A plea for the bringing in of Irish cattel, and keeping out of fish caught by foreigners together with an humble address to the honourable members of Parliament of the countries of Cornwal and Devon, about the advancement of tin, fishery, and divers manufactures / by John Collins.

The Fourth Argument.

The prime reason for Barring Foreign Commodities holds not in this case.

The Irish Cattel in question, with their Hides, Tallow and Wool, are not so much Imported for our expence, as to Ship off, to furnish Foreign Markets withal, and are received in payment of an annual debt, which cannot be well otherwise returned from Ireland.

Lastly, If we ought not for our own expence to be furnished with Commodities from abroad, that we can supply our selves with at home, then ought we to have no Foreign Salt, Iron, Brass, Paper, Tapestry-hangings,

Canvas, Linnen, Earthen-wares, Madders, Safflore, Smalt, hard Soap, tinned Plates, and divers other Commodities of lesser moment Imported, and no Salt Petre from the East Indies, nor Sugar from Portugal, seeing our own Plantations will afford it.

And if we admit these great concerns from Strangers, 'tis more fit his Majesties Subjects should have a free Trade with one another, for matters of far less moment:

As to that straw, that unless Provisions be dear the people will be lazy, and will not work.

Answer, 'tis granted necessity begets industry, yet notwithstanding if some will be idle, it follows not that all or the Major part will be so: Poor people must either work, beg, or steal; If the latter, besides saving the Almes of the Parish, there are Houses of Correction and pun∣ishment.

Moreover goodness and cheapness are the main in∣ducements to put off any Commodity: And it canot be well apprehended how Labour shall be cheap and Work plenty where Provisions are dear, where the one riseth the other doth so likewise: As at London and in other places where Provisions are dearest Labor is dearest: And this assertion is contrary to experience in memory, to wit, before the year 1640. Provisions were much cheaper than they are now, and Labour likwise, and work more plentifull, for then we had a great Trade; And about 60 Ships of about 400 or 500 Tuns burthen employed in the Streights, which afterwards in 1659. came to be reduced to 6 or there∣abouts, as the City represented to Olivers Council: Whereas on the contrary at present we have so little work that many thousands of Families of Salt-workers, Rope-makers, Weavers, Dryers, Potters, Tanners, &c. have no Employment.

And to make Provisions dear as a means to make the poor work, is the ready way to drive them into Foreign Plantations, where they may either have greater Wages for their pains, or Ground for Plan∣tations given them by the Law of the Country. Those that are for grinding and made the Objection, I suppose would not willingly undergo a mean comfortless drudgery themselves.

As to that Allegation about a low rate of interest, to the intent Lands and Provisions may rise in value:

'Tis granted and affirmed, that according to the Laws of Arithmetick for yearly Purchases, if Money be at 4 in the hundred, Land should be at 25 years Pur∣chase; and at 5 in the hundred at 20 years Purchase: though the Effect doth not always follow the supposed Cause: As in the year 1640. when Money was at 8 per Centum, and Land should have been worth but 12 and a half years Purchase, yet it was commonly sold for 20 years Purchase; Whence take this Sorites.

If Land rises, the Commodities the Land yields must also rise, otherwise the Tenant cannot pay his Rent.

This rising-price must be paid either at home or abroad, if neither, consequently a low Rate of interest cannot advance the price of Lands.

Cloth, Lead, and Tin, are our chief Staple Com∣modities: And whether these will bear a considerable Rising price abroad or at home, is the Querie:

1. As for Cloth, I hear the Merchants hazard is great and gain little; and it was more formerly: This saith Mr. Baker, an eminent Merchant in a Book of the Spanish and Smyrna Trade, Printed in 1659. page 13. Intituled the Merchants Petition and Remonstrance.

The Clothiers and others complain against the Mer∣chants

in general, that they take not off and buy their Cloathes, and other their Manufactures: nor give them such prices for them whereby they may make a Lively∣hood.

