Counsel of Trade if rightly Established will be a Member in the Government and in such the Venetian Policy which seems a good Constitution allows none that are Merchants that hath not been at least Seven Years out of all Trade and Commerce I have been Educated a Merchant and therefore cannot be thought to lessen the Profession though I believe no Man in the Actual Part and Converse of Trade can be equal and different in the Determination of Controverted Matters in Traffick I have often had the like Reflections on our Publick Justice in which at this time I believe we are the most happy People in the World with Great and Just Men on the Bench yet there hath been times when they were fill'd with Men that smelt too much of Barr might it not then add to the Honour of that Robe if there was another step besides that from the Bar to the Bench But this is not my Province I return to the Second Consideration that of the Number in which most agree one of a County and one of every City in the Kingdom besides some of the Ministry This would be a huddle in my Opinion of no signification unless they had Competent Salaryes For Men would not loose their time and spend their Money for nothing and the Charge would be too great for the King to pay without a Fund given by Parliament so then I apprehend this large Committee is lodged here It may now be expected that I should propose and that I think a better part than Controversies though as I alwayes use them where there is least offence for I do not pretend to more than giving my Opinion to be determined by better Judgments and so I shall offer my Thoughts how a Counsel of Trade may be Established for the benefit of the Nation The Number not to exceed Nine of which Three to be such as haue been bread Merchants formerly and of the most Universal Trades used in these Kingdoms and the rest of the Counsel to be compos'd of the Ministry Admiralty and Customs the whole Counsel to sit three times a Week and three of them every day to Receive Examine and Prepare Matters for the General Meeting And because no Man will spend his time for nothing and time so dispos'd is generally valued as nothing that therefore such Sallaryes be given them as may pay for their whole time and give a Reputation to the Commission equal to the Great work to be done by it for so it is if it be rightly understood it is a wonder that in a Kingdom so Fruitful in Offices that which payes them all as Trade doth should be allowed none but it is an untoward Reason that is given for it which therefore I omit and shall only say that by such Men set apart for the Care of Trade France and Sweedland have to a Wonder Inlarged their Trade and Navigation and it is apparent that for want of such a Counsel we have lost great part of ours The several Parts Uses and Manage I shall at large set forth in the Second Part. Of Prohibiting Foreign Commodities IT is the Policy of all Civilized and Trading Countreys to make such Goods counterband as are thought Unnecessary and Expensive to the Inhabitants or hinder their own Manufactories or Native Growth but in doing this they sometimes bring a worse Mischief on themselves than that they design to remove for as soon as a Government find any of their Growth or Manufactory Prohibited by any other they return it with laying a greater Duty or Prohibition on some Commodity that Countrey supplyed them with before To prevent this Consideration should be first had of all their Exports to that Countrey they Intend any Prohibition against and if they find that Countrey can any other wayes be supply'd with the same Commodities they us'd to send them then they should forbear any Prohibition because it is more prejudicial to lessen their own Product and Labour than to Consume that of their Neighbours for that time may abate but the loss of their own Trade and Manufactoryes may never be recovered if the place that us'd them be either fallen into a Trade with another People for that Commodity or the want of them brings them out of use and they are never retrieved I think therefore Prohibition ought never to be made but on some extraordinary occasion or where there cannot be the like done to them I will Instance but one for all in this Kingdom and that is Flanders-Lace though this Prohibition be of Absolute Necessity because of of the great Value this Kingdom spends in that Commodity yet if a due Estimate was made of what this Extravagancy carryes out of the Kingdom it would appear that the Prohibition is the Original and Present Cause of our Excess in that Commodity There is indeed another accidental help to it and that is our Army in Flanders the continual Passing and Repassing of our Men gives opportunity of smugling the Duty and they also coming over with the Fashion about their Necks our Apish Humours soon follows it but yet the Prohibition is that which first Established the Fashion among onr Boas and Boasses for it is not Persons of the first Magnitude as in former Ages that now Introduce a Fashion but such who carry their Fortunes about them and are alwayes in the midst of their Estates these have no wayes to distinguish themselves but by despising our own Manufactory and the Nasty Dress as they term it of a Countrey Lady or a Citizen though the latter is too apt to follow them in Expence and because they can better pay for Extravagancies therefore they believe themselves equally Intituled to them And thus the Vanity runs round to the great Loss of the Nation Now that which to me seems the most Effectual way to Prohibit a Commodity that the Nation finds so Injurious as to make a Law against as in this of Flanders-Lace or any other For I name that Commodity because it stands most in the way I say then to make that or any other Prohibition effectual would be to lay an Imposition on any that uses them If that were done the Mischief would be at an end But to make it forfeiture of them to bring them or placing a high Duty which some think the best Expedient is all Allurements and Perswasive to those whose Vanity and in some cases unhappy way of Living cannot be without them to Covet and Purchase them because they believe Difficulty and hazard the Merchant runs in bringing them will make them too dear for Common Wear But to this it may be objected That in many Cases Prohibitions are made to the end some Commodity of our own of the same Nature might be used and then the laying a Duty on the Consumer would be Troublesome or Impracticable since perchance the Commodities might not be distinguish'd as it is in this of Flanders-Lace which cannot be distinguish'd but in some of the
Navigation bring it for demonstration and it is so That Seamen have since raised their Wages and that is a Prejudice to Trade Now to make this matter clear to every Understanding it may be needful to shew that in this there is two handles both to be laid hold on in Argument one is the Profit of the Merchant the other is that of the Publick and National Interest The Complaint lies thus Before the Act of Navigation Merchants had Seamen at easy and low Wages this was their Gain and the Foreign Seamens Profit who carried their Wages out of the Kingdom and most commonly in Money The Act of Navigation bars these Foreign Seamen from sailing entirely in our Ships that is from being the whole Crew for one fourth of Foreign Seamen the Act allows which I think is the only mistake in that Statute to give Foreign Seamen any room in our Ships But thus it stands By excluding Foreign Seamen ours have rais'd their Wages and that is a loss to the Merchants I mean it is said so but that is equally a mistake with the rest for Merchants will rate their Goods according to their Charge and it is the Consumer not Importer that pays it But allowing the matter as it is said the Merchant he gets by having Foreign Seamen the Nation gets by employing our own Seamen which of those is to be encouraged I think can be no question among English-men I confess amongst all the Arguments that I have heard made use of this of Seamen was most surprizing because I always thought it the greatest Authority and invincible Argument for the Act of Navigation It shews the Necessity for a Law to make Seamen when you have not Three fourths to sail your Merchant-men for as before is said the Act allows of making use of one fourth Foreigners and yet we see the Merchants complain for want of more If these Gentlemen that are displeased with the Act of Navigation would but consider the Condition of the Nation in all parts of its Trade and Navigation I persuade my self they would be Advocates on the other side for their Discourse shews them men of Ingenuity and well-affected to their Countrey and tho I will not pretend to convince them by dint of words yet I do not despair of doing it by laying before them the State of the Nation in this Particular when this Act was and was first thought on in the time of the Rump-Parliament thus as I find it by Story and Relation of some that were Merchants and Commanders at Sea in that time The Rump-Parliament quarrelling with the Dutch took the opportunity of making Trade the chiefest pretence for it believing that would be Popular and affect England and the truth is there was ground enough for Quarrel in matters of Trade the Dutch grew very fast upon us all the Reign of Charles the First and it is a mistake to say that we lost our Trade into the Sound and Muscovy since the Act of Navigation for it was stealing from us the year 1634 and was in a manner quite lost by the year 1652 But that which most affected and gave offence to the Nation was the Dutch had got such a Trade to our Plantations in the West-Indies that we could scarce get so much Sugars home as the Nation consum'd they supplied our Plantations with Wines and Brandies Linnen and almost every thing they spent in the Islands This being so notorious the then Government thought upon the Act of Navigation which had good effect in preserving that part of our Trade and Navigation that was left and perhaps we owe at this day the Preservation of these Kingdoms to it for that upon the Restoration of Charles the Second had not this Act lain in the way there might not have been such course taken as there was in our Trade and Navigation The disposition of those times seem'd to tend another way for Pleasure more than Trade but this Act stood as a Centinel for the Traffick of the Nation and put them in mind of other things I have now brought this Act to the year 1660. and let us see how the Trade of the Nation stood then Upon the Restoration of Charles II. there was a Set of People in Trade that had been bred up in it in the time of the Parliament and these Men having the Money as well as the Trade of the Kingdom in their hands were at that time easier heard than they have been since They not knowing what force Foreign Money might have at Court thought themselves never safe until they got the Act of Navigation confirm'd and being early in their Application they succeeded to their own Satisfaction with some Advantages more than was in the former Act. For it is to be observed That under Oliver's Government the Act of Navigation had little force both the Government and the Merchants were willing to let it sleep for that during the War with Spain to avoid their Privateers which were so numerous that scarce a Ship could stir without a Convoy most of our Trade was managed in Dutch bottoms they being at Peace with Spain this Management had almost stifled the Act of Navigation and Merchants finding their present Gain by the cheapness of Dutch-Sailing did not consider the future Consequence immediate Gain was what they minded But upon the Restoration the same men that under the Usurp'd Government were content with the General Scramble of the Nation and to come in for a Share were now for securing Trade to Posterity which they were careless of whilst they had no Foundation of Law or Government I have been the larger in this Account because I find it generally believ'd That this Act of Navigation was originally brought forth in prejudice to the Dutch and for the same reason renew'd in the Reign of Charles the II. whereas in truth it was at first made with as much reason and necessity as our Laws against Exportation of Wooll for neither that nor any thing else can with reason be thought our own longer than our Ships and Seamen have the Guard of it and that they cannot have unless they have the Carriage and if that be allow'd which I submit then the Second Objection against this Act That it raises the Wages of Seamen will not be found material but rather be as indeed I think it the best Argument that can be given for the Act of Navigation if Seamen be our Guards as well as Labourers and Foreign Seamen by their cheap Sailing have so beaten out ours that we have not ¾ to sail our Ships in time of Peace sure it was time to consider of a way to increase and incourage our Seamen The Third Objection made against the Act of Navigation is That it hinders the Building of Ships this I confess would have weight in it if it were possible to be true which to me it doth not appear no more than because I cannot get brown Bread I will starve rather than
