







 
   
     
       
         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
        
      
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         A48185
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         ESTC R221358
         99832677
         99832677
         37151
         
           
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             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.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           East India Company -- Administration -- Early works to 1800.
           Trading companies -- Europe -- Early works to 1800.
           Foreign trade promotion -- England -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           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
           .
        
      
    
     
  

