at a meeting of the committee appointed by the subscribers to the joynt-stock of the company of scotland trading to africa and the indies, to prepare and lay down the rules and consititions of the said company. company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. 1696 approx. 1 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). b02302 wing c5589 estc r171466 51784463 ocm 51784463 174878 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. b02302) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 174878) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2704:15) at a meeting of the committee appointed by the subscribers to the joynt-stock of the company of scotland trading to africa and the indies, to prepare and lay down the rules and consititions of the said company. company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. 1 p. s.n., [edinburgh : 1696] publication data suggested by wing (2nd ed.) caption title. reproduction of original in: university of glasgow library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng trading companies -scotland -17th century -sources. broadsides -scotland -17th century 2008-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-07 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-08 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-08 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion at a meeting of the committee appointed by the subscribers to the joynt-stock of the company of scotland trading to africa and the indies , to prepare and lay down the rules and constitutions of the said company . resolved that a general meeting of the subscribers to the joynt-stock of the said company , be held at the laigh-council house of edinburgh , on friday being the seventeenth day of this instant april , at three of the clock in the afternoon ; for considering and approving the rules and constitutions of the said company . advertisement. edinburgh, the 9th of july 1696. company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. 1696 approx. 1 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a80255 wing c5583d estc r174188 45578275 ocm 45578275 172216 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a80255) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 172216) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2618:6) advertisement. edinburgh, the 9th of july 1696. company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. 1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill. s.n., [edinburgh : 1696] reproduction of original in the glasgow university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. trading companies -scotland. broadsides -edinburgh -17th century. 2007-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-10 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-11 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2007-11 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion advertisement . edinburgh ▪ the 9 th of july 1696. the court of directors of the company of scotland trading to africa and the indies ; do give notice : that the council general of the said company , is appointed to be held at their house in edinburgh , on the twenty eight day of this instant july , at three a clock in the afternoon . at edinburgh, the 9th day of july, 1696. the court of directors of the company of scotland trading to africa and the indies ... company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. 1696 approx. 2 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). b02305 wing c5592b estc r174191 52614578 ocm 52614578 175807 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. b02305) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 175807) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2751:26) at edinburgh, the 9th day of july, 1696. the court of directors of the company of scotland trading to africa and the indies ... company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [edinburgh : 1696] title from caption and first line of text. initial letter. place and date of publication suggested by wing (2nd ed.). signed at end: rod. mackenzie, secrty. reproduction of original in: national library of scotland. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng trading companies -scotland -17th century -sources. scotland -commerce -early works to 1800. broadsides -scotland -17th century. 2008-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-07 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-08 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-08 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion at edinburgh , the 9 th day of july , 1696. the court of directors of the company of scotland trading to africa and the indies , finding that the nature and course of their trade , will always require considerable sums of money to be in their demand ; and considering how profitable , easie and convenient it will be to the proprietors of the joynt-stock , as well as beneficial to the trade , credit and improvements of the said company , to have the greatest part of the money advanced by the proprietors thereof , to be unto them a quick and living stock , and always at command ; the said court of directors do hereby resolve , agree and declare , that the several proprietors of the said joynt-stock , upon their respective bills or other obligations payable in three months , shall always have credit upon their respective stocks in the said company , for any sum not exceeding two third parts of the money severally pay'd in by them , paying only for the same an interest at the rate of four per cent. per annum : and such sums may be repay'd to the company , in part , or in whole ; and the interest thereof , shall only be reckon'd for the days that such sums , or parts thereof shall happen to remain unpay'd , and for no longer time . published by order of covrt , rod. mackenzie , sect ry at edinburgh, the 15 of june, 1696. published by order of the said court, rod. mackenzie, sec:ry. company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. 1696 approx. 2 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). b02304 wing c5592a estc r174194 51784464 ocm 51784464 174879 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. b02304) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 174879) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2704:16) at edinburgh, the 15 of june, 1696. published by order of the said court, rod. mackenzie, sec:ry. company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [edinburgh : 1696] imprint from wing (2nd ed.). reproduction of original in: university of glasgow library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng trading companies -scotland -17th century -sources. broadsides -scotland -17th century 2008-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-07 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-08 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-08 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion at edinburgh , the 15 of june , 1696. the court of directors of the company of scotland , trading to africa and the indies , finding , that the nature and course of their trade , in many places , as well within , as without this kingdom ; doth , and will create , frequent receipts , and payments of great sums of money ; which may occasion much unnecessary hazard , expence and trouble , and be a great obstruction and hindrance , not only to the trade and circulation of this company , but even to that of the nation , should such payments be always transmitted from one place or person to another , in the real species of money . for remedy , and the greater ease , and convenience of which , the said court of directors , do hereby appoint and ordain the committee of treasury of this company , from time to time , by notes or bills , payable upon demand , signed by the cashier of this company , and counter-signed , and entred in their books by some or one of his assistants , to charge this joynt-stock or capital-fund with the payment of such sum or sums of money as they see needful : and such bills or notes shall be accepted , received , and taken in payment , in all the receipts of this company within or without this kingdom . published by order of the said court , rod. mackenzie . sec : ry . post-meridiem . read , considered , and approved of by the council-general of the said company . jo. maxwell p. at a meeting of the council-general of the company of scotland, trading to africa and the indies. holden at edinburgh, the 5th day of september, 1698. company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. 1698 approx. 3 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). b02303 wing c5589a estc r174190 52614576 ocm 52614576 175806 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. b02303) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 175806) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2751:25) at a meeting of the council-general of the company of scotland, trading to africa and the indies. holden at edinburgh, the 5th day of september, 1698. company of scotland trading to africa and the indies. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [edinburgh : 1698] caption title. place and date of publication suggested by wing (2nd ed.). reproduction of original in: national library of scotland. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng trading companies -scotland -17th century -sources. scotland -commerce -early works to 1800. broadsides -scotland -17th century. 2008-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-07 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-08 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-08 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion at a meeting of the council-general of the company of scotland , trading to africa and the indies . holden at edinburgh , the 5th day of september , 1698. upon a representation , made from the court of directors in writing , containing an abstract of the present state of the company 's affairs ; and giving also their opinion , what they thought necessary to be done by the company at this juncture : the said representation was read over , article by article . upon due consideration whereof . resolved ( nemine contradicente ) that the needful preparations be made for a supply of provisions , and other necessaries to be sent to the company 's intended colony , upon the first account that shall be had of their landing and setlement . resolved ( nemine contradicente ) that the further proportion of seven pounds ten shillings sterl . of every hundred pounds subscribed for , in the company 's books , shall be called in from the respective subscribers , or present proprietors of the company 's stock ; the one half thereof to be payed on the first day of november next , and giving bonds at the same time , to pay the other half at candlemass thereafter : certifying all such persons , as shall happen to fail in performing as aforesaid , before the first day of december next ; that their respective shares shall either be rouped , pursuant to the constitutions , or that they shall be otherwayes proceeded against upon their subscriptions , as the council-general shall think fit to direct . resolved ( nemine contradicente ) that for the encouragement of ready payment , and to the end , that all the proprietors may as near as possible , be put upon an equal footing , with respect to their payments , the same being at different times , that all such persons as have payed in the first fourth part of their subscriptions before or upon the first day of june 1696. shall have interest for the same , from the first of june asoresaid , to the first of august last past : and all those that have payed in the first fourth part of their subscriptions after the said first of june , shall have interest for the same from the respective days of their several payments to the said first of august , and all to be deducted out of the first moiety of the seven pounds ten shillings sterl . per cent . abovementioned : and that all such persons , as have not as yet payed in the first fourth part of their respective subscriptions , shall be lyable to pay interest for the same , from the said first day of august last . ordered , that the said several resolutions be forthwith printed and published in the usual manner , for information of all persons concern'd , to the end that none may pretend ignorance . annandale j. p. c. g. a speech made by the right honourable george earl of berkeley to the levant company at their annual election, february ix, mdclxxx his lordship being governour of that most loyal society. berkeley, george berkeley, earl of, 1628-1698. 1681 approx. 4 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-11 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a27460 wing b1967 estc r7259 13229486 ocm 13229486 98597 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a27460) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 98597) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 446:7) a speech made by the right honourable george earl of berkeley to the levant company at their annual election, february ix, mdclxxx his lordship being governour of that most loyal society. berkeley, george berkeley, earl of, 1628-1698. 8 p. printed for r. royston ..., london : 1681. on verso of leaf preceding t.p.: a letter to the printer, dated: march 5, 1680. signed: b. c. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng trading companies -england -early works to 1800. 2003-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-05 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-08 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2003-08 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion mr. royston , this inclosed speech coming by accident to my hands , i take the innocent freedom of presenting you with it , in order to its publication ; that i may upon this occasion , at once express my forwardness to serve you , and my just respects unto that very honourable peer the author of it , and those worthy merchants to whom it was spoken . sir , i am yours b. c. march 5. 1680. a speech made by the right honourable george earl of berkeley , to the levant company at their annual election , february ix . mdclxxx . his lordship being governour of that most loyal society . london , printed for r. royston , bookseller to the kings most sacred majesty , mdclxxxi . a speech made by the right honourable george earl of berkeley , to the levant company at their annual election , february ix . 1680. gentlemen , this being the day of your annual election , i am come to wait on you to resign up my place of governour into your hands : i am very sensible of your great kindness to me , and good opinion of me , in chusing me your governour for eight years past , for which i return you my hearty thanks , and should be glad in return of all your favours , it were in my power to do good to every individual person of this worthy society . i have served you with all faithfulness and integrity , and shall never be wearied nor discouraged from serving you so long as i live , whilst i believe my self capable , and you are pleased to think me so . i very much rejoyce my interposition with his gracious majesty , hath been so prevalent and successful in your concerns , that you have been left freer in the choice of your embassador , than , i believe , you ever were before . by this means you have proceeded to the election of a * person of honour and integrity , a nobleman , so well qualified in all respects to serve you , that we have reason to hope we shall be safe under his lordships wise conduct of our affairs , and that by gods blessing he will be instrumental to deliver us from our just fears , and from the unjust pretensions and demands of so insolent and oppressive a vizier . gentlemen , i pray god to bless you in all your concerns at home and abroad , by sea and by land , and so unite our hearts in these too much divided times amongst christians , that there may be no contest between us but this , how we should best express our selves good protestant subjects , good englishmen , honourable and fair dealing traders , delighting to do our duties in our generation , by serving god , our king , ( whom god in mercy long , long preserve to reign over us ) and our country . i have no more to say , but leave you to your free choice . his lordship , my lord of berkeley , was the same day , being the 9th of february , again chosen governour of the turkey company for the year ensuing . his excellency the lord chandois , his majesties extraordinary embassador for constantinople , departed from london , monday , february xxi . 1680. in order to his voyage . the end . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a27460-e220 * the right honourable iames lord chandois . proclamation anent petitoning [sic]. proclamations. 1699-12-18 scotland. privy council. 1699 approx. 4 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a92659 wing s1644 estc r230224 99895950 99895950 153559 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a92659) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 153559) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2370:24) proclamation anent petitoning [sic]. proclamations. 1699-12-18 scotland. privy council. william iii, king of england, 1650-1702. 1 sheet ([1] p.) printed by the heirs and successors of andrew anderson, printer to the kings most excellent majesty edinburgh : anno dom. 1699. dated at end: edinburgh the eighteen day of december, and of our reign the eleventh year 1699. arms 246; steele notation: faith; our be. reproduction of original in the folger shakespeare library, washington, d.c.. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng east india company -legal status, laws, etc. -early works to 1800. trading companies -scotland -early works to 1800. broadsides -scotland 2007-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-07 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-08 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2007-08 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion wr honi soit qui mal y pense diev et mon droit royal blazon or coat of arms proclamation anent petitoning . william by the grace of god , king of great britain , france and ireland , defender of the faith ; to macers of our privy council messengers at arms , our sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute greeting ; forasmuch , as we , by our letter , under our royall hand , dated at kensingteun , the twelfth of december instant , have signified to the lords of our privy council , that whereas we are informed , that notwithstanding of our answer to the late petition of the councill generall of the company of that our kingdom , trading to affrica and the indies , which we think ought to have given intire satisfaction to all our good subjects ; yet there is on foot a design of addressing us of new , on the same heads , carryed on after such a manner , and with so little respect to our government , as gives us too just grounds to apprehend the consequences , that we have never hitherto denyed our subjects their just priviledges , nor will we ever discourage the liberty of petitioning , when the same is done in ane orderly and dutiful manner , but that having fully declared our mind , as to the subject of the last addresse , we cannot but take particular notice of that unusual method that is taken to procure subscriptions to ane new one , and that some persons , who signalize themselves in carrying on the same , have given no evidence of their good affection to our government . and make it their indeavour to lodge the late misfortune of the company , on proclamations emitted in the west indies , tho they cannot but be sensible , that the same did proceed from other causes . and being convinced , that such practises may tend to alienat from us the hearts of our good subjects , and that it is necessar , for the support of our government , and preserving the publick peace of the nation , that they be discouraged and prevented , we did therefore recomend to the saids lords of our privy council , to signifie and make known our displeasure , and dis-satisfaction with such proceedings , and to take the most effectuall methods consistent with law , for discouraging the same : and for preventing these that are well inclined to our government , from joyning with them , wherefore , we , with advice of the lords of our privy councill , have thought fit , that publick intimation be made in manner underwritten , of our displeasure , and dis-satisfation with the foresaid proceedings , and that we will take the most effectuall methods consistent with law , for discouraging the same , and for preventing these that are well inclined to our goverment from joyning with them , our will is herefore , and we charge you strictly , and command , that incontinent these our letters seen , ye pass to the mercat cross of edinburgh , and remanent mercat crosses of the whole head burghs , of the severall shires , and stewartries within this kingdom , and thereat in our name and authority , by open proclamation make intimation of the premisses , that none pretent ignorance . and ordains our sollicitor to transmitt coppies to the sheriffs , stewarts and their clerks for that effect . and ordains these presents to be printed . given under our signet at edinburgh the eighteen day of december , and of our reign the eleventh year 1699. ex deliberation dominorum secreti concilii . gilb . eliot . cls. sti. concilii . god save the king. edinburgh , printed by the heirs and successors of andrew anderson , printer to the king 's most excellent majesty , anno dom. 1699. by the protector. a proclamation of assistance to the merchant adventurers of england, for the better carrying on of their trade, and for punishing of offenders against the same. england and wales. lord protector (1653-1658 : o. cromwell) this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a80989 of text r211091 in the english short title catalog (thomason 669.f.21[8]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 6 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a80989 wing c7156 thomason 669.f.21[8] estc r211091 99869829 99869829 163503 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a80989) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 163503) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 247:669f21[8]) by the protector. a proclamation of assistance to the merchant adventurers of england, for the better carrying on of their trade, and for punishing of offenders against the same. england and wales. lord protector (1653-1658 : o. cromwell) cromwell, oliver, 1599-1658. 