But the Turky Merchants complaints are very great, because they are rather losers than gainers by the sales of their Cloth, (on which Commodity I lately lost 10 per Cent out of my principal on an hundred Cloaths, well bought and sorted, that I sent to Smyrna:) And to put off our Cloth we are now forced to remit quan∣tities of Monies to Purchase the Commodities of those Countries; which tendeth very much to the consump∣tion of the English Stock.

At that time the Turks besieging Candy, in reason Cloth should have sold dearer than now, when they are far in the Inland Country, and when Turky is supplyed with the Cloth of Germany by the Venetians.

2. As to Lead, Mr. Baker page 8. saith, that during the late (Usurper's) War with Spain, the Spaniards wanting Lead Employed those that had skill in Mines, who presently found most excellent Mines by Xaen, and since they have needed little of ours from 1634 to 1646. saith Capt. Thomas Bushell, that great Miner, in his Case printed in 1649. pag. 13.3 or 4 Thousand Tuns yearly raised, was and now is the Trade and Customs, both by Transportation and Importation.

3. Concerning Tin, I have heard divers Merchants of late years affirm, they could not get the Interest of their Principal by it; and when the Debate about Tin Farthings happened, the Pewterers affirmed, That there was 22000 l. worth of Tin at Smyrna remaining, that had been some years in the hands of one Mr. Pythorne, a Factor there, that he could not sell to any advantage;

and it's well known that Tin was never so cheap at home, nor more of it lying on our hands than now, albeit His Majesty ever since 1666. hath received no benefit by his Prerogative of praeemption, nor is like to have any for the future; whereas in former times it was farmed at 12000 l. per annum Rent.

The Case being thus, give me leave to make a Di∣gression about the improvement of our Native Com∣modities.

Endeavours have been on foot to restore this fallen branch of the Revenue by Farming it of His Majesty, and coming to a Composition with the Miners of Cornwal to take off all the Tin the Mines yeild, or at least 1200 Tuns per annum, but there were two Rubs in the way; the one was, the Convocation could not well come to such an Agreement, till an Act of Parlia∣ment was obtained to bind all particular Miners to stand to such contract as the said Convocation should make: The other was, the Farmers would not under∣take such Bargain without Covenanting with His Ma∣jesty, to supply England, Ireland, and the Plantations, with Tin Farthings, a Pound weight of them to be cut into 16 Pence, that by the profit of these Farthings the Farmers might be enabled to pay their Rent.

This Design was opposed by the Mint as a gross cheat and an abuse to be put upon the Nation. Amongst many things alledged against Tin Farthings: I shall enume∣rate some of the most material, as

1. That a Metal might be made whiter and harder than Tin of poysonous Ingredients, viz. Spelter, Arse∣nick, Regulus of Antimony, &c.

2. That such Metal, when worn, would not yeild above Two Pence a Pound, or little more, and no

Pewterer durst use it, as being contrary to Law.

3. That Tin Farthings might be coyned with a Hammer, cast in a Mold, squeezed in a Vice, and be counterfeited by any Tinker, Plummer, Smith, Glasier, Tinman, Watchmaker, &c.

4. Hence a Query was put to the Farmers, whether they would change all that were brought them or not, good or bad, either made by themselves or others? And if so, who should allow the Country and City Brewers their Charges, in sending them up to London in Drays and Wagons, with Tellers?

5. They refusing, it was inferred, that if Tin Far∣things were Established, His Majesty must receive His Revenue of Excise (and the Duke of York his Postage) in Tin Farthings, in regard a Brewer cannot avoid the taking of much Money in Tin Farthings at home of Tub-Women and Firkin-Men, and abroad of the Ale-house-keepers that are his Customers.

These Arguments ruined that wretched Design, and I pray let it sleep in its Rubbish.

