on the Woollen-Manufactures, which they also
vended where they exported their Provisions, till in time it became
so great and flourishing, as to give us Apprehensions it would
endanger ours.
[Sidenote: Corn.]
As for Corn; Foreign Markets are supplied therewith, both from
thence, and from the Islands of the _Azores_, cheaper than the Rents
of our Lands will admit; but our Plantations have still some
Dependance on us for our Product, and as the Lands of _Ireland_ rise
in their yearly Value, they will have more. We also raise
considerable Quantities of Hemp and Flax, both which are useful in
our Trade.
[Sidenote: Fruits.]
The other Fruits of the Earth, such as Apples, Pears, Cherries,
Plumbs, together with the Herbs and Plants, serve rather for Food and
Delight than for Trade: some Cider we do export; also Spirits raised
by the Distillers, both from some of these, and from Barly.
[Sidenote: Fish.]
On the Sea-Coast both of this Kingdom, and also of _Newfoundland_ and
_New-England_, are caught great Store of Cod-Fish, Herrings, and
Pilchards, which are saved, and sold in Foreign Markets.
[Sidenote: Minerals.]
Nor is this all the Product of our Earth, whose Womb being big with
Treasure, brings forth Lead, Tin, Copper, Calamy, Coal, Culm, Iron,
Allom, Coppetas, and sundry other Minerals, which are sold in Foreign
Markets, whither we send them: Besides a great Expectation we have
from a much richer and more valuable Discovery, lately made in that
Part of _Great-Britain_ called _Scotland_.
[Sidenote: Trees.]
Among the several Trees that adorn our Fields, the Oak, the Elm, and
the Ash, are the chiefest; these not only serve in Building our Ships
and Houses, but also furnish us with Materials, wherewith our
Artificers make many Things fit for Commerce: And it were much to be
wish’d, that better Care was taken to preserve our Timber, for the
Benefit of Posterity.
[Sidenote: Manufactures.]
The third Part of our Inland Trade is our Manufactures, whereby our
Products are improv’d in their Values, and made useful in sundry
manners, both for our selves and others, by the Labour of our People;
and fitted for such Services, as of their own Natures, without the
help of Art, they could not have been proper; and those to suit the
Necessities and Fancies, both of our own, and also of Foreign
Countries to which we Export them; where they yield a Price, not only
according to the true Value of the Materials and Labour, but an
Overplus according to the Necessity and Humour of the Buyers: And
this adds to the Profit, and encreases the Wealth of the Kingdom.
These Manufactures, as they employ Multitudes of our People in their
Making, so also in Exporting them, and Importing Foreign Materials to
be used with our own, such as Oyl, Dye-stuff, Silk, Wooll, Cotton,
Barillia and many others, which are either Manufactured here by
themselves, or workt up with our own Product.
[Sidenote: Sheep’s-Wooll.]
And first to begin with Sheep’s-Wooll, whereof either by it self,
or mixt with Silk or Linnen, we make Varieties of pretty Things, fit
for all Climates, and proper for the Wearing of both Sexes; wherein
the Invention and Imitation of our Workmen have been so great, that
they have out-done all that went before them. From a strong Cloth,
fit to keep out Cold in Winter, they have turn’d their hands to a
fine thin sort, which will scarce keep warm in Summer; from hence
they fell on Perpets, Serges, Crapes, Stuffs, Sayes, Ratoons,
Antherines, and many other Things, fit both for outward Garments, and
inward Linings; of various Colours, Stripes, and Flowers, some of
them so fine and pleasant, as scarce to be known from Silk: Besides
those Multitudes of coarser Cloths for the Poor; also Rugs, Blankets,
and all sorts of Furniture for Houses. And such a Progress have they
made in these Manufactures, that a Man may have his Picture wrought
at the Loom, with the same Exactness as if drawn with a Pencil; one
Work-man vying to excell another, they make Things to answer all
Occasions. And as for Arras and Tapestry, I believe it will be
allowed, that they do not fall short of those from whom they first
had the Art: Add to these, Hats, Stockings, and many other things,
which are both worn at home, and Exported abroad.
[Sidenote: Cotton-Wooll.]
The next material for the Manufactures is Cotton Wooll, which is now
become a great Imployment for the Poor, and so adds to the Wealth of
the Kingdom; This being curiously pickt and spun, makes Dimities,
Tapes, Stockings, Gloves, besides several things Wove fit for use, as
Wastcoats, Pettycoats, and Drawers, of different Stripes and
Finesses; and I doubt not the Workmen would equal the _East Indies_
for Callicoes, had they Encouragement; with all which we supply our
Plantations and other Foreign Markets, besides what serves for our
Consumption at Home.