1 sheet ([1] p.) printed by henry hills and john field, printers to his highness, london : 1658. dated at end: given at white-hall the 14th. of june, 1658. annotation on thomason copy: "june 16". reproduction of the original in the british library. eng trading companies -england -early works to 1800. international trade -early works to 1800. a80989 r211091 (thomason 669.f.21[8]). civilwar no by the protector. a proclamation of assistance to the merchant adventurers of england, for the better carrying on of their trade, and for pu england and wales. lord protector 1658 935 3 0 0 0 0 0 32 c the rate of 32 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the c category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-10 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-11 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2007-11 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion pax qvaeritvr bello olivarivs dei gra : reipvb : angliae , scotiae , et hiberniae , &c protector blazon or coat of arms ❧ by the protector . a proclamation of assistance to the merchant adventurers of england , for the better carrying on of their trade , and for punishing of offenders against the same . whereas , by our proclamation ▪ dated the thirtieth day of may , in the year of our lord , one thousand six hundred fifty six , entituled , a proclamation concerning the residence of the merchants adventurers of england at the city of dordrecht , and for setling their staple there : we did ( by , and with the advice of our council ) and in pursuance of an ordinance of the lords and commons in parliament assembled , passed the twelfth day of october , in the year of our lord , one thousand six hundred forty three , ( amongst other things ) declare our pleasure to be , and did strictly will and enjoyn , that no person of this commonwealth of england , scotland , and ireland , and the dominions thereunto belonging , should at any time after the tenth day of june then next coming , ship , transport , carry , or convey , or cause to be shipped , transported , carried , or conveyed , either from the city and port of london , or from any other city , town , port , haven , or creek , of the commonwealth of england , scotland , and ireland , or the dominions thereunto belonging , by way of merchandize , any woollen clothes , or other english woollen manufactures , of what sort or kinde soever then made , or then after to be made , unto any the cities , towns or places in germany , or the seventeen provinces of the netherlands , save onely , and except the mart and staple towns of the said fellowship of merchants adventurers of england in those parts for the time being ▪ or to one of them , upon pain of forfeiture of the said woollen clothes , and other english woollen manufactures , and such further and other pains , penalties , punishments , and forfeitures , as by the said ordinance of parliament , or by any other law , may be lawfully inflicted on such offenders . and we having been informed , that divers persons out of a covetous desire to inrich themselves ( though to the endangering of the said company of merchant adventurers , and the trade thereof ; which by long experience , hath been found to be very beneficial to this nation ) by trading therein , separate from the said company , and have by such means brought some disturbance to the company , and distraction to the trade . for preventing the further inconveniences that may arise thereby , & to secure the said company and trade in time to come : we have ( by , and with the advice and consent of our council ) thought fit again to publish and declare our will and pleasure to be , that no person do ship , transport , carry , or convey , or cause to be shipped , transported , carried , or conveyed , contrary to the said ordinance , or our former proclamation , any woollen cloth , or woollen manufacture , unto any cities , towns , or places , other then the mart and staple towns of the said fellowship . and because we intend and expect to have a strict accompt , of what obedience is given to these our proclamations , which are in pursuance of the said ordinance of parliament ; and to the intent the offenders may be discovered , and brought to iustice , and such punishment inflicted on them for such their offences , as by law and iustice ought to be inflicted on such , as wilfully and contemptuously transgress our laws and proclamations in pursuance of the same ; we do , by , and with the advice and consent of our council , will and command , aswell our iudges of the high court of admiralty of england , and the commissioners of our customes , and the several officers attending that service ; as also all and every our generals at sea , admirals of our fleet , vice-admirals , commanders of squadrons , and other commanders , captains and officers whatsoever , of any of our ships , or of any of our castles , blockhouses , and forts respectively , and all other our officers and ministers in their several places ▪ to be aiding and assisting unto the said fellowship & company of merchants adventurers of england , and all such as they shall imploy , aswell and especially in the searching for , and seizing all such woollen clothes , or other english woollen manufactures , prohibited by the said ordinance and proclamation respectively , to be transported as aforesaid ; as also in all other matters and things , tending to the supportation of the government of the said fellowship and company , and regulation of their trade , and for preservation of the priviledges , iurisdictions , and franchises lawfully granted unto them by any act or ordinance of parliament . given at white-hall the 14th . of june , 1658. london , printed by henry hills and john field , printers to his highness . 1658. a motion to the east india company by thomas smethwike (an adventurer with them) vpon the reasons following smethwike, thomas. 1629 approx. 4 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a12330 stc 22645.5 estc s3258 33143236 ocm 33143236 28317 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a12330) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 28317) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1885:100) a motion to the east india company by thomas smethwike (an adventurer with them) vpon the reasons following smethwike, thomas. 1 sheet ([1] p.). s.n.], [london : febr. 19, 1628 [i.e. 1629] place of publication from stc (2nd ed.). proposal to reduce the time ships delay in india waiting for return cargo. reproduction of original in: society of antiquaries. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng east india company. trading companies -great britain -early works to 1800. great britain -commerce -india. india -commerce -great britain. broadsides -london (england) -17th century. 2007-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-08 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-09 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2007-09 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a motion to the east india company by thomas smethwike ( an adventurer with them ) vpon the reasons following . vve haue now in india vpon the old stocks accompt and charge by the committees owne shewing , 13 good ships of 5500 tonns , besides 860 tons of trading ships and certaine frigots , &c. whereof 5 of 2200 tons arrived there 28 months agoe , 5 of 2200 tons 15 months agoe , and 3 of 1100 tons may be arrived there about 4 months since . what should cause our ships to stay so long , if there were stock to buy their lading ? or how should they be reladen thence in due time , if stock be wanting there ? all our factors in their letters ( both formerly and of late received ) cry out amaine for want of stock to trade withall , which hath maymed the trade , and say , they cannot dispatch the ships in due time , without meanes aforehand , and that 200 m. l more then they haue , is little enough to dispatch the ships already there . 5500 tons in ordinary good wares , ( by the comittees owne shewing ) will cost there 236 m. l. by their shewing we haue in all india but 90 m. l. whereof 60 m. l. not yet knowne to be arrived . so ( admitting all arrived ) there wants to lade the ships already in india 146 m. l. this great vvant hath not hapned by any late disaster , but is rather lessned by 1200 tons of shipping lately fired and laid vp there without any goods lost in them , and by opening the trade of bantam where pepper is cheape , neither hath this want of stock beene vnknowne here , for a yeere , or two , or more . it seemes the 2 ships now going for the old stocks accompt ( of 1600 tonns ) are not to carry much more then will relade them with good wares ( though not diminished by charges of ships and factors already there ) and if we trade in course and bulky wares onely , it is granted already we had better sit still . nay vnlesse we send this yeere meanes aforehand to provide good lading for ships to goe hence the next yeere with fresh capitalls , we shall still trade to losse . the sending of 50 or 100 m. l. this yeere aforehand ( in all probability ) will be as good as twise so much sent the next yeere , and so from yeere to yeere , and then halfe the treasure yeerely to be transported will serue the turne ; but sparingly sent , and many ships there vpon charge , it will be consumed before its arrivall . our ships ( now adaies ) doe vsually stay 18 or 20 months too long in india to their ruine , and spending as much ( brought a yeere or two after in other ships ) as being sent aforehand might well buy and pay for their lading in due time , and so returne strong . yet our factors continually owe there mnch money at a high ratc of interest . by sending meanes aforehand merchantlike , we may profit much by trading there from port to port , and buy our wares at the best hand . we may avoid the great and needlesse charge of many great ships staying long in india ; of paying a high rate of interest there , the losse of our mariners , the decay of our shipping , and so their comming home in much danger . and then doubtlesse this trade may againe yeeld the adventurers 3 for one every 3 yeeres ( as vsually it did ) by the blessing of god. yea if examination be had , it will appeare the returnes from india this yeere ( vpon a reasonable fraight allovved ) produce neere 3 for one vvithout help of stock aforehand ; and therefore very strange the old stock ( so great and so long employed ) should produce so dismall a reckoning as it doth . the motionis . that the next weeke may be appointed for the company to parlee , & consult together for the good of the trade in generall , and of the old decayed stocke in particular . such as are adventurers in the old stocke , and not in the new , to meete by themselues , and the new adventurers by themselues . and then doubtlesse ( mett together ) they will agree vpon some good course to be taken that the trade may be amplie mainteined , and the adventurers stocke not still runne ( as long it hath ) to perdition for want of meanes in india aforehand : and perhaps put an end to all the controversies that now are ( and like to be ) amongst the company . febr. 19. 1628. by the protector. a proclamation concerning the residence of the merchant-adventurers of england, at the city of dordrecht, and for settling the staple there. england and wales. lord protector (1653-1658 : o. cromwell) this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a80977 of text r211796 in the english short title catalog (thomason 669.f.20[26]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 6 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a80977 wing c7143 thomason 669.f.20[26] estc r211796 99870495 99870495 163443 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a80977) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 163443) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 247:669f20[26]) by the protector. a proclamation concerning the residence of the merchant-adventurers of england, at the city of dordrecht, and for settling the staple there. england and wales. lord protector (1653-1658 : o. cromwell) england and wales. council of state. 1 sheet ([1] p.) printed by henry hills and john field printers to his highness, london : mdclvi. [1656] dated at end: given at our palace of westminster the thirtieth day of may 1656. reproduction of the original in the british library. eng trading companies -england -early works to 1800. commercial agents -england -london -early works to 1800. great britain -history -commonwealth and protectorate, 1649-1660 -early works to 1800. a80977 r211796 (thomason 669.f.20[26]). civilwar no by the protector. a proclamation concerning the residence of the merchant-adventurers of england, at the city of dordrecht, and for settling england and wales. lord protector 1656 1217 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2007-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-10 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-11 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2007-11 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion op blazon or coat of arms ❧ by the protector . a proclamation concerning the residence of the merchant-adventurers of england , at the city of dordrecht , and for settling the staple there . whereas by an ordinance of the lords and commons in parlament assembled past the twelfth day of october in the year of our lord 1643. it is ( amongst other things ) ordained , that the fellowship of merchants-adventurers of england shall continue and be a corporation , and shall have power to levy monies on the members of their corporation , and their goods , for their necessary charge and maintenance of their government ; and that no person shall trade into those parts limited by their incorporations , but such as are free of that corporation , upon forfeiture of their goods ; provided that the said fellowship shall not exclude any person from his freedome and admission into the said fellowship which shall desire it by way of redemption ( if such person by their custome be capable thereof , and hath been bred a merchant ) and shall pay one hundred pounds for the same , if he be free and an inhabitant of the city of london , and trade from that port : or fifty pounds if he be not free , and no inhabitant of the said city , and trade not from thence ; the same ordinance to remain in full force , untill a bill or act shal be prepared and passed in parlament for the further setling , and full confirming of the priviledges to the said fellowship according to the intent and true meaning of the said ordinance . and whereas the said fellowship is and hath been antiently authorized from time to time to make free election and choice of such several cities , towns or places in the parts of germany , and the 17 provinces of the netherlands , with the assent and agreement of the chief governours thereof for their residence , mart and staple , as they shall think most meet , commodious and convenient for their trade , trafique & merchandize in those lands ; and again to leave , forsake , alter and change the same at their pleasure . and whereas lately since the peace concluded with the lords the states general , the said fellowship hath by special concordates , with the magistrates of the city of dordrecht in holland , agreed and made choice of the said city of dordrecht for the residence , mart and staple of their said trade within the provinces , countries , cities and places under the government of the said lords the states general . forasmuch therefore as the said treaty of concordates , with the city of dordrecht aforesaid , was entred into , by and with our free knowledge and consent ; we , with the advice of our council , having taken the premises into our serious consideration , have hereby thought at ( with the advice aforesaid ) to ratifie and confirm the said treaty of concordates , made and concluded between the said city of dordrecht , and the fellowship of merchants-adventurers of england aforesaid . and therefore in pursuance of the said ordinance of parlament and the said treaty , we , with the advice aforesaid , do hereby strictly will and require , that all and every person and persons , being free of the said fellowship , and all factors , agents , and servants belonging unto any of the said fellowship , now being , or residing within any the provinces , cities , or places under the government of the said lords the states general , and that therein , or in any of them do exercise , use or profess the trade , traffique and merchandize limited to the said incorporation , do and shall at or before the tenth day of june now next ensuing remove themselves , their goods , merchandizes , traffique and families respectively unto the said city of dordrecht , and do and shall from thenceforth , therein alone reside and exercise their trade and traffique , both for themselves and their principals , and in no other province , city , or place under the government of the said lords the states general , during the time that they , or any of them shall continue , and remain within the same , and shall therein use , exercise or profess the trade of the said fellowship . and furthermore that the trade of the said fellowship may also for the time to come , be the better reduced and continued into and in this orderly and well governed course ; we do hereby , with the advice aforesaid , declare our pleasure to be , and do strictly will and enjoyn , that no person or persons of this commonwealth of england , scotland , and ireland , or the dominions thereunto belonging , shall at any time or times from and after the said tenth day of june now next coming , ship , transport , carry , or convey , or cause to be shipped , transported , carryed , or conveyed , either from the city and port of london , or from any other city , town , port , haven , and creek of the commonwealth of england , scotland , and ireland , or the dominions thereunto belonging , by way of merchandize , any woollen cloathes , or other english woollen manufactures , of what sort or kind soever , now made , or hereafter to be made , unto any the cities , towns , or places in germany , or the seventeen provinces of the netherlands , save onely and except the mart , and staple towns of the said fellowship , of merchants-adventurers of england in those parts for the time being , or to one of them , upon pain of forfeiture of the said woollen cloaths , and other english woollen manufactures , and such further and other paines , penalties , punishments and forfeitures , as by the said ordinance of parlament , or by any other law may be lawfully inflicted on such offendors . provided nevertheless that the said fellowship shall not exclude any person from his freedome and admission into the said fellowship who shall desire it by way of redemption upon such rules , payments , and fines respectively , as in and by the said ordinance of parlament is reserved , and as is herein before recited . and lastly , we require and command all our officers and ministers of iustice , and the commissioners of our customes , and the several officers attending that service , that they be ayding and assisting unto the fellowship of merchant-adventurers of england , in the supportation of their government and regulation of their trade , and for preservation of the priviledges , jurisdictions and franchises lawfully granted unto them by any act or ordinance of parlament . given at our palace of westminster the thirtieth day of may 1656. london printed by henry hills and john field printers to his highness mdclvi . a letter to a member of parliament concerning clandestine trade. shewing how far the evil practices at the custom-house at london tend to the encouragement of such a trade. written by a fair merchant. fair merchant. 1700 approx. 17 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a48185 wing l1667 estc r221358 99832677 99832677 37151 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a48185) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 37151) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1781:13) a letter to a member of parliament concerning clandestine trade. shewing how far the evil practices at the custom-house at london tend to the encouragement of such a trade. written by a fair merchant. fair merchant. 15, [1] p. printed, and sold by a. baldwin, london : 1700 reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng east india company -administration -early works to 1800. trading companies -europe -early works to 1800. foreign trade promotion -england -early works to 1800. 2006-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-01 celeste ng sampled and proofread 2007-01 celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a letter to a member of parliament concerning clandestine trade . shewing how far the evil practices at the custom-house at london tend to the encouragement of such a trade . written by a fair merchant . london , printed , and sold by a. baldwin . 