Afterwards one Mr. Vane deceased, proposed a Design to make Tin the fundus of a Bank; to be managed for His Majesty's advantage by Commissioners that were able Merchants, that could pay the Miners by Contract for the Tin quarterly, and be reimbursed by Sales, when it should bear a price, or by others that would have credit in the said Bank: And His Majesty to promote the same, bought up 60000 l. of Tin when it was cheap, to wit, at 3 l. 8 s. 6. d. the Hundred weight, of which this was the event:

The Plot breaking out, and the Parliament not sit∣ting, such Contract could not be made with the Miners; and the said Tin, after it had with Warehouse room,

and Interest of Stock, cost about 3 l. 16 s. the Hundred weight, was sold at the African-House for about 3 l. the Hundred weight, or little more; and those that bought it so, Shipp'd off most of it to Holland, and are ruined by the bargain. And the cause is this:

The East-Indies abounds with Tin, which the Dutch buy there at about 5 d. a Pound, and bring it home for Ballast Freight free; and they have brought home so much in former years, as to bring down the price of ours. See a Book of the East-India Trade printed in 1667. where in pag. 9. you have this passage:

As for Tin, there is vast quantities in some parts of India, the Dutch during the time of the late proeemption of Tin having brought home in two years 4 or 500 Tuns: And it might be more advantagious to the English Company, not only to transport Tin from one part of India to another, rather than to send it from England; but also to bring Tin from India to England, for Ballast of their Ships that come with Pepper from Bantam, did they not prefer the Kingdoms Interest before their pri∣vate Profit.

The Dutch, in August 1678. brought home, as a Letter from Holland mentions, above 150 Tuns, which is said to be 5 s. a Hundred weight better than ours; and at first sold it at 3 l. 5 s. the Hundred weight, then fell to 3 l. then to 2 l. 15 s. and ours would not sell for above 2 l. 10 s.

The Case being thus, to apply a Remedy I must humbly Address my self to the Honourable the Members of Parliament that serve for the Counties of Devon and Cornwal; and Propound,

That whereas we now in England make Salt the best yet known in the World, and are notwithstanding much

oppressed by Foreign Salt; to Redress which, the Salt-workers have for many years endeavoured to bring on a small Excise on our own, to recompence His Majesty for the loss of the Customs of Foreign, to be kept out by a high Duty.

1. That you be pleased no longer to oppose such Excise, upon pretence that our English Salt will not cure your Pilchards.

I have a Treatise of Salt ready for the Press, shewing the several ways of making of Salt in England and other Countries, and setting forth the Excellency and manner of using our own in curing both Flesh and Fish, for the longest of Voyages through the hottest of Climates.

2. That you vouchsafe to make use of such opportu∣nity to remove all burthens upon Tin, as well Sealing Duty of 4 s. a Hundred weight, which may come to 5000 l. per annum (except a competent Recompence to the Officers for sealing such as is free from Iron and Dross, according to Constitution;) as also exporting Duty of 7 s. 4 d. a Hundred, which may come to 7000 l. a year, or more.

3. That then a Farm of all the Tin the Mines pro∣duce, be let to the Turky and Pewterer's Company; the one will so regulate the Price abroad, and the other at home, that we shall not be undermined by the Dutch.

This done, the said Companies may erect a safe Bank, and not be damaged, albeit they have Tin on their hands to a vast quantity and value. The advantages of Banks are great, whereof I shall mention but one; It enables the Hollanders to Trade with a dead stock: to wit, when a Laden Ship arrives, the goods are appraised, deposited in the Bankers Ware-houses and Credit given at home or in Foreign parts, for about three quarters

of their value; which is an incredible advantage in Trade.