it is so with Trade and Navigation among others that of New-found-land is the Property of the Imperial Crown of England and the French have no more Right to fish there than in the River of Thames This Nation was the first that ever threw a Hook and Line in those Seas and tho there is no Land-marks above Water for the Bank of New-found-land it lying out of sight of the shore yet there is under Water from the first Soundings and so far this Nation hath a Property and we may now if ever hope to have it asserted since we have a King who hath put a stop to that Towering Monarch who knew no Bounds before And there seems good grounds to believe That if we are not wanting to Him who exposeth His Royal Person so far for us That the French King must soon retire into his own Limits But upon Discourse of this nature I have been answered When it was so and the War over then and not before was a proper time to treat of Trade I have mentioned something of this in the following Sheets and therefore shall say the less now yet cannot omit that which stares us in the face The Neglect of Trade in time of War drives many out of the Kingdom who will never return It is observed so at this time of Ireland Thousands are come away since the Reduction of that unfortunate Kingdom that endured the whole brunt of the War and are not now in fear of the Irish but are reduced to Beggary by Idleness for want of Trade and Employment that they formerly had the consequence of which is easy to be read and how it will reach us at last but we are a People that neither Fire Sword Plague or Famine can work upon He that silently laments doats and he that complains of our impendent Misfortunes is mad a Character now more in use than ever in this Nation and found very useful for covering some mens actions I speak not this as having a Talent for or desire to be in Publick Employment I never was in any That which I believe would satisfy all men of Trade and Commerce I am sure it would me is the Motion of a Parliament-Man of Leverpoole which we find in Story That a Bill being brought into the House which bore hard on the Commons in Trials for Life and Death of the Lords the honest man of Leverpoole stood up and said Since he saw the House were for passing that Bill he gave his Assent also provided there might be this Exception in the Act That no Lord should kill either him his Wife Joan Son Tom or any of the good Town of Leverpoole for which he served So say I Since the Nation are contented that the Publick Treasure should be shared among Offices and Employments Merchants and Seamen c. are content so that they in the Management will give Security and Encouragement for Trade which pays them all but they are not wise to themselves that let Trade run from them whilst they are warring to secure it our Neighbours do not so Our improvidence in this matter is to our great Reproach since we are under the Blessing of such a Government as this Nation never had but once before And it is not to be forgotten that in that Reign tho encompassed with Wars there was more done in the advancement ef Trade and Navigation than ever was done before We have taken care to lose much of it since but we have now a King that denies us nothing we ask for the good of the Nation and where any thing is entire in himself and it is well some things are so we find it There never was Better or Greater Men in the Church and on the Bench which is sufficient demonstration that where we are unhappy it is by our own Recommendation and Parties The Filth of the last Reign still sticks about us from which Time will I hope relieve the King and Us. THE CONTENTS OF Trade in general Page 1. Of Naturalizing and Encouraging Foreign Protestants 7. Of Providing for Foreign Protestants 11. Of the Manufactory and Dispose of Sheeps-Wool 22. Of Free Ports 29. Of Exports of Foreign Importations 32. Of a Council of Trade 37. Of Prohibiting Forreign Commodities 41. Of Sumptuary Laws 49. Of Working-Schools and Hospitals 57. Reasons humbly offered for establishing by Charter Hospitals and Working-Schools 65. Of the New-found-land Fishing 68. Of Navigation and Seamen 75. Of Building Ships 84. Of the Act of Navigation 92. Of Banks and Lumbers 109. Of Agriculture and Rural Employments 116. ON Trade in General THESE Kingdoms of Great Brittain and Ireland differ from most parts of the World in that of their Strength as they do in that of their Scituation and Aptness for Trade Their Scituation gives them the Preferrance of the most Valuable Trade in the World which must pass their Doors before it comes to their Neighbours and as they are happy in their Scituation so are they as Superiour to other Countreys in their Native Growth and Production for Commerce as Rich Soyl is to that which is Barren these Kingdoms producing Trade as some Land doth Fruit without Art or Labour when other Countries like forced Ground raise their Trade by Assiduity in both And such a People are more to be feared than those that abound with the Blessings of Nature but want that of Industry we need go no further than the Dutch and Spaniards for Demonstrarion The Danger that hath been impendent over us for more than Thirty Years in this of our Trade is from the French and in Truth no Nation in the World can so well contest it with England as they can and therefore it seems reasonable to consider them in this as much as we do in that of their Armes and perhaps they may be found laying a Foundation in War to enlarge their Trade and Navigation and we at the same time declining in both That these Kingdoms cannot be safe under the Growth of France none will deny and that it is safer for England to meet them in Flanders than here but if the Advance Guards should be only consider'd and the Main Body neglected the consequence might be fear'd Our Naval Force is thought the Main Body and Strength of the Nation Now though large Supplies in Parliament are absolutely necessary for that use yet there is something else wanting to make us formidable at Sea and that is Marine Trade and Navigation which like Food to the Body must be dayly renewed or else our Naval Strength will decay And although perhaps it is not consider'd yet the want of Seamen for our Navigation and Trade in time of Naval War Impoverisheth the Nation more than the Charge of the War There goes many Threads to make up the Webb of Trade too fine for every eye to see and among others the Cheap Navigating Ships is one Now our want of Seamen obligeth Merchants to advance their Wages and that gives Advantage to our
It is true we cannot expect men to come in voluntary for the King's Pay whilst the scarcity of Seamen obligeth Merchants to give double the Wages of the King's Pay but if we had double the Seamen that would abate and the way to have them I conceive is to put in practice something like that proposed three years since which was That there should be publickly assurance given that whoever entred himself into Sea-service that was never at Sea before should be free from Press for Three years by which means there would be Numbers of lusty Young men that want Employment enter themselves in Merchant-men and Bind themselves to Masters of Ships who would soon make them Foremast-men for their own Profit and more would come in time of War when they want Work at many Trades than in time of Peace it being great encouragement for them to be secure from Press for Three years in which time they might hope for a Peace Nor would this obstruct Manning the Fleet for that it exempts none that are now Seamen nor would be if this encouragement made them not so and this bringing in New Men would daily add to the Fleet for that as New Men increased those that were Seamen before Employed in Merchantmen might be spared out of Merchant Ships who with one fourth Foreigners as the Act allows and these New Men might with one third of Old Seamen be Navigated And the way to prevent Collering Old Seamen under the notion of New is easie and infallible as was beyond Objection even to them that encouraged not this Proposal demonstrated If this expedient be not approv'd it may perchance set better heads on more proper means for that there seems a necessity to provide for Trade against times of Peace as well as now for the Navy in time of War and in my humble Opinion there can be no encouragement so effectual to make Seamen as exemption from Men of War for some Time Inventions to find out concealed Seamen seems to me an antidote against making New Force and Projects may be useful to make an ignorant servile People Slaves but can have no good effect with those that know better and will not be so there needs no trick to promote the true Interest of a Nation every man will run into it and he would be a States-man worthy of Honour that did advance the Interest of his Country above that of their Neighbours Of Building Ships HAving in few words for so they are if regard be had to the Subject done with Navigation and Seamen I come to that of Building Ships and some think we are in danger of wanting them for Merchantmen For the Fleet none doubts but to an extremity we do and that lies before those who can only supply it but that we want Merchant Ships sufficient for our Trade I am afraid we don't I wish we did but whilst so many Ships lye by the Walls it is no great sign we do and this was our case before the War more than now which may be answered by the loss of our Ships this War but that seems not sufficient there being allowance for all and yet too plain that we want not Ships for the Trade of England if we had a Peace to morrow which is a misfortune that the Nation hath not so much Trade left them as to Employ one half the Seamen their Neighbours do and until we have at least always in Employment as many as the French there seems no security to these Kingdoms but it is hoped there will be