1700. a letter to a member of parliament concerning clandestine trade . sir , that the trade of this nation is the chief support thereof , is visible to any person , that considers the vast supplies which have been given to his majesty by funds laid upon trade during the war. and the great importance of maintaining the trade of the nation necessarily follows upon the consideration of the premises , which cannot be done while the fair merchant is unfairly dealt with , and indeed the whole affair of commerce embarass'd throughout the whole kingdom . the intrinsick value of the lands of this realm will not defray the charge of a long and expensive war , without the auxiliary assistance of merchants traders , who are not only the support of the realm at such a juncture , but in times of peace are the support of the civil list , and their stocks the funds of his majesty's revenue . his majesty is very sensible of the advantage of trade , who in his gracious speech to both houses of parliament at the opening of this sessions was pleased to assure his people , he would make it his business to encourage it , and as an advantage to it , propos'd the preparing of some good bill for the more effectual preventing and punishing clandestine and unlawful trading , which does not only tend to defraud the publick , but prejudices the fair merchant , and discourages our own manufactures . there is nothing conduces more to the encouragement of clandestine trade than the discouragement of the fair dealer ; for the fortune of the one is built upon the ruin of the other ; 't is the same in trade as in government : where knaves and ill men are in favor and prefer'd , and men of probity and honesty discountenanced , that government looks with a languid and sickly aspect . the clandestine trader is a creature bound neither by the laws of god nor man he robs cesar of his due , and makes a nullity of human laws ; he sacrifices his soul , conscience , honour , reputation , and all that is dear to mankind , to his insatiable avarice ; while the fair trader languishes under oppression , and becomes a sufferer by dealing honestly . but what shall we say ? where lies the fault ? have we no laws restraining clandestine trade ? yes , a great many ; but what signify laws if they are laid aside by noli prosequi's , letters of licence , or orders of composition from above ? these are encouragements to the clandestine trader , while the fair merchant is harassed by perpetual delays at the custom house , by the irregular working at the water-side , by the new gimcracks and methods introduced instead of regulations in the custom-house , by the trouble they meet with in passing their entries , attending many times several days together upon the officers : these are all hardships and discouragements to the fair dealer , while the smuggler eases himself of these perplexities , and the payment of his duties at the same time . to illustrate the thing more plainly , i shall begin with the latter , and show how the innovations in the custom-house are a common grievance and perplexity to merchants . after a merchant has learn'd his trade , he has one thing yet more difficult to understand , viz. the manner of passing his goods at the custom-house , and paying the king's duties ; and by that time he is pretty well instructed in this affair , come new commissioners , new laws , new methods , and new practices , and he is as much at a loss as if he had never learn'd . i shall only touch a little at the innovations lately made in the custom-house at london ; for my trade lying very little in the out ports , my knowledg of their management there is as small . in the year 1695 , the wharfingers belonging to the keys adjoining to the custom-house enter'd into a combination to bring all their wharfs into one interest , that by that means they might the better manage the merchants to their own advantage , which succeeded to the no small trouble of the merchants . out of this sprang a combination amongst the land-waiters and king's-waiters , which prov'd more fatal to the fair trader than that of the wharfingers . these combined to lessen the number of the land-waiters : this plot was under the care and management of seven directors , and their interest in this management was to have the working of all ships to themselves , with all the profits thereby arising . at this time two or three of that board being either dead or removed , they prevail'd upon the commissioners ( one part of which were new ones ) to discontinue at least thirty of those they now call key-men from their employments , which was done seventeen days before the lords of the treasury gave any directions in that affair ; and they did this at a juncture when the greatest virginia fleet that ever was known , join'd with a great fleet from other parts , arriv'd in the river : and how prejudicial this was to his majesty's revenue , cannot be easily imagin'd ; besides the vast credit of several thousand pounds was at this time given upon account of post-entries . had some sort of people enter'd into a more innocent combination than this in the late reigns , they would have been decently hang'd for their pains . it is at least thirty years ago there were eighty land and king's-waiters in the port of london , when trade was less considerable than now it is , and then thought few enough to discharge so weighty a trust . now let us a little consider the effects of this combination ; the loss thereby acruing to his majesty's revenue , and the trouble it brings upon the fair merchants . by former instructions , no officer was allowed to work without his partner , nor to have more than one ship at a time upon his hands ; but since this combination they have had six or seven ships at a time , and one officer has often work'd two or three ships at once without his partner , which renders them uncapable of doing either the king or merchant justice ; and the fair merchant for want of officers cannot get his goods ashore , during which time the interest of his mony is lost , his time spent to no purpose , and perhaps for want of his goods he loses the sale of them , which is worse than all the rest . see now the keys all in a confusion , one officer running from one ship to another working both at one time , another staring about him to find his ships out , having so many he knows not half of them ; here the porters cursing and swearing , there the merchants fretting and vexing for want of officers : here is the most exact picture of disorder and confusion ; the disorderly crowd seem more like a gang of babel bricklayers than regular workers at the keys . this hurry makes well for the clandestine trader , who has now an opportunity of doing his business , who , like the pickpocket , carries on his trade most securely in a noisy busy crowd . to corroborate this we may add , that very few seisures have been made since the aforesaid officers have been discontinued ; for how can a person that works alone , and perhaps upon two or three ships at one time , have leisure to examine packs and bales of goods ? so that goods prohibited , or charged with a higher duty , may pass in such packs or bales for want of inspection . it is worthy remark , that as soon as this combination was detected , and the combinators books and papers order'd to be sent for , they had time enough given them to make away the book of their accounts , which contain'd the particulars of their disbursements ; for all plots are carried on by subscription , and mony rais'd for that purpose . whether an oath of secrecy , as some have hinted , was administred or no i can't tell , but i understand that a sum of mony was laid in bank for the security of the combination ; and some have been heard to say they have been 20 l. out of pocket towards the carrying on of the design ; and i am told one article of the combination was , that no person , upon pain of divers penalties therein mention'd , should ask or inquire how the mony was disposed of , or to whom it was paid : which looks as if some persons of a higher rank than themselves were in the combination . it would be worth enquiry to know to whom the mony has been paid , and what sums they have levied upon themselves since the commencement of the combination ; and such a power as that of your house may command the original instrument of combination to be laid before you , which i understand is yet in being . and i humbly conceive it a thing worthy your notice to inquire into matters of this nature ; for a combination that lessens the king's revenue , increases the taxes upon the good people you represent ; and what is lost by this means , must be made good by additional supplies from you . and 't is a just query , whether those men who combine to lessen the king's revenue , would not do the same to shorten his life ? for taking away life and livelihood are very near akin . tho it is not much my business to enquire into the managery of the customs , any farther than it relates to the passing of goods and payment of duties , yet what lies in a man's way he may better take notice of than stumble over it : it is certainly visible to a very mean capacity , that the retrenchment of officers at this time can be no ways serviceable to the king nor merchants , when the increase of trade requires an addition of many more . the abundance of officers added in the long room at the custom-house , is no indication that any should be discontinued upon the keys : this practice is obvious to no man's reason , but must be left as a riddle and mystery to be unfolded only by those that have power to examine into it . the lords of the treasury did indeed examine into the affair , and thought fit to discharge colchester , one of the principals in the combination : but this combination is a monster of many heads , and to take off one is just the cutting a sucker from a tree , which makes it grow the better ; this is true in fact , for the combination is still in force , which appears by the visible effects of it , for the thirty officers are still discontinued , and the merchant labours under the same hardships . the discontinuance of these officers was the effect of the combination , which rationally demonstrates that the cause is not removed ; if it were , the effect would cease . but instead of punishing the combinators , as a terror to succeeding officers that should attempt any thing of this nature , two of them since that time have been preferred to be surveyors , when at the same time it is generally noted that the officers discontinued are men of the best characters in the customs in relation to their knowledg in business , and their integrity and affection to his majesty and government . it could be wish'd that none but such were imploy'd in the customs ; for the king's interest would be better consider'd , when the king's duties are under the care of such men as think themselves bound by principles of honesty and conscience to do the king justice . but in this office we have men imploy'd that have paid double taxes to the king as non-jurors ; and i remember some time since i read two papers concerning one dassel a land-waiter : one paper recites an order of council for discharging the said dassel from his imployment for trading and corresponding with france during the war ; and the other , two acts of parliaments expresly prohibiting his being imploy'd in the service of the government for the future : and yet the said dassel ( notwithstanding other complaints against him in the execution of his office ) is continued a land-waiter to this very day . i should not , sir , have enlarg'd so much upon the subject of this combination , could i have found out any way of redressing so great a grievance but by the power of parliament . the weekly observations of the irregular working at the water-side are constantly laid before the commissioners ; the discontinued officers complain , the merchants complain , and the honestest of the land-waiters themselves murmur at the multiplicity of business they have on their hands : but all signifies nothing , for it seems the merchants and king's interest must both be sacrificed to the greedy avarice of a parcel of self-interested persons . and upon the whole , the premises considered , may we not rationally conclude that this combination subsists by the influence of some greater persons than the combinators themselves ? in former days no such thing was aim'd at , tho then there was more room for such an attempt than at this juncture , when the increase of trade requires an addition of officers ; and how ill a thing must this seem to any disinterested persons , that the king's interest should be conspir'd against , and destroy'd by men that eat his bread ? had such a retrenchment of officers been for the king's interest , the lords of the treasury would have encouraged and not discharged colchester : but the thing is condemn'd and exploded by all hands , yet kept afoot only for reasons best known to the pocket of some body or other . should i mention the many other abuses in the customs , as in the king 's ware-house , in the ware-house belonging to the east-india company , &c. i should too far exceed the limits of a letter , and shall therefore conclude with my sentiments concerning the cause of those irregularities . not only the misfortunes of nations and governments , but of particular persons , often do arise from interest and avarice : from hence had the combination its undoubted original : and by my converse with the officers of the customs i find most of them came in by interest of friends , without any farther recommendation of merit , or testimonials of their affection to the government , or their services to their country . but because they have serv'd in the quality of a footman , valet , or in any other capacity to the lords of the treasury , or are related to the commissioners , or have had some other dependance upon them , therefore they are made officers of the customs . now should we merchants manage our stocks as the king's revenue is manag'd , every week would produce at least a column of advertisements of commissions of bankrupt in the gazette . if i have a relation that is a carpenter , i will imploy him to build my house , but not to keep my books : i will not send him my factor into a foreign country , nor will i make him super-cargo of my merchandize ; and certainly as great care ought to be taken of the management of the publick revenue as of a private concern . is a person just come from cleaning of shoes , and rubbing of horses heels , or carrying a cloak , fit to be imploy'd in the management of so great a concern ? and are not men of a servile education ( how fawning and creeping soever they may be to their superiors and benefactors ) the most imperious and insolent in the execution of their office ? such promotions as these seem at the very first view opposite to the king's interest , for the ignorance of the persons employ'd can never fail of miscarriages ; and if wilful crimes are added to their sins of ignorance , no notice is to be taken of either , for they have advocates at hand , whose interest it is to bear them out in their mismanagements : and to complain against such men is beating the air , and knocking heads against stone-walls . i shall enlarge no farther , but since i have given you the clue that leads into the maze of the custom-house , shall leave the improvement of the whole to your better understanding , and remain , your most humble servant . finis . the east-india-trade a most profitable trade to the kingdom. and best secured and improved in a company, and a joint-stock. represented in a letter written upon the occasion of two letters lately published, insinuating the contrary. ferguson, robert, d. 1714. 1677 approx. 66 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 16 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-11 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a41166 wing f736a estc r213729 99826037 99826037 30429 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a41166) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 30429) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1759:2) the east-india-trade a most profitable trade to the kingdom. and best secured and improved in a company, and a joint-stock. represented in a letter written upon the occasion of two letters lately published, insinuating the contrary. ferguson, robert, d. 1714. [2], 27, [1] p. [s.n.], london : printed in the year, 1677. by robert ferguson. errata on verso of final leaf. reproduction of the original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng east india company -early works to 1800. trading companies -england -early works to 1800. 2004-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-06 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-07 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2004-07 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the east-india-trade a most profitable trade to the kingdom . and best secured and improved in a company , and a joint-stock . represented in a letter written upon the occasion of two letters lately published , insinuating the contrary . london , printed in the year , 1677. the east-india-trade a most profitable trade to the kingdom , &c. sir , your kind reception of my former , doth encourage me to answer your desire in part , and to give you my thoughts more particularly touching the great advantage that redounds to the kingdom by the east-india-trade , and some reasons why i conceive the said trade cannot so well be carried on or managed for the publick good , in any other way than by a company in a joint stock . in order hereunto give me leave in the first place to say something of trade in general , which may not only give some light for the better understanding the india-trade , but also obviate some objections that are frequently made against it . trade may be distinguished into foreign and domestick ; the latter would be very inconsiderable , but in subserviency to the former . trade confined amongst our selves , procures little advantage to the kingdom ; no more than the buying and selling of land , one hath more , and another hath less ; the owners are changed , but the land is still the same . it is foreign trade , that is the great interest and concern of the kingdom ; without foreign trade , all or the most part of those studies that render persons so renowned , would be of little signification to the publick . what is all knowledg , if it be not improved to practice , but empty notions ? if the people of this island were learned in all languages , did know the scituation of all places and countries , and the nature of all commodities ; were acquainted with the order and motion of all the stars , knew how to take the latitude and longitude , and were perfectly read in the art of navigation , to what purpose would all be , if there were no foreign trade ? we should have no ships to navigate to those countries , nor occasion to make use of those languages , nor any advantage by those commodities : what would this island be , without foreign trade , but a place of confinement to the inhabitants ? who ( without it ) could be but a kind of hermites , as being separated from the rest of the world. it 's foreign trade that renders us rich , honourable and great , that gives us a name and esteem in the world , that makes us masters of the treasures of other countries , and begets and maintains our ships and seamen , the walls and bulwarks of our country . were it not for foreign trade , what would become of the revenue of six to eight hundred thousand pounds per annum for customs ? and what would the rents of our lands he ? the customs would totally fail , and our gentlemens rents of thousands per annum , would dwindle into less than hundreds . but all foreign trade is not alike advantageous to the kingdom : certainly that cannot be supposed ; there may be such a trade to some places under such circumstances , as instead of bringing advantage , and adding to the stock of the kingdom , may be very detrimental and destructive , by wasting and consuming our stock and treasure . a trade that takes off little from us in commodities , and furnisheth us with little or no goods for our foreign vent in other places , but with abundance of either unnecessary and superfluous things to feed our vain humours and fancies , or with such , though useful , as hinder the consumption of our own manufactures , can never be profitable but destructive ; and such a trade is that to france , as it lies under those exorbitant impositions on our manufactures , of 50 to 60 per cent , amounting almost to a prohibition ; whereas there was formerly vended in that kingdom annually to the amount of 600 thousand pounds in english drapery , there is now hardly vended 50 thousand pounds worth ; and yet our receipts from them , in wines , linnens , paper , silks , garments ready made , beds , and an innumerable company of toys and trinkets , is greatly augmented ; so that our receipts from france in unnecessary and superfluous things , or in such commodities as hinder the use of our own manufactures , and serve not to supply other foreign markets , exceeding by many hundred thousands annually what that country takes from us in commodities : that trade under such circumstances cannot be otherwise than very ruinous and destructive . other foreign trades that are profitable to the kingdom , yet are not equally so , some take off more of our native commodities and manufactures , furnish us with more useful and necessary commodities at cheaper rates for our consumption , supply us with materials for manufactures , or with commodities to be transported to other countries , for a further enlargement of our trade , than others . some trades employ a greater number of english ships , occasion the building and maintaining ships of greater burden and force , whereby an addition is made to the strength of the kingdom , than others ; and some trades bring in a greater revenue to his majesty , whereby the publick charge of the kingdom is supplied without or with less taxes on the people , than others . of all which matters a due consideration is to be had in the examination of the distinct trades , to find out which is most profitable and beneficial to the kingdom . it is a maxim generally received and approved , in reference to foreign-trade , and taken as a rule to measure any trade by , whether it be profitable to the kingdom or not , that where the goods exported are less in value than the goods imported , the kingdom loseth by that trade ; because what falls short must be supplied by money : and on the other hand , when the exports are more than the imports , the treasure and stock of the kingdom is encreased by such a trade : it being necessarily supposed , that the overplus is returned in bullion . this rule seems to be taken from the consideration of the whole kingdom as to its trade with foreign parts , under the notion of a single person possessing and managing an estate or farm. if he do not raise from his estate or farm to sell for a greater value than to purchase what he does and must necessarily buy in , for the supply of his farm and houshold , he cannot advance thereby . if his receipts exceeds his payments , there is an addition to his stock ; if his payments surpass his receipts , he runs in debt , and decays in his estate . a gentleman that spends every year more than his revenue or income , will in time have no revenue at all . this notion is undoubtedly very good , and may by a due consideration of it under several and various circumstances , be improved and made use of to explain the matters of foreign-trade in reference to the kingdom , so as to render the same intelligible to all persons ; for it will not only shew us , that we decay in our stock , when the cost of what we spend and consume is more than we can purchase by what we sell of our own product and manufacture ; but also , that it is our interest neither to permit idleness nor profuseness , but to give all encouragement to labour and industry ; to improve by manufacturing what we have of our own growth , and to carry the goods we sell , and to fetch the goods we need , to , and from the best markets by our own teem , i. e. in our own shipping , &c. yet notwithstanding , the said rule , as it is generally taken and straitned , is not an adequate rule to measure the whole extent of foreign-trade by : for it supposeth only a trading in commodities , and makes money , i. e. gold and silver , to be the fixed stock and riches of the kingdom ; and not improvable in the trade , but encreased or diminished , as it supplys only to answer the balance of the trade of commodities . whereas in truth the stock and riches of the kingdom , cannot properly be confined to money , nor ought gold and silver to be excluded from being merchandise , to be traded with , as well as any other sort of goods . it is true , that usually the measure of stock or riches is accounted by money ; but that is rather in imagination than reality : a man is said to be worth ten thousand pounds , when possibly he hath not one hundred pounds in ready money ; but his estate , if he be a farmer , consists in land , corn , or cartel , and husbandry implements : if a merchant , in goods and merchandise at home , or adventures abroad , or in shipping , in like manner the stock or riches of the kingdom doth not only consist in our money , but also in our commodities and ships for trade , and in our ships of war , and magazines furnished with all necessary materials : and if we consider the very notion before mentioned , from whence the rule is taken , and suppose the person possessing and managing the farm , to have attained to a stock of money over and above what is necessary for the carrying on the concern of his farm , who would not count him a ridiculous fool , to let his money lie in his chest idle , that as he can vend more goods from his farm than will answer for the cost of what he needs to buy in , he may add farther to it ; there to let it lie buried and useless , whereas he might with his money have bought goods at one market where they were cheap , and carried them to another market , where they were dearer , and so together with the benefit of the carriage , have added much more to his stock . thus in reference to the foreign-trade of the kingdom ; if gold and silver must be confined within our walls , i. e. the seas that environ us , it is rendred fruitless , and yields no encrease to the kingdom 's capital . suppose a foreign-place where commodities cannot be purchased but with money or bullion , and that 100 thousand pounds in bullion laid out there , should purchase such quantity of goods as would yield on sale in some other foreign-parts 200 , to 250 thousand pounds , to be returned to england ; were it not the kingdoms interest to embrace so gainful a trade ? and should we not count him either ignorant , or an enemy to his country , that did oppose it ? the hollanders that did encrease to so great wealth , glory and strength , before this last war , was it by imprisoning their