I further humbly represent to you, that in the Usur∣per's time an Excise of a half peny a Gallon brought in 26000 l. per Annum when Fishery-Salt was excepted, and paid nothing, the which was observed to be a nota∣ble back door and a Cloak to many fallacious pretences, whereas laying the duty universal, the revenue raised by Fishery Salt, being employed for the advantage of a Fishery Trade, shall much more advance the design, than the payment of such duty can hinder it, especially seeing our Neighbours cannot be furnisht with Salt for that purpose so good and cheap, as we by 12 or 15 per Cent; And in case the same be employed in the Royal Fishery Company at London, out-parts may com∣plain their Fisheries are discouraged; to which may be replied that at London a duty is paid upon Ballast, but not the like in the out-ports or most of them, where a revenue may be levied on Ballast to promote their respective Fisheries; And if such duty be laid universal and well managed it may produce 38000 or 40000 l. a year. And such a stock as that Employed to encourage our Manufactures, shall enrich the Nation much above a Million a year; I offer how and most humbly move you to promote:

1. In setting up a Fishery Company, to have 10000 l. a year given them, to Build Ships and Vessels to encou∣rage Adventurers to undertake the Fishery Trade, and the making of Twine Nets, Canvas, and Cordage, at Clerkenwell work-house, not only for their own use, but also for his Majesties stores; as is hereafter pro∣pounded. And if they be rendred a Council of Trade, (for which reasons are afterwards given, why they

are or may be a most proper constitution,) they will go far in earning such benevolence, and doubtless give such advice as followed shall redress the aggreivances of the Nation about Trade and Manufactures.

2. There is a new Art of preparing, whitening, and dressing both of Hemp and Flax, that shall render it of a silver Colour, so fine that of one pound of it a thread may be made 20 Miles long, and in value to 50 s. or 3 l. Hence we want no Foreign Linnen nor Canvas, which may be barr'd out by a high duty.

Of the refuse or Tow thereof, of Raggs, Old Fishery Netts and Sails, may be made Paper; whereof we spend in England in Writing and Printing, about 1000 Reams a day, or to the value of 120000 l. per Annum. Good Paper is made in Germany and Holland; and the Art thereof is attained in England; but to encourage the same here, there wants a higher duty on Foreign Paper; and a Company with a good stock to undertake the same; the which might be the Stationers Company, with other Adventurers; to whom for encouragement might be allowed the use of 5000 l. per Annum Gratis; to be taken out in Stationary Wares for the supply of all his Majesties Offices.

3. By the like encouragement, the Upholsterers with others might be induced to undertake the Manu∣facture of Tapistry hangings, the benefit of gaining such Manufacture is great, viz.

1. It will save an expence of Foreign Wool, and beget an expence of our own, to the value of One hundred thousand pounds per Annum, now imported in Tapestry-hangings.

2. It will cause our Cloaths to go off in Turkey in Barter, to procure raw Silk to work up with the said Hangings.

3. It will in the ballance of Trade save the value of such Hang∣ings yearly to the Nation, and in time become a Staple Commodity to Ship off, in regard we can have Wool, Silk, and Provisions, much cheaper here than in Flanders, and Brabant, the sole Provinces where this Manufacture was formerly made, the skill whereof is now well attained in England; but Encouragement in its Infancy by keeping out Foreign, and a Stock to carry it on, is wanting.

4. It will employ many thousands of poor People in Carding, Combing, and Spinning, besides Dyers, Weavers, Worsted-workers, Drawers, and D••signers. See the excellent Proposal in Print of Mr. Francis Poyntz, His Majesty's Tapistry-maker.

5. The Parliament having lately built 30 Men of War, 'tis hazar∣dous to trust them and many more in the River of Medway; and besides, their Moorage and Attendance is very chargeable: A wet Dock would add much to their safety, and prevent much of the constant charge

A Proposal may be drawn where to make such a Dock, with a Pool behind it wherein to keep Masts sunk, and at what Charge; which might be defrayed out of the Excise upon Salt.

Lastly, if there be yet a Surplus, the Revenue of the Mint craves it; the said Revenue was much too short for Coyning any conside∣rable quantity of our Moneys into smaller pieces than Shillings, even before the Prohibition of French Wines, (which paid 10 s. a Tun Coynage-duty) and became a notable Abridgment of such Revenue, namely, 6000 l a year. Moreover to Coyn more Moneys small, is the best way to accommodate the People, and prevent its Exportation.

