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FRIMIDIOI J. WHITE, E L EET-STREET ; J. PAYNE, MEWS-GATE; 1. SEWELL, ANDW. J. AND J. RICHARDIONI,
CORNH1LL J J. ANDA. ARCH, CRA C E C HURCH-STR E E T ; J. CUTHRLL, MIDDLE-ROW, HOLBORNi AND
VIRNOR AND HOOD, 31, POULTRY ; AND SOLD BY J. ARCHER, DUBLIN.
1301.
theless, Mr. was left to strugglewiththeinterest ofsome,andtheprejudiceofothers,and
thoughhe honoureby theprotectionofseveral personsofhighrank, it happenedinhis predi
cament,as it generallyhappensinpredicamentsofasimilarnature,thathisfoesweremoreactivethan
Mr.alt however,hasat lengthtriumphedoverthe salsehoodandmalignity ofhisoppo
nents; grap Printing,aster havingproducedsuchaWorkas this,whichhenewpre
sentstothePublic, withmanyexcellentpublications thathehasalreadyprinted, cannolongerbe
considered as anidle speculation: onthecontrary, it is proved to Lea practicalimprovement, that
promises, undera dueencouragement, to produceagreat nationalbenesit. Toadvance it to th
persectionofwhichit is capable,Mr.Wlterengages,toemployisutmostexertions, andhe
wehaveadheredcloselytothe rentintentionoftheoriginal
ticles, ve wehaveveuretoamplify,whilethrsrecei
nothingmorethanabarestatement,andmanyre re into
partialrelation. Inmakingsuchanarrange wehaveactedto
tainedbyhisresearc hemayetiretohis andursuenia
whichhelives,mustwriteinthe ustl ofit. ofhisinfor
mationmu result hisenquiriesamongthelivingworld and,
frequentlyrefuseto thosechannelsofcommunication,which
ationsfromthe ulseof iscontent,butas heare unde in
fact. Weaveonlystoodinthat inwhichanywriter
disappointreasonab expectation. Thatpartofthehistorywhichis
friars-road
Drake,Wm.un.Esq.M.P.Portman-square
Duche,Jacob,Esq.Lambeth
Durand,Mr.Grocers-hall,Poultry-court
Dutens,Rev.Mr.Davies-street,Berkeley-square
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Ellis,JohnMorse,Esq.Temple
Leptrap, John, Esq. Whitcchapel
Robson
street, 12 sets
street
W.
Walsingham,Rt.Hon.Ld.PostMasterGeneral
whohavehonourcdthisWorkwiththeir patronage. This, however, arisesfromhis not beingsuffici
ently acquaintedwiththe wijJjes ofthose Gentlemen onthis head since, however highly he might be
gratifiedbythisstutteringmarkofapprobation, heis toosensible ofthe obligations alreadyconferrcd, to
urgeanyfurtherextension ofthem.
rang whicharetheosfspringof administration. hes
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neverbeforeknown;and eshasbeenas rprising, the
asford, an otherpartswant,maybetrulyffirm tobeprincipallycommu
andknowledge and,ingeneral,forthegreatbulkofitssolidcomfortsand
onvenie ies
therewithconnected.
foulofHistory, aChronologicalandeneralHijloryofCommerceis, tothis day,
culture,andtheirrelativeartsandranches
cannotfail to meetwith a favourab reception fromboththelandedand
tradings interests ofBritainand reland andfor whom he nsing,work
ismostprincipallyadapted somuchtherather,as thereis notextant,inany
language,awork ch extensiv andcomplicatedontexture.
inthe entitled, OrbisMartimus,is indeedsufficiently methodical,
butdoesnot, byanymeans,sullycomeupev to its titlepagealone,though
somuchhortofourmuchmore tens plan.
Progress,&c.tendingto illustrate, ratherinthemannerofanharangu th
ofhistory,thatwithinthelast enhundredyears, ceandnavigation
eventheleastusewhatever,toourundertaking.
ticular ranhe commerce.
MonsieurHuet,Bishop Avrach inisryofthegreat
toryoftheCommeceandNavigation'oftheAncient in sounmethodi
graphy it ha thereforesupplieduswithverysewmaterialsfor oumain
purpose.
Beside
ix
ject; such, for instance, asJoannisAngeliia de ebufpubliis
anseaticisTractatus i. e. Areatise,orHistoryoftheRepublicsofthe
others,sornootherpurposebuttoexitethezealan emulationoftheirown
writers.
both peculativ and practical commerce,wecold fail to behereand
here pplie withmanyimportantmaterials. Comprehensive,ho ver,
as ou undrtaingis, it is butjusticeinthisplacetoremark,thatits prin
cipal opehasamoreespecialandimmediateregardto theComme His
may add, as asull cople neofanyothernation not
hereinto expecte soneitheris it at all practicable,withrespectto most
ofthenations in hritendom.Weave,howeer,indefatigablylaboured
give a general andsufficiently omprehens id thref,moreespecially
and lyrespecting, thosenationswithwhomurowncountryhashadthe
Hans-towns,Flanders,&c.
Intelligentpersnsgenerallyknow,thatthedates, andothercircumstan
ingofmistakes, uchis humanfrailty) authors, ve goodaccount,are
not
 of odfreyofBouillon,callsBouillonatownofCha neontheEng-
 andthus, continuesFuller, Canterburyis putfor ambrige,notonly
 in tian inister's osmography,butalso inourprintedStatut ook
 ofthetwlftheaofKingRichardII.
theSpanish hy asserted, abouttwohundredyearsago, ** Thatthe
** kingdomofFrancecontainedonehundredandfisty millionsofpeople.
herpresent ofpeopletoexeedtwentymillions rs particu
ton,asbeingon ubcttooofwhichonewouldhaveimaginedhimaper
howtheKingsofEnglandhave,from to supportedand
notpublishedtill theyear1651,after thedeathofth thr,bytheonce
smalloctavo olume entitled, CottoniPosthuma wherein, p. 200,it is as
serted,  ThatLondon,whichis nota twenty-fourthpartofthekingdom
 ofEngland,inpeople,hadin it foundabov eighthundredthoufandsouls,
 byalate enquiry,byorderofthelate Queen. Inwhichassertion are
three onsiderab is r, first, as far as any appears, there
neverwasanysuchenquirydirectedbyQueenElizabeth or, isanysuchwas
all
containtwohundredandsifty thoufandsouls : andtheaccurateandmostju
diciousItalian author,GiovnanniBotero,whowroteabouttwenty rs
noadmit ndo tocontainab onehundredandsixtythousandsouls.