gold and silver , and confining their foreign trade to the goods of their own product and manufacture ? no such matter : for they had little or nothing of their own product ; but by liberty of transporting bullion , and by fetching goods and merchandise from one place , and carrying them to another , according to the proper markets and seasons , they did in a great measure obtain their riches and glory . it is a great mistake , though a common one , to think , that it is the plenty or scarcity of money that is the cause of a good or a bad trade : it is true , when the trade is quick and good , money is more seen , and changeth hands ten times for what it doth when the trade is dull and dead ; so that one hundred pounds in a time of quick trading , makes as great an appearance as one thousand pounds in a time of dead trading . it is not so much the money that influenceth the trade , as it is the trade that discovers the money , which otherwise would lie hid . i am confident , there never was more money in the kingdom , though by reason of the deadness of trade in general , and paucity of good security , it walks not so much abroad . having said thus much of trade in general , i now proceed particularly , in answer to your desire , to shew the profitableness of the india-trade , and that it is best managed in the way of a company , and a joint-stock . i. that the east-india-trade is a most ( if not the most ) profitable and beneficial trade to the kingdom . the extraordinary endeavours of most of the european natitions to compass and gain the east-india-trade to themselves , or at least to have a great share in it , together with the success of the dutch therein , and the vast advantage they have reaped from thence , being a main cause of that wealth and grandeur which hath rendred them so redoubtable to , and envied by all their neighbors , may give an undeniable testimony of the beneficialness of this trade . but it will be needless to insist thereon , or to call in witnesses from abroad : for from the consideration of the trade it self , there will arise sufficient to evidence by demonstration , that it is so ; and in consequence , that it is the kingdoms interest to uphold , maintain , and encourage the same . it is a trade that takes off a considerable quantity of our native commodities and manufactures , though not altogether so much as some other trades do . that supplys us with most necessary and useful commodities for our consumption , at the cheapest rates . that brings us some commodities for further manufacture . that furnisheth us with large quantities of goods for foreign-markets . that gives employment to , and so maintains great number of english shipping . that occasions the building of more ships of burden and force , fit for warlike service , and defence of the kingdom , than any other trade . that brings in a considerable revenue to his majesties exchequer by customs , and the greatest addition to the kingdoms stock . the better and more convincingly to manifest all which , i shall with all candor and moderation , give you a state of the said trade , both in the plain and direct course of it , and also in the consequences depending upon it . a state of the trade of india in reference to the kingdoms concern : first in the plain and direct course of it . there are generally employed in this trade in a direct course to , and from india , 30 to 35 great ships , from 300 to 600 tuns burden , and within six or seven years last past , there hath been built new from the stocks , about 26 to 28 ships , from 350 to 600 tuns burden ; purely on the hopes of the companies employment , and the encouragement the company have propounded and given of 20 sh. per tun extraordinary freight , the two first voyages ; which amounts from 700 to 1200 pounds a ship , according to their burden . by which means there is a very large addition of strength for defence of the kingdom , in case of war ; the said ships fitted in a warlike equipage , will carry from 40 to 60 and 70 guns ; and of how great concern this is to the nation , judicious persons , that consider the present state of affairs , will easily judg . the exports of the company in one year , as it was in the end of anno 1674 , and beginning of anno 1675 , may be about 430 thousand pounds , whereof about 320 thousand pounds in bullion , and about 110 thousand pounds value in cloth , and other goods . the returns of the said adventure brought home for england by the company , in callico , pepper , saltpeter , indigo , silk , wrought-silks , and some drugs , and other commodities , may on sale in england produce at least 860 thousand pounds , and oftentimes much more . his majesties customs , freights of ships , and all other charges , of officers , warehouses , lighters , carts , porters , and such like , will amount to a very great sum ; but all this being payable in england , it is altogether as much the kingdoms stock , as the clear profit added to the companies stock is . so that there is in a plain and direct way , added to the stock of the kingdom by the companies trade in one year , if no accident intervene , 430 thousand pounds . if any shall suggest , that the charges in india , for maintenance of factors , factories , forts , garrisons , negotiations with princes , and other charges and expences in india , which may amount to 50 or 60 thousand pounds , is so much paid abroad , and therefore ought to be deducted ; i will not dispute it , but wave what might be said thereto : and yet there will remain a clear addition to the stock of the kingdom , by the joint trade of the company only , of 370 thousand pounds . and then if you consider the private trade , allowed by the company to owners of ships , commanders and seamen , as also to their factors , and to all adventurers , for diamonds , pearls , musk , ambergreece , and such like commodities : in reference to which , there may be exported in goods about 40 to 50 thousand pounds , and in bullion about 80 to 100 thousand pounds , which returned into england may yield on sale 250 , to 300 thousand pounds : the profit thereon being 130 thousand pounds , is so much further addition to the stock of the kingdom , which joyned to the other , makes it 500 thousand pound added to the kingdoms stock in one year by the india-trade , in a direct course , besides all the consequences depending further thereupon ; which come next to be considered . secondly , the state of the india-trade in the consequences depending thereupon . i. first , in reference to the exports . the great objection against this trade , because of the exporting so great a quantity of gold and silver out of the kingdom , for the carrying it on , is already obviated in a great measure , in what hath been said of trade in general ; and i may have further occasion to speak to it in the following discourse , and therefore wave it here . the goods transported to the amount of 110 thousand pounds , may consist of about 60 to 70 thousand pounds in english goods , and the rest in foreign commodities . the english goods are chiefly drapery , tynn and lead ; and whereas it may be supposed , that though we had no trade for india , yet if any of our neighbours did trade thither , so much of our lead might be taken from us by them , as could well be vended in india . i shall forbear to say any thing of that commodity . but as to the drapery and tynn , which amounts to the value of 50 to 60 thousand pounds ; in case the english had no trade to india , the kingdom would lose the sale of so much of those commodities as is usually sent there ; and in effect , the whole value , being 50 thousand pounds , on the other hand by this trade the kingdom gains or makes 50 thousand pounds of that which otherwise would yield nothing . no other nation doth carry english cloth to india , and all foreign markets where there is no obstruction by prohibitions , or impositions , are fully supplied with as much and more than they can vend . and for tynn , there is vast quantities in some parts of india ; the dutch during the time of the late preemption of tynn , having brought home in two years , 4 or 500 tuns . and it might be more advantageous to the english company , not only to transport tynn from one part of indio to another , rather than to send it from england ; but also to bring tynn from india to england for ballast of their ships that come with pepper from bantam , did they not prefer the kingdoms interest before their private profit . ii. in reference to the returns from india . there may be spent and consumed ordinarily within the kingdom , according to the nearest calculation i can make , to the value of 200 to 230 , or 240 thousand pounds in india-goods ; viz. about six thousand pounds-worth of pepper , 24 to 30 thousand pounds-worth of saltpeter , 25 to 30 thousand pounds-worth of silk and silks , 150 to 160 thousand pounds-worth of callico's , and about 10 to 15 thousand pounds-worth of indigo , and other drugs . all the rest of the returns above mentioned , amounting in value to 630 thousand pounds , or thereabouts , are transported to foreign markets , as also most part of the private trade . the pepper i reckon at 8 d. the pound ; and it is the most necessary spice , and of that use , that in former times it hath sold for 3 sh. 4 d. the pound : it is not to be had but from india ; and if the english had no east-india-trade , it must be purchased from the hollander ; who , if they had it all in their own hands , might raise it to the same rate they do their other spices , whose first cost in india is much the same . but suppose it might come at 16 d. per pound , which is the least rate we could expect it at ; it would be annually a further expence and charge to the nation of at least six thousand pounds . the saltpeter is of that absolute necessity , that without it , we should be like the israelites under the bondage of the philistines , without means of defending our selves : if we had no india-trade , possibly in time of peace we might purchase it , though it would cost us double what now it doth . but in case of war , where could we have sufficient ? would our enemies be so kind as to furnish us ? it is ill trusting to that : would our gentlemen , citizens , and farmers , be willing to have their cellars and rooms dug up , and to be deprived of freedom in their own houses , while they are exposed and laid open to saltpeter-men ? yet if that should be , besides the horrible inconvenience and vexation thereof , it would be far short of supplying us , considering the vast expence in sea-fights : what use will our ships and guns be off , if we want powder ? silk is a commodity that receives a farther manufacture here ; and though 't is possible we may be supplied with silk from other places , yet not at so cheap terms , as from india ; and for taffeta's , and other wrought india-silks , they serve instead of so much italian and french-silks . whereof otherwise , we should use a far greater quantity , which would cost the nation almost treble the price of india-silks ; and so augment the kingdoms charge and expence above 20 thousand pounds per annum . callico is a most useful and necessary commodity , and serves instead of the like quantity of french , dutch , and flanders linnen , which would cost at least three times the price of it . and hereby the nation hath a very great benefit , not only as it saves two or three 100 thousand pounds in its expence ; but also as it hinders so far the enriching those neighbour-nations , from whose greatness this kingdom might fear most prejudice . — it were to be wished that people would use more woollen of our own manufacture , which might serve for many occasions in lieu of linnen ; but we see , such is the present humour , that an act of parliament hath prevailed nothing in a matter of this kind . without question it would be much the interest of this kingdom to promote and encourage the manufacture of linnen in ireland ; whereby it might not only enrich that kingdom , rather than a foreign countrey ; but also by diversion prevent the encrease of the woollen manufacture there ; which otherwise in time will destroy the staple-manufacture of drapery in england , and thereby exceedingly impoverish it . in the mean time , it is certainly much better for the kingdom to expend 150 thousand pounds in callico , than 4 or 500 thousand pounds in french , dutch , and flanders linnen : and if the linnen manufacture were setled in ireland , so as to supply this kingdom , the callico now consumed here , might be transported to other markets abroad , and so bring a farther addition of stock to the nation . indigo is a necessary commodity , used for the dying and perfecting of our own manufactures . and for the other drugs and commodities brought from india , and expended in england , the value is not considerable . the greatest part of all the returns from india , are transported to foreign-markets ; viz. to france , holland , spain , italy , turky , &c. whereby those trades are the better carried on by the english , to a further advantage of the kingdom . the value of 630 thousand pounds in india-goods of the companies returns , and 200 thousand pounds-worth of private traders , at least , transported into foreign-parts by english merchants , cannot be calculated to yield less than ten per cent. profit , one with the other , clear of all charges ; which will amount to 83 thousand pounds . but in regard some part of it may be carried out by strangers , or for strangers accounts , and so the profit arising thereby may remain abroad , and never be returned to england ; i shall estimate the profit thereof but at 60 thousand pounds ; which is so much more addition to the nations stock . and here by the way , it may be observed , that the kingdom hath a greater advantage , when the trade is driven by the english merchant , than when it is carried on by strangers ; all the profits arising by the trade of the one , is brought back to england ; whereas the profits of the other remain abroad . this i note to rectifie the mistake of some that say , it is all one to the kingdom , so the trade be carried on , whether it be by the english , or by strangers ; as also to evidence , that it is the nations interest to encourage the kings subjects in their trade , preferably to strangers . the said goods are transported in english-shipping , whereby an employment is given to a great number of ships ; the very freight of which being about 5000 tuns , cannot amount to less than 20 thousand pounds ; which is so much further addition to the stock of the kingdom . from the consideration of the goods returned from india , and from hence transported into foreign parts , will arise a full and clear answer to the objection made against this trade , because of the quantities of gold and silver sent out for the carrying it on : for what hath been noted before in the general notion of trade , will in fact be demonstrated . as there was carried out from england to india , about 420 thousand pounds in bullion ; so there is transported from england into foreign countreys , of goods brought from india , the value of 830 thousand pounds ; which with the profit arising thereupon to english-men , amounts to 890 thousand pounds . so that if all other foreign trades did export sufficient in commodities of the product and manufacture of england , to purchase and satisfie for all the commodities they imported ; there must undeniably be 470 thousand pounds in bullion brought in , and added to the treasure of the kingdom every year , by the india trade ( when it is so fully carried on ) , over and above the benefit of all the india commodities spent and consumed in the kingdom , and of the building , employing , and maintaining so great a number of shipping . and thus the sending out of our treasure encreaseth it ; whereas to coop it up , would render it wholly useless . had we all the gold and silver in the world , in this island , if it were absolutely kept and confined within the kingdom , it would neither greaten our trade , nor render us more formidable in strength and power . if it be alledged , that such an addition of treasure every year brought into the nation , would certainly be more visible , and make a greater plenty of money ; whereas there seems to be rather a decrease , and decay of our treasure , and a scarcity of money : i answer , though , as before noted , it is my sentiment that there is as much treasure , i mean gold and silver , in the kingdom , as ever ; yet , suppose it were otherwise , and that the nation did decrease in their treasure , whence doth it so come to pass ? not from the east india-trade , that is apparent . if all other foreign trades were upon a balance , and that their exports of the product and manufacture of england did answer all their imports , so that the proceed of india-goods exported , might return in bullion ; this kingdom in few years would have the greatest treasure of any nation in europe . but if some other foreign trades do wast and consume our treasure , let us lay the saddle on the right horse , and endeavour to find out expedients to prevent it . in the mean time it would be destructive to stop the current of our supplies , by breaking in upon , or obstructing the course of the east india-trade ; by which , if the kingdom had not been supplied , all its treasure might ere this have been exhausted . some have suggested , that if there were not so much india-goods to transport , there would be more of our native commodities and manufactures transported and vended abroad . this can be no other than a fancy and imagination ; and will appear to be very groundless , when it is considered , that there are other nations that trade to india besides the english ; and if the english did not supply the foreign markets with india-commodities , those other nations , our competitors in that trade , would do it ; and the kingdom would lose the certain profit it now hath , and be disappointed of what these men imagine it might have . if none could trade to india but the english , and that other countreys could not be supplied with commodities , but must take what the english would bring them ; then indeed it would not be altogether of so great concern to the kingdom , whether the english traded there or no , so long as they could furnish such countreys with english goods , and make them content to take them or none . but such a time is not like to be ; and therefore it cannot be advisable to cast off , or discourage the east india-trade on such groundless conceits . thus i have given you a state of the east india-trade , whereby it is demonstratively evident , how advantageous it is to the kingdom in all the respects before mentioned , as it occasions the building , and gives employment to so great a number of ships of greater burden and strength than any other trade ; and as it brings an addition annually of above 500 thousand pounds to the stock of the kingdom in its direct and ordinary course , besides 80 thousand pounds more in consequence by other trades ; and as it saves the kingdom , near ( if not above ) 400 thousand pounds annually , of what otherwise it would lose or expend . but though the east india-trade be so beneficial and advantageous to the kingdom in it self ; may it not , say some , be more improved and carried on with greater advantage to the publick in some other way , than by a company in a joynt-stock ? i proceed therefore in compliance with your desire , to say something of the second thing proposed . secondly , that the east india-trade cannot so well be secured and improved for the benefit and advantage of the kingdom in any other way , has by a company in a ioynt-stock . the practice and experience of other nations in the east india trade , might here also be brought in to give convincing evidence on the behalf of a joynt-stock : no other nation trading otherwise , except the portugals , who are almost beaten out of the trade . and though the example of wise and politick governments in their methods of transacting affairs , ought to have a due regard , and in no wise to be slighted , especially when accompanied with success in a long tract of time ; yet in the present case , i shall not insist thereon , but confine my self to the nature and reason of the thing it self . none that are acquainted with the trade of india , but must know , that there is no coming for any european people to any place in those countreys for trade , without making presents to the kings , princes , governors , and great men at their first coming , and obtaining their license and permission ; and that there is a necessity of purchasing or hiring some great house to abide in for the security of their persons and goods , during their abode , at every respective place . the east-india company have been at vast charges and hazards , not only to procure a freedom and liberty of trade , with many great priviledges and immunities , both from the great mogul , and very many other kings , princes and governours , but likewise for the security of their factors , estates and trade , to purchase , build and maintain great houses , and store-houses , in all the places of their residences , which are called factories ; and in some places , as at fort st. george , bombay , and st. helena , to make considerable fortifications , and to keep large garrisons . there are two ways or methods of carrying on a foreign trade , besides that of a company , and a joint-stock : first , that which is called an open trade , when all persons are left free to trade or not to trade , and are confined to no particular rules and methods in the manner of their trading , but every one may manage his matters in such a way as to him seems good ; and such is the trade to france , spain , portugal and italy . the other is called a regulated trade , where there is a company , ( without a joint-stock ) that hath power to make some general rules , as to the publick manner and method of trading , and to raise impositions on the trade , for desraying necessary charges in reference to the security thereof ; but yet every particular person is at liberty to trade or not to trade , and to manage his own private stock and trade , without being limited or confined either in quantity , quality , or price of goods , and such is the manner of the turky-company . now it is to be examined , whether the east-india trade can be so well secured and improved for the publick good in either of these ways as in the way of a company and a joint-stock . first , if the trade be left open , will not all the priviledges and immunities purchased at great expence by the east-india-company , be either lost , or else rendred void and insignificant ? when every man is left to shift for himself , it will be , as to the national interest , according to the proverb , that which is every mans business , will be no mans business ; when there is none by particular obligation of place , duty , and interest , engaged to mind the general security and priviledg of the english-trade , but every one minds only his own private concern , the national honour and interest will decline . in the giving of presents to kings and governours , to obtain greater priviledges , and quicker dispatch , one will vye upon another , and some may be so far transported for private advantage , as to endeavour by presents to obtain the intervention of the powers there , to hinder and obstruct the trade of their fellow-subjects , thereby to advance their own . will not the kings and governours of those countrys , and other nations our competitors in the india-trade , take all opportunities to