Now, after a long Digression, having shewed that our Commodi∣ties will not yeild the intended rising Price abroad, it seems ridiculous to suppose they should rise, lying on our hands at home.

I proceed to shew the languishing Condition of our Foreign Trade, and that in opposition to those gross ignorant Flatterers, that say, England was never more thriving, our Trade never greater, nor safer, and so endeavour to beget an Enmity in the Gentry, or Country Party, against the City, the Merchants, and Trading part of the Nation.

As to our ready Money, if we have about 7000000 of People in England and Wales, as Mr. Graunt, Sir William Petty, and others, on rational grounds suppose, and but 1000000 of ready Money,

as Mr. Mun, and others, guess; these, if equally distributed, would not be 3 s. a piece.

As to our Foreign Trade, I begin with that of the East-India, where the Dutch have not less than 50 or 60 Men of War, and such vast numbers of Trading Ships, that it's ordinary to see 140 Sail at a time in Batavia Road, from 300 Tuns burthen to 1400 Tuns, not to mention 37 Magazines, and 20 consi∣derable Forts, as we read, asserted in the printed Translations of two French Treatises of the East-India Trade. How small our number of Trading Ships thither is, (to wit, 15 or 16) and how great our danger▪ I need not to mention.

As to the West-India Trade, they have in a former War got Surinam from us, which (as the late Lord Brereion affirmed) hath sometimes yeilded about 3000 Tuns of Sugar in a year, and will yeild as much of that Commodity, Tobacco, &c. as they can get hands to Plant and manage, and being on the Main, is more free from Hurricanes, and more temperate, than the Leeward Islands; amongst the Westwardmost of which, they have one called Curasao, the Mart for their Negro's; amongst the Eastwardmost they have Tabago, and claim two little Islands from us, to wit, Sabia, and Stacia aliàs Eustachia, near St. Christopher's, which the French took from us in 1666. and by the Treaty of Breda were to restore, but baffled us▪ selling them to the Dutch, from whom our Governour Collonel Stapleton took them in 1673. and the Dutch under Everson retook them in 1674. he being gone, valiant Stapleton retook them the same year; and on the Conclusion of the last Peace with the Dutch, it not being known (as is presumed) that they were in our hands, we agreed to restore what was taken from them, and they what was took from us; accor∣dingly they restored to us New York, and expect to have Sabia and Stacia from us, which, if we keep, will do us no good; but if we restore much hurt, for whilst the Dutch had them, they framed the Timbers of Sloops in Holland, carried them thither in the holds of their Ships, and there compleatly built them, a Sloop being a Vessel of about 25 or 30 Tuns burthen, and with these they went a Trading by stealth to replenish our almost-ruin'd Islands with Negro's in barter for Commodities, to wit, Cottons, Sugar, Tobacco, Indigo, Ginger, Fustick, and other dying Stuffs; and by vertue of such Trade with the French which they allow, and with us by stealth or conni∣vance, they have some years laden home many Ships, as 12 or more, of Goods of the growth of those Islands▪ to His Majesty's great loss in the Customs, and carrying them home into Holland, and thence Exporting most of them to Foreign Markets almost Custom free, were capacitated to under-sell us 12 or 15 per cent. and 'tis their chiefest aim in getting Islands there not so much to Plant, as to drive on this kind of Trade. How great our loss of Negro's and Inhabitants was in 1666. off the Islands of St. Christophers, Mont∣serat, and Antego, is not so proper to mention as bewail, in regard the French have more Islands full Mann'd, and a considerable Fleet commonly abroad in those Parts.

Thus we see the danger of our West-India Trade, except that of Newfound-Land, for poor Jack in which we are undermined by the French, and New

Englanders by aid of 1000 of our own Seamen that stay'd there on shoar in 1665. to avoid the Service against the Dutch, where in a following years expedition our damage was so much, that the Town of Dartmouth alone lost 8000 l. but of this more largely in my Salt Treatise.