ways found to Employ them as there soon will be when those Trades we have lost are retrieved and if the Great Councel of the Nation thinks it necessary no human Hand or Policy can hinder them either in that or any other Trade of the Nation if it be taken in hand in time What can withstand a People that outdoth all Kingdoms in Europe in Taxes without Complaints and Famine as they have in other Countries A Fifth part of one years Tax might be so laid out as to conquer and secure that we most want But to come to the Proposition of Building Ships there are two difficulties started in this matter one is that the Timber of the Kingdom is much wasted and cannot hold out long The other is that Timber from Norway is not to be purchased by us at such easy rates as the Dutch have and consequently cannot Build so Cheap as they do now though there is truth in both these Objections yet are raised on another occasion that of the Act of Navigation yet I see no great weight in it as to the use they would make of it that is to shew the necessity for the Nation to buy Ships of the Dutch I confess to my Understanding the reasons they give turn upon them and were there nothing more but what they offer against the Act of Navigation in that point it is enough to shew the good of that Act but of this I shall speak apart and return to the Building of Ships That there is nothing of greater consequence to a people that live by Trade than to be makers of their own Tools by which they work none will deny now Shipping are the Tools and Utensils of the Nation to fetch them from abroad is to Trade by Licence whenever our Northern Neighbours please we must lye still or pay such rates as they please that shall be equal to a Tax on our Trade for this reason I conceive it worth a consideration how to find out an expedient and that with submission to better Judgments I shall propose is either or both of these ways 1. That the Act of Navagation for that part of it relating to Timber and Naval Stores be dispenced with for three years and that all Customs Port and Town Duties be taken off for that time on Timber c. relating to Building and Fitting Ships to Sea this will tumble in Materials fast enough perchance to a glut if the following proposition be effectually pursued that is 2. To give such Encouragement for raising Naval Commodities as Pitch Tar Hemp c. in our Foreign Plantations as may advance that Trade to more than our own Consumption if this were done it would make the Northern Princes abate their Impositions they have lately laid on their Commodities and set them upon all ways of furnishing us so cheap as might render our attempts of raising them our selves unprofitable and let it succeed to their expectation or not the effect would be to our advantage and the success to either time will shew The next thing then that is to be enquired into in this matter is How our Plantations stand as to the natural Product of these Commodities and how provided with hands to Manufacture them As to the first I can say something upon my own Observations in America That New England is Superior to any of the Northern Crowns for Timber and Masts Pines and Firr to make Pitch
believe an Act of Naturalization would inlarge the Trade of this Nation so would the planting Foreign Protestants in Ireland And it seems but reasonable that this Nation should make some Advantage by that sink of their Blood and Treasure which they never yet have done but every Forty Years at most are put to the Expence of a New War It is astonishing to reflect on the Story of that Kingdom in which it is said there hath been above Fifteen Hundred Thousand English murdered in Fifty Two Rebellions It would be but a reasonable and provident Consideration how to prevent such continual bleeding in that Kingdom for the future But Matters of State is not the design of this Discourse only where Trade must call to it for Aid as in this case it seems to do for the Government to give a hand to the planting that Kingdom by which it may be profitable to this and it can never be by lying waste or being kept poor which is a general Opinion amongst us and I fear one of our most pernitious Mistakes in Trade as it is point of our security we should allow some Thoughts and Value for the Bodies of Men and if we did so there would not be such continued Slaughter in that Kingdom without producing one good Statute to secure that Countrey as in reason it should be intirely to the obedience and disposition of this the greatest part of the Land of that Kingdom is or ought to be in the hands of our Brethren and they sure will not be unwilling to give us the priviledge of governing it especially when by it we preserve them as by sending Foreign Protestants among them we should do In private management we should think him Lunatick that would pursue one Method a thousand times over though he had as constantly miscarried in it that seems the Case of Ireland it is vain to imagine that British so I think they call the English and Scotch of Ireland can ever ballance the Irish it is said the Irish are now above twenty to one at this time notwithstanding much more of the Irish perished in this last War than of the British That then which I conceive would be the best management this Nation ever made of Ireland would be to dispose the Forfeitures of that Kingdom to Strangers of all sorts that are not of the Church of Rome and having made that exception it will be necessary to give my Reasons for it My Principles I must confess are against Force in Religion but in this Case of Ireland there is a necessity to exclude as much as may be those that have any Relation or dependance on the Church because the Irish are a Bigotted People and own a Foreign Jurisdiction which is a Principle against the Government and Laws of the Land and where those of that Opinion are superiour in Number to them that are in the Interest of Government it seems absolutely Incumbent on the Government to provide against such Men as believe themselves under the most Sacred Tyes of Religion and Conscience to Obey and Promote the Edicts and Injunctions of a Foreign Prince for so the Pope is But to return to that of bringing Protestants to Ireland I conceive there must be more than making them Denizons because at this time Ireland differs very little from a new Plantation and to Plant such there is always given larger Incouragement to New Comers than in Setled and Planted Countreys If therefore such Methods were thought on as might make those that would settle in that Kingdom Freeholders of small Proportions of Lands at very easie Rents that might be a great Inducement to Foreigners to go and fill that Countrey and they would soon by intermixture in Marriages with the English and Scotch become British and so those of the Interest of England would be Superiour to that of the Irish and Interest of Rome and until it be so England can never be sure of Ireland All that this Nation ever yet had by it was a breathing time of thirty or Forty Years and then had a new Conquest to make But such a disposition as this would prevent Future Rebellions and also greatly Improve the Trade and Navigation of this Kingdom For it is to be Noted that the Chief Consumption of Ireland is of the Product and Manufactory of this Kingdom And by an Account I have seen Ireland takes off more from us than Virginia and New England and if we take it into our Care would Imploy more of our Ships but of that I intend in the second part of my Essayes to treat at large and in the mean time shall here Insert Verbatim part of a Discourse I find in a Pamphlet Intituled The Linnen and Woollen Manufactories A Discourse Printed in the Year 1691 The whole was Rational but that which I think applicable to what I am now upon was as followeth He begins the Paragraff thus as I said before Ireland is no more than one of our Foreign Plantations only I think it will be allowed the first Place and more than any other in nearness of Blood and that of our Nobles there being many Families in that Kingdom descended from the Antient Families of this and most of the Estates in Ireland held by the decent from our Brethren who purchas'd it with their Blood These Reflections may prevail for our care of them at least to any Collony abroad and we never think it our prejudice to have them thrive nor would the growth of Ireland if rightly disposed or understood And here give me leave to make a Digression if it may be call'd so but you may think it not Foreign to the Discourse I find it generally believed that Ireland is as mischievous to our Trade in time of Peace as it is destructive to our Men and Treasure in time of War and though this Opinion never went far with me yet something I did doubt was in it until I met with something that gave plain Demonstration to the contrary and it was this I fell into an intire acquaintance with a Gentleman of Ireland whose experience and long continuance in all the Foreign Trade of that Kingdom furnished him with Arguments I could not answer to prove that England was a great Gainer by the Trade of Ireland When I could not confute him nor he prevail with me he told me he would shew me that which carried Authority with it and so he did being as he assur'd me the work of some years as he could spare time to compose it The whole Discourse takes up many Sheets upon the Trade of Ireland to all parts and particular Remarks upon every Commodity Exported and Imported into that Kingdom and where and how it affects England Some other things he reserv'd as Secrets from me as he doth the rest from others for it was never seen by any but one beside my self Out of the whole he hath extracted an Account of the Exports and Imports for one year in a medium
Expence of Manufactories and Product of England for that they have from England or would if the Laws of that Kingdom in Relation to the Customs were duely executed most of the fine Draperies Silk Iron Manufactory Haberdashers-Wares Hats Sadlers Wares Tapes Pins and other small Manufactories Also from England they have all the hopes white Salt Coals Brass Commodities Tobacco Sugars and Groceryes They also Imploy or should so if due care was taken in the Act of Navigation the Ships of England all which would be considerably advanced if that Kingdom were improved by Foreigners 2. Foreigners would Inlarge the Linnen Manufactory in Ireland to which no part of Europe is most proper And there is already a beginning and aptness in the Irish to that Manufactory and however it is not the Interest of England that Ireland should grow in the Woollen Manufactory yet it is that that they should in the Linnen and Cordage But of this I shall in the Second Part when I come to Discourse at large of the Trade of Ireland say more 3. The bringing Foreign Protestants into Ireland will Inlarge the Fishings there Great part of which will be to the Advantage of England as would the General Improvement of Ireland be if it were dispos'd to such Trade and Navigation as might be subservient and helpful to ours But to make Laws with design to keep them Poor is not unlike him that set his own House on Fire that his Neighbours might be burnt keeping Ireland Poor and discouraging the Protestant Interest there puts that Kingdom in the hands of the Irish and that renders it not only unprofitable to England but dangerous the management of Ireland Since the first Conquest will not be Credited in future Ages and although we must own of a Nation that hath the best Constitution in