make their advantages , and to put injuries and hardships upon the english , when they find them divided for want of united counsels or strength to right themselves ? besides in selling and buying , every one will strive to supplant the other , and so give occasion to the indians to make extraordinary advantage by raising the prices of indian . commodities , and falling the prices of english-goods ; of all which there hath already been too sad experience in three or four years of open trade , from 1653 , to 1657 , in which time the english began to lose their ancient honour and esteem in india , and were much slighted in comparison of what they were before , under a company ; and many indignities and wrongs were put upon them in several places in india by the kings and governours , forcing the english to sell their goods , and take others , at such rates & prices as they pleased : and after contracts and agreements made , when the english have required performance , instead thereof some of the english commanders have been put to death , and their ships and goods seized , and the rest of their seamen scornfully sent away , without means of redress . besides , during that time , the injuries from the dutch in hindring the trade , and seizing the ships and estates of the english , were far more frequent , and more often reiterated . that subtil people well knowing how to make their advantage , by setting one english mans interest against anothers ; insomuch , that for 15 or 16 english ships and their cargoes , which the dutch had taken , ( if i mistake not , ) they only gave satisfaction for four , and by means of the english men interessed in those four , obtained a national discharge for all the rest . a certain person , whom i forbear to name , that was much concerned in the said four ships , or some of them , hath sometime made his brags , that he by his interest and prevalency with the late usurper , procured the signing that discharge ; which debarred all those english concerned in the other twelve ships , from any claim or demand of satisfaction : and thereby , though the english nation lost sixteen ships , the dutch paid but for four . the private persons interessed in those ships , made near cent. per cent. profit , and the others lost all , both principal and profit . also in those three or four years of open trade , the trade it self was rendred very unprofitable ; for whereas , under the company in a joint-stock , the trade generally produced for every 100 l. sent out and invested in india , 300 l. 250 l. or when least 200 l. here in england ; in the open time , the trade was brought to that pass , that 100 l. laid out in india , did hardly yield in england 125 l. and many lost of their principal stocks , besides about two years interest , and the risk and adventure of the seas ; and this not by reason of the quantity of ships and goods sent to , and returned from india in those times , ( for there hath been twice as much sent out and brought home by the company of late years ) but from the raising the prices of india-goods in the country , one man vying upon another to get a quick dispatch ; and as they did endeavour to supplant one another in india , so also in their markets in europe ; and hence it was that several ships set out from england , did not return to england , but were directed to sail from india , directly to some other foreign-parts , and so the kingdom was deprived of the customs , and other advantages thereby . from the disorders and ill success of the open trade , it was , that in anno 1657 , all persons being generally convinced , that the only profitable way for the management of the east-india-trade , was in a company and a joint-stock , did consent and agree to lay aside all private trade , and to unite in that way . accordingly books were laid open for all persons in the nation to subscribe what stock they pleased to adventure in the said trade : and it may be noted , that such was the disrepute and inconveniencies the former open time had brought the trade into , as ( together with some injuries and losses sustained from the dutch ) kept the value of the stock in the worlds esteem for several years , much below its first principle . in or about anno 1665 , the company did take a full and perfect account and balance of all their stock , adventures , and debts , and exposed a transcript thereof to publick view : the stock then was apparently more worth than 130 per cent , though at that time such were the humours and fancies of people , that it was sold by private persons for 70 per cent , or thereabouts ; for which reason , though the company did then lay open a book of subscriptions for all persons that would adventure in the trade , to write what sum they pleased , yet every one did decline it . since which time , though many dividends have been made amongst the adventurers , yet the value of the stock in its esteem in the world hath advanced to 245 per cent , though of late it is ( as you seem to advise me ) gone backward to 235 per cent , notwithstanding the safe arrival of all the companies ships this year . from this short account of things , i leave it to all judicious persons to consider , whether it be not inconsistent with the kingdoms interest , and whether it be not irrational and unjust , to lay open the east-india trade ? inconsistent with the kingdoms interest , to part with , or hazard the loss of all those places of strength , and those priviledges the east-india-company now enjoy , but cannot maintain in an open trade : irrational , to make a second trial after the experience of so many inconveniencies by the first ; and unjust , to deprive the present subscribers in the east-india stock , of their future advantage , that have run so many hazards of their stocks , and been at such vast expences for the promoting and securing the trade so advantageous to the kingdom , and to open it to those that have-twice already refused to adventure therein . i have been the briefer on this first particular , because i find very few so hardy as to expose their own reason in pleading for an open trade . the gentleman barrister ( as he stiles himself ) seem'd to question , whether it were a useful trade to england ? but if it were , intimates it should be a regulated trade , and instances in that of the turky-company . it remains therefore to shew , secondly , that the east-india-trade cannot so well be secured and improved for the kingdoms advantage under a regulation , as by a company and a joint-stock . in reference to the security of the trade , it must be noted , that in the east-indies there are many , very many kings and governments ; almost every place of trade , ( whereof there is a considerable number ) is under a distinct rajah , or king ; and considering that other european nations are still watching to take all opportunities to distil into the minds of those kings , slight & contemptuous thoughts of , & to incite them against the english , either to exclude them from trade , or to put many hardships upon them ; there is an absolute necessity of frequent applications to , and treaties with those kings , and that the english appear to them in some port and grandeur , as able to carry on considerable trade with them , and to force them to a performance of their treaties and agreements . the state of affairs in turky is far otherwise , where there is but one prince , who hath an absolute dominion in all his territories ; so that by one ambassador at the emperours court , and two or three consuls at the places or residences of trade ( whereof there is no greater number ) to hold correspondence with the said ambassador , all matters for the security and good of the trade may be transacted . this being premised , i shall take it for granted , that all true english men would for the honour and benefit of their country , have all the places of strength , and all factories , houses , and priviledges in india , which by the present joint-stock of the east india-company , have been obtained , purchased and setled at the expence of 2 or 300 thousand pounds ; and whereof the said joynt-stock are at present the owners , possessors , and enjoyers , to be upheld and maintained to the nation ; as also , that the said places of strength , houses and priviledges , being justly and rightfully the property of the persons interessed in the now joynt-stock , they ought not to be devested of the same without giving them a due satisfaction and compensation . if an english-man ought not to have any of his ground or estate in england taken away for publick use , without a compensation , and that parliaments have been always very careful in such cases to provide accordingly , as in the bill for building the city ; i do not see why an english-mans propriety in forts , houses , and estate ( that is to say priviledges in foreign-countreys ) is not as much his right , as if it were within the kingdom ; and it is to be feared , that he that will not scruple to devest an english-man of his property abroad , will , if opportunity offer , make as little scruple to do it at home . i shall farther take it for granted , that in reference to the present state of the kingdom , it may not be proper to desire the laying of a tax on the people for the raising such a sum to make that compensation : i must therefore suppose , if those persons that press for a change and alteration of the manner of the east india-trade , be english-men and friends to their countrey ; their intentions are , that the succeeding trade should both give a compensation , and maintain the growing charge . i apprehend they design , that the now joynt-stock should cease and determine , as to any farther trade , save only to get in what goods and debts they have abroad , and that the trade in future should be left to be managed and carried on by particular persons , according as every one should think good to adventure , without limitation or restriction as to the quantity , quality , and prices in buying and selling of goods to be sent out , or returned home ; yet that there should be a company by law established and impowred to raise impositions on the trade , for the upholding and maintaining all the places of strength , factories and priviledges that are now enjoyed , for the mutual and equal benefit and advantage of all the english that shall trade thither ; and ▪ for the same intent to entertain negotiations , keep entercourse , and make treaties with the kings and governours in those parts , as formerly : and also , that out of such impositions , so to be raised , a proportion should be set out ( which i conceive cannot be less than ten thousand pounds per annum , to be divided from time to time , amongst the present adventurers , for the use and loan of the said places , factories , and priviledges ; and that all the rest of the money raised by the said impositions , be employed for support of the charge of the government , and defraying the growing charge of maintaining the said places of strength , factories , and priviledges , and of all publick negotiations and treaties with the kings of those countreys as aforesaid : whereof the said company should be obliged to keep a due account : and also that the said company should be further authorised and impowered to make and establish from time to time such general rules and orders for the regulation of the trade , as shall be found convenient and necessary for the interest of the kingdom ; unto which , all persons trading into those parts , should be obliged to conform : all which is agreeable to the instance proposed of the turky-company . now let it be considered how uncertain and insufficient such a method would be for the securing the trade to the english-nation , in comparison of that which is at present in a company , and in a joynt-stock ; for now there is a stock or fond of at least a million of pounds sterling alwayes engaged , and in the power of the governor , deputy , and committee , to make use off for the necessary defence of the trade . but when this stock is divided , and there remains nothing to answer the charge , but the impositions daily raised on the trade ; it will not only be difficult to know what proportion to lay , but also it will be uncertain , what ever sum is set by way of imposition , to know whether it will be sufficient to answer the charge ; for it depending arbitrarily on the pleasure of particular persons , whether they will trade or no , and for what value ; the money arising by such impositions , must be less or more according as the trade is . there will be a certain and constant charge , besides intervening occasions that may encrease it ; and an uncertain and inconstant revenue to answer it ; and it will undoubtedly fall out , that when the charge is greatest , the receipts will be least ; if a time of war should happen ( and such a time we may fear will come , and ought to provide for before-hand ) the charge of raising and maintaining a greater number of souldiers , and supplying all necessaries for security against an enemy , must be much augmented . in the last dutch-war the company at one time were necessitated to raise 6000 soldiers for the security and defence of bombay against the dutch ; and yet in such a time there will be little or no trade , and so consequently little will be raised by the impositions : every man will pull his neck out of the collar , and when hazards are great , few will adventure . if the spring from whence the supplies of money should come , be dried , what can be expected ? point d'argent point de suisse , without money no souldiers can be had ; and so it will necessarily follow , that all must be lost , and fall into our enemies hands ; which , how dishonourable , as well as how prejudicial to the kingdom , that would be , let all men judg . could we suppose ( which yet can hardly be supposed ) that in such an emergence the kingdom should be taxed extraordinarily to raise a supply particularly for this service ? would it not be very hard upon the people , when they had other pressures upon them , to pay it ? and yet without supplies , all our trade to india , and all our interest there , would be lost ; and how great a loss and weakening that would be to the kingdom , may be judged by what hath been before mentioned of the advantages and benefits arising to the kingdom from the east-india-trade . but suppose some expedient could be found for security of the trade of the english to india , and of their interest there , in as certain a way as it is now by a company in a joynt-stock ; which ( pardon me , sir , if i say ) i believe is impossible without a publick charge on the kingdom . yet in the next place it is to be considered , whether in probability the trade may be as much or more improved for the publick and national benefit under a regulation , than by a company in a joynt-stock . the gentleman barrister infinuates in the close of his late letter , that the east-india trade might be so managed under a regulation , that five times the trade might be gained , and the price of our own manufactures of cloth , and others advanced by the multitude and freedom of buyers ; and the price of goods imported , much lessened to the english , and much more trade with india commodities gained to other parts of the world. but by the gentlemans favour , i must crave leave to be of a contrary opinion . in the first place , i cannot comprehend how it is probable , that particular and private persons ( for the trade will be carried on only by such , under a regulation ) should gain so great a trade , much less more , and five times more , than a company in a joynt-stock . the trades that are to be gained , whereby to render the east india . trade yet more advantageous to the kingdom in some respects , than at present it is , are chiefly the trades to china and iapan ; at which places were our trade once well setled , in all likelyhood more considerable quantities of our woollen-manufactures might be there vended , and from thence in return thereof , both gold , silver , and copper might be brought to supply at least ( in a great measure ) the trade in other parts of india ; without carrying out so much from europe : but these trades are not so easily gained as some may fancy ; great hazards of considerable stocks must be run , and large disbursements in expences made in order thereto ; one design laid and put in practice to accomplish it , after such hazards and disbursements , may prove ineffectual , and the labour and charge all lost . another way and method must be essayed ; this cannot be expected or hoped for from particular persons ; their capitals cannot bear such expences , nor will they subject themselves to such hazards which might ruine them in their estates . if it could be supposed that some few should adventure to make an essay , we could not imagine that it should be in a national way ; i mean in such a manner as might represent the english-nation considerable to the princes of those countreys , and so procure from them a settlement for the trade of the english in their dominions , and one disappointment would discourage private persons from any future attempt . the present east india company having so great a joynt-stock to bear them out , have made often trials to gain these trades . as to the trade of china , after many attempts , hazards and expences , they are in some good hope to succeed ; and as to that of iapan , though they have met with very great difficulties and disappointments in the attempts they have made , one undertaking about three years since for the gaining of that trade , though designed with all the care and circumspection possible , proved ineffectual , to the companies loss of at least 50 thousand pounds ; which , though a very great sum , was not ruinous to any , because of the great number of persons that bear it , and the largeness of the fond out of which it is supplied : such a loss would have undone private persons , and have rendred them incapable of any future attempt . but with a company in a joynt-stock it is otherwise , they are yet prosecuting the design , and contriving and forming new methods to bring it about ; and it is probable that by unwearied endeavours with great hazards and charge , they may in process of time accomplish it . but without a company in a joynt-stock , we may bid adieu to all hopes of ever obtaining a settlement of trade in china and iapan for the english-nation . in the next place , that is to be examined and enquired into , which our barrister particularly suggests , viz. that such a regulation would advance the price of our own manufactures of cloth and others , by the multitude and freedom of buyers , and much lessen the price of goods imported to the english , &c. if i do not mistake , that which he here intended is , that all persons being at liberty to trade for india under a regulated company , there would be more buyers of cloth , and other goods in england to send to india , and so the prices would be raised here by the multiplicity of buyers ; and on the other hand , the prices of india-goods would fall , and be lessened in england for the same reason ; viz. because of the multiplicity of sellers . from hence it is easie to collect , that the person from whom our lawyer took his information touching trade , was no merchant , but some clothier or shop-keeper , that had very little knowledg or understanding of the kingdoms interest in trade , and took his measures from some private and narrow concern : for he looks no further than the buying and selling in england . he would have the english merchant to buy dear , and sell cheap ; to buy cloth dear of the clothier , and sell callico cheap to the linnen-draper ; and he desires a freedom of trade , that the multiplicity of buyers for the one , and of sellers for the other , might effect it ; and thereby ( as he would have us believe ) the kingdom would be enriched ; whereas , upon a due and serious examination , it will he found , according to the maxims of trade , and dictates of reason , to be quite otherwise . who is there that hath in any competent measure studied and considered trade , in reference to the kingdoms interest , but knows , that all buying and selling within the kingdom from one english-man to another , is but a changing of hands , and doth neither add to , nor diminish the stock or riches of the nation ; it must be the dear selling , or rather the selling of great quantities of our native commodities and manufactures in foreign-parts , and the cheap purchasing by the english of commodities in foreign-countries , whereby the kingdom is enriched . and how inconsistent herewith the gentlemans notion is of dearer buying , and cheaper selling in england . by means of a free trade under a regulation , will appear , if you please to turn the tables , and apply that to english-mens selling and buying in east-india , which he doth to their buying and selling in england , english cloth , and other goods will fall and be lessened in price in india , because of the multiplicity of sellers there , and india-goods will rise and be augmented in their prices in india , because of the multitude and freedom of buyers there : so that upon that very ground and reason which the gentleman brings for a freedom of the trade in opposition to the company in a joint-stock , it is very apparent that it is the kingdoms interest not to hearken to him ; for pray consider , what the issue and consequence of this would be at the long-run . the particular english-men , traders to india , vye upon one another in the buying of their cloth , and other goods in england , and so for one year or two ( it may be ) raise the prices in england , and on the other hand , in india they fall the price , and under-sell one another , to get off their goods , and make returns ; some hereby will lose by their goods , selling cheaper than they cost ; others will not be able to put off their goods , and so can make no returns , and be either necessitated to let their ships come home dead freighted , or to take up money , leaving their goods in pawn , and so not only pay a high interest , but hazard the spoiling of their goods in those hot countries ; when all or most of the particular traders shall on this account find a loss by their english goods , what probability is there that they shall continue to send any , and so that the exportation of our english manufactures should encrease ? the company in the joint-stock have managed their affairs with such prudence , and with so great regard to the kingdoms interest , that from 100 to 400 clothes at most , which were sent in former times , they now send annually 4000 whole broad cloths , and upwards , and are still endeavouring to enlarge the vend as much as possible . the way to attain which , is not by such means to raise the prices in england on english-men transporters , nor by such a cheap selling abroad , as renders the english merchant a loser , for that cannot continue , but by an industrious endeavour to introduce the use of them in those countries , and by gaining and selling trade in those places where our drapery is most useful and vendible ; and that a company in a joint-stock is far more capacitated for this than private persons , is not only deducible from reason , but evidenced from experience . as to goods imported from india , and sold in england , the multitude of buyers in india raising the prices there , and of sellers in england , lessening the prices here , cannot but be very contrary to the kingdoms interest . and this will appear demonstratively , if you consider , that not above one part of four of the