Before I come to our Streights Trade, let us consider the Dutch advantages over us at home, did they Trade meerly not to export again, which are these:

1. Their Ships lying for the most part at or near their own Doors or Ware∣houses, they save Lighterage and Cartage.

2. They save Interest of Money, not paying Duties there 'till a Sale, whereas here we pay Customs upon entry.

3. Their 7 Provinces, Switzerland and Germany, spend more imported Goods than England can spend; these Countreys are furnished by Boats and Vessels, some of 40 Tuns, that go above 500 miles up the Rhine, as far as Franckfort, which is not now hard to do by aid of towing Engins in Boats. The late Lord Brereton affirmed, the French make way up the River Rhodanus, one of the most rapid hitherto known, by a new Invention, after the rate of 4 or 5 miles an hour.

4. Down these Rivers they are furnished with Rhenish Wines, and other German Commodities, in large flat-bottom'd Vessels built of great Timber, never intended to return, out of which they build their Doggers, Busses, and Fishery Vessels, at about half the Rate we can do the like in England.

5. Their Bank enables them to borrow Money, and to Trade with a dead Stock, that is, Goods there deposited: By aid of such Bank, they in former years furnished about 80 Sail of Trading Merchants Ships in the Streights of about 600 Tun, and 30 Guns each, with a Stock of ready Money to be let out at Bottomree; that is to say, the Money is lent to Jews, upon taking in a Cargo of Goods at one Port, at the rate of 10 per cent. for Interest and freight, less or more, according to agreement, the Owners to run all hazards whatsoever of Shipwrack, Pirates, &c. and when the Ship arrives at the Port whereto she is bound, the Money is received on board before the Goods are delivered on shoar: In the mean while the Owners ensure at a moderate rate at home, by this means sending out their Ships with East-India, and Nor∣thern Commodities of Russia, the Sound, &c. they keep them in long Employ∣ment abroad. I have seen 40 of these kind of Ships at once employed as Men of War in the Venetian Fleet, when the English have not had above two or three; neither have we the like way of employing our Ships abroad, or little practice it.

6. The Dutch Trade, as Carriers, to supply all Foreign Markets with all sorts of Commodities, the English Trade chiefly to export their own Goods, and furnish Returns for their own Expence: And this comes to pass by reason we pay Customs, or a Duty, when we import Goods, and they Excise, that is a Duty not paid 'till the Goods are sold for Expence. The Disparity is so great, that it hath been the prime cause of the greatness of the Dutch Trade, Wealth, and Power at Sea.

In 1641. Mr. Lewes Roberts represented to the Long Parliament, in his Book called The Treasure of Traffick, two Examples thereof, to wit, suppose

two Ships of equal burthen of 300 Tuns each, to come out of the River of Bourdeaux laden with Wine, the one arrives at London, and pays Duties inward, the other at Amsterdam, and then both Export; the Charges at London come to about 1200 l. and at Amsterdam 60 l. and in two Ships of Tobacco of 200 Tuns each, the charges shall be here 1000 l. and in Holland 120 l.

And by reason hereof the Hollanders use to employ about 300 Sail of Ships every Winter to bring in French Wine and Brandy to Ship off again, to the quantity of 40000 Tuns, by which they could not get less than 2 or 300000 l. and 200 Sail more for Salt. I have twice seen Fleets of theirs of about 500 Sail at a time in the Isle of Wight, whereas the English only trade for 11 or 12000 Tuns of Wine yearly to spend.

The Case being thus, and our building and sailing with more hands more chargeable, it is no wonder we do not much thrive, albeit we drive on rather a great Navigation, than a profitable Trade.

This inconvenience was long since represented to King James by Sir Walter Rawleigh, as we find in his little Book of Observations upon Trade, printed in 1653. pag. 10. in these words:

Of this their smalness of Custom (meaning in Holland, Hamburgh, &c.) inward and outward, we have daily Experience; for if two English Ships, or two of any other Nation, be at Bourdeaux, both laden with Wine of 300 Tuns a piece, the one bound for Holland, or any other petit States, the other for England, the Merchant shall pay above 900 l. here in Duties, when the other in Holland shall be cleared for 50 l. and so in all other Wares and Mer∣chandizes accordingly.