Government we have alwayes been unhappy in the Administration yet I think in nothing so much as in the Neglect of Trade and in that of Ireland which any Nation but we would make a Treasure of and we Imploy all our skill to make it an Aceldama It hath been so to this poor Kingdom and if relation be true is in a ready way to be so again They in whose Province it is will consider the Politick part my business is Trade and in that I will venture to say Ireland might be made more profitable to England than all the Foreign Plantations have ever yet been I confess New-England and Newfound-Land may be made more than altogether but that which makes Ireland of more Consideration to England than all the rest is because without keeping that we can enjoy none of the rest It is every days Refuge for our Merchant-Men and not to be forgotten how soon after this Reduction it saved our Smirna and Levant Fleet. Of the Manufactory and Dispose of Sheeps-Wooll THIS is the great Staple of the Kingdom and in truth of the World which by Divine Providence is so put into our hands as that without a turn in Nature we cannot totally loose it yet all that is possible for an unthinking People as we are call'd abroad we have done to the prejudice of those Commodities by which means we have transferr'd great part of our Woollen Manufactoryes to other Countreys to Germany and Venice our Coarse Draperies to Holland and France our fine and New Draperies and that which is remarkable is that we laid the foundation for loosing them the same way by which we first got them that is by persecuting Men for their Religion Abel's acceptable Sacrifice seems still to follow the Fleece No Society of Men in the Kingdom are so generally affected with the strictest Injunctions of our Religion as our People bred up in the Woollen Manufactories and these Men first fell under the Rod after the Restauration an excellent Reform to drive Men out of the Kingdom for having too much Religion but not question such as had none at all This driving our Clothiers into Germany and Holland put them and their Friends upon Inventions to send our Wooll after them and in that their Friends that stay'd behind were and still are assisting them though to the prejudice of the Trades they are in themselves there being nothing that draws compassion more from one Man to another than seeing Men of honest and unblameable Conversation us'd worse than Thieves and Robbers for serving God according to their Conscience This severity banish'd many thousands out of England soon after the Restauration of Charles the Second One Tilham carried in the Year 1665 Three Thousand into the Prince Palatine of the Rhyne and divers others did the same into other parts insomuch that Account was taken of Twenty Thousand Sacks of Wooll carried into one Port of France in less than Two Years from England and more went from Ireland and besides the Quantities that went for Holland is Incredible All this is evidently fallen upon the Nation by the fury of those that would make a Trade of Religion and banish those that had Religion with their Trades But blessed be God we have now a King of a more comprehensive Perswasion and our Church better supply'd with Men of Learning and Charity which the Infallible Authour tells us is above all the Arts Sciences and Acts of Devotion whatsoever Such Numbers of Men being gone out of the Kingdom for want of that Liberty they may now injoy it is a wonder they do not return and a greater that they are not sent for and Invited back We do not consider what the loss of a Man is in a Kingdom not half Peopled We want nothing so much as Bodies of Men and it is said we have above Thirty Thousand in Foreign Countreys and they are not of the raff but sober Industrious People such as these should not be lost But from the hands to Work Wooll I come to the Wooll it self how useful and in some cases of such absolute use in their Manufactories that they can make none of their best without our Wooll This is no Secret nor the Severe Laws that are made to prevent Escapes of Wooll but none have proved effectual some of them being too easie and others severe to loss of Life to them all I have seen a Proposal of a Gentleman that hath been a great Dealer in that Commodity to Foreign Parts which he affirms would be Infallible to prevent Exports of Wooll to Foreign Parts From England it seems probable enough but he is positive and reserves part of the Secret which he saith when told will make every one that hears it as positive as himself I would have perswaded him to offer it to the House but he expects a great Gratification and that he thinks at this time will not be given though I am of another mind and believe he deserves more than he can either ask or expect if his Project takes It is indeed to be lamented that solid Proposals for the Trade and Manufactory of the Nation should not meet with so
Wooll is the Chief Of Free Ports THere is nothing more talked of and yet in my Opinion less understood than the use of Free Ports The great Success that of Leghorn hath met with giving the Name a greater Reputation in the World than perhaps the thing in it self deserves for that it seems the Effect of a bad cause and though it is a good Expedient that hath neither Natural or Artificial Provision for Trade and Navigation yet it may be prejudicial to a Nation that hath both To make this Intelligible give me leave to say something of the first Establishing Leghorn a Free Port because I take that in all its Circumstances to be the first Compleat President in Europe The Grand Duke of Tuscany's Territories are not of Extent to produce Natural or Artificial Commodities for the Loading Ten Ships of Burthen a Year nor is his Countrey able to Consume except it be of Fish half the Loading of that Number and having not room for Trade of his own it was no doubt his Interest to Incourage that of Strangers which the Ignorance of all his Neighbours in Trade gave him opportunity to do So stupid was the Genoees as to believe because they had then the Money-Trade and Navigation of the Levant that therefore they could set Laws and Bounds to other Nations and make them pay Customs as they saw fit this Exaction on Trade had the same effect as oppression in Government and drove Merchants to seek out better Entertainment and the Duke had early provided for all that would come He was Despotick and wherever that is a general Excise raises the surest Revenue and Freedom of Importation advanceth it by the Expence of those that Commerce brings into the Country but these Reasons hold not in all places particularly in England And though perchance no part of the World in general speaking is thought better placed for Free Ports and no doubt it is so if the Consideration be had on Foreigners but I cannot think it so for either King or People I expect but few with me in this therefore must not pass it over without giving those Inducements that prevail with me to this belief I begin with that relating to the Crown Free Ports will give opportunity for running Goods nor is it possible to prevent the Arts of Merchants when they have such a handle as Free Ports will give them There is no one Kingdom not France it self that Consumes so much of Foreign Commodities as England the Duties on which are very considerable but if these Foreign Commodities were â—odg'd in Free Ports the Customs would sink and the Expence of them Increase which is a double Mischief the Loss of the Revenue on one hand wasting the Treasure of the Nation upon Foreign Commodities on the other There is another Prejudice which Free Ports would bring to the Nation in general and that is they would lessen and discourage our own Navigation which by all means we have reason to promote Now if there was Free Ports in England which lyes in the Center of the Trade of Europe all Nations would make our Harbours their Docks and Harbours for Wintering and Laying up their Ships and this they might do with Advantage by Selling part of their Cargoes which Variety and Choice will tempt so Luxurious and Expensive a People as we are to Consume and allowing that which perhaps will seldom be That they carry off our Commodities yet that is no Compensation for these Reasons First It is no Gain to the Nation to eat up their own Product as that would be if Foreign Commodities was spent in Return of our own Then Foreign Ships carrying of the Product of the Nation will Abate the Imployment of our own Ships and Men and Insensibly Introduce them into our Carriage which is the certain Profit of Trade And that which may not be less considerable than all before-mentioned Free Ports would make our Loss of the Northern and Sound Trade Irrecoverable by Transferring it unto the French and Portugueze as well as the Dutch for that out of our Free Ports they will be supply'd with sorts of Commodities besides their own which is the Advantage the Dutch now have over us in that Trade Upon the whole it appears to me That Free Ports would only be an Improvement for Foreigners in their Trade without the least Advantage to us not so much as the Increasing the Revenue as it doth where there is a General Excise which I think is an Inseparable Companion of Free Ports and they of Countreys that cannot of themselves make a Trade I presume none believes the Dutch to be properly Free Ports or if they were Can they be a President for us Greatest part of their Consumption being in Germany and Flanders c. which is within themselves and no other Nation can interfere with them I have done with Free Ports and shall come in the next Chapter to that which I think the Interest of the Nation to Establish in room of them Of Exports of Foreign Importations HAving said so much against Free Ports which is with good reason accounted to be the only way those Countreys have to make a Trade that want Funds Men and Ships of their own I now come to that which I conceive may supply the want of Free Ports in these Kingdoms and that is Liberty for Exports of such Commodities as have payd Customs Inwards That I call Liberty is to have all the Duty repay'd upon such Exports This at first sight may be thought making the whole Kingdom a Free Port after I have been declaiming against having any I confess that I shall here propose will do the Work of a Free Port for the benefit of our own Trade but not for those that have too much Advantage of us already That then I humbly offer in this matter is That whereas now there is by Law Repayments of part of Customs upon Exporting of Commodities that payd Inwards that for the future the whole Money payd Inwards be Repayd upon Exporting without any defaliation upon these Tearms following 1. That no Repayments shall be made but on such Goods as were Imported in English Ships and Men. 2. That no Repayments be made but on such Goods as shall be Exported by English Ships and Men. 3. That no Repayments be made but on such Goods that have been more than Twelve Moneths landed 4. That no Repayments be made on any Goods damnified or decayed With these Reservations I think it is the Interest of the Nation to admit any Foreigners the same Priviledge so that our own Ships have the Carriage in and out To this I foresee the Common Custom-House-Objections What will become of the Kings Customs Merchants will find wayes to make their Exports pay for most of their Imports To this I Answer No doubt there will be Arts used by some but it is as certain that ways may be laid down to prevent them and much easier on the Exports than was