whether,eveninourpresentage,withall thegreatadditionsto itssuburbs,
boundsoftheweeklymortality-bills. Thirdly, did in160
whereas,byhiscomputation, it shouldhavecontainednineteenmillionstwo
 evenhundredthoufand,withinthebars. hesgreatmiscomputations
translatedandpublishedinEnglish,byagentlemanofLincoln's-Inn,in the
ofMortalityofLondon, for theYear1631, hemakesthe offouls
inthe eralwardsandliberties, takenbyspecial commandof privy
council,tohaveamountein all butto onehundredandthirtythoufand,
which wasundoubtedlyverynearthetruth;moreespecially, as the
catalogueofall thehouseswithinthecity, includingthereinallit privileged
sixhundredandforty-ninehoues greatandsmall. Now,isthis be
multipliedbysix, foreachhouse, it willmakethetotalwithinthebarsof
thoufand ev hundredandeighteen and ifby en, it willmakeone
hundred
,too ig considring presentstateofthecity.
ofdisjunct,andnotseldomheterogeneousparts, collectedoutofso
of ariou countries,abilities, biasses, andprepossessions, from ariou ma
nuscriptsalso, andfromanalmostendles ofsmaller tracts and
pamphlets,fromthereignofQueen izabethdownward,andsomeeven
possible careandextnes endeaoured;although,for thereasons
abe-mentioned, it canbynomeansbeexpected,thateitherthe ct
theperiodsshouldalwaysrunso unisormly, en,orsmoothas mightother
mostindispenfableruleofa chronologicalsuccession, mattersofaveryhe
nowconfinedto theprivatecollections ofasewcuriouspersons,wehave
generallybeencaresultoquotethem,andsuchalso are ormaybethought
publishedin twentyfolio olumes commonlyknownbythenameofRy-
very aresul to quotetherepectivereign,andthe statute, olume year,
and thelatter, as their authority,beyonddoubt,authenticatesthe
manynumerouspointsextractedfromthem.
newinventionsandprojects, for theancientsalaries ofoffices, for the
dailypayofartificers, soldiers, failors, andlabourers,moreorless, for near
 
caio threin stoodonthesole credit ofcommonhistorians ; aswellas
fortherectisication of ariousmistakesinotherlessauthenticmemoirs.
hehadpainsullycollectedfromouroldhistorians, publishedinoc
tavo, in17
Inmakingextractstherefrom. Thirdly,Indigestingandmethodisingsuch
chronological,but,likewise,aystematic andpoliticalSurveyof rce
mayjustlybetermedanunaccountablystupidcontemptofCommercialHis
flagrantinstancehereofwefind, in neCaptinSteens'sngliflitranslatio
inthethirdvolumewhereof,cap.vi. hemakesthePortuguesehistorianof
maybefoundsundrypositions, formerlythoughttobesowellgroundedas
sonbetweenthemaritimestrengthofEnglandandthatofFrance,laysdown
dedthatposition? Thelikemaybefaidofsomeothersof imilakind,
dependingmuchmoreonthe upinene ofsomenations,andonthemore
mostarbitrarygovrnmentsareobtructiv ofthefreedomof rceyet
exception. France,weknow,is undoubtedlyagreatarbitrarygovrnment
ministry,attendedwithsteadycounselsin hercommercialpursuits,sheat
beallowedtohave,inourdays, tremelyprosperousin rce
andtohavehadaverylarg hareofnavalgreatness and,evenherdespotic
all arbitrarygovernments considerableadantagesover flower
timethatwaspartlythecafe. Yetwehavesincehadthemostinteresting
ofourformergreatre-exportationofsugars;besidesthe menseincreaseof
c2 ogmatical
whatthelast-namedAuthorobservesconcerningSpainandPortugalbeat
 terestfor nedocontinue;andthatforthefakeofworkingtheirgold
thepriva domestic ustoms andufagesofld tim Fromallwhich,
collectively onsidered moreustandadequateideasmaybeobtainedofthe
fierceandbarbarousubduersofthatempire,the de uris monarchy
legendary,orevenbarely piious,althoughthelaboriousandotherwise
requisitetogivesomebriefmemoirs.
ende ouredto givesucha omprehensiv viewthereofas it is hopedmay
befatisfactory. Andwehavelargelytracedtheorigin,progress,andde
inourcommercialworld its riousre lutionsandontroversietakingup
without,howeer,neglectingourlaterandalsoourlesser societiesorcom
logu thoseairy hemesmayprovemoreinstructivetosome,than ay
at first glance,beapprehended moreespeciallyconsideringthatsomeof
hereafter
imperialcrownofGreatBritain asubject, which,thoughatprent uite
ourAuthoresteemsit aselicity, thatalearnedandjudioussummaryof
thatnowobsoletesubject, waspublishedbySirPhilip intheyear
Ancients,inagriculture,domesticandmanualarts for theconvenience
andtransplantations; oftheoriginandrevolutionsofancientcommercial
nationsandcities: andoccasionallyofthedatesortimesoftheflourishing
ofcertaineminentpersonsin ariousages.
fixed
thePolitico-Commercial graphyofEurope,ora ompendiousand
portations,populousness,and oftheseveral potentates,repub
tude,andpeopleoftheirmostonsiderab citiesandtowns.
as to enabletheReader,withease, andinsomemeasurebyamerein
stantaneousinspection,to forma usid ofthevalue,nature,andex
tentofthis entirework,wene nlyto resertheretoforaconvincing
annexedIntrodution,asalready ntione ndanothertotheAppendix;
asthematterscontainedin hecouldno properlybereducibletoany
chronologicalorderor th ndthereforecouldnotbecomprehended
in, norincorporatedwiththgenera chronologicalIndex.
othernations; who,it is said, werewont.to leavetheirmerchandize in a private place, onthe
frontiersofthenationwithwhomtheywantedtodeal,andwhoweretotakeitaway,inexchangefor
waytoadirectcommercialcorrespondencebyproperbarter.
graduallyimprovedintovessels ofsuchcapacity, asembdenedmentolaunchintothewide ocean)
wasaprincipalmeansoftheadancementofcommerce,arts, andsciences; andtheinventionof
writinggreatlyimprovedthemutualcorrespondenceofnations. Suchancientcities and countries
inwealthandpower. £ >ulmaretenet, cumncceffe ejl rcrumpotiri. CiceroadAtticum.