goods brought from india into england are here consumed , the other three fourths are transported into foreign , parts . now if the prices of the one fourth part for the consumption of england be lessened and brought down , the like must inevitably follow for the other three fourths that are sent abroad . an english-man sends out four hundred pounds , or the value thereof , and with it purchaseth goods in india , and brings them for england ; suppose one fourth part of those goods are sold for the consumption of the kingdom ; whether they be sold by the merchant to the shop-keeper , for 120 l. or for 200 l. it is all one as to the kingdoms concern ; for in reality they stand the nation in no more than what they cost in india , and that is only 100 l. the merchant , or the shop-keeper , or the consumer , may have more or less , which is all the same thing as to the nations concern . but as for the other three fourths , if they be sold for foreign markets so cheap , that they yield but 360 l. then the kingdom gets only 20 per cent thereon , whereas if they be sold for 600 l. the kingdom gets 100 per cent. in the case of an english-mans trading with foreigners , what the english merchant gets , the kingdom gets , it being so much addition to the publick stock ; so that the nation would lose by the cheap selling of india-commodities in england , and the real interest of the kingdom is , that the english merchant should buy them cheap in india , and sell them dear in europe , which the gentleman 's own argument evidenceth to be most probably effected by a company in a joint-stock . besides , as to the building and maintaining of ships of great burden , and proper for warlike service to be made use of for defence of the kingdom on occasion , which is very much the publick interest , it cannot be imagined that private particular persons should ever be able to advance the same in any proportion to what the east-india-company in a joint-stock hath done . further , the east-india trade in a company , and a joint-stock , is far more national as to the number of persons that have benefit thereby , than possibly it could under a regulation ; for then none could trade to india but merchants that understood the trade , and not all merchants neither , but such only as had great estates , and were able to stay two years at least out of their money ; which few are in a capacity to do . so that the trade would be confined into a few hands , ( 100 or 150 at most , ) whereas , now it is in a company and joint-stock , noblemen , clergy-men , gentlemen , widows , orphans , shop-keepers , and all others , may have stocks there , and reap equal benefit thereby . there are at this day about six hundred persons which appear on the companies books to be interessed in the east-india stock , and under them , it may be many more ; whereas , if the trade were put under a regulation , three fourths , or more , of those persons could have no interest in it , or benefit by it . i shall not farther enlarge on this subject , and beg your excuse , that i forbear to say any thing of the third particular you mention in yours , viz. whether some orders and rules may not be necessary to be established for the improvement of the east india-trade , in a company with a joynt-stock , other than what at present the company is in the exercise of . i have in the general told you my thoughts freely , that a company with a joynt-stock is in my apprehension the best way for the management of that trade to the kingdoms advantage . some reasons i have given you , that induce me to be of this judgment , which i leave to your consideration . for a close , give me leave by way of enquiry to ask you , what should be the reason , that the present east india-company hath so many enemies , and is so much talked against almost amongst , all sorts of men ? is it because some persons that would not subscribe at the beginning of the stock , nor vet afterwards , when the books were laid open , are filled with envy at the companies prosperity , and would ruine all , because they are excluded by their own default ? there may be much in this , and yet any that will , may buy stock , according to the market-price when they please . is it from some averseness or dissatisfaction to the government , that they cannot be content any thing should prosper and thrive under it ; this stock having prospered and advanced exceedingly since his majesties happy restauration , beyond what it did before ? i cannot believe that any are so vile and wicked . is it that some persons are influenced from our neighbours , that have still been labouring to turn every stone that might have a tendency to destroy the english east india-trade ; and they well know if they can unhinge the present joynt-stock , they have done a great part of their work ? is it that some apprehend , that under a pretence , that the nation decays in their stock , rents , and trade ; hue and cry is like to , be made to find out the causes and occasions of it , and so would set the east india-company in the way to answer the charge , and stay farther pursuit ? whence is it that the clothiers and others in several counties are so earnest and clamorous against the said company , as if they were the occasion of all the evil the nation is under , by their not sending abroad more of our drapery ; when as it is apparently known that the east india-company have of late years bought and sent to india , ten times more of our drapery than was usually sent in former times ? so that they cannot occasion the decrease of the vent of our drapery , that have so much augmented it ; and the true causes must lye elsewhere : whether because the trade of france takes not off one tenth part of the english-drapery , it formerly did ; or because of the setting up of the woollen-manufacture in ireland ; or for what cause , i leave others to judg ; but am sure the east india-company could be no cause of the decay of the vent of our woollen-manufactures , though the cry is made against them . a little thing may serve to destroy and ruine the trade ; but it will be a difficult matter to regain so advantageous a trade to the kingdom , if it were once lost : and therefore i hope that all who seriously and sincerely consider the kingdoms interest , will be careful to prevent so great an evil , as the loss of the east india-trade would be to the nation , &c. finis . errata . pag. 2. lin . 2. 1 : would all be ? if there were no foreign trade , p. 14. l. 3. for has 1. as . an essay on the east-india-trade by the author of the essay upon wayes and means. davenant, charles, 1656-1714. 1696 approx. 72 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 31 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a37163) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 98621) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 451:21) an essay on the east-india-trade by the author of the essay upon wayes and means. davenant, charles, 1656-1714. 5-62 p. [i.e. 60] [s.n.], london : 1696. attributed to charles davenant. cf. blc. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng east india company. textile industry -england -early works to 1800. trading companies -england -early works to 1800. great britain -commercial policy -early works to 1800. 2006-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-09 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-07 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-07 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an essay on the east-india-trade . by the author of the essay upon wayes and means . london , printed anno , m dc xc vi. to the most honourable , john , lord marquis of normanby , &c. an essay on the east-india trade . my lord , your lordship was pleased , the other day , to intimate , that you would willingly know my opinion in general of the east-india trade ; whether it is hurtful , or beneficial to this nation ? and my thoughts , concerning the bill , for prohibiting the wearing all east-india and persia wrought silks , bengalls , and dy'd , printed , or stain'd callicoes . what has occurr'd to my observation in these two points , i shall offer with great sincerity , having no interest , or engagement , to sway me , in the questions , one way , or other . but , before i begin , i must beg leave to say , i am very glad to see your lordship bend your excellent wit , and right understanding , to inquiries of this nature . for nothing can be more important to a noble man , than a true knowledge of the manufactures , trade , wealth , and strength of his country : nor , can your eloquence be any way more usefully employ'd , than in discoursing skilfully upon this subject , in that great assembly of which you are so much an ornament . richlieu has left behind him an evidence how much he made these matters his care and study : which , however neglected by the ministers of the present age , are notwithstanding the only foundation of a solid and lasting greatness . for who can give a prince sound advice , and under him steer the people rightly and well , either in peace , or in war , that is ignorant of the posture , condition , and interest of the country where he lives ? is there any thing in the world , that should be more thought a matter of state than trade , especially in an island , and should not that which is the common concern of all , be the principal care of such as govern ? can a nation be safe without strength ? and is power to be compass'd and secur'd but by riches ? and can a country become rich any way , but by the help of a well managed and extended traffick ? what has enabled england to support this expensive war so long , but the great wealth which for thirty years , has been flowing into us from our commerce abroad ? the soil of no country is rich enough to attain a great mass of wealth , meerly by the exchange and exportation of its own natural product . the staple commodities that england exports , are the woollen manufactures , tin , lead , hides , and sometimes corn. but , considering our luxury , and our great expence of foreign wares here at home , we could not have grown rich , without other dealings in the world. for set our own exported product in the ballance with the imported product from france , spain , portugal , italy , germany , and the two northern kingdoms ; at the foot of the accompt it will be found , that , but a fourth part of our riches , arises from the vent of our own commodities . whoever looks strictly and nicely into our affairs , will find , that the wealth england had once , did arise chiefly from two articles : first , our plantation trade . secondly , our east-india traffick . the plantation trade gives employment to many thousand artificers here at home , and takes off a great quantity of our inferiour manufactures , the returns of all which are made in tobacco , cotton , ginger , sugars , indico , &c. by which we were not onely supply'd for our own consumption , but we had formerly wherewithal to send to france , flanders , hamborough , the east-countrey and holland for 500,000 l. per annum , besides what we ship'd for spain and the streights , &c. since we were supplanted in the spice trade by the dutch , and since great part of the pepper trade is gone by the loss of bantam , our chief investments , or importations from the east-indies , have been in callicoes , wrought silks , drugs , salt-petre , raw silk , cottons , and cotton yarn , goats wooll , or carmania wooll , and other products of those countries . part of which commodities are for our own use , but a much greater part in times of peace were bought up here for the consumption of france , germany , holland , spain , italy and our plantations . so that by the means of our east and west-india trade , though we might lose by our dealings to some parts , yet we were gainers by the whole , and in the general ballance . the woollen manufacture , tin , lead , &c. are indeed the basis of all our traffick , and the first spring of our dealings abroad , but if by carelesness or false measures , we should come to be confin'd onely to deal in our own product , we must think no longer to preserve the dominion of the sea. as bread is call'd the staff of life , so the woollen manufacture is truly the principal nourishment of our body politick ▪ and as a man might possibly live onely upon bread , yet his life would be ill sustain'd , feeble , and unpleasant ; so though england could probably subsist barely upon the exportation of its own product , yet to enjoy a more florid health , to be rich , powerful , and strong , we must have a more extended traffick than our native commodities can afford us . the woollen manufacture is undoubtedly by laws , and all possible care , to be encouraged ; but 't is its exportation abroad , and not the consumption of it at home , that must bring profit to the kingdom . some of our gentry have been for many years of opinion , that the intire welfare of england depends upon the high price of wooll , as thinking thereby to advance their rents , but this proceeds from the narrow mind , and short view of such , who have all along more regarded the private interest of land , than the concerns of trade , which are full as important , and without which , land will soon be of little value . men in their private capacities may be allowed to prefer their single profit , but should consult only the general good in public councils . in a trading nation , the bent of all the laws should tend to the encouragement of commerce , and all measures should be there taken , with a due regard to its interest and advancement . instead of this , in many particulars , our former laws bring incumbrance and difficulties to it , and some seem calculated for its utter ruine ; so little has it been of late years the common care. and yet 't will be found at last , when all things come to be rightly consider'd , that no plenty at home , victory abroad ▪ affection of the people , nor no conduct , or wisdom , in other things , can give the public effectual help , till we can mend the condition and posture of trade . in our great assemblies , it has never been sufficiently thought a matter of state , but managed , rather as a conveniency , or an accidental ornament , than the chief strength and support of the kingdom . and as it has never been greatly the care of our ministers of state , so it has not been enough the study of our nobility and gentry , who , ( give me leave to say ) for want of a right knowledge in the general notions of it , have been frequently imposed upon , by particular merchants , and other interested persons , to enact laws so much to the prejudice of trade in general . my lord , i shall be very free to communicate the few lights i have gather'd from observation , and inquiry into these matters , and shall be very glad if my endeavours can give your lordship any hints , which i am certain will be improv'd , by your deep judgment , and understanding . first , i am clearly convinc'd in general , that the east-india trade is greatly beneficial to england . secondly , i am of opinion ( with submission to better judgments ) that the bill now propos'd to prohibit the wearing east-india and persia wrought silks , bengals , &c. will be absolutely distructive to the trade , and very prejudicial to the kingdom . which two points shall be impartially handled in the sequel of this discourse . as to the east-india trade in general ; if all europe by common consent would agree to have no further dealings to those parts , this side of the world , by such a resolution , would certainly save a great and continual expence of treasure . for europe draws from thence nothing of solid use ; materials to supply luxury , and onely , perishable commodities , and sends thither , gold , and silver , which is there bury'd and never returns . i have good grounds to think that the silver and gold brought from america , the gold dust brought from africk , and the silver produc'd from the european mines , in the two hundred years last past , has not amounted to less , in the whole , than eight hundred millions . there is no appearance of this immense sum in any country of europe . 't is true indeed , there is yearly a great consumption of these metals , by the wear of gold and silver coin , waste in coinage , waste in working plate , the wear of wrought plate , the wear of things made of gold and silver thread , and wire ( a high article ) , leaf and shell gold and silver , liquid gold and silver . there is also much lost in casualties by sea , fires , and inundations , and by being privately bury'd and never found . but , having computed what may be allow'd for the yearly consumption of gold and silver , on all the foregoing heads , and what quantity of those metals may be now remaining in europe , i cannot find what is become of the eight hundred millions dug out of the earth , unless a hundred and fifty millions of it , be carry'd away and sunk in the east-indies . from whence i have reason to conclude , that the european nations in general , had been richer by a full third , than they now are , if that trade had never been discover'd and undertaken . but since europe has tasted of this luxury , since the custom of a hundred years , has made their spices necessary to the constitutions of all degrees of people , since their silks are pleasing every where to the better sort , and since their callicoes are a useful wear at home , and in our own plantations , and for the spaniards in america , it can never be adviseable for england to quit this trade , and leave it to any other nation . the burthen which this commerce lays upon the collective body of europe , does bear hard only upon those countries which consume the indian commodities , without having any share of the traffick , and therefore france did about twelve years ago very wisely prohibit the wearing callicoes , that were not of their own importation . the english and dutch , which together are not a tenth part of europe , enjoy this traffick almost without any rivalship ; and if it be a burthen , it lyes not upon the one , but on the other nine parts , so that if the east-india trade carry out the gold and silver from this side of the world , 't is truly , and properly , at the cost , and expence , of france , germany , spain , and the northern kingdoms , who have little , or no opportunities of trading thither . to imagine all europe will come to an agreement of dealing no more to those parts , is an absurd and wild notion ; since therefore the western nations are contented to be deceiv'd , and for a hundred years have been accustom'd to bear this deceit , 't would be egregious folly in us , to quit this advantage , and leave it intirely to the hollanders . by the best account i can have , and from impartial hands , england before the war for some time , one year with another has exported for this traffick , either in bullion , or our manufactures ( of which the manufactures might be near an eighth part ) about per annum — 400,000 l. suppose we consume at home the returns of — 200,000 but , by the way , i must take notice here , that the company , of late years , have carry'd out the value of 100,000 l. per annum in our home manufactures . if the company export to other nations the returns of the other two hundred thousand pounds ( which i may safely affirm they did , and will do in time of peace ) england must certainly be a great gainer by this traffick . for no one vers'd in merchandize will deny , but that the returns from india of 200,000 l. when exported to other countries must increase the first sum at least four-fold , and produce 800,000 . so that the accompt of england with the indies , and the european nations , may be thus ballanc'd . the returns exported yeild per annum — 800,000 l. the returns consum'd at home are to the nation — 200,000 total — 1,000,000 deduct for the prime cost of bullion or manufactures exported — 400,000 england net gainer by this traffick — 600,000 nothing can be a clearer gain to the kingdom than the returns of the 200,000 l. consum'd at home ; because treble that sum , would otherwise be carry'd out for foreign silks and linnen , which is hindred by the importation of east-india commodities . the inspection i have made upon other occasions , into the general state and condition of this kingdom , has led me upon very good grounds to think , that the east-india trade did annually add to the gross stock of england at least 600,000 l. per annum in times of peace . for i have many cogent ▪ reasons inducing me to believe , that from about anno 1656. to anno 1688. this nation has every year gradually increas'd in riches ; by what degrees , is needless here to incert , but upon mature consideration , i may safely state , that about anno 1688. the increase or addition to the wealth and general stock of england , arising from foreign trade , and home manufactures , was at least two millions yearly . and after much thought , and study on this subject , and by consulting others vers'd in speculations of the like nature , i find that this increase to the nations general stock , did probably arise from the three following articles , viz.   l. from our manufactures and home product , sent to the plantations , and from the returnes thereof , exported to foreign parts 900,000 from our woollen manufacture , lead , tin , leather , and our other native product , sent to france , spain , italy , germany , &c. — 500,000 from the net profit accruing by the east-india trade — 600,000 total — 2,000,000 if the east-india trade did in peaceful times , bring so great an increase to the annual income of the kingdom ( and i think the contrary is capable of no clear demonstration ) the legislative power ought to proceed with much caution , in any matter relating to it . whatever country can be in the full and undisputed possession of it , will give law to all the commercial world. should we quit the hold we have in india , and abandon the traffick , our neighbours the dutch will undoubtedly engross the whole : and if to their naval strength in europe , such a foreign strength and wealth be added , england must hereafter be contented to trade by their protection , and under their banners . as war does vary all the circumstances of trade , alter its channel , give it to one people , and take it from another , so in seasons of war , 't is by no means proper , nor adviseable , to embrace new councils in relation to it : nor can we then take any true measures , or make any right , and sound judgment about it . the scarcity of money in a long war , makes any exportation of bullion thought a great gr●evance ; of which , in quiet times , we should not be sensible . in the same manner , the interruption of any manufacture , though never so prejudicial to the kingdom , is grievous in a time of war , when business is scarce , and trading dull , but in a time of peace , and full employment , these hands can shift from one work , to another , without any great prejudice to themselves , or the public . there having been for three years last past , a great want of east-india goods , and there happening of late a great call for the woollen manufactures , and indeed for all the product of england , some unthinking persons , grew presently to imagine that the want of east-india goods ( and no other reason ) had brought the woollen manufacture into request , and increased its consumption , from whence very many have began to argue , and infer , that the east-india trade is , and alwayes was , prejudicial to the kingdom . but the sudden call which was then for all kind of english commodities , as well as the woollen