[Sidenote: Hemp and Flax.]
Hemp and Flax are the Grounds for another Manufacture; for tho’
Weaving of Linnen is not so much used in _South Britain_, as of
Woollen, yet in _North Britain_ it is, and may be farther improved,
not so much by Laws to direct the Workmen in their making it, as by
apt Methods to Encourage them; and even in _South Britain_ several
Counties are imployed thereon, who not only supply themselves, but
furnish those bordering on them, with such Cloth as answers the ends
of French Linnens: Besides which, great Quantities of Ticking, of all
Finesses, Incle, Tapes, Sacking, Girtwhip, and many other things are
made thereof; also Cordage, Twine, Netts, with Multitudes of other
Manufactures, which Imploy the Poor, and bring by their Exports
Profit to the Nation; and I can not here omit Sail-cloth, wherein we
have made a wonderful Progress in a little time, at the Charge and
Expence of private Stocks, who deserve to be Encouraged.
[Sidenote: Glass.]
Glass is a Manufacture brought to so great a Perfection, that it
keeps many of our People at Work; and the Materials whereof it is
made being generally our own, and in themselves of small Value, costs
the Nation little, in comparison of what it formerly did, when we
fetcht it from _Venice_; the Noble Plate Glasses which we now make of
all sorts, both for Houses and Coaches, do greatly set forth the
Genius of our Workmen; besides the various sorts of Utensils made for
common use, fit for all the Occasions of a Family, which look almost
as well as Silver, and it would be better for the Nation that they
were more used in its stead; also the Glass for Windows, of different
Beauties; and Glass Bottles; all which find a greater Vent both at
Home and Abroad by their Cheapness.
[Sidenote: Earthen-Ware.]
And as for Earthen Ware, the Progress we have made therein is such,
as may give us Hopes, that Time will bring it to such a Perfection,
as to equal if not exceed the _Dutch_.
[Sidenote: Silk.]
Silk is another Material for a great Manufacture; which being brought
from Abroad Raw, we here Twist, Dye, and Weave into different
Goodnesses, both Plain, Striped, and Flowered, either by it self, or
mixt with Gold and Silver; so Richly Brocaded, that we exceed those
from whom we first had the Art; Besides great Quantities of Ribbons,
Silk Stockings, and other things, not only to serve our selves, but
also to Export.
[Sidenote: Distilling.]
Distilling is an Art so exceedingly improved, that had it not met
with discouraging Laws, ’twould by this Time have attained to a
very great Heigth, and brings great Profit to the Nation; for next to
making something out of nothing, is the making something that is
Valuable out of what would otherwise be worth nothing; therefore this
Art ought to have been handled Charily, to have been Trained up with
a great deal of Gentleness, and not loaded with Taxes in its Infancy,
by which means we were like to discourage it in the Begining; However
it hath still bore up under all the Weight laid upon it; ’Twas a
great mistake to appoint Measures by Act of Parliament to the
Distillers in their Workings; Mens Knowledge encreases by
Observation, and this is the Reason why one Age exceeds another in
any sort of Mistery, because they Improve the Notions of those who
went before them; Therefore confining the Distillers to Corn only,
was an Error, (’Tis true, other Things were allowed to be used, but
on such Terms and Restrictions, as were next to a Prohibition) who by
degrees would have made Experiments on that themselves, using it with
other Mixtures, and thereby drawing from it a cleaner Spirit than it
doth of it self afford, which they might in Time have rectified to
such a Fineness, as to have encreased very much its Use; No Kingdom
can give more Encouragement to Distilling than this, whose
Plantations being many, and well Peopled, where those Spirits are so
necessary, and useful for the Inhabitants, and these depending wholly
on us for all things, would have caused a Consumption of very great
Quantities, besides what is used in our Navigation; We have many
Materials of our own to Work on, such as are, Molosses, Cyder, Perry,
Barley, and others, all which in time they would have Used; for as
they found their Sales increased, they would have made New Essays; It
was a very wrong Step, to discourage Distilling from Molosses, Scum,
Tilts and Wash; an Error the _Dutch_, nor no Trading Nation, would
have been guilty of, and proceeded from Ill Advice given the
Parliament, by those, who under pretence of advancing Corn, designed
to discourage Distilling, only offered it by that handle they thought
it would be best received in the House; Trade and Lands go hand in
hand as to their Interest, if one Flourishes so will the other;
Incourage Distilling, and it will spend Hundreds of things now Thrown
away.