AtlengthRomeswallowedupall other commercial states adcities, andthereby gavesucha
mortalwoundtothecommerceoftheancients,as nevercould behealed theRomansthem
selves,whowere moreaddictedtowarand commerce theirdisinclinationto
conquestsoftherichestprovincesofthethenknownworld, wherebyimmensetreasures werecon
especiallyeastward, theirproconsuls,&c.werecontinuallysendingorbringinghomeimmenseriches,
preciousstones,exquisitepaintings,andwhateverelse wasrareandexcellent, eitherfor theirtables,
twothousandpounds. Somearesaid tohavepaidtotheamountofthreethousandpoundsforone
suchanextortionatemanner,andsoundherselfat lengthunabletoholdtogether,inquiet,anymore
tosustainthevastexpenceofhercivil andmilitaryestablishments, without recurringto the revival
ofthenever-sailingresourcesofcommerce,as wellathomes inherremoterprovinces; as, inpart,
 richeditselfby its victories. Italy, inthefourteenthcentury,owedher wealthentirelytocom-
 merce. Hollandwouldhavesubsistedbutavery shorttime, hadshe lookednosurther thanthe
 seizureoftheSpanishplate-fleets, andhadneglectedtohavelaid thefoundationof herpowerin
 powerofFrance; andsheowesall her grandeur to commerce. TheAlgerines, whosupport
 themselvessolelyby piracies, arca verywretchedpeople.
commercelikewisesusfereda long,andalmosttotal suspensionintheWest therevivalandincrease
subjectostheensuingwork.
lmoseveryhabitablecountryoftheterraqueousglobehasasuperfluitymoreorless, ofnaturalpro
occasionally ; whichunmanusacturedmaterials,we,formanyages,contentedourselves to exchange
linen, ndFrenchndheniswines. ThecountriesofFlandersandBrabanthadoriginally but
very little superfluityoftheirownnaturalproductforexportation ; whichdesect obliged themto
accordingtothegreatPensionaryDeWitt'sInterestof Holland,  therewerenomerchants inall
*' Levant or,possibly, theremighthavebeensoundsomemerchantselsewhere, thoughbutinsew
** arms, for nt provisions, and topreventthe effects ofbadseasons, or hunger, toconquer
** moreland. SuchcircumstancesproducedtheirruptionsoftheCclt,Cimbri, Scythians,Goths,
were
 exchanged their superfluities, notformoney,but, as it is related, thus, viz. twohens fora
** goose, twogeesefor a hog, threelambs for a sheep, three calves fora cow, such aquantity of
 oatsforbarley, barley for rye, andryeforwheat, whentheywantedthem so that, excepting
 foreatables, therewasneitherbarternor trassic. TheFlemings lying nearest to France, were
 thesirst thatbegantoearntheirlivingsbyweaving, andsoldthesameinthatfruitsul land,where
 places, withoutlayingonany toll orduty for goodseitherimportedorexported. Whichjudi
ciousaccountofthewest, north,andnorth-eastpartsofEurope, beforethetenthcentury,willhelp
tothrowmuchandusesullightuponourhistory ofthosetimes.
zation.
TheunmanusacturedcommoditiesancientlyexportedbyEngland, formanycenturiesbeforeshe
withwhatevershewantedfrom foreignparts, andalso to bringina yearlybalanceincash ; whereby
wewereenabledtocarryonsomeothersmallforeigntrade, tosupply likewiseourhonietrade, and
greatbulkofourforeigntradewasforseveral centuriesengrofsedby the Germanmerchants ofthe
a susficientnumberofmerchants, nor proper shippingofourown until our people, andmore
especiallythoseoftheCinquePorts, lyingoppositeto Franceand Flanders, began, bydegrees, to
buildshipsoftheirown,withwhichtheymadeaprettygoodappearance, particularly inthetime
monarchiescontinuedtocontemnthepursuitofmercantileadvantages,whichtheyentirely leftto
 Thekingdomsand principalities were in the world likethenoblemenandgentlemen ina
 country ; thefreeslatesandcities likethemerchantsandtraders : these, atsirst, despisedbythe
 others ; theothersservedandreveredbythem till, bythevariouscourseofeventsintheworld,
 someofthesecametogrowrichandpowersul,by industry andparsimony,andsomeoftheothers
 gentlemen, andthegentlemenbegintotakeasancyof sallinginto trade. ThegreatMonarchs
** quarrelsoftheHolyLand, inthosebetweenthePopesandEmperors (bothofthesameforge,
presses it,  ratheranaristocracythanamonarchy  thegovernorsofmostof its provinceshaving
renderedtheir offices hereditaryintheirownsamilies,wherebythey amelords ofthe countries
theygoverned. Itwasthen, therefore, thatEngland, thoughwithoutanyconsiderablecommerce,
butevenfoolishlytobeled, byherambitiousKings, intoconquestsonthecontinent, tohergreat
impoverislimentanddepopulation. France,sincethosetimes, hasgraduallyrecovered her vigour,
Germanempire.
county ofBurgundy andwrestedfromtheGermanempirethegreatandnobleprovinceofAlsace,
andhowjustly oughtit toalarmtherest ofEurope moreespecially, whentheprodigious increase
ofthecommerceofFrance, inthespaceofaboutacentury past, is additionallyconsidered ; as also
its richandnumerousmanusactures,andits still extensiveforeigncoloniesandsactories.
wereonthenorth andnorth-west side ofthat great river, evenmanyyearsasterwehadplanted
Virginia ; beyondwhichriver southwardalltheirpossessionsin anadweredirectencroachments
ontheboundariesoftheEnglishcolonies. Besides, theFrenchmadenoattemptsfor colonizing
TotheEastIndies,Francemadesomeearlyvoyages; yettheyhadnosettledandregularcommerce
establishacompanyforthatend.