It ought to be an Instruction to a Council of Trade, to State an Accompt thereof on every Commodity.

He proceeds, and saith▪ That this draws all Nations to Traffick with them, and although it seems but small Duties which they receive, yet the multitudes of all kind of Commodities and Coyn that is brought there, and carried out by themselves and others, is so great, that they receive more Customs and Duties to the State (besides Excise) by the greatness of their Commerce in one year, than England doth in two years, for the hundredth part of the Commodities are not spent in Holland, but vended into other Countreys, which makes all the Country Merchants to buy and sell, and increase Ships and Mariners to transport them. My Travels and meaning is, neither hath been to diminish your Majesty's Revenues, but exceedingly to encrease them, &c.

This might be remedied, by changing that part of the Duty of Customs that concerns Foreign Goods, into an Excise, to be managed in the same places, and by the same Offic••rs, and that without detriment to the Revenue, laying the Excise upon the Expence, especially of Goods we may want, or best spare, high, and yet hardly raise the price of them, for where Goods are plenty they will be cheap, and People will be rather content with a small profit at home, than run the hazard of a greater abroad.

If the advice of our renowned Hero had been followed, the Dominion of the Sea had never been disputed, which if once gained by our Adversaries,

(as an eminent Peer in his Speech, well observed) is never to be lost, or reco∣vered; and if so; we might possibly be at their mercy: whether the River of Thames should be stopt from Coals and Trade or not.

That we have lost the Greenland, Muscovia and Fishery Trades, is notorious. And all this digression, is but to render Gentlemen that may possibly meet with this discourse, more kind in their measures towards the trading part of the Nation: especially at such a time, when our staple Commodities, and Forreign Trades are under such circumstances: and we not out of danger of our Neighbours entring into a Conjunction against us.

The Remedy we Propounded in the Third Argument, will destroy the greatest part of the profit, the Irish could or might have had, by Trading with any but our selves. We must therefore propound equitable Terms of amends, Namely: that whereas we are now Furnished with Linnen, and Canvas, from Forreign parts, to the value of much above a Milion a Year: We ought to encourage the planting of Hemp, and Flax, and the Manufactures thereof, by keeping out Forreign, both in Ireland and at home: And by taking off all that Ireland can furnish▪ allbeit, it be to the value of 400 Thousand Pounds a Year: in that Commodity, and in building and fitting out (if the Fishery Trade be well encouraged) Ships and Fishery Vessels, Cordage, Twine, and Nets, Sails, and Barrels: which may be done there at Cheap rates, so by that means encourage their industry; and receive payment for the Debt, payable to England aforesaid; and for that great value of goods that used to be exported hence into Ireland. And withall allow them a Trade to our A∣merican plantations.

This was the Advice of Mr. Baker, and many eminent Merchants, given to Oliver and his Council; in 1658. as we find it, in Page 14 of his Book, Inti∣tuled, The Merchants Petition and Remonstrance: consented to by the Lord Mayor, &c.

How great Prudence, and Right State Policy were it, That all encouragements, and immunities, should be given to those of Ireland, that should Sow, Flax, and Hemp, and that the same might be made into Linnen; whereby England might be∣come dependant on Ireland for the same. Which would make that Country to be∣come very Rich, and Flourish; And so the wealth of these Nations would be kept within themselves. And for a mutual Correspondency; all the wools of Ireland, shall be brought into England: and converted into Manufactures. And these Manu∣factures Exported into Ireland, to pay neither Custome nor Excise. Whereby you will still keep Ireland dependant on England; according to the practice of the King of Spain, in the West-Indies: Where Vines for Wines, Olave Trees, for Oyles will grow better than in Spain. Yet none are suffered to be planted, upon pain of Death; because they may keep them dependant on Spain, for the Commodities of their own growth, and by which comes unto them most benefit. For if they should have permit∣ted the planting of these in the West-Indies: they would not have needed that Assist∣tance from Spain. The West-Indies being large Territories: and the Ground of lit∣tle value; And the Ground of Ireland, being of: far less value, than that of Eng∣land; an Acre there, not being worth 4 s. which is here worth 40 s. And Provisi∣ons being so much cheaper, and consequently the Labours of men, they may afford their