better Incouragement of Youth and such as may be the Children of Parents by Misfortune brought to Decay that they may be so at the Liberty of the Governours to dispose of as shall be found capable and desir'd by Merchants Navigators or others to take Apprentice and breed them up in some Trade so that it be for their Preferment and at the Desire of the Youth 5. That who'ere shall be put out to Apprentice shall not withstanding Receive the Sum paid with them when he comes to Age of Twenty One Years provided he faithfully serves his Time 6. That there be a Liberty for the Governours c. to receive the Charity of all such as shall at any time Give or Bequeath Money or Land to this Good Work 7. That they may have Power to Purchase Lands in every County of England and Wales which may be a Fund for Payment of the Sum that was payd in with each Child to such as behave themselves well and go out at the Years before-mentioned 8. That these Schools shall be alwayes Free from any Tax either for their Land or Stock that must be Imployed in the Work 9. That there be in each Hospital a Minister to Instruct the Children and Officiate in Ecclesiastical Affairs 10. That for the better Government of these Hospitals and to the Intent that the Work proposed be duely pursu'd That all Bishops and Peers and Members of the House of Commons in their Respective Countys for the time being and so for ever succeed Visitors of those Hospitals and that they may have Power upon just Complaint to Remove and Displace any Inferiour Officer or Overseers that shall misbehave themselves 11. To Compleat the whole Design and make these Hospitals and Schools the greatest Work of Charity and Universal Good that ever was bestowed on this Nation is to Establish a Fund for Stock and Portions of such as go out of these Hospitals that is to pay as much as is paid in with the Child and that they shall be free to set up the Linnen Manufactory in any Corporation of the Kingdom This will require an Act of Parliament and the Fund for Portions and Stock may be Rais'd out of that which no one will Refuse nor yet shall any be obliged to pay Reasons humbly offered for Establishing by Charter Hospitals and Working-Schools 1. THey will ease the Nation of a Charge and Burthen The Charge is upon the Parish in breeding up the Children and the Burthen is having Streets fill'd with Beggars in their Old Age for such usually are so that are bred to no Trades in their Youth 2. These Schools will add to the Nation in their Trade and Manufactories more than Twenty thousand Persons a Year allowing but Two out of a Parish with such as may be supposed will be put in by particular persons that may think a Child well disposed of for a small Sum to be taught a Trade and have a Stock at going out to set up with They will not only add to the Nation so many as come from the Parishes but they will produce another Generation by Marriages Whereas the Poor bred to no Employment seldom do more than waste away their Life in a single condition 3. These Hospitals and Schools breeding up Numbers in the Linnen-Manufactory will invite over Foreigners to settle in the same Employment for that it is a Maxim in Trade and Manufactory That where there are but few employ'd they will be found too many and where there are great numbers they may be thought too few 4. These Hospitals and Schools for Linnen will by themselves and their Increase settle such a Manufactory of Linnen as will not only prevent the great Sums of Money that go out of the Nation but also bring in Money for several sorts of Linnen they will soon arrive to that Perfection which can never be introduc'd by the Methods now taken 5. There seems not a more certain way for raising the Rents of Lands and Houses than advancing the Poor and increasing of People and Trade both which will certainly arise from these Schools and Hospitals 6. These Hospitals and Working-Schools will exceed not only all the Charitable Works of this Kingdom but may be thought above any in Europe Former Charities seldom exceed present Provision for the Poor and that only to keep them so but by this there will be raised of them which are now the Disease of the Nation a Useful and Industrious People It is reasonable to believe they will be in their spreading forth in the Kingdom Examples of Sobriety and Industry for that they will be strangers to the common Vices of this Age and know nothing but what they are bred up to in their Schools And that this Great Work may not miscarry as Publick Stocks and Manufactories always do It is humbly proposed That a Charter may be given to such as will undertake so good a Work and that they may have such Encouragement as may give them a Prospect of Advantage without which the Undertaking cannot succeed for that it is a mixt Undertaking a Manufactory and an Hospital the first to support the latter and that with such Benefit to the Nation as might be wish'd tho at the Purchase of a National Fund But here is nothing desired for the Maintenance of all the Poor Children of the Nation for that the Ten Pounds to be paid by the Parish will not answer the Charge of Building and Furnishing the Houses and that for a Fund to raise so much apiece when they go out will not come to any Proportion of what must be paid in Fourteen Years So that in truth the entire Success of this Affair rests on the Management and Stock of the Undertakers Thus far went the Propositions and Reasons for it which to me appear'd without exception tho perhaps according to the unhappy humour of this Age some may be against it if there appears any Advantage to the Undertakers which is in my opinion a pernicious Principle that hath been no small prejudice to our Trade and Manufactories discourages Ingenuity and hath driven many profitable Inventions out of the Kingdom into other Countries where they meet with better Entertainment But of this I shall at large discourse in the Second Part and here only say That I conceive one of the greatest Mistakes in our Provision for the Poor is That they are not put under the Charge of some that may be Gainers by their Work I never saw Publick Undertakings in Labour and Manufactory turn to any Advantage nor do I see any reason to expect it whilst it is so difficult for Private Undertakers to defend themselves against the Frauds of Artisans and Labourers in Employments their Masters are bred in and if it be so where men have both Understanding and Self-Interest united for their own Advantage the Success cannot reasonably be so great Suppose Managers ever so honest there are some Difficulties that Publick Ministers lye under which men
in their own Concerns are free from that is Set Rules and Methods which they must observe and by that means lose some Advantages which private men can take or leave as they find them for their purpose But that which seems unanswerable in this Undertaking is That the Proposition is to breed up Children in Manufactories so as to ease the Nation of a Charge and replenish the Countrey with People and this cannot be done without great Expence of Money and Industry of the Undertakers And why they should not have the Benefit of both since it is not at the Publick Charge none I believe can give a reason but those wise men that would have no good done that any man gets by Of the New-found-land Fishing THE Name of a Joint-Stock and Company in Trade is in general terms thought injurious to the several Interests of the Nation but in some Cases it is allowed by all That Companies are absolutely necessary and if in any it seems to be so for the Fishing of New-found-land which was once the most considerable Trade and Nursery for Seamen of this Nation How it came to be lost by us and taken up by the French is visible and chiefly since the Restoration of Charles the Second in whose Reign it was complained of and Petitions from the West-Countrey-men to retrieve it and secure them from the growing Encroachments of the French daily made upon the Fishing of this Nation but no Care was taken the French Interest being then prevalent at Court The Island of New-found-land is as much the Right of the Crown as any Foreign Plantation nor have the French the least pretence to it But since they have got footing in it no Private Undertakers are able to contest it with them nor if the Government should dispossess them would Private Undertakers be able to secure and maintain the Place and Trade The French have now Forts there and send such Numbers of Ships Yearly as is little less than a Warlike Effort added to their Trade and by the Fishing they have raised their Seamen and so became formidable at Sea all their other Navigation not employing one fourth of the Seamen their Fishing of New-found-land and Canady doth And as the French have grown great in their Trade and Navigation by this Fishing so hath England by the Loss of it abated in both to the weakning and Poverty of the Nation If the Strength and Security of this Nation lies in the Naval Force it may be thought that which makes and employs Seamen cannot be bought too dear but deserves the greatest Encouragement and then the Fishing of New-found-land would be as much consider'd and as well preserved from Foreign Encroachment as our other Plantations where none are admitted to Trade but the Subjects of England It cannot be denied however some may apprehend but the Foreign Plantations add to the Strength and Treasure of the Nation even in that of People which is generally thought our Plantations abroad consume but if it were considered That by taking off one useless person for such generally go abroad we add Twenty Blacks in the Labour and Manufactories of this Nation that Mistake would be removed But whatever the Advantages of our Foreign Plantations are to England this of New-found-land Fishing will be much more for that by it there will be Riches gain'd out of the Sea without the Expence of any Foreign Commodities but it is not so in the Foreign Plantations By this Fishing there will be no person only some few to keep the Forts taken out of the Kingdom nor any fed or cloathed with the Product of other Parts but all they consume will be of the Growth and Manufactory of the Nation And this Fishing of New-found-land will be supported entirely with the Product of the Nation which no other Trade is so will the Product of this Fishing bring in more Bullion than any other Trade can Whereas the Product of our Foreign Plantations is greatest part consumed in the Kingdom and that adds nothing to the Riches of the Nation And that which is not the least considerable in this Undertaking is That whereas in all our other Plantations abroad our men are employed in labour on shore and so of no use in time of Naval War this Plantation of New-found-land will be all Seamen and most of them at home once a year and may soon be to the Number of 10000 Men which may be thought a greater Strength to the Nation than a Land-Army of thrice the number with this advantage that Seamen are always readier for Service and yet of no Charge to the Government until they are in it And to sum up all in that which is the Security as well as Treasure of England by this Fishing there may be added Thirty Sail of Men of War always ready for the Service of the Nation It may perhaps be expected That after telling what mighty things may be done by this Fishing I should lay down a Scheme how it may be made practicable But as what I have here said is no more than Hints on which better Heads may enlarge so I must own my want of