hope, thatawatchsuleyewill everbekeptuponthatpart ofourpossessions, intimesofpeace, as
dangerousthantimesofopenhostilities. OfthatFrenchsettlementof theMissisippi colony,we
who,inthesecondpartofhisDiscoursesonthePublic enuesandTradeofEngland, published
intheyear 1698, hasthefollowingjudiciousandpropheticremark.  ShouldtheFrenchsettle at
 thedisemboguingofthe river Missisippi, theywouldnotbelongbeforetheymadethemselves
** masters of that rich province whichwouldbe an addition to their strength very terrible to
 Europe butwouldmoreparticularlyconcernEngland for, bytheopportunity ofthatsettle-
Missisippi; and although it wasandis equally the interest ofEngland1andSpainto oppose that
dangerousencroachment, yettheywerethenpermittedtonestlethere,andtheyhavesincegradually
JoshuaGee, who,in the year 1729, publishedaningeniousdiscourseontrade, therein earnestly
urgedourplantingwestwardtotheMissisippi, andonthe rivers salling into it, within ourown
undoubtedlimits, thoughsincedisputed with us, till now,thatourpast successhasputanendto
suturedisputesonthis point.
days,somethink, thebalanceofthattradewasinoursavour. But, bythemanagementofthetwo
CardinalMinisters, RichlieuandMazarine, andstill moreasterwardsbytheincessantapplicationof
variablyseizesonall advantagesfromeveryotherstate, withoutgivingorreturningany at all. Yet
toomanyofourpeoplearestill soregardlessofourpalpableinterest, as totakeoffverygreatquan
France, withinabout littlemorethan ninetyyearspast, by thevastimprovementsinhermanu
sactures,colonies,andsisheries, is at lengthpossessed ofanactiveandvery extensivecommerce her
mercantileshipping is , or lately was, very numerous and her navalpowerwas, till very lately,
omegreatandformidable, andwill, withoutdoubt, soonrecoveritselfby asewyearsofpeace.
oftheOstendCompanyconsidered, secondedition 1726,) therebeingscarcely any,orbutverysew,
also ingreatquantities. Yett is noparadox tosay, thattheirsaid greattradewithus is also very
prositable tothem seeing, bymeansof the various merchandizewhichwesend them, theyarc
enabledtosupplythe populous and extensive countries behindthemofGermany,Switzerland,
Hungary,&c.andalso countriessurtheroffbysea carriage bywhichtheyaresaid togetagreater
annualbalancethanwegetbythem. Yet, thereis nodoubtbutthegreatincreaseoftheScotsand
benesitsoftheirtradewith us. Ingeneral,hercomrce,thghtill atruly active one, andher
navalpower, (especially thelatter) havedeclinedoflate years. Therearethousands still alive, who
rememberher in thezenithofglory, notonlycoveringtheseas (as she still doesinsomemeasure)
withhermerchantships, but also striking terrorwithherpotentnaval armaments. Aeverse, so
muchlamentedbymany,can be best accountedfor by herownmagistratesandparty leaders. If
thisdeclensionshouldgoontoincrease, it is toomuchtobeapprehended, thatBritain'shereditary
passagetoChinaandIndia: and, though theyprovedunsuccesssulinthatproject, it led theminto
thenorthseaandwhalesisheries, andintotheircommercewithRussia. Theyhavemadenodisco
leastintimeofpeace)theirdiscoveryofapassageintothesouthsea ofAmerica, roundCapeHorn.
partimprovedby others. Theyalso still holdthesmallistes ofCuracoa, Aruba, andBonaire, near
thecoasts ofSpanishAmerica, andEustatiaamongtheVirginIsles.
Francehsseizedandsettledonneartheirisle ofCayenne, where, is theysinditworththeirkeep
oftheFrenchLouisiana ; aterrible neighbour: who,unlessnarrowlywatched,mayonedayproba
Spain
whatis still called Florida, adjoiningtoourGeorgiaonthenorth, andtoLouisianaonthe west:
shelikewiseholdsthegreatand mostimportantisle of ub suchpartoftheisle of Hispaniolaas
Francehasnotas yetthoughtsit toseizeon andalso theisles of St.JohndePortoRico, &c. in
thatsea, thoughoflittle benesittothem. Spain, inshort, stillholds morepofsessionsinAmerica,
thanpossibly a moreindustriouspeoplecouldwellmanage. She has, however, drained herselfof
people,bysettlingcolonies,andbyexpellingoftheMoorsandJews,whileherpeopleathome,in
yetgonenogreatlengthinanymaterialmanusactures, (thoughsheis atthistimemakingconsider*
thosedrains.
aspiring neighbour, and thereby would omesensible ofherownsolidweight andinterest, by
keepingingoodtermswith us, andbysuchmeanshelptopreservethejustequilibriumofEurope.,
wondersulimpulse, Spain, as beforementioned, laid openanewandextensivewesternworld, richer
intreasurethanthe oldone. YetPortugal, by hersubsequent pride-, luxury, andnegligence, has
lost, to theHollandersandIndians, bysar the greatest part ofwhatshe had with such rapacity
ravishedfromthelatter ; soas at present to have scarcelyanythingintheEastIndiesworthcon
tendingfor, viz. GbacityontheMalabarcoast, andasewless considerableplacesintheneighbour
toryonthewestcoastofAfrica, ofgreatuseforsupplyingherAmericancolonieswithslaves.
sent centres in her very extensiveandimmenselyrichcolony ofBrasil inSouthAm ca
whenceshehasher vast treasures ofgold and diamonds, besideimmensequantities of excellent
sugars, hides,drugs,tobacco,sineredwood,&c. YetPortugal,beingbuta smallcountry,having
vastcountryofBrasil, sheis innodangerofbecomingformidabletotherestofEurope, eitherbyan
esfects.
