England's improvements in two parts : in the former is discoursed how the kingdom of England may be improved ... : in the latter is discoursed how the navigation of England may be increased and the soveraignty of the British seas more secured to the crown of England ... / by Roger Coke.

Annot.

I say, this free admission of Forreigners to import Goods into England, will more certainly enrich the Nation, than can be reasonably expected by the returns of the Growths and Manufactures of England and our Plantations in For∣rein Trade. For the Nation is necessarily enriched so much, as the value of the Goods imported by Forreigners amounts to: Whereas the Merchant in return of Goods by Forrein Trade, is not so secure but he may become a loser: or, if he or the Nation gains by the returns, yet the gain is no more than the value of the Goods returned exceed the value of the Goods Exported; which if 1/10, is very considerable; whereas the Nation entirely gains the value of the Goods imported by Forreigners. And in case the Merchant loses the outward Fraught, or the returns of the Goods of Eng∣land

or our Plantations, the Nation loses so much as the va∣lue of the Goods amount to. But the Nation ventures nothing by the Importation of Goods imported by For∣reigners, yet necessarily gains so much as the Goods im∣ported amount to in value.

And herein I observe, that Goods being valuable as they can be vended, the places where they are vended generally receive greater benefit by the Intercourse of People, and the varieties of Trades and Traders, than the places whereon the Goods are wrought and renewed. So that though nei∣ther London, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Legorne, and many other frequented places have little or no Good; of their own growth or Manufactures yet by reason of the frequencles of people, in many varieties of Trades, they receive much greater benefit than the places on which the Goods are wrought and renewed. And I see no reason but if the Im∣portation of Goods were as free in England, as in Holland, Zealand, Hamburg, Gottenburg, Legorne, &c. but that our Ports might be as rich and flourishing as these; and so much more, as ours are better, and more convenient. Whereas, by denying the World this freedom, we continue the Pover∣ty of the Towns upon the Coast of England, which daily decline, and even become desolate, and necessitate the world to enrich and strengthen other places with those Riches and People which might be much better and securely enjoyed by us.