[Sidenote: Sugar-Baking.]
Refining of Sugars have given Imployment to our People, and added to
their Value in Foreign Markets, where we found great and profitable
Sales, till the _Dutch_ and _French_ beat us out, occasioned by the
Duty of 2 s. 4 d. _per Cent._ laid on Muscovado Sugars, 1 Jac. 2d. to
be drawn back at Exportation, whereby they were wrought up abroad
cheaper then they could be at home; but that Law being now Expired,
and the Parliament have since granted a draw back on Refined Sugars
when Shipt out, hath very much helpt that Manufacture.
[Sidenote: Tobacco.]
Tobacco also hath imployed our Poor by Cutting and Rowling it, both
for a home Consumption, and also for Exportation; but the latter is
lessen’d, as the Places, to which we used to export it, work it up
themselves.
[Sidenote: Tanning.]
Tanning of Leather is an Employment which deserves to be
encourag’d, because it furnishes us with a Commodity, fit to be
farther Manufactur’d at home, and also to be transported abroad; I
know the Exportation of Leather hath been much opposed by the
Shoemakers, and others who cut it at home, and represented as
attended with ill Consequences, one whereof is the making it dear;
but, Would it not be of much worse to confine and limit that
Employment to an Inland Expence? On the other side, would it not
naturally follow, that when Leather rises to a great Price, the
Exportation must cease, because _Ireland_ will undersell us? And
would it not seem an unreasonable discouragement to Trade, if
Tobacco, Sugar, and the Woollen Manufactures, were debarred from
being Exported, only because they should be sold cheaper at home? For
suppose the Occasions of the Nation could not consume all the Leather
that is made, to what a Low Price must Hides be reduced, for no other
Reason, but that the Shoemakers may get more by their Shoes; ’Tis
true, if they could make out, that those Countries must then have
their Shoes from us, where we now Sell our Leather, I should be of
their Minds; But it must needs be otherwise, seeing _Ireland_ is able
to supply them; This proceeds from a very narrow Spirit, and such as
ought not to be Encouraged in a Trading Nation; a good Export for
Leather, will cause a great Import of Raw-Hides, which will be more
Advantage to the Nation, then if they were Tann’d in _Ireland_, and
sent abroad thence.
[Sidenote: Minerals.]
Nor can I omit the several Manufactures made of the sundry Minerals
we dig, and render malleable, which would be endless to enumerate,
_viz._ of Tin, Lead, Iron and Copper, wherewith we not only furnish
enough for our own use, but supply our Plantations, and other Places
Abroad, the Workmanship whereof adds much to their Value; and from
the last of these we have of late made Brass and Battery; an
Undertaking begun by Private Stocks, and carryed on without the help
of a Pattent for Fourteen Years, and I am of Opinion, it would be
much better for the Nation, if good Projections were Rewarded some
other way, and left open, to be Improved by all who were willing to
make Experiments at their own Charge; this in all Probability would
be a more likely way to bring them to perfection, and in less time,
then to tye Men down like the Motions of a Clock, to be directed only
by one Leaden Weight; of this we have a late instance in the Project
of _Beech Oyl_, for if but one half of the Profit can be made
thereby, that is set forth by the Ingenious Pattentee, in his Book
written on that Subject, against which I see no Objection, if the
Computations are rightly Stated, I make no manner of doubt, but that
private Stocks would before this time have made a greater progress
therein, than hath been done by the present Undertakers, on the Joint
Stock; and therefore I think it would be very proper, where such
Pattents are Granted, after some reasonable time, to enquire into the
Proceedings of the Pattentees, least the Nation be deprived of the
Advantages it expected to receive, by the granting those Patents.
[Sidenote: Clockwork.]
There are many other Things which may be, and daily are improved
amongst us; as Clock-work, wherein we sell little but Art and Labour,
the Materials whereof they are made being but of small Value; Watches
and Clocks of great Prices being sold for the Courts of Foreign
Princes.
[Sidenote: Paper-Mills.] [Sidenote: Powder-Mills.] [Sidenote:
Artificers.] [Sidenote: Methods to improve our Manufactures.]