manufacture , viz. lead , tin , leather , butter , cheese , tallow , &c. did not proceed from the want of east-india goods , but indeed from the posture of the exchange abroad , the ill condition of our silver coyn , and the high price guineas were brought to : for we plainly see this great demand , both abroad , and at home , for our goods does cease , now guineas are lower'd , and the coyn is alter'd . my lord , it has been too often the fault of english councils , to determine rashly of the most important matters ▪ and ( with submission to better judgments ) i doubt it may be of very dangerous consequence at this time , to meddle with , or give any disturbance to a settled traffick . the concern of wooll is , without doubt , to be taken care of , but not so as upon that account to slight all our foreign interest . the east-india company has been for a long time look'd upon with an evil eye , by some people , because there has formerly been ill management in their affairs ; and for that some of their goods were thought to hinder the consumption of our own manufactures ; and because it was seen what silver they really carried out , and not enough consider'd what bullion their effects brought hither in return . some persons ( without doors ) either bribed by the dutch , or to flatter that interest , profess themselves open enemies to the traffick in general ; others through inadvertency , and for want of examining the bottom of things , give into their notions ; and others joyn with them out of immoderate zeal to promote the woollen manufacture : so that any discerning man may see , that the utter ruin of this trade , and its intire loss to england will be compassed , unless the king , assisted by the legislative power , out of his fatherly love to his people , interpose , with his wisdom , in the matter . one of the principal dangers now , of taking new councils about it , is , that in a time of war , if by any false steps and measures , we should lose ground in india , neither our condition , nor the nature of our present alliance with the dutch , will permit us to assert our right in those parts by force of arms. and if we should come so to lose our hold in india , as not to trade thither at all , or but weakly and precariously , i will venture to affirm ( and i hope your lordship will remember hereafter this prediction of mine ) that england will thereby lose half its foreign business . for all trades have a mutual dependance one upon the other , and one begets another , and the loss of one , frequently loses half the rest . by carrying to other places the commodities brought from india , we every where inlarg'd our commerce , and brought home a great over-ballance , either in foreign goods , or in bullion . in holland we exchanged our wrought silks , callicoes , &c. for their spices : by indian goods , we could purchase at a better rate , in germany , the linnens of silesia , saxony , and bohemia . in times of peace we did , and may again traffick with france , for our india goods against the things of luxury , which will alwayes be brought from thence ; and thereby we may bring the ballance more of our side , between us and that kingdom . and , my lord , there being a peace now in agitation between us and france , the wisdom of the state perhaps may think fit to insist , as an article , that the prohibition of our east-india goods may be taken off in france , and if that can be obtain'd , it will put the trade of england with that kingdom , upon much a more equal foot. as to spain , and the streights , and parts within the streights , &c. 't is apparent that a large share of the bullion return'd hither , from thence , did proceed from the sale there , of callicoes , pepper , and other east-india goods consum'd in those parts , and also bought up by the spaniards for their own , and the consumption of their plantations in america . 't is hop'd , my lord , the foregoing arguments have sufficiently prov'd , that this traffick in general is beneficial to the nation . i shall now proceed to deliver my opinion concerning the bill for prohibiting the wearing all east-india and persia wrought silks , bengals , and dyed , printed , or stained callicoes , which was the second point i propos'd to handle . they who promote this bill do it , as is presum'd , upon the following grounds , and reasons . first , they believe such a prohibition will advance the consumption of wooll , and the woollen manufactures . secondly , they think it will advance the silk and linnen manufactures of england . thirdly , they imagin such a prohibition may be made by act of parliament , without ruin to the traffick in general . these three points , my lord , i shall endeavour to examine and state fairly before your lordship : and i shall discourse of the east-india trade first , as it has relation to the woollen manufacture . secondly as it has relation to the silk and linnen manufactures . and thirdly , i shall show how this prohibition will affect the east-india trade in general . and first as to the woollen manufacture . trade is the general concern of this nation , but every distinct trade has a distinct interest . the wisdom of the legislative power consists , in keeping an even hand , to promote all , and chiefly to encourage such trades , as increase the publick stock , and add to the kingdoms wealth , consider d as a collective body . trade is in its nature free , finds its own channel , and best directeth its own course : and all laws to give it rules , and directions , and to limit , and circumscribe it , may serve the particular ends of private men , but are seldom advantagious to the publick . governments , in relation to it , are to take a providential care of the whole , but generally to let second causes work their own way ; and considering all the links , and chains , by which they hang together , peradventure it may be affirm'd , that , in the main , all trafficks whatsoever are beneficial to a country . they say few laws in a state are an indication of wisdom in a people , but it may be more truly said , that few laws relating to trade , are the mark of a nation that thrives by traffick . laws to compel the consumption of some commodities , and prohibit the use of others , may do well enough , where trade is forc'd , and onely artificial , as in france ; but in countries inclin'd by genius , and adapted to it by situation , such laws are needless , unnatural , and can have no effect conducive to the publick good. i have often wonder'd upon what grounds the parliament proceeded in the act for burying in woollen : it occasions indeed a consumption of wooll , but such a consumption , as produces no advantage to the kingdom . for were it not plainly better , that this wooll made into cloth , were exported , paid for , and worn by the living abroad , than laid in the earth here at home . and were it not better , that the common people ( who make up the bulk and are the great consumers ) should be bury'd in an old sheet , fit for nothing else , as formerly , than in so much new wooll , which is thereby utterly lost . the natural way of promoting the woollen manufacture , is not to force its consumption at home , but by wholsome laws to contrive , that it may be wrought cheaply in england , which consequently will enable us to command the markets abroad . the onely beneficial way to england , of making wooll yield a good price , is to have it manufactur'd cheaply . no country in europe , manufactures all kind of goods so dearly as this kingdom ; and the dutch at this very day buy up our cloaths here , which they carry home , and nap and dye so cheaply , that by this means they are able to under-sell us , in our own native commodity . the act for maintenance of the poor , is the true bane , and destruction to all the english manufactures in general . for it apparently encourages sloth , and beggery ; whereas if the legislative power would make some good provision , that work-houses might in every parish be erected , and the poor , such as are able , compell'd to work , so many new hands might thereby be brought in , as would indeed make the english manufactures flourish . i have reason to think , that the people receiving alms in this kingdom , are twelve hundred thousand ; if but half could be brought to work , besides their own nourishment , their labour one with another might produce to the publick at 20 s. per head , at least per annum 600,000 l. if this could be compass'd , the woollen manufacture would advance without any unnatural driving or compulsion . for we want hands , not manufactures in england , and laws to compel the poor to work , not work wherewithal to give them employment . to make england a true gainer by the woollen manufacture , we should be able to work the commodity so cheap , as to under-sell all comers to the markets abroad . i shall , my lord , advance two propositions which may sound very strangely , and yet perhaps will be thought very right , and true , upon a mature examination . first , that 't is not the benefit , nor interest of england in general , that wooll should bear a high price in our markets at home . secondly , that by a great consumption of the vvoollen manufactures within this kingdom , the publick will not reap such an advantage as some imagine . fine broad cloth , was the antient drapery of england , and which first recommended this manufacture to the use of foreign countries , this is the natural issue and product of the kingdom , inimitable abroad , and it must be very great carelessness , and want of conduct , that can make us lose this trade so beneficial to the nation . but tho' the vvooll of other places is not so fit for workmanship as ours , yet the commodity is abounding almost in all countries of europe ; and if the cloth of england be brought any way to bear too high a price , it may put some of our neighbours either upon the industry of manufacturing their own better : or upon the frugality to content themselves with what they can make at home ; and it may reduce other parts , to set up new manufactures in their own countries , which will be very detrimental to the vent , especially , of our narrow and courser cloaths . nothing can make this commodity beneficial , so as to enrich england , but to have the vvoollen manufacture so cheap , as that great quantities of our cloath may be exported , and at such a rate , as that we may be able to under-sell all nations , and discourage all people from setting it up . but this can never be , if by arts , and inventions , we endeavour to give vvooll an unnatural price here at home , upon which score , i have advanc'd the second proposition , that england reaps no such advantage by a large consumption of the woollen manufacture within this kingdom . for it is the interest of all trading nations , whatsoever , that their home consumption should be little , of a cheap and foreign growth , and that their own manufactures , should be sold , at the highest markets , and spent abroad ; since by what is consum'd at home , one loseth only what another gets , and the nation in general is not at all the richer ; but all foreign consumption is a clear , and certain profit . so that in the woollen manufacture , england does not get by what is spent here by the people , but by what is sold abroad in other countries . if the people of england are willing , and pleased to wear indian silks , and stuffs , of which the prime cost in india , is not above a fourth part of what their own commodities would stand them in here ; and if they are thereby thus enabled to export so much of their own product , whatever is so sav'd , is clear gain to the kingdom in general . but to set this matter in a clearer light. suppose 200,000 l. per annum of the prime sum sent to india , is return'd in commodities for our own consumption : and , suppose half this sum , viz. 100,000 l. to be return'd in such goods as are worn here in the stead and room of the woollen manufactures .   l. from 100,000 l. prime cost to india , there may reasonably be expected goods that sell here for — 400,000 so that by sending to india — 100,000 we gain for our own consumption clear — 300,000 now this must be clear profit to the kingdom , because this sum would be otherwayes laid out and consum'd in our own product ; which product we are by this means enabled to export . for when we come to examine into the true reason of the great wealth of holland , we shall find it chiefly to arise from this frugality of consuming at home what is cheap , or comes cheaply , and carrying abroad what is rich , and will yield most money . 't is granted that bengals and stain'd callicoes , and other east-india goods , do hinder the consumption of norwich stuffs , crapes , english ratines , shaloons , sayes , perpetuanas , and antherines : but the same objection will lye against the use of any thing that is of foreign growth ; for the importation of wine , undoubtedly hinders the consumption of barly ; and england could subsist , and the poor perhaps would have fuller employment , if foreign trade were quite laid aside ; but this would ill consist with our being great at sea , upon which ( under the present posture of affairs in europe ) all our safety does certainly depend . that the east-india goods do something interfere with the woollen manufacture , must undoubtedly be granted , but the principal matter to be consider'd , is , which way the nation in general is more cheaply supply'd . if 100,000 l. prime cost to india , brings home so many goods as stand in the stead , and supply the room of 400,000 l. of our own manufactures , it must certainly be adviseable not to prohibit such a trade , but rather to divert the wooll used in these our home manufactures , and the craft , labour and industry employ'd about 'em , to the making fine broad cloth , course and narrow cloths , stuffs and other commodities , fit for sale in foreign markets ; since 't is an undoubted truth , that 400,000 l. worth of our native goods sold abroad , does add more to the nations general stock , and wealth , than four millions worth of our home product consum'd within the kingdom . but , besides , suppose the wearing east-india wrought silks , &c. in england were prohibited , and that their whole importation were interdicted , i do not see how such prohibitions would at all advance the vent of our home product . for in one case , if they hinder the consumption of the woollen manufacture at home , will they not when exported , hinder its consumption , and the sale of cloaths in foreign parts ? and in the other case , if the english were forbid to bring indian goods into europe , will not the dutch import them , and thereby in the same manner , hurt abroad , the vent and consumption of our english cloths ? upon the whole matter , my lord , it is my opinion , ( which i submit to better judgments ) that the importation of east-india and persia wrought silks , stain'd callicoes , &c. though it may somewhat interfere with the manufactures of norwich , bristol , and other particular places ; yet , that such importation adds to the kingdoms main stock , and wealth , and is not prejudicial to the general woollen manufacture of england . and secondly as to the silk and linnen manufactures . wisdom is most commonly in the wrong , when it pretends to direct nature . the various products of different soiles , and countries , is an indication , that providence intended they should be helpful to each other , and mutually supply the necessities of one another . and as it is great folly to compel a youth to that sort of study , to which he is not adapted by genius , and inclination : so it can never be wise , to endeavour the introducing into a country , either the growth of any commodity , or any manufacture , for which , nor the soil , nor the general bent of the people is proper : and as forc'd fruits ( though they may look fair to the eye ) are notwithstanding tastless , and unwholsome ; so a trade forc'd in this manner , brings no national profit , but is prejudicial to the publick . we have such advantages by situation , and in several commodities , and materials , natural , and almost peculiar to us , that if the improvement of them were sufficiently look'd after , and encourag'd by the state , we might increase in wealth , greatness , and power , peradventure beyond all nations in europe . it is our fault , if we do not enjoy the woollen manufacture without any rivalship ; but undoubtedly it might be very much advanced ▪ if work-houses were set up , if the laws did provide , and the magistracy in the execution did take care , to set the poor to work . such an increase of hands would likewise produce more tin , and lead , and enable us to afford leather cheaper : and it is a large exportation , and being able to undersell all others , in foreign markets , that brings national profit . more hands would quicken industry , and improve waste ground , which would enable us to carry out corn , at a cheap rate . and generally speaking all laws restraining idleness , and that will invite people hither , must better the manufactures , and make 'em more gainful to the nation . there is no trade so advantageous , especially to an island , as that of buying goods in one country , to sell them in another ; and it is the original and chief article of the great wealth in holland . there is gain by the freight : it occasions consumption of our home product : it breeds seamen , increases shipping , and improves navigation : and any home manufacture that hinders this kind of traffick , or that indeed interferes with it , is pernicious , and ought in wisdom , and by all rules of policy , to be discouraged by the publick . this kind of commerce england was formerly in a large possession of , and it may be retriev'd , and in the best of times was capable of great improvement . our plantations ( if we take care to preserve them from foreign insults and invasions ) as they increase in people , will consume more of our home manufactures than we have hands to make : they produce commodities indispensably necessary to this part of the world , and not to be produced elsewhere , and with industry and conduct , may be made an inexhaustible mine of treasure to their mother kingdom . if there be such a multitude of hands that want vvork in england , the herring fishery would employ many thousands of men , and one million of money ; and , the advantages our situation gives us for it consider'd , we might at least come in for a share , with the dutch , in that trade , which brings them so immense a profit . some of the foregoing materials are peculiar gifts and blessings to this soil ; our inclinations to the sea , fit us as well as the dutch , for the traffick of carrying goods from one countrey to another ( the most certain gain a nation can make ) our ports are safer and fitter than theirs for this purpose . our plantation trade , to carry it on to its height , would require a greater stock than we are masters of at present , and would consume more of our manufactures , and home product , than we can make and furnish at reasonable rates . as to the fishery , if we are not intirely in possession of it , and if other nations have been suffer'd to make such a profit upon our coast , it has proceeded from want of industry in the english people , and through the negligence of former governments . in the foremention'd particulars , an unforc'd and a natural improvement may be made in our vvealth and substance , and 't is here the legislative power may , to good effect , interpose with its care and vvisdom . most countries have a certain number of their people , who addict themselves to trade and manufactures , and most nations have limited stock to be employ'd in those uses , which they cannot well exceed ; and 't is the prudence of a state , to see , that this industry , and stock , be not diverted from things profitable to the whole , and turn'd upon objects unprofitable , and perhaps dangerous to the publick . the stock england formerly had running in trade and manufactures , was very considerable , and i am sorry , upon a carefull inquiry , to find it so much decreas'd : what remains , and more than can be gather'd in many years of peace , will be sufficiently employ'd in that business , where the nation is a certain and known gainer ; and therefore should not be diverted upon uncertain objects , and turn'd upon new inventions , in which it cannot be determin'd , in many years , whither we get or loose , and how the ballance stands : and of this nature , and kind , are the silk , and linnen manufactures in england . silk is a manufacture of a foreign extract , and not the genuine product of this country ; it employs indeed the poor , but is not compos'd from a material of our own growth . whatever encouragement it meets with , it cannot thrive with us , being not calculated for our meridian : 't is fit onely for frugal nations , where parsimony renders craft and workmanship not dear , upon which score the french , italians , and dutch , will always be able to under-sell us in that commodity , and hinder any success we can propose . and as an example of this , did not the hollanders , lately , bring hither french lustring , under their seal , which they could afford so cheap , as to under-sell the projectors of it here , tho' they were at the charge of freight and custom . the stock and industry laid out on the silk manufacture , would be more usefully employ'd , in such as are made from materials of our own growth . if the luxury of wearing silk could be quite abolish'd , such a reformation would undoubtedly be beneficial to the kingdom ; but since this is not easily to be compass'd , a wise state must consider which way the folly of their people can be supply'd at the cheapest rate , for , frugality of this nature , as certainly enriches the whole , as it does any private person . there are brought from india two sorts of silks . the one is of such a sort as is not made in england , and consequently onely hinders the importation of the like kind , at a dearer rate , from holland , italy , france , turkey and other places . the other is of the like sort with those made here , notwithstanding which , it must certainly be prejudicial to the interest of england , to forbid their importation from india , unless those , and all other kinds of silk applicable to the same uses , could be prohibited to be brought from foreign countries : since by such prohibition ( unless the vanity it self can be cured ) we onely enrich the neighbouring nations at our expence . the east-india goods since they were in use , have apparently lower'd the price of silks from france , spain , and italy , at least 25 per cent : and if their importation should be prohibited , will it not follow naturally that the european countries will again advance upon us ? and the french , italians , and dutch , who upon several accounts are able to underwork us , will undoubtedly fall to making and sending hither such commodities , as may stand in the room here of indian goods , and at the low rates they can afford 'em , they will quickly ruin our silk manufactures : and when the fabrick is distroy'd , and the stock and hands employ'd in it , are diverted to other uses , they may put what fine they please upon our vanity . the dutch have such a silk manufacture in their country , that by computation , there is imported hither , from thence , more of that commodity , one year with another than we bring from india . most of the velvets us'd here , come from thence , and are purchas'd by us at a dearer rate , than could be afford'd from india , or made here at home , if we were skill'd in the workmanship . and notwithstanding the dutch have so considerable a silk manufacture of their own , instead of prohibiting , they encourage the importation of all east-india silks : well knowing , that 't is the interest of every nation , to go to their own , or foreign markets , with goods as cheap as they can , thereby to beat out all others . and that the cheapness of any commodity , will force a way into those countries where it is prohibited , if any of the like sort and kind is indulg'd and permitted to be worn there ; nothing being able to render the prohibition of goods intirely effectual in any nation , but a capacity in the inhabitants of such country , to afford them at cheaper rates , which can hardly be the case of england . as to the linnen manufacture , it is no more the genuine offspring of this kingdom , than that of silk . 