Essays on trade and navigation in five parts / by Sir Francis Brewster, Kt.

ON Trade in General.

THESE Kingdoms of Great Brittain and Ireland, differ from most parts of the World, in that of their Strength, as they do in that of their Scituation, and Aptness for Trade.

Their Scituation gives them the Preferrance of the most Valuable Trade in the World, which must pass their Doors before it comes to their Neighbours; and as they are happy in their Sci∣tuation, so are they as Superiour to other Coun∣treys in their Native Growth and Production for Commerce; as Rich Soyl is to that which is Bar∣ren; these Kingdoms producing Trade as some Land doth Fruit, without Art or Labour, when other Countries like forced Ground raise their Trade by Assiduity in both: And such a People are more to be feared, than those that abound with the Blessings of Nature, but want that of Industry; we need go no further than the Dutch and Spaniards for Demonstrarion.

The Danger that hath been impendent over us for more than Thirty Years in this of our Trade, is from the French; and in Truth no Nation in the World can so well contest it with England as they

can; and therefore it seems reasonable to consider them in this as much as we do in that of their Armes; and perhaps they may be found laying a Foundation in War to enlarge their Trade and Navigation, and we at the same time declining in both.

That these Kingdoms cannot be safe under the Growth of France none will deny, and that it is safer for England to meet them in Flanders than here; but if the Advance Guards should be only consider'd, and the Main Body neglected, the con∣sequence might be fear'd.

Our Naval Force is thought the Main Body and Strength of the Nation: Now though large Sup∣plies in Parliament are absolutely necessary for that use, yet there is something else wanting to make us formidable at Sea, and that is Marine Trade and Navigation, which like Food to the Body must be dayly renewed, or else our Naval Strength will decay. And although perhaps it is not consi∣der'd, yet the want of Seamen for our Navigation and Trade in time of Naval War, Impoverisheth the Nation more than the Charge of the War.

There goes many Threads to make up the Webb of Trade, too fine for every eye to see; and among others the Cheap Navigating Ships is one: Now our want of Seamen obligeth Merchants to advance their Wages, and that gives Advantage to our Neighbours in carrying Commodities chea∣per to a Market than we can, and consequently makes them the Carriers of our Produce and Ma∣nufactory; which is the only certain Gain in Trade. Merchants often loose when a Ship Ar∣rives safe in Port, but Seamen have their full Wages.

There is also another Prejudice and Loss to the Nation, and that is carrying Money out by Fo∣reign Seamen that are imployed in our Merchant-Men, ¼▪ being allowed by the Act of Navigation; which might have been thought the only mistake in that Act, if the Consideration of our not ha∣ving sufficient for our Ships had not produced that Liberty.

As Naval War abates the number of our Sea∣men, so it increaseth those of the French; for that they imploy more Seamen in their Privateers, than they do in time of Peace in Merchant-Men: And as this affects us in War, so it may reasona∣bly be fear'd it will in time of Peace; For having so many Seamen made to their hands, will naturally put them upon inlarging their Navigation; to which they will be the more incouraged by our want of Men to supply ours, which they will soon fall into.

And the Abating of our Marine Imployments hath a worse Consequence than the Loss of our Trade; for that it seems the most effectual way to lay us open to the Invasion of the French, which we are no longer secure from, than whilst we Com∣mand the Sea; And if we find the French alone able to contend with us and the Dutch United, what might they not do if they should be assisted with other helps, and we left single to oppose them, There are more ways than one to bring such a Revolution in Europe: And therefore it seems of the greatest moment for this Nation, to provide in their Naval Force, as if they were left to their own defence against the Power of more than the French at Sea: It is, no doubt, the Interest of Eng∣land

to support the Dutch, and it is hoped we shall never be divided. But that Kingdom is in an ill Condition that cannot secure its self without the Force of its Allies

Such Reflections as these may not be improper in this Age, They were thought necessary in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, when she question'd the French of Building a Ship of War but of Fourteen Guns.

And since they are now above such Demands, and that we cannot restrain them, it seems necessa∣ry for us to increase our own; and that is not possible to be done any other way than by Impro∣ving our Navigation, and inlarging our Trade, without which we may fight for the Sovereignty of the Sea until we have lost the use of it. If Account were taken of those several Trades that this Na∣tion hath in a manner totally lost since the Reign of James the First, it might open those Eyes that are alwayes shut to that which is the Strength and Riches of this Nation, as Navigation is.