Paper-Mills are a Benefit to the Nation, as they make that Commodity
from things of themselves worth little; so are Powder-Mills; also
Handicrafts, who supply us with things for our own use, which must
otherwise be had from abroad, and also with others, which when
Exported, are more or less Profitable, as the Labour of our People
adds to their Value, Things being cheaper to us when we pay only for
the first Materials whereof they are made, the rest being Work done
at Home, is divided amongst our selves; so that on the whole it
appears to be the great Interest of this Kingdom to advance its
Manufactures; and this I humbly conceive may be done these several
Ways.
[Sidenote: By imploying the Poor.]
1. By providing Work-Houses for the Poor, and making good Laws, both
to Force and Incourage them to Work; But designing to speak larger to
this in the Close of this Tract, I shall refer the Reader thereto.
[Sidenote: By freeing our Manufactures from Customs.]
2. By discharging all Customs payable on our Manufactures at their
Exportation, and also in the Materials used in making them at their
Importation; for as one would Encourage the Merchants to send more
abroad, so the other would enable the Manufacturers to afford them
cheaper at home; and ’tis strange that a Nation, whose Wealth
depends so much on its Manufactures, and whose Interest it is to out
do all others, by underselling them in Foreign Markets, should load
either with Taxes; but there having been something done in this since
my offering it to the consideration of the Parliament in a former
Discourse, both as to the Woollen Manufactures Exported, and also to
Dye Stuffs Imported, which hath evidently appeared to be an Advantage
to our Trade, it may be reasonably hoped, that That Great Council of
the Nation will make a farther Progress therein, when it shall come
regularly before them; because the Exportation of all our
Manufacturers ought to be Encouraged, and not receive a check by any
_Modus_ of Raising Money, that so they may be rendred abroad on such
Terms, as no other Nation may undersell us; This whole Kingdom being
as one great Work-house, wherein if we keep our Poor imployed, they
will advance the Value of our Lands, but if we do not, they will
become a Load upon them.
[Sidenote: Logwood.]
And here I cannot but mention that of Logwood, a Commodity much used
in Dying, which pays Five Pounds _per_ Tun Custom when Imported, and
draws back Three Pounds Fifteen Shillings when Shipt out again, by
which means the Dyers in _Holland_ use it so much cheaper then ours
do here; Now if it was Imported Custom Free, and paid Twenty Five
Shillings _per_ Tun at its Exportation, the Dyers there would use it
so much dearer than ours; and I think it would be well worth Inquiry,
whether a Prohibition, either Total or in Part, of Shipping out our
Manufactures thither, and to the Northern Kingdoms, undy’d and
undrest, might not be made, I am sure it would be a great Advantage
to this Kingdom if it could be done without running into greater
Inconveniencies; the _Dutch_ discourage their being brought in Dyed
or Drest, that they may thereby give Imployment to their own People,
and encrease their Navigation by the Consumption of Dye-Stuff; the
same Reason should prevail with us to Dye and Dress them at home; But
this requires the due Consideration of a Committee of Trade, to hear
what may be said both for and against it, before it be offered to the
Parliament.
[Sidenote: By not importing things manufactur’d.]
3. By discouraging the Importation of Commodities already
Manufactured (unless purchased by our own, or by our Product) such as
wrought Silks, Callicoes, Brandy, Glass, &c., and encouraging the
bringing in the Materials whereof they are made, to be wrought up
here; by which means more Ships will be Freighted, and more Sailors
imployed, besides the great Advantage to the Nation in the Ballance
of its Trade, which must be returned in Bullion, as those Cost less
abroad than the other; And this will enable us to afford a greater
Consumption of Foreign Commodities to please our Palates, such as
Wine, Fruit, and the like, all which fill our Ships, and are fit
Subjects for Trade, when they are purchased by our Product and
Manufactures, and that the Profit of our Trade will enable the Nation
to bear the Expence.
[Sidenote: By freeing our Manufactures from Excices.]
4. By freeing the Manufactures from burthensome Excises, which do
much discourage small Stocks, who are not able to carry on their
Trades, and make Provision for such great Payments, besides the
swarms of Officers, to whom we lay open the Houses of those Men, who
deserve all the Encouragement we can give them, and ought to have
things made as easy to them as may be; had they been laid on our
Woollen Manufactures, as was once hastily proposed, we might have
repented it at Leisure; Trade ought to be handled gently, we may tax
the Trader, without medling with his Trade; and he that considers the
expence of this Nation at Five Pounds _per_ Head (accounting only
Eight Millions of People) comes to Forty Millions _per_ Annum, and
the Lands only to Twelve or Thirteen, which is more than they can be
computed at by the Act of Four Shillings in the Pound, may see how
much we are beholding to Trade.