't is true that some of the materials for it , may be had from our own soil , but not enough to supply our whole consumption , and we can never pretend to make the finer sort . and if the now intended prohibition should so operate , as utterly to lose us the east-india trade ( which peradventure may be the case ) the dutch may put what rate they please upon their callicoes ; and the dutch and french , and other nations , will impose any price upon their fine linnens ( which our callicoes for some years have kept down ) so that , our necessary consumption in this commodity , will stand us in above 40 per cent. more than it does at present . this manufacture is proper onely for countries where they can have flax and hemp cheap , and where the common people work at very easie rates . but tho' with forcing nature , and by art , and industry , we could bring it to greater perfection , yet upon other accounts 't is perhaps not adviseable , nor for the nations interest , to promote it . first , our soil and the labour of the people may be employ'd about materials more advantageous , and wherein we cannot be undersold by other countries . secondly , the growth of this manufacture would obstruct trade , and other business more important to the nation : for ▪ 1. our noble staple of wooll is undoubtedly capable of a great improvement , to which the increase of wages ( that must happen upon an increase in the linnen manufacture ) will be a considerable hindrance . and one cannot rise , but to the prejudice of the other , because we really want people and hands to carry on both to their full perfection . and , 2. it is more the general interest of england to export woollen manufacture in exchange abroad for linnen , than to make it here at home ; which trade has been set afoot , and prosper'd very much , to the great benefit of this kingdom , since the prohibition of french goods during this war. but if we provide our selves at home with linnen sufficient for our consumption , and do not want that which is brought from silesia , saxony , bohemia , and poland , this trade must cease ; for these northern countries have neither money , nor other commodities ; and if we deal with them , we must be contented , in a manner , to barter our cloaths , for their linnen ; and 't is obvious enough , to any considering man , that by such a traffick , we are not losers in the ballance . in process of time , when england shall come to be more peopled ; and when a long peace shall have increased our wealth and stock , perhaps we may be able not only to carry on our old manufactures to their full height , but to embrace new ones , such as are that of silk and linnen ; but as our case stands , it seems sufficient to let them take their own natural course , and not to drive them on ; for too many sorts of businesses may be as well hurtful in the publick , as they are often to private persons . if the nation finds a general profit from them , their own weight will bear them on ; but in the mean while , it cannot be adviseable , in their favour , to exercise any extraordinary act of power ; and for their sake , by prohibitions , to distress , embroil , and disturb any settled trade , by which , beyond all contradiction , the nation , before the war , was so great a gainer . my lord , after much thought upon this subject , i am come to these conclusions , within my self , which i submit to your better judgment . first , that our silk and linnen manufactures obstruct trades more important , and more profitable . secondly , that , tho' a prohibition of east-india goods , may advance their present interest , who are engag'd in the silk and linnen manufactures here , yet that it will bring no future advantage to the kingdom . thirdly , that luxury is so deeply rooted in this nation , that should this prohibition pass , it will onely carry us to european markets , where , we shall pay perhaps 50 per cent. dearer , may be , for the same , or for vanities of the like nature . so that upon the whole matter , my lord , i am humbly of opinion , that the importation of wrought silks , bengals , stain'd callicoes , &c. does not so interfere with our silk and linnen manufactures , as to hurt the publick , and bring dammage to the collective body of england . and thirdly , as to the effect such a prohibition will have upon the east-india trade in general . in all argumentations , 't is requisite to settle , and agree upon principles ; for which reason , in the beginning of this discourse , i did endeavour to prove , that in general the east-india trade was profitable to this kingdom . and i dwelt the longer upon that head , because some people are quite of a contrary opinion , and believe it hurtful to england . and i am satisfied that many ( without doors ) promote the bill in question , in hopes thereby utterly to destroy the traffick . and , truly my lord , it seems plain to me , that the intended prohibitions must prove , though not a sudden , yet a certain destruction to it . and that 't is a lopping from this trade , the branches , and taking away some of the bark , and part of the root : the trunk indeed is left , but so maim'd , and injur'd , that it can never spread and flourish . if it can be made appear this prohibition is no ways to be render'd effectual : and if it can be shown , that the said prohibitions will utterly disable the present east-india company , or any other , to be hereafter erected , from supporting , and carrying on the trade , to the advantage of england , your lordship will certainly think the bill , now a foot , of dangerous consequence , and not fit to receive a sanction in the house of peers . no prohibitions of a foreign or domestick commodity , can have any effect , without sumptuary laws strictly penn'd , and rigorously put in execution . for , the importation of french wines , and linnen , has been forbidden under high penalties during this war , yet the consumption of those sort of commodities , is not much lessen'd , and they are brought in upon us , from other countries , at much a dearer rate . for these three years last past , french wines have been convey'd hither by the way of spain and portugal , and the french silks , and linnens , have been all along secretly brought , and smuggled upon our own coast . perhaps if severe sumptuary laws had impos'd a high duty , or penalty , upon the consumers of french wine , silks , and linnen , the prohibition might have had its designed effect : but how such laws could have been made practicable , i shall not pretend to determine . in the same manner , if a severe mulct , or a high duty , can be laid on such as shall wear or use any india , or persia wrought silks , bengals , &c. and if this were superadded to the prohibition , peradventure it might be render'd effectual . but , otherwise , notwithstanding the prohibition , of wearing such goods , and the penalties upon the retailers that shall vend them , their consumption will be little lessened in this kingdom , for they will be brought in upon us from other countries , scotland and holland more especially . however , though such a method is peradventure the only way of keeping down this luxury , i am very far , my lord , from thinking it adviseable . for the laws of all countries must be suited to the bent and inclinations of the people : and ( which i am loath to say ) there is sometimes a necessity , they should be a little accommodated to their deprav'd manners , and corruptions . the people of england , who have been long accustom'd to mild laws , and a loose administration , can never indure that severity , which is needful to make such a prohibition have effect : nor can they suffer high duties , or penalties to be imposed upon their pleasures , or bear a strict inquisition into their furniture and apparel . there is no country without a multitude of sumptuary laws , but hardly a place can be instanc'd , where they are observ'd , or produce any publick good. they were somewhat regarded in the infancy of the roman common-wealth , before riches and pomp , had banish'd vertue , and obedience : but their chiefest strength was alwayes deriv'd from the sanctity , and veneration , in which was held the office of censor . and in england , they would be immediately contemn'd , and derided ; and any magistrate must become the publick scorn , that should think to put them in execution . and yet without strict sumptuary laws , well observ'd , the wisdom of the parliament will find it self eluded , when it endeavours to banish foreign vanities and luxury , in favour of our own product and manufactures . for in all probability , the consequence of such a prohibition will be , that goods of the same kind , or goods applicable to the like use , instead of those imported from india , will be brought hither from abroad ; and the consumption will not be less , but at a much dearer rate . it may indeed somewhat better our manufactures , but will more advance those of france , italy and holland , who can afford to work cheaper : and , in all appearance , will thereby prove such a drein of this kingdoms treasure , as may bring utter destruction upon us . but the principal question is , whether , under such prohibitions , any body of men can find their accompt in carrying on this trade ? to make this traffick an addition of strength , as well as riches to the kingdom , encouragement should be given to send thither large , and strong ships , which will be expensive to the undertakers . their business in india cannot be manag'd without frequent gifts and presents , to the rajahs and governours , according to the practice in all the eastern countries . forts , and castles , with good garrisons , are there indispensably necessary , for the preservation of the pepper trade , and indeed , needful upon many other accompts , as magazines for naval provision , and as store houses , in which to lay goods , bought in the country , at proper seasons : besides they are a safety to our people , from any insults of the natives , and a refuge , upon any disorder , revolution , or other emergency in the mogul's state and empire ▪ a trade limited and circumscrib'd in the manner propos'd , cannot well undergo these expences , which notwithstanding are necessary for its preservation . i have before divided the 400,000 l. prime cost sent to india , into two parts , viz. half for foreign exportation , and , the other half , for home consumption .   l. the returns of 200,000 l. in time of peace might probably yeild abroad — 800,000 the returns of 200,000 l. in time of peace , might probably yield at home — 800,000 total — 1,600,000 but we must take notice , that the 1,200,000 l. profit , suppos'd in time of peace to arise from this trade , did not , all of it , accrue to the adventurers in the company , but was national , and divided among many thousands of the people . the merchants , who at the companies sales bought goods for exportation , had their share , and the retailers here had their proportion , in the gain , which this traffick , in the whole , might be computed to produce . and particularly for their share in the 600,000 l. supposed to be gained by our own consumption , in time of peace , by this traffick : there came in , the king for his customs ; owners of ships ; such as got by victualling them ; seamen for wages : and , lastly , factors and servants , both abroad , and at home . the gain made abstractedly by the company , has never been invidious : for if their whole stock be computed from their beginning , to this day , it will be found , by their dividends , that they have not one year , with another , divided 20 per cent. which , considering the length and hazard of their voyages , is not a profit to be envied . but since this war , the company have without doubt been great losers , and nothing but the invincible courage , which has been alwayes observ'd in english merchants , could have hindered the trade from being intirely lost . notwithstanding all the companies late losses at sea , and their former ill conduct in india , they have not lost footing there , but have , hitherto , preserv'd the trade , indeed at their own expence . however , if any thing should be done that will interrupt any great part of their commerce , they must apparently give it over , or sink under the burthen ; for the charge and expence abroad must be full as much to support a little , as a more extended traffick .   l. if this trade be so restrain'd , by prohibitions , as that there can be sent to india , not above per annum — 200,000 the national profit from thence arising cannot reasonably exceed — 600,000 the companies charge , and expence , to support and carry on their affairs abroad , may be modestly computed , at per annum — 100,000 which summe will be a great weight upon per annum — 600,000 but will fall lightly upon per an. 1,200,000 according to the best and most impartial accounts i can receive , the bill in agitation , must lose england half the trade to india in general , all the traffick to the coast and bay of bengal , and half the business to surrat . and , particularly , as to the coast and bay , the company did usually send thither yearly five or six ships , of between six and seven hundred tons each : the fifth part of which , returns freighted with salt-petre ; one other fifth part with fine muslins , floretta yarn , and raw silks ; the other three parts , with goods by the bill prohibited : the consequence of which must be , that the trade to the coast and bay , will prove so inconsiderable , that it must be abandon'd , and england reduc'd to buy all its salt-petre from the scots , danes or hollanders . i take our home consumption , which is half of the returns of the prime cost sent to india , to be the main foundation upon which the trade stands , especially , in a time of war. 't is that alone can bear the incident charges at home , and expences abroad , necessary for the support of so large a traffick ; and 't is that onely , can enable any company to indure losses at sea , by storm , or a foreign enemy . what encouragement can there be to go on with so vast a business , if our merchants must singly depend upon the markets abroad ? one country , to advance their own manufactures , may prohibit our goods , the hollanders will buy 'em up at their own rates , when their use is forbidden here , and they will be a drug , and blown upon , all over europe . there is great difference between a merchants having a choice , or a necessity to sell his ware. in one case he may in some measure make his own price , in the other he must take what is offer'd . to speak generally , the east-india trade is profitable to the adventurers in time of peace ; but rarely so in seasons of war and trouble . in time of peace they enrich their country by a foreign vent and exportation of their goods , and in time of war , the home consumption chiefly enables 'em to support and carry on their traffick . your lordships may see all along in this discourse , that 't is my opinion , they do not interfere with such manufactures as 't is the interest of england to promote and encourage : but though the prohibited east-india goods did greatly prejudice our own product and manufacture ; yet i do not think a prohibition of 'em at all adviseable , during the war , for these reasons : first , our condition is so weak , that we cannot struggle with any the bad events , with which a new council may be attended . secondly , if to their losses at sea , their misfortunes in india on the score of every's pyracy , and their want of money , arising from the general want of species in the nation , a prohibition of the consumption of so many of their goods be likewise added ; 't is to be apprehended , that upon such a discouragement , the traders to those parts , will by degrees withdraw from thence , their effects , and stock , and quite abandon the whole traffick . thirdly , if this should happen , and , that either through sullenness , or because the prohibition does really bring insuperable difficulties , our merchants should actually quit the trade ; the dutch , our rivals in all other traffick , will certainly seize the derelict . and such an addition to their riches and power at sea , can by no means be consistent with the welfare , and safety of this nation . my lord , in this discourse ( which proves much longer than i intended ) i have endeavour'd to show your lordship , first , that this trade is beneficial to the kingdom . secondly , that 't is not prejudicial to the general woollen manufacture of england . thirdly , that it does not so interfere with our silk and linnen manufactures , as to hurt the publick . fourthly , that the intended prohibitions may probably occasion an utter loss of the whole traffick . no alteration in so considerable a branch of our foreign commerce should be attempted , unless the whole matter had been for many months consider'd maturely , by a council of trade , composed of the ablest men in the kingdom . and i will venture to affirm , that no sound judgment can be made in things of this nature , without contemplating the universal posture and business of the nation : and when so important deliberations are a-foot , the number of the people should be examin'd , their annual consumption both of home and foreign materials should be well stated , the ready money and other stock of the kingdom should be inquired into , the sum of money and hands employ'd in every distinct trade , should be duly contemplated ; and upon such a general inspection and view of the whole , we might be ripe to deliberate on any single point . any false measures and rash councils in affairs so important , are hardly capable of a future remedy . the hollanders have in their possession all the spice islands , which they have strongly fortified , and by this means they lay a kind of excise upon those necessary commodities , which all europe is forced to pay . by the seizing of bantam they have got almost three parts in four of the pepper-trade .   tuns brought into europe since the loss of bantam , and before the present war ( communibus annis ) of pepper about — 5000 of which imported by the french and danes about — 500 by the english about — 900 by the dutch about — 3600 total — 5000 the hollanders , at this time are very powerful in india : they have many good forts and castles well provided , and large colonies of men ; and they can , upon any occasion , call together there 40 strong frigates : so that if it agreed with the present circumstances of their affairs in europe , or with the nature of the alliance they are engag'd in , 't is undoubtedly in their power , to engross this rich traffick wholly to themselves , and to expel us for ever from those countreys . perhaps they may not think it a safe advice , to attempt doing this by force , but we shall have no reason to complain , if they take in hand , what we give over and abandon . but suppose they should drive us from thence by force of arms , or that we should quit the trade to them through negligence and folly , it will be worth while to consider , what addition of wealth and strength , an intire monopoly of east-india goods may prove to that common-wealth . and , my lord , if i am not much deceiv'd in political arithmetick , it would bring yearly a much greater mass of treasure to the united provinces than is brought into europe from the mines of peru and mexico . this side of the world is so fond of those vanities , that if they could be had but at one market , such a market might , by their means , draw from the rest of europe , continually per annum , at least six millions . to prove this assertion , will take up more time than consists with the brevity intended in this discourse , i shall therefore onely give one instance , and that is of pepper , by which some judgment may be made of all the other commodities .   l. s. d. pepper 5000 tuns at 2 d. per l. as it may cost the dutch in india amounts to — 74,666 13 4 add to this 3 d. per l. for freight into holland , then it costs 5 d. per l. which amounts to — 186,666 13 4 ditto 5000 tons sold in holland at 12 d. per l. the profit being 7 d. per l. will amount to — 261,333 6 8 but this commodity is grown so necessary , and has so obtain'd , and is of such general use , that it may be sold in holland at six shillings per l. which is less than any of the other spices , as cheap in india as pepper .   l. s. d. then 5000 tons sold in holland at 6 s. per l. the profit being 5 s. 7 d. per l. will amount to — 2,498,836 13 4 if from the single article of pepper , such a sum as 2,498,836 l. may be rais'd , it will not be difficult to conceive , that by raising the price of other spices , wrought silks , callicoes , raw silks , salt petre , and other indian goods , the hollanders by an entire monopoly of this trade , may drein the rest of europe , every year , of , at least , six millions . considering their naval force , and their competition with us in trade , such an addition of wealth must make them a very formidable people . and though they may not peradventure turn their strength to hurt the traffick or peace of england , yet , 't is no very remote fear , to apprehend that notwithstanding all their riches , they may at last become a prey to france . and if the french , with the dutch shipping in their right , and as their lords , should once become masters of this rich trade , such an accession to that wise , well peopled , and large empire , must prove our ruin. and i must here take notice , that ( as i am inform'd ) all the salt-petre , produc'd in this side of the world , is not sufficient to take such a place of strength as dunkirk . if the fact be so , as war is made now , must not whatever country can obtain the sole trade to india , and the monopoly of that commodity , give laws to the rest of europe ? the principal care , my lord , incumbent upon persons in your station , is very cautiously to weigh new councils , to which you are adapted by nature and practice . wise men will never engage in rash advices ; from whence , if they succeed not , there is no good retreat : and , empericks of state only , will be tampering at every turn , with the body politick , and venturing upon bold and unsafe remedies . that the common people want work , that there is a general deadness of trade , and that our home manufactures are in an ill condition , must certainly be granted ; but these mischiefs proceed not from the importation of east-india goods , and may be plainly assign'd to other causes . upon the whole matter , my lord , i am of opinion ( with submission to better judgments ) that the intended prohibitions of east-india and persia wrought silks , &c. will be destructive to the trade in general , and hazard its being utterly lost to the kingdom . finis . 