Assurance to prescribe Rules and Methods for so great an Undertaking especially at a Time when the Supreme Council of the Nation are sitting before whom I lay these Essays as Suppliants do their Petitions to be consider'd of In that nature I shall also further submit some Particulars which I humbly conceive necessary for the Establishing this Fishery I conceive that out of the National Bank before propos'd must arise a Fund for this Undertaking and such as to Build and Purchase a Hundred Sail of Ships from 100 to 300 Tun and to carry Guns according to their Burthen for every Ten Tun a Gun That there be at the Company 's Charge Ten Third Rates Ten Fourth Rates Five Fifth Rates and Five Sixth Rates Mann'd and Gunn'd as Ships of War The Use of these Ships and Charge of maintaining them to the Advantage of the Company shall be made out if demanded That tho these Ships shall be built by English Carpenters yet not by English Timber it being too evident that there will be want of that for the Navy That there be Forts and Plantations established in New-found-land for Defence and Security of the Place That no Spanish or French Salt be used in saving their Fish there being a way to save that Expence The Design and Advantage of this Trade being singular from any Trade yet in this Nation That there shall be no Use or Consumption of any thing but the Product and Manufactory of the Nation That in regard there will be 20000 Persons one way or other Employed in this Trade and considering the want of People already in this Kingdom That a Statute may be made to take out of Prisons such Persons as are kept for small Debts Fees c. of which sort Thousands Perish in Goals And that the same Provision be made for Criminals not guilty of
Murther A Shaved Head and a Chain would be a greater Terror than a Gallows and be a more lasting Example than the Execution of an Hour It seems also a Punishment to the innocent for the nocent that a man should be lost to the Nation for an Offence done to a private Person and the Sufferer have no Reparation for what he hath lost whereas if the Offender were kept to Work during his Life some Reparation might be made to the Person Injured and a certain Gain made to the Nation by the Work of a man and this way of Punishing Felons would bring more to Punishment than Death doth for that many chuse rather to let Felons escape than Prosecute where their Life is in danger That all such Offenders as are now Transported or have License to go for Foreign Parts from Ireland of the Irish Nation be sent to New-found-land by which means they would be made useful and of profit to this Nation whereas by their going to Foreign Parts they are enabled to do mischief and so it hath been found in all Rebellions of that People they returning back Experienced Commanders and Soldiers which hath not been the least encouragement to them in all their Rebellions This Disposition of the faulty Irish will not only be a Gain to this Nation but also a Security in taking away one handle for future Rebellions and make them in some measure Hostages for their Brethren in Ireland It may be thought a mistake in those who think it a good expedient to send the Irish to serve Foreign Princes rather than venture them at Home great part of the Common People are said to be Peaceable and easily led into Discipline and nothing but want forceth them to Disorder such are to be valued as a Stock in a Kingdom where the Country is almost waste for want of Inhabitants and for such as are faulty they being sent where Labourers are wanting and methods taken to keep them at work they will be of good use the Banishing of the Moors out of Spain is a lasting monument of ill Conduct sufficient to warn us of the like mistake if a living Dog be better than a dead Lyon it may be thought the worst of Men are better than none good Laws and Discipline may make Bad men useful in a Commonwealth but no Human Law can Create them There are many other things that attend this Undertaking which in Time and Place may be offered Of Navigation and Seamen I Find more difficulty to say any thing on this Subject than on any thing relating to Trade because it is a common Theme on which men of divers Understandings have Wrote and few conversant in Business but cry it up as the Diana of the England's Guardian Angel and needs no Advocate but yet though all agree in Adoration yet some differ in the form and others believe we are safe enough in the Possession of it when more fear we were never so near losing it among the Crowd I shall bring in my Observations and leave to better Judgments the determination That our Shipping and Navigation hath been declining for many years is evident by the loss of that part of our Navigation which employed most of our Seamen so it appears if we look into the Account that was taken of all the Seamen and Ships in England in the year 1615 the Navigation of Europe was not then one third of what it is now the number of Seamen then taken that were employed in the Ships of Trade were but 11000 and of them 3000 in the Newcastle and Coal Trade 1900 in the Streights Portugal and Southern Trade 800 in the French Trade 4400 in the Greenland Iceland and New-found-land Fishing 400 in the Sound and 500 in the Muscovy Trade this is demonstration how we have declined the most laborious part of our Navigation since near one half of the employment of our Seamen in that Age were in those Trades and Navigation which we have now in a manner lost as that of the New-found-land Greenland Muscovy and the Sound this shews the want of a Council of Trade not only of Merchants but of the greatest Ministers of State Had our Forefathers understood Foreign Trade as well as they did their Native it is probable they would have made as good Laws for the first as they did for the latter They did consider and provide as far as the Experience of the Age allowed for the improvement of Trade and employment of the People we see what care they took against Monopolizers and Forestallers what exactness in Provision for the Poor the Assize of their Bread and at the same time care taken that they should not exact in their Wages what Penalties they laid on such as did vend or make defective Manufactories and had they known the much greater Mischiefs that attend the Foreign Trade of the Nation they would have provided against them For as Merchants are above the Rank of of Artizans so is their Skill and opportunity to do good or harm in their Negotiations There can be no Assize set upon their Commodities nor Essay to the Curiosity of the Indies or Luxury of the Levant but they may be Limited and Prescribed in their Trade and it seems of the greatest consequence that they should be so for they often gain by that which is the Nation 's greatest Loss and not only Merchants but Seamen will chuse as all men naturally do that Employment which brings Profit with least Toil and Labour and that is one cause of the loss of the New-found-land Fishing and Northern Trades they were Laborious and of small Gain and therefore as soon as we found out the Southern and Plantation-Trades we left them and the French who followed us in Trade began where we left off and by that means have made themselves so considerable at Sea and although their Navigation hath not hitherto been so profitable as ours to the Merchant yet is more considerable to their Monarchy than the Effeminate Navigation of the East and Southern Trades for that 1000 l. in the Northern and Fishing Trade employs more men than 20000 l. in the Eastern and Southern Trades This consideration may be thought to affect England more than any part of the World for that we are nothing on Shore longer than we Command the Seas and our neglect and loss of the rougher part of the Navigation in the Fishing and Northern Trades abates near one half of the Seamen that might be Employed in these Kingdoms and nothing but the hand of the Government can retrieve this loss by encouraging the poorest part of Navigation though most considerable as to increase of Seamen which is the Strength of the Nation and this cannot be done but by such Banks as will Interest all the men of Estates in the Kingdom one way or other in the Navigation and Trade of the Nation But of Banks I shall say something apart and therefore now return to that of our Navigation
and Tarr for Soil to raise Hemp and well enough for making Iron But there seems some difficulties in the want of hands to work and supply that is the only Objection I see in this Affair and altho that hath been too great for particular men to undertake yet may not tho if undertook by a publick Fund which perchance upon a thorough consideration may be found necessary to be done upon some such Inducements as these It would make New England of the most useless and unprofitable Plantation of this Nation the best and most advantageous to this Nation I might enumerate many particulars but I presume this will come into hands that need no more than to put them in mind of the Place and Product That New England lies better for a Market to Spain Portugal and the Levant than the Northern Crowns who now furnish that part of Europe with those Commodities New England can furnish That establishing this Trade will Employ many Ship-Carpenters and Seamen which I cannot omit whereever it comes in my way to say is the Treasure and Strength of these Kingdoms That this Trade will occasion the Consumption of more Woollen Manufactories than all our Foreign Plantations it being a Cold Climate and Men with hard Labour wear out much Cloaths That there will be room and reason to give great encouragement for Foreigners to settle in this Plantation and Undertaking which next to our Seamen seems of moment to advance which even those that are against at home will not be when they are abroad And to sum up all As this Plantation may save the Nation the Expence they are now at in purchasing Naval Stores so it will bring in considerable returns in Bullion for what they send into the Levant Spain c. And that this may not appear as a Chimera it is to be noted That there hath been many years since several Ships loaden in New-England with Masts c. for the Streights but for the Reasons before given the want of Hands and Publick Encouragement that Trade did not prosper Merchants do not affect a Trade that takes up much Time and little Stock as the Lumber-Trade doth which is more profitable to the Ship and Men than the Merchant and it is a mistake in those that think Merchants are always Owners perhaps they have least share in the Ships of England Having thus given some sew Hints for they are no more if compar'd with what is to be said on this Copious Subject it may be expected that I should say something of the Modus for setting up this Manufactory and building Ships in New-England To set down an Exact Scheme would take up more Sheets than I design Lines in this Place but something I shall mention 1. To carry on this Work it will be necessary that extraordinary Privileges be given to Foreign Protestants that will inhabit there as having Land given them free Liberty of Conscience greater Wages than they can have in their own Countries Houses for some time Rent-free from all manner of Impositions c. 2. That such Encouragement be given as may invite the Natives to work They are very ingenious and docible but naturally averse to Labour yet I have seen some of them take great pains in working Curiosities and that which induceth me to believe they would work if they were sure of