She;
voyages ; andalso oneortwoother almostinsignissicant little isles aboutorneartheEquator. Her
true interest, therefore, (andwhichhitherto she haswiselycultivated) is, beyondall otherconsi
derations, to keepmeasureswithGreatBritain, andtoconcur inpreserving thegeneralbalanceof
power. For,notwithstandingallherextensivepofsessionsinAfricaandAmerica,herindependence,
Caribbec Isle oj St. homas andoftwoother less considerableonesamongsttheVirginIsles, where
shehassomesugarplantations,whicharesuppliedwithnegroesfromherfort ofChristiansburghon
tures, &c. Yetthegreatestbenesitshereapsfromthemis, their beingneutral inwarsbetweenus
andFranceorSpain,fro hencethey havetoooftenprovedascreenforour enemies ships and
merchandize. Denmarkhasmoreo been long in possession of ranqueb in theEastIndies,
whithershcsends one or twoships annually. Denmark,therefore, (including herkingdomof
orwaymaybesaid tohavesomewhatmorethanamerepassive commerce,thoughnota general
activecommerce,which, properlyspeaking, belongsin anationalsensesolely toBritain, Holland,
bulkofherownproductandmanusactures ; and, inlikemanner,to import, mostlyin herown
shipping, theproduceofforeignparts. YetnonationinEuropecanbeso totally possessed ofsuch
anactivecommerce,as nottoreceive at leastsomepartofforeignmerchandizefromtheshipsand
merchandize. Ontheotherhand, thereisnomaritimecountryso entirelypassive inacommercial
sense, as nottobepartlyservedby theirownstripping; althoughRussiaandurkebothapproach
 . toamounttoaboutthirty-sixshipsofthelineofbattle, besidefrigates, sireships, &c. all lyingin
increasedandImprovedsince hewrote. HadDenmarkandNorwayany reasonableproportionof
butthewantofhomeonsumptionforthe merchandizewhichthey bringfromtheEastandWest
notsufsiciently cultivatingofhomemanusactures; inwhich, however,theyareoflatemakingcon
critical conjunctures, is ofconsiderableinfluence.
century,shehadmadesomesettlementsonthenorthendofwhatwathendeemedVirginia,though
3 Gold
forigncolony,norotheracquisition,withouttheBalticSea ; although,oflate years, shehascarried
onatradetoChina, fromhersineportofGottenburg, with oneortwoshipsannually,whosecar
thoughshedeesnotcarryona greatcommerceinherownpropershipping, yetherironandcopper
consistoffortyships, mostlyfromsifty o nehundregunseach, inhersins port ofCarlescroon.
Denmark,however, is said to haveof late so sar improvedhernavy, manusactures, and general
commerce,thatSwedenis notat presentjudged to be amatchfor her ; yetformerly, and atsome
certainconjunctures, Sweden'snavalforcehasbeenveryconsiderable. Swedentherefore,uponte
whole, haslittlemorethanapassivecommerce.
frequentedonaccountoftheiroaktimber, pipestaves, navalstores, linen, flax,hemp,caviar,amber,
YetthatMonarch,having butsewmerchantshipsbelongingtohisownsubjects, hasnotso muck
asbarelyattemptedto beamaritimepower;neitherhas heat presentanyforeignacquisitions, al
thatat theportof Archangel, thoughentirelya passive one. HerlateCzar, justly ctiled Peterthe
Great, madegreatefforts forestablishinganactivecommerceaswella anavalpowermisempire,
emporiumof St. Petersburg, towhichlastnamedporttfeere is agreatresortofshippingfromBri
tain, Holland, France, thetwoother northerncrowns,andtheHans-towrts; whence, as wellas
at Archangel,andother later conqueredportsinLivonia,immensequantitiesofnaval stores, linen
and, inpeaceabletimes, alsofrom Persiaconsiderablequantitiesofrawsilk areexported: neverthe
Brandenburg-Prussia, andofCourlandandLivonia, havea considerabletradewiththeinlandparts
vol.1. e notwith
all Europe. Dantzic is also an eminentemporiumfor flax, hemp,linen, distillery, timber of
variouskinds, &c. Andthelikemaypartly besaid, thoughina smallerdegree,oftheotherHans-
townsontheBalticshoresof ermany viz.-Lubeck, Wisinar, Rostock,andStraclsund, although
theyhavelostmuchoftheirancientlustre, wealth, andcommerce.
already said ofthe portofEmbden,andthelastnamedfourportsontheBaltic, thereproperly re
quentedbyships fromall parts, ofanyemporiuminEurope;hersituationontheElbeenabling
ofAmerica, fromBritain, Holland, andFrance ; woollenclothsinvast quantities, hardware, lead,
tin, leather, fcc. mostly fromGreat Britain ; spices, silks, cloths, sish, andmanyother articles,
fromHolland ; wines, brandies, silks, paper, fruits, &c. fromFrance, Spain, and Italy. And
HamburgbringsdowntheElbe, as wellas bylandcarriage, fromthebeforenamedcountries,im
foreignnations, intheir partly foreignshipping.
Thesamemaybesaid ofthecity ofBremen,thoughina considerablysmallerdegree, frsupply
ing, by theriverWeser, thecountriesofWestphalia, Heslc, &c.
It ishowe obvious, that ermany in general, can never omeamaritime power, whilst
dividedintosomanyindependentsovereignties andfree cities.
aremuchfrequentedbyforeign shipping,whichsupply themwithwoollengoods, sish, hardware,
EastIndiaandAmericanmerchandize, fromEngland, France, Holland, andfromHamburg,(and
rallydeemeda partofItaly, has hesine portofMessina,wellfrequentedby foreignshipping. And
thereturnsfrom all suchand other Italian portsinto foreignparts, aregreatquantitiesofrawand
thrownsilk, oils, wines, drugs, fruits, &c.
Ofll thesovereigntiesin Italy, theancientvirgincityandrepublicofVenicemostjustly merits,
Sea ; yet, inmoreancienttimes, shemadeasirst ratesigureinthecommercialworld: andalthough
shehassincesuffereda two-folddiminutionofhercommerceandformernavalpower sirst, bythe
herentiretradefor EastIndia merchandize,whenthe routetoIndiaby sea wassirst discoveredat
thecloseofthesiisteenth century ; yetshestill prudentlysupportsherancient dignity andindepend
ence,andeven at this day retainsaconsiderableshareofforeigncommerce,withvariousnations
navy, ofwhoseexertions, she has, inmoderntimes, givensussicient testimonyagainsttheTurks.