Wool cheap; which being wrought into Manufactures, and that Countrey better situa∣ted than England, for Forreign Exportations, they might afford them the one half cheaper than the English should be able to do. So that Ireland in time, would get all the Trade from England; And it will be no prejudice to them, to bring their Wools in∣to England.

Now the price of Wool, will not therefore be the Cheaper in England: rather they will have thereby a greater value, because the Commodities that are made of the same, will be exported again into Ireland; and, Forreign parts, where the prices of these Manufactures would otherwise be lessen'd. And consequently the Wools, by how much they should make, and Export from Ireland, &c.

This occasions me to say, that Carolina is a Plantation that yields Wines, Oyles, Silks: As Sir Peter Colliton, and others proved before his Majesties late Council of Plantations.

The Council of Trade aforesaid, in the 12 Article, are desirous of an Accommodation; and thus urge.

If the Titles of Estates in Ireland, be the more hazardous and expensive, for that England, and Ireland, are not under one Legislative Power. If Ireland till now, hath been a continued charge to England; If the reducing the last Re∣bellion did cost England three times more in Men and Money, than the sub∣stance of the whole Country, when reduced was worth.

If it be just that men of English birth, and Estates, living in Ireland, should be represented in the Legislative power. And that the Irish should not be judged by those, who they pretend usurp their Estates: it then seems just and convenient, that both Kingdomes should be United, and Governed by one Legislative Power: nor is it hard to shew how this may be made practi∣able; nor to satisfie, repair, or silence those who are interested, or affected to the contrary.

ARTICLE 13. Articles of the Council of Trade before mentioned, at large.

IN the mean time, 'tis wonderfull, that men born in England; who have Lands granted to them by the King, for Service done in Ireland▪ to the Crown of England, when they have occasion to reside, or Negotiate in Eng∣land, by their Countrey men, Kindred, and Friends, should be debarred, to bring with them Food, whereupon to live. Nor suffered to carry money out of Ireland: Nor to bring such Commodities as they fetch from America di∣rectly home, but round about by England: with extream hazard, and loss, and be forced to Trade only with strangers. And become unacquainted with their own Countrey; especially when England gaineth more than it losses, by a free Commerce, as Exported hither, above 3 times more than it recei∣veth form hence. Insomuch, as 95 l. in England, was worth about 100 l. of the like mony in Ireland, in the free time of Trade.

ARTICLE 15.

The value of the Estates in Ireland, of such persons as do usually live in Eng∣land; the Interest of the Debts of Ireland, due and prayable to England: The pay of the Forces of Ireland, now in England; The Expence and Pensions of Agents, and Sollicitors, commonly residing in England, about Irish Affairs: the expence of Irish and English Youths: now upon their Education, beyond the Seas. And lastly, the supposed profit of the two great Farmes now on Foot, do altogether make up more than two Hundred Thousand Pounds a Year. As a Debt payable to England, out of Ireland.

ARTICLE 16.

The value of the Cattel, viz. (Live Oxen and Sheep) Beef, and Mutton: carryed out of Ireland into England; was never more than 140 Thousand Pounds per an. The Freight, Hides, Tallow, and Wooll, of the said live Cattel; were worth about 60 Thousand Pounds, of the said 140 Thousand: And the value of the goods imported out of England, into Ireland, when the Cattel Trade was free. Was between Triple▪ and Quadruple: the Net value of the Oxen, and Sheeps Flesh; transported from hence, into England.