good Wages is the great labour they take in making their Wampompeeg of which the most skilful and laborious amongst them cannot make above Two Shillings a day Now if these men could have so much a day for any other work it is reasonable to believe they might be brought to it and by that means they would be better cloath'd than those that are idle and that would tempt them in also But to this may be objected That this dear Wages would make those Commodities dear To which I answer That there is some works in Falling Floating and Drawing Timber that cannot be had cheaper and that there are no men will sooner learn the best labour than they and as the Countrey fills and the Indians are brought to work Wages will fall 3. There may be Negroes brought whose labour will come cheap and their very little Children will be very useful in peeling Hemp picking Oacum and other things about Pitch and Tar. This Undertaking being thoroughly managed will be such a Staple for Shipping and Naval Stores as no part of Europe can exceed and put these Kingdoms out of the Power of their Neighbours in that of their Naval Provisions and our Ships may be cheaper built than in any part of Europe with the advantage of preserving the Timber of England for the Royal Fleet. I have often wondred that such a disposition as this hath not been thought on for that unprofitable Plantation which now brings nothing to this Nation but to the contrary buries Numbers of Industrious People in a Wilderness that produceth nothing but Provisions to feed them and yet the most useful Commodities in it for the Nation being that which makes our Walls and Bulwarks This neglect is such as was in this Kingdom in exporting our Wool which was consider'd by that Wise Prince Edward the Third who thereupon pass'd a Law for encouraging Foreign Clothiers and that they should settle in what part of the Kingdom they pleas'd A good President for giving all the Encouragement and Immunities imaginable to invite Foreign Carpenters and others into a Plantation that might raise such Commodities as are the Foundation of our Wealth and Security Of the Act of Navigation TO write upon this is to enter upon Controversy in Trade which I think doth as little good as that in Religion and is commonly undertook or at least started by those that have least share in the Practice I have never been so attach'd to my own Understanding as to conclude those in the wrong that differ with me but I must own my self a great Votary to the Act of Navigation believing it the Sea Magna Charta and the only Law that ever past in England for the securing our Trade and Navigation and I had like to have said with it our Religion Laws and Properties too for that no men in the Government are more averse to Popery and Arbitrary Power than they are And altho I believe we can never add too many to our Number on Shore yet perhaps it may be the Interest of the Nation to keep as many English in our Sea-Employments as we can for that they are in truth our Guards and tho when Naturaliz'd and Inhabitants Foreign Seamen may be useful yet so as that they may be but a small Proportion to the whole Number of Seamen in our Trade and Navigation It is observable that notwithstanding the States in Italy are inseparably united in their Force at Sea against the Turks yet they are so jealous of each others Growth in that Strength that they are oblig'd to each other not to exceed the Number of Galleys they are
may answer Ten Millions in the Currant Payment of the Nation for that few will take Money out but transfer from one account to another And it is reasonable to suppose that most men will lodge their Money in Bank for the greatness of Security and saving the trouble and hazard of telling Money For these Reasons it may be thought a Bank will pay no Interest and that may be injurious to the Nation in two respects First It may necessitate many people to carry their Money out of the Kingdom where they may make some Benefit by it when they are debarr'd from any Advantage at home The other mischief it may do reaches Widows and Orphans whose Support often depends upon the Interest of their Money and if Banks pay none they will be able to set out at very low Interest more than the wants of the Kingdom will require But that which I conceive may be an expedient in this case may be a Proviso in the Act of Parliament That these Banks shall set out no Money at Interest upon Real Estates by which means there will be room for private persons to set out Money upon Mortgages These Banks being National may be so constituted as to retrieve that most considerable part of the Navigation of the Greenland and New-found-land Fishing But because that may be discouraging to some persons that understand not Trade and only depend on their Money at Interest it will be necessary to shew That notwithstanding the Trade propos'd there shall be a certain Fund or Dividend of at least Five per cent per Ann. besides the Profit of Trade and that may be done thus Supposing the Fund of Land to be valued at 20 years Purchase the Rent will be Five per Cent. for Two Millions then for the other Two Millions in Cash allowing but Five per Cent. more for the Gain of Exchange that compleats the Five per Cent. upon the whole Fund This is a Certainty without reckoning any Advantage to be made by the Credit of the Bank and putting out Money to Interest There will not be here room to mention the Modus or Advantages that will attend that most important Undertaking of the New-found-land Fishing I shall only say it would employ all the loose and unprofitable hands in the Nation it would add Ten thousand Seamen to the Strength of it it would bring a Treasure into the Nation taken out of the Sea it would occasion the Consumption of great Quantities of Manufactories it would advance the Price and consume great Quantities of Provisions of this Kingdom for that New-found-land is no place for either Tillage or Cattel and we shall employ many Foreign Hands in that Trade The Advantages that will arise to the Nation by these Banks need no explanation for that they are easy to every Understanding among the rest that of supplying the King with Money upon any Publick Funds as shall be appointed by Parliament is not the least Lumbers for poor Artizans and others is an Appendix to Banks and may by Funds out of them in each County be supplied so as that the Poor may have Money to carry on their Trades and Employments on Pawns that may be so easy and with the advantage of selling in Publick Sales what they leave in Pledge and that what they borrow shall be of more advantage and ease to them than if the Money were lent them gratis and may be of great use in the improvement and enlarging the Manufactories of the Nation which are much discouraged by the necessities and hardships that are put on the poor for want of Sales which these Lumbers will supply and the best and readiest means for the poor to sell their Goods every Month whereas now they are often forced to sell their Labour to Shop-keepers at such rates as gives them little more than what their Materials cost them which hath the worse effect in that it encourages a set of Idle men in the Kingdom with folded Arms in a Shop to live upon the Ruins of Handicrafts-men their Numbers are increased even to a Nusance by their easy way of living on the Oppression of the Poor If we took Presidents from abroad this evil would not have grown thus amongst us It is observed That there is not so many Retailers in Amsterdam as there is in some Market-Towns in England and this evil is the more to be condemn'd since we want not a Statute to prevent it for in the 5 th year of Queen Elizabeth a Statute pass'd That Artizans Sons should not be Apprentices to Shopkeepers There was then none turn'd from Mechanical Arts to be Retailers as now there are Numbers that do and greatest part Quakers a People that for many reasons may be thought as unprofitable to the Nation as Jews and so I take the greatest part of Retailers and Hawkers to be they ought as much to be restrained and kept to a Quantum as Hackney-Coachmen and Coffee-Houses for tho both if confin'd to Numbers are useful yet in their excess are Nurseries of Idleness and such as I am of opinion would have been provided against by our Ancestors had they sprung up in their days But on this Subject among other Enormities I have writ at large in another Discourse which when the disposition of the Times will admit may come forth Of Agriculture and Rural Imployments BEfore I enter upon the Subject I must Apologize for my self that I am to the last degree ignorant of the Practick part of Husbandry the whole Course of my Life having been spent in Maritine-Towns or on the Sea I beg pardon contrary to Custom before I commit the Error giving an instance of my ignorance in Country Matters which I should not trouble the Reader with if I did not think it divertive It was in the 32 year of my Age that I first had a thought of Acres and being importun'd by Friends to fix something on the Land and not have all on the Sea I made a Purchase before I saw it for that I might do with as much Judgment as if had some time after I went to see the Purchase I had made and on the Road gave as much Diversion to my Friends in declaring my want of Understanding the Distinction and Names of every thing the Field produced as I did trouble to them to inform me tho it was near Harvest I knew not Barly from Wheat in the Ear and when I came to the Estate and riding thorow the Woods of which there were great Quantities on the Land I was yet more troublesome in asking the Names of Trees not being able to distinguish an Oak from an Ash or that from Wich-Hazel which made a merry Fellow a Ranger in the Woods say He had a Master he was sure would not question his Care or Honesty since he knew not a Tree from a Weed After this Account of my self I hope to be excused if I mistake in any Point of Country and Land-Improvement nor shall