Ourcommercial researches being principally limited to Europe, orrather to EuropeanChris
tendom,weshall, inthenextplace, takeasuccinctviewofthegradualmeanswhichhave brought
westernRomanempireintoseveralnewandseparate monarchies, most ofwhichtill exist, though
greatalterations, untothis day ; conquerors, beinga andwarlike gave
themselves upentirely to military atchievements; and, havingnootherrightto theirnewdomi
nionsbutthatofthelongestsword, they remained constantly ina warlikeposture, regardlesscither
ofarts orcommerce.
theirforeignorintestinebroils, orelse withtheirMonkishandecclesiastical histories, legends, and
any thingthatreally deservedthatappellation existed any wherewithoutor west oftheMediter
raneanSea.
seawithothercountries,mayneverthelesscomeunderthedesinitionoftheoneortheotherofthem.
othercountries oftheirownproductandmanusactures, thantheyimportfrom allother countries,
then theirs is , inproportion, as trulyanactivecommerceas that of any of the countriesalready
named and, insuchcase, is undoubtedlyincreasing theirnationalwealth ; as, ontheotherhand,
thereversewilldecreasethesame. Yetwemayherelikewiseremark, inthecontemplationevenof
anygreatdegree of navalpower, (sincenothingcanesfectually supportthatbuta superiornumber
ofpractisedmariners,whichnothingshortofanactivecommercecanpermanentlysupply)yetsuch
nations as, in general, mayenjoy anactive, verygreat, andgainsulcommerce as is plainlythe
caseofRussia, as wellas ofSwedenandDenmark,withrespecttoGreatBritain, andperhapsalso
IndiaandChina, whichsendsannually tothoseeasterncountries a iargebalancein bullion. Yeta
nation, like Great Britain, enjoying an extensiveactivecommerce,mustundoubtedlybea gaincr
upontheultimateresultorentirebalanceof ll its foreigncommerce as, besideits superiormaritime
strengthandsecurity, (which, tousmostespecially, is of insiniteconsideration)muchprosit will
ever accrue, as wellfromtheout-set, freights, &c. ofhernumerousshipping, as fromthe vast
employmentgiventoherpeopleintheirmanusacturesandproductexported ; (exceptinthecaseof
2
France) whereby, suchanactive commercemaynot-unsitly merit thesinecharacterputroundthe
vergesorrimsofourbeautisulsilvercrownpieces, viz. dccuset tutamen, i. e. dignityandsasety.
Towardthelatterendoftheeighteenthcentury, Charlemagne, KingofFrance, asterwardsEm
greaterpartofthewestandnorthendsofGermanythanat present, foundedmanynewities there
embraceChristianity,helaid thefoundationoftheiraster acquaintancewiththerestof hritendo
orofFrance.
Inthemeantime, andprobablyevenpriortoCharlemagne'sconquests, thegreaterandmorean
cient cities of Italy, whichhad not been quite ruined bytheBarbarians, as particularlyGenoa,
Florence, Pisa, andVenice-,hadopenedacommercewith heportsoftheEasternorGreekempire
intheLevantseas ; fro hencetheybroughthometherichmerchandizeofGreece, Syria,Persia,
theirownverygreatenrichment: towhichcorrespondencethegreat resort oftheclergytoRome,
littlemeansfortradeEnglandthenhad, wasentirelycarriedon beforetheGermanmerchantshad
sixedtheirresidenceat theSteel-yardinLondon.
beingcountrieswheretheRomanarmshad never triumphed ; so thatacommunicationwas aster
wardtherebygraduallyopenedbetweenthosetill thenbarbarous andunknowncountries, andthe
• becommunicated,tothegreatsutureadancementofnavigationandcommerce.
Normanconquest, thelayrepresentativesofthenationinParliamentwerestiled theBaronage, /'. e.
times, thatthefreeholdscametobe split into smaller parcels. Moreover, fo wantofcommerce
andmanusactures, thelandswerewithdifficulty alienable, andwerethereforeof a very lowvalue
forwantofpurchasers : theirowners, therefore,unabletoraise portionsfortheiryoungerchildren,
equally discouraged.
actually
couldnotsail tobegreatlyconducivetotheincreaseofcommerceandnavigation in thewestparts
notapppearthattheywereofanydirectorimmediateservice fortheadanc entofcommerce.
city of ambalu,orCambalik,wastheverycitywenowcall Pekin, thecapital ofChina?Or,that
hewhomMarcoPolo stilestheGreatCham,wasnootherthantheKingorEmperorofChina?
storiesoftheGreatChamofTartary,whowasnootherthantheMonarchofChina andwehadno
ningto havecertainpeculiarprivilegesgrantedtothembytheirPrinces, as particularlyinEngland, .
porations, inlieu ofthearbitrary assessmentswhichbeforeweremadebythecrownosficersoneach
thoseinhabitants,andparticularlyof th'e Ports, amethereby gradually encouraged to
entersurtheruponsisheries, &c.forexportation ; whichledthemintothebuildingof shipsofsome,
towns,who,as Senecalongsinceobserved,  areas benesicialtocities as physiciansaretothesick.
smercator urbibusprodejl, utmtdicusagrotis.) hos exclusive privileges, or municipal restraints,
grantedby ourKingsto thefreemen, as theywerethen beginningto be called, ofsuch towns,
werecertainly, intheinsancyoftrade, ameansofsettingit forward; although, sincecommerceis
sogenerallyestablished, andbetter undenftood, they are, in thejudgmentofalmostall wisemen,
howesteemed a, real obstructiontothefreedomandextensionofcommerce.
Yetduring all this time,andlongasterwards,Englandwasentirely suppliedwiththemerchandize
whohad, inveryearly times, sixedtheirresidenceat theplacetowhichtheygavethenameofthe-
ThewondersuldiscoveryoftheMariner's ompass at thecloseofthethirteenth, orbeginning
proved.
ofhops, forpreservingberat sea ; — oftheuseof stock-sish, invoyages ofgreat length; — ofthe
improvementofhavens, rivers, andhighways ; — ofthediscovery ofnewmanusactures,mines, &c.
mostofwhichwillbetreatedofmoresullyintheirrespectiveplaces.
WestIndies,Mexico,Peru,Chili, and OtherpartsofAmerica,bythe Spaniards, haveproved, in
sincethosetwogranddiscoveries, manyusesul, thoughlesser and collateral ones, havebeenconse
quentlymade.
twohithertoimpracticablenorth-west north-eastpassagestoChina India,have,nevertheless,
attemptsareowingthe Greenland sishery, the Hudson'sBaytrade, and the trade to Russia and
Lapland. Whichnaturallybringsto mindthefollowing beautisul simileofthepoet, thoughon
anothersubject, viz.