There were many Thousand Seamen formerly imployed, where for late years we have few or none, as the Greenland, and Muscovy Trade lost; that of the North-Seas, and Newfound-Land, little better; most of our Eastland-Trades mana∣ged by Foreign Ships; and so the Trade of Ireland; the neglect of which in that point, as well as some others, may be found when it is too late of pernicious Consequence to England.

These are Trades we lost to the French, and Northern Navigation, in time of Peace; and this War hath brought on the Stage the Portugese, a Nation we least fear'd; yet under this cover, we may very well loose great part of our Southern

Trade. We formerly imployed our Ships in their Braziel and other Trades, and now we are forced to imploy theirs; not only because of their being Free Ships, but also because we cannot get Seamen to Navigate our own Ships.

By Accidents of War, Trade often shifts from one Nation to another, and some will stick behind after the War is ended; for that Seamen and Mer∣chants rest where they find most Incouragement; and wherever they come they are made wellcom, and when the benefit they bring to the Countrey they Trade in is observed, they will not want Incouragement to stay there: There never was a fairer opportunity, if the Portugueze make use of the Introduction this War hath given them; to make Lisbon the Mart for Trade, and Naviga∣tion in the Western and Levant Trade: It is a mi∣stake to think that Navigation and Marine Im∣ployments can have no growth where the Natives are not Numerous and Apt for the Sea.

Trade is best Improved by good Laws, and Incouragement for Strangers; where such are to∣gether with a Scituation for Trade, that place will be crowded; and so would Lisbon and the Portugueze Ports if it were not for the Inquisition; but it is believed the Rigour of that will be Aba∣ted now they have tasted the sweets of Trade. All these things make against us, and though little consider'd, bodes ill for these Kingdoms; if some extraordinary, and speedy Resolutions be not ta∣ken to regain our Navigation and Sea-Imployments, this Nation will fall under some Foreign Power. It is easie to read our Destiny, nor will it be like a Conquest on a Continent; One Day at Sea may

determine the Fate of these Kingdoms; and if we have no Fund or Nursery for Seamen in Propor∣tion to the French, and others about us, what can be expected.

That which I humbly conceive the most visible Means to preserve these Kingdoms in their Trade and Navigation, and nothing but that can provide for their Naval Force, is the setting up a National Bank: This now on foot is too little, and yet too bigg; the first because it promotes nothing of our Navigation, but on the contrary may be fear'd to Destroy it, by that Tax on Shipping; but I have left my Bank; which as I conceive too little for the reason I mention'd, so I think it too big because it will Ingross the Money, and consequently the Trade of the Nation, into one City; and will draw from all Parts of the Kingdom those little Sums that do now in great measure support the Manu∣factoryes of the Nation.

When there was no place where Money could be lodg'd at Interest for a Day; it was easie for Industrious Men to borrow from their Neigh∣bours; and by that means our Manufactories were made Plenty and Cheap; but now a little time will shew they can be neither: But of this I have writ my thoughts a part.

The Bank that I conceive would be useful in this Nation, must be of such Universal Extent, that every Person in the Kingdom may be con∣cern'd in it, and that every corner in the Kingdom shall partake of the Streams that run from it: That out of this Bank there may be Provision for Ships and Seamen.

That those Trades before-mentioned, that we

have lost may be retrieved; and such Methods laid down as may incourage that Navigation which imploys most Seamen, as the Fishing, &c.

To Establish this Bank will require great Con∣sideration, for that as it may be Constituted, the Trade and Treasure of this Nation will be very much increas'd; all the Poor and now Useless hands Imployed, not a Beggar in the Streets: And since England wants nothing so much as Peo∣ple, One way to supply that defect, is to increase your work for them you have: And so one Man may be better than two, as to the Riches of the Nation.

And the full Imployments of the Hands we have is the only way to get more; but to invite Strangers into a Kingdom, where the Taxes for the Poor amount to more than the Revenue of some of the Neighbouring Countreys, shews we consider Trade as wise Men do Play, for Diversion, not Business; and in that Delusion may be read the Ruine of these Nations.