[Sidenote: By rendring our Foreign Trade safe and easy.] [Sidenote:
Customs.] [Sidenote: Courts of Merchants.]
5. By securing the Merchants in their Trades, who export our Product
and Manufactures, and making their Business, in relation to the
Payment of their Customs, as easy to them as may be: To this end good
Convoys should be provided in time of War, and good Crusers
maintained to preserve their Ships, it being certain, that whatever
is diminished out of the Merchants Stocks, doth so far disable them
in their Trades, and consequently lessen their Exports; great care
should be taken that the fair Merchants should have the _Modus_ of
their entries at the Custom-House made as easy to them as might be,
and a due attendance given at the Loading and discharging their Goods
when the Customs are paid, so that they may be dispatcht without
Delay, and no unnecessary Remoras put in their way, the loss of one
Tide being many times the overthrow of a Voyage; Courts of Merchants
should be erected for the speedy deciding all differences relating to
Sea-Affairs, which are better ended by those who understand them,
than they are in _Westminster-Hall_, where all things are tried by
the nice Rules of Law, and therefore after much Attendance and
Expence, are often referred by the Judges to such as are conversant
in Trade; by this means the Merchants would see short ends to their
differences; but no general Rules can be given for these Courts,
which must be settled, as they suit the Conveniencies of Trading
Cities.
[Sidenote: By making the Bank more useful.]
6. By rendering the Bank of _England_ more applicable to the
Incouragement of our Trade than now it is, which I cannot believe the
Members of that Corporation will oppose, when it shall manifestly
appear, not only to be the Interest of the Nation in General, but
also their own. And I humbly conceive that it may be so directed,
that every Subject in his particular Station, may receive a Benefit
by it.
[Sidenote: Widows and Orphans.]
Ease, Profit, and Security, will keep a Bank always full of Money,
the first of which was formerly answered by the private Bankers, who
received and paid out Money in the same Manner that the Bank now
does, and their Notes generally were as current: But being founded on
their own Credits, great Losses often hapned, which gave Shocks to
Trade; ’tis true, this Mischief is now guarded against, by the Fund
which the Bank of _England_ hath in the hands of the Government, yet
Widdows, Orphans, and others out of Trade, are not provided for;
which might be done, if the Bank did take in what Money might be
tendred to them, for such People who are not able to manage it
themselves, and to allow an Interest of ### _per Cent per Annum_,
whilst it continued in their Hands; which tho’ it may be below the
common Rate, yet by reason of the security, and readiness of Payment,
’twould be preferable to a greater, attended with Hazard and
Uncertainties; By this means none of the Money of this Nation would
lye dead and useless; And on the other Hand, the Bank might have
liberty to lend any Sums at the legal Interest, on this condition,
that the Borrower may repay it by such Parts as he can spare it, and
be discharged of the Interest of what he so pays in, from the time of
its Payment, and from thence forward be chargeable with no more, than
doth arise from the Money that remains unpaid.
[Sidenote: Remittances.]
Nor is there such a safe and settled Course of Remittances from place
to place as Trade and the other Occasions of the Nation do require;
Men often times paying their Money for Bills which are not punctually
discharged, and sometimes never, though they give a _Præmio_ to the
Drawer, which obliges the Travelling with so much Money, and gives
Encouragement to Robbers But this also might be prevented, if the
Bank of _England_ (that is now settled in _London_) did appoint
Chambers in other Places of the Kingdom, at such Distances, as might
best suit the Occasions of the Country, and that their Notes given
out for Money, either at _London_, or in any one of those Chambers
should be demandable in any other; or by drawing Bills at one Chamber
payable in another, the Receiver allowing for such Returns after the
Rate of ### _per Cent._ in the Chamber where he receives his Money.
If the Bank was thus regulated, the Nation would soon see its good
Effects; Trustees might place out Orphan’s Money with good
Security, and Widows and others, whose Maintenance depends on their
Interest, would have it duly paid to answer their Occasions; the
whole Cash of the Kingdom would be in a continual Circulation, and
not lye dead, as too much of it now does; the Gentry and Traders, who
are obliged on many Occasions to take up great Sums at Interest,
would have it made easy to them, when they might pay in by such
Parts, as they could conveniently spare it; and on the other hand, it
would be no Inconvenience to the Bank to receive it, which will by
this means never want Borrowers, and their Notes passing in Payment,
will circulate instead of Money.