** (Forneither that in artnornatureis)
 Anddoes his chargeandlabourpay,
 Withgoodunsoughtexperimentsby theway. Cowlej'sMistress.
ments,bysuperstitiousandnonsensicalholidaysandprocessions: and,
theirown,so thatmultitudesofusesulpeoplehavebeen, at differenttimes, preventedfromsettling
Nevertheless,Englandhasformerlybeenblameableforsomeobstructions, oversights,ormistakes,
maybeinflictedonanyquiet,sober,andindustrioussubjects,merelyfordissentingfromthemajority
aboutwhichDivineRevelationis absolutely silent, are undoubtedlysomanyreal obstructions to
commerceandindustry.
HadArchbishopLaudbeenpermittedtogooninhismadcareerofbigotry,hewouldhavedriven
 conniveda intheiropinions, yetitwasnot sit thatsuchaschism should beperpetuated : their
 children, therefore, shouldandmustbeeducatedin the established religion. Bythesame ill-
judgedand unchristian spirit, weregreatnumbersof BrownistsandIndependents, ofourown
nation, driventothewildernessesofAmerica;where,however, they and their descendantsproved
a verygreatblessingto Britain, byextendingitscommerce,andin settling nd peopling ofNew
England, themost industrious, potent, and hitherto mostpopulous, of all theNorthAmerica
provinces. Andthesamemaybesaid ofthe Quakers,whohave been so instrumental in sinely
improvingandpeoplingofthesertile provinceofPennsylvania.
relentless crueltiestoProtestantshasbeen equallyhurtsul to the persecutors, as benesicial to the
Protestantpartstowhichthepersecutedwere forcedto retire. Howmuchhas that ancient,and
oncemostpopulouscity ofCologne, sufferedfrombeing guidedbythe diabolical spirit oftheir
Jesuits, inexpellingall their Protestantinhabitants, whothereupon settled mostly at msterdam,
Bremen,andHamburg,totheenrichingosthosecities, andthedepopulatingaswellasimpoverish
its Protestant merchants much the dominions
Silesia, Austria, andHungary,sufferedal ro bytheJesuit councils of a blindandbigotted set of
Princes? Theignorantenthusiastsof Polandhavebeenguiltyofsimilarmadness. Andhavenot
JewsToinstancenomore, didnotLouisXIV.ofFranceforcemanyhundredthousands (some
manusacturers,andartisicers, totakeshelter inEngland,Holland,Switzerland, ermanyPrussia,Sec
totheverygreatemolumentofthosecountries, thedraining ofhisownkingdomofmuchwealth
policyandcommerce as,
VanArtevilleagainstFranceandtheEarlofFlanders, contraryto the wiseconduct ofhisgrand
soconvenientforEngland'scomrce ndforkeepingFranceinperpetualaweofEngland.
III. OliverCromwell'sjoiningwith Franceagainst Spain, alreadytoomuchdepressed, for his
ownparticular interests ; as KingCharles II. asterwards did, in order to supply his voluptuous
appetites,andfortheestablishmentofarbitrarypower.
greatriverMissisippi; andourtoolong neglectingtoputaduevalueonoursugarislands. Yetto
werethenwidelydifferentfro ha theyareat present,manypoints seemnowtobepracticable*
occasioniteveryyearto ecommoredifficult, formanyobviousreasons.
temperinwhichtoomanypeoplestill remain; viz.
townscorporate, buteven in thesubordinatemechanical corporation societies withinthose cities
andtownscorporate; bywhichthe mostingeniousandindustrious artisans areoftenexcluded,
part (someevengoso sar as tosaynotone-sifthpart) sopopulous as it canwellbear, support, or
maintain ; it isthoughttobeapointofstate policywell omingtheregardof the legislature, to
makethenaturalizationofall foreignProtestantsas easy as is consistentwith thesullemployment
ofourownpeople; moreespeciallyas bothourlandandnavalwars, ourmercantilenavigation,and
X.It is a melancholy consideration, thatalthough so manyablepenshavebeenso oftenengaged
inproposingplansforessectually employing all our ablepoor, andat thesametimeremovingthe
scandalousnuisancesinourstreetsandroads,bysupportingallthedisabled; bothwhichgreatpoints,
it is thought, might be esfected, with thegreat additional benesit of saving, according to some,
abouthalfa millionofmoney,partofmorethandoublethatsum, annually raisedon peoplet
solittlegoodeffect ; yetnothinghaseffectually beendonetherein by tholewhoalonehave it in
theirpowertoset aboutit, especially intimeofpeaceandtranquillity.
sure, andpofsiblytoo, thefamecoinsin stamp, standard,andweight, withtheir sub-divisions, it
wouldgreatly sacilitatethecorrespondencesandcommercebetweenthedifferentnationsofEurope
moreespecially is all thesub-divisions thereof wereto be decimal. But, as such an harmonious
agreementis rathertobewishedforthanexpected,ho chsoever it maybeall Europe'scom
mercial interest to haveit so, weshall contentourselveswith justly blamingthe negligenceofthe
Britishnation, innothavingoneonly weightandmeasurethroughout all parts ofGreatBritain,
Ireland, andourforeignplantations, thewantofwhichhasbeen, andeverwill be, attendedwith
greatinconveniencies. SirJamesWare,in his Annalsof Ireland, observes, undertheyear 1498,
thatin Irelandeverycountyhadadifferentmeasure, notwithoutevidentdetriment to thepublic;
 Oneaith, oneweight,onemeasure,andonecoin,
  ouldll theworldinharmonyconjoin.
thegeneralannualbalanceofawholenation'scommerce;a pointbut little understood, and very
workupinourownmanusactures, aresar frombeinghurtsul to ourcommerce andmayeven, in
manyrespects, bedeemedofequalbenesitwithourownnativecommodities. Suchmerchandize,
housebooksanuncertainguide.
tobeagainstacountry in itscommerceto several foreignparts, although, nevertheless, a trade,
prositableuponthewhole, maybecarried onbythat country. Thus,forinstance, in England's
exchangewithHolland,muchofthetreasurereceivedbytheDutchmerchantsinSpainandPortugal,
toanswerthebalanceoftrade,whichis greatlyintheirsavourwithrespecttoboththosenations, is
oftenbroughtthenceinourshipstoLondon,andtransmittedtoHolland,makinga mutualdemand
foreignPrinces,andourappointmentstoourministersat foreigncourts ; — thedrasts ofou nobility
demandsonus fromthe northern crowns, Russia, the Hans-towns, andindeed from all other
countriestowhomweusually pay anannualbalance. These, andothersimilar causesoccasionally
occurring, may,anddofrequently, turn againstus theexchangewith msterdam,thecentreof
exchangeforallEurope, evenalthough it maybe universallyallowed, as already observed, thatwe
carryonaveryprositablecommercewithHollanditself, separatelyconsidered,as wellaswithseveral
bothtogether,which s disadvantageousto, andwill, in theend,bringonpovertyonanycountry;
andnotsuchimportationsas, likemanyofours, consistofrawsilk, Spanimwool,cottonwooland
usedinourshipbuilding, orworkeupin our manusactures, and mostly also for exportation:
Neitherareourimportations of EastIndiaandPlantationgoods, designed to be re-exported, nor
theforeignlinens,&c. forsupplyingour ownAmericanplantations,andourAfricantrade, to be
deemedunprositable, butare,onthecontrary, quitebenesicialto us.
do,andmoreespeciallyas certainFrenchauthorsdo,who,oflate, havevainlypretendedtoascertain,
areso manystronglyconcurring evidences of ourbeing very considerablegainersbyour general
foreigncommerce,as, ineffect,amountto demonstration. It must, indeed, beacknowledged, that
hadwenotso vasta nationaldebt, occasioninga terrible loadofheavytaxes and burdens ontrade
andmanusactures, as well asonalmostall thenecessariesoflise, ournationalwealthwouldincrease
muchsaster than it canpossiblybeexpectedtodoinsuchcircumstances: whichgeneralobservation
averyprosperousstate, inrespecttotheirgeneralcomrce,ndtheirpeculiarmanusactures.
see thelargestridesweformerlytookintheincreaseofcommerceand wealth,moreespeciallyfrom
haveverymuchretardedtherapid increase of our wealth. Nevertheless,wemust strangely and
wilsullyshutoureyes, notplainly to perceive, byvariousinsallible marks, agradualincreaseofour
commerce,wealth, andpeople, sincethatmosthappyperiod, viz.
sincetherevocationoftheedictofNantz, intheyear 1685, as wellas bythenaturalaugmentation
ofourownpeople.
also theshippingofLondon,as wellas ofmost oftheout-ports, areconsiderablyincreased , as is
also thenumberofreal merchants, as wellas of wholesaleandretail dealers; our shops and ware
housesmorenumerous, andmuchbettersilled ; andthesuburbsofLondonarecontinuallyexpand
ingthemselveseveryway,bynewandsiner builtstreets.
IV.Moneys in greater plenty; and, as an insallible consequencethereof, its interest lower
thanever.
housholdsurniture,&e. greaterstocksofcattle, — lands better improved, as are also mines and
sisheries, — andthelike still morein respect of our manusactures ; — greater portions givenbyall
rankstochildren; — and, ingeneral, peopleof all degrees, both intownandcountry, live much
betterthanformerly.
ineachofits rates thanattheRevolution, in 1688. .
Allwhich, andnumerousotherinstances, that, forbrevity'ssake,weomit, havenotbeensud
solely fromanincreaseofluxury or prodigality ; bothwhichwemu ho allow, will ever'
increaseinsomeproportiontotheinsluxofnationalwealth. England,therefore, isnowundoubt
Europeat presenthas, orperhapseverhad.
creditis aprincipalcauseofthespeciousappearanceof wealth, moreespecially in ourgreatmetro
polis; where, say they, thereis not so greata plentyofrealmoneyorcoinasmanywouldhave us
believe. Bywhichtheobjectorswouldseemtoinsinuate, that papercreditmaybearbitrarily, and
moreabsurdandsalse insact. For, were therenoother demonstrative evidencethereofthan the
f2 samous
France, thataloneis susficient to evince, that thenationalpapercredit in everycountry, thatis,
itspublicassignabledebtsorsunds, as well as thatofeverybankandbanker, in order to its per
manentdurationandsupport, mustever bear, at least, adue proportiontothereal intrinsicability
orwealthofsuchnation, bank, orbanker. Or, in otherwords, withparticularregardtonational
credit, thatsuchpapercreditcannolongerpoflbss a solid duration than whilstmenare persuaded
thatproportionableorsufficient realities exist orremainfor circulatingoransweringthesame. Or,
thatcouldbenamed,tocontractso largea public debt as ours, their whole revenuewouldnot
suffice merely forpayingtheannual interest ofevenafourthpartofit : wherefore,therewould, in
suchakingdom,remainnopubliccreditat all, buteverythingwouldsoon tend toageneralna
National, or publicpaper credit, therefore, is notthe cause, but purelythe effect ofnational
ability orwealth: whichpositionwillequally holdgoodwith respectto thepapercredit of banks,
and.also ofprivatebankers ; whomustever have, is they wouldalways be sase, a real and solid
bottom, foranswering, ina reasonable time, all demandsfrom their papercreditors, in caseof
whatis usually stiled a runuponthem. Willanyone, forinstance, imagine, thatthetwoincor
banksat Edinburgh, eachofwhosecapitals does onehundredthousandpounds
sterling, would,ordurstprudently orsasely ventureto issue calh-notes, to theamountof a bank,
supposeourbankofEngland, havinga capitaloftenmillionssterling ? Since,- probably, even the
wholecashofScotlandwouldscarcelybesufficient to circulatethe notes ofthelast namedbank
yetboththesaidEdinburghbanks are, andeverhavebeen, ingreatcreditoverallthatoftheunited
kingdom anddomake, and ever have made, considerableannual dividends of their prosits by
banking. Boththey, andlikewiseourprivateLondonbankers,verywellknowtheirownstrength,
existingcapital.
banker; andthatalthoughboththeoneandthe othermaybe, andhavebeen, often brought into
distress incalamitoustimes, sothatthecreditoftheformerhssometimessunkso sar inthemarket
price, as tohurtveryconsiderablysuchproprietors as hadimmediateoccasionforrealizing ; andthe
creditorsofthelatter, onsuch anoccasion,by temporarystopofpayment, havebeenobligedto
veredtheirformercredit whereas theFrenchRoyalBankand Missisippistocks, and the English
SouthSeastock, screwedup, in1720