I attempt to prescribe Rules or give my Opinion in these matters as I may venture to do in that of Trade and therefore as Rural Matters have relation to that so I shall here treat of the Plow and of the Pruning-Hook the Field and the Orchard How Land may be improved there cannot be a truer or greater President than that of the Land of Canaan a spot of Ground not so large as one third part of England yet maintained double the People England doth That the Fertility of the Soil did not make the difference in their great increase above ours is observed by such as Travel there that at this time under the manage of the Lazy Turk that Land is much worse and brings forth less increase than ours So then it is apparent Labour and Industry makes the difference Now if the foregoing Computation be right that there were near double the People in that little Spot than there are in England as there is reason to believe for that in David's Reign the Number of Fighting-men was 1510000 besides the Two Tribes not brought into the Account this being allowed it will follow that there is not one Sixth part made of the Land of England as might be But to this might be said the want of Hands is the cause of our scant Production and that nothing but Crouds forceth Labour this is true as to matter of fact but not so as to be without a Remedy Nmbers of People make Laws for Industry out of necessity and good Laws may do the same with this Advantage that enlarging the Labour in Rural Affairs will produce more than is consumed in the Nation and that adds to the Treasure of it Whereas Numbers of Hands that only work to feed themselves adds nothing to the Riches of the Kingdom Now as Riches increase so will the Bodies of Men which is indeed the best Treasure we see this in the United Provinces where all Nations flock as Fowl where they find best feeding Money is so to Men and where that abounds Labour and Industry is encouraged but to sit down with an Opinion that England cannot be improved for want of People is too mean and abject for Englishmen There is a visible Prospect how great Improvements may be made in this Kingdom by the Hands we have and if that were done we should soon have more There are thousands of Persons in this Kingdom that beg who might be serviceable in many things relating to the Plow if lame in their Feet yet they may weed Corn that perchance now takes up the time of a lusty Man A Blind man may carry Burthens in company with other a Man without Hands may look to Cattle c. There are numbers of Men of no Employment that we have Laws that might oblige to Work and if they are not full enough to reach them they may be made to do it There is also another Set of Men that are lost in the Nation under the Cover of being Serving-men and Footmen Now this might be restrained and Men confined to the Numbers they keep according to their Quality which if done might add to the Plow and other Country Employments many thousands in this Nation I differ with them who complain of our Gentries humour of taking French Valets de Chambres I wish there were a Law that none but such should be taken into such Employments or at least that no Gentleman should have above one Englishman in his Family in Service as a Waiter or Foot-man this would drive Young men into the Country to Labour when they had no expectation of a Lazy Life and Maintenance as now they have Tho this is a General Complaint thorow the Kingdom of the want of Men for the Plow and that the Wages of a Plow-man is risen from 5 to 10 l. per Annum no man will say it is because there are not Men in the Kingdom but it is because there are easier ways to get a Living tho at the same time if those that chuse that idle Life of waiting on Gentlemen did but consider their hazard of begging their Bread in their Old Age or sooner if Sickness or any other Accident befal them Whereas there are few instances of Labouring-men in the Country that come to such misfortunes many from the Plow or Orchard arrive to a decent Living and Competency but few from holding a Plate I have often lamented the sight of Four or five lusty young Fellows hanging at the Tail of a Coach when they are wanted at the Plow and since it is not practicable to get Plow-men from France but is to get Foot-men and Valets de Chambres to me it would seem a good Law to prohibit Englishmen from such Employments and that would bring in French and other Foreigners enough to supply their places Thus I have laid down my thoughts of adding hands to our Country Employments which may be improved by better Judgments All I shall further say is That to me it seems plain that there might be 40000 Persons added to those we now have in Country Employments and they would so advance and enlarge Rural Production as would invite Numbers both at home and from abroad into the Country which hath been for some Ages so much neglected the humor of this Nation running too much after the French I mean those of them that come abroad for their Peasantry never do those we have from them are Artizans or Lacquies and such too many of our Nation affect to be and so quit their Country Employments I mean not by this any discouragement to Manufactories they cannot exceed but some have too many that attend them especially such as are consumed in the Kingdom which advanceth the Vanity of the Nation whilst the most solid Improvements and Employments of it are neglected for want of hands and if what is here proposed may produce and bring Numbers into Country Labours the next enquiry will be how to Employ them so as to make Plowing and Land-Improvements as much a Trade and Manufactory as other Manual Arts for that which hath always discouraged Tillage in this Kingdom hath been the practice of making Provision for no more than the Expence of the Nation whereas if such quantities of Grain was Sowed as might make it a Commodity for Exports that would soon invite Merchants to Exportation The Statute which was made for encouragement of Tillage was for that part of allowance at the Custom-House of good use but something more must be done to make Corn a Commodity for Exportation and that must be to have quantities yearly Sowed beyond the Expence of the Nation that so Merchants may be sure of a constant Trade as they have in the Sound where the Country depend as much on their Harvest as France doth on its Vintage and Merchants being sure of a constant supply make Provision for the Trade whereas ours is only a chance Market when the Harvest proves beyond expectation and often failing puts
out of six and then distinguish'd what related to England by what Ships brought in and out then computed the Value of each Commodity and to what they were Improved being Manufactor'd in England and then what Money in Specie or Bills of Exchange which is the same was returned from Foreign Parts to England out of the Proceed of Goods sent from Ireland all which appear'd being brought up to a Sum that England Gained by Ireland Two Millions Sterling per Annum It seem'd to me an Incredible thing but being as he affirms Matter of Fact for which he hath the account of the Customs it is not to be denyed the breviate is drawn in so plain and intelligible a Method as renders it easie to any Understanding and therefore to mine I would fain have prevailed with him to Print the whole Matter but he thinks it may be made use of a better way and affirms that as great as this looks yet it might be improved to much more if the Trade of Ireland were dispos'd as it might be to the Advantage of England But he said that Kingdom was in no Reign since the first Conquest of Ireland consulted in its Trade but left to its self or treated like an Enemy All the use made of it was for Courtiers Men of Projection and Necessity to Traffick and dispose it into Grants Imployments and Offices and so made it rather a Forest for Game than a Plantation for Trade and Commerce and that which continued it so in the Reign of Charles the Second was the Jealousies and Mistakes of England believing it grew too fast and incroached on their Trade though it is demonstrable Ireland doth us no hurt but where we by our own Laws force it and that Act pardon the expression like Lunaticks that strive to suppress their Shadows for fear they should assault them None will say England would be the worse if it were double the Acres it now is And though the Sea part us from Ireland may not Laws make us one in our Interest and Trade and so that Ireland may be more profitable to England in General than Wales or any County in England is to the whole in its proportion There never was so fair an opportunity for Inriching this Nation by Ireland as now it is by Divine Providence once put a Blank in our hands in which His Majesty may stamp what he pleases And we have reason to believe That He who ventures His Royal Person so freely for the Preservation of these Kingdoms will not deny us any thing that can contribute to our Growth in Trade and Treasure One thing I must not omit which I had from this Gentleman of Ireland that to me seems valid for Confirmation of all he asserts That Ireland neither Interferes with nor gains on England for that in the last Twenty Years of Irelands greatest Prosperity not one Man in England purchased in Ireland but Numbers of Ireland have in that time purchased in England as they of that Kingdom I mean the English always do as they Increase their Fortunes This being so Ireland is to England a Mine of Treasure and affects us though in a much larger Proportion as Hudson's Bay whatever is gained in them terminates in England Here I end with the Pamphlet of which I shall only say If the Matter of Fact be truly Related as by the Authority he gives we have reason to believe it is then there is plain Demonstration that Ireland hath been and may be made much more profitable to this Kingdom then most of our Foreign Plantations Of them we take great care and why not more of this since it lies so near and costs us so dear seems unaccountable The truth is our Ancestours had never such a happy Juncture to do it as we have now to secure it If therefore we lay not hold on the opportunity put into our hands we cannot answer it so well as they might The Numbers of Refugees here and in other Countreys near us are Objects in this case both for our Charity to them and Advantage to our selves There hath been for several Sessions of Parliament much talk of the Forfeitures of Ireland and that it was reasonable they should be Sold and made a Fund to raise Money towards the carrying on the present War which might be thought reasonable for us of England to press because it would ease us of so much in our Taxes But why the Gentlemen of Ireland were so busie to promote it was at first to me a question and set me on the Inquiry and from some of themselves I had this answer That though they could not deny but the benefit of those Forfeitures were justly due to us of England yet the Justice of the thing was not all the motive they had to promote it but their own future security was at least as much consider'd by them for that they hoped the Sale of those Forfeited Lands would put them in Protestant hands and by that strengthen the British Interest in Ireland which could never be secure whilst the Irish held so great a proportion in the Kingdom and that whilst the Land lay undisposed they fear'd the Irish would find wayes to be restor'd they having got enough by their Robberies and Plunder of the English to purchase them though they cost them Ten Years purchase And that they were in fear also of the Irish buying from such as had great Grants of Forfeited Lands but if there was a Publick Sale they would come into so many hands that most of them would stick with the Purchaser and not come to the Irish They further said It was not the Interest of England to let the Forfeitures come again into the Irish hands for that they never Improved nor Traded and so were no wayes profitable to England If this apprehension of the Protestants be valid either to them or us it seems that a disposition of these Forfeitures of Ireland to Protestant Strangers would answer all objections and be a more certain way to keep such Lands of Ireland out of Irish hands then by selling them to the English for by that they would be to greater value in one Mans hand and the English would for advantage sell them to the Irish Proprietors for that few Purchasers would go to settle on their Lands nor could they find Tenants in the Countrey since there is so much Land waste but if Foreigners had it in small Proportions they would be able to manage it themselves and so keep it from returning to the Irish I have been longer on this of the Forfeitures then perhaps will be thought proper since my Subject is Trade But since it hath relation to the Improvement of Ireland in the way of Trade this Digression I hope will be excus'd I return then to shew how the bringing in Refugees to Ireland will advance the Trade of England and that may appear in three particulars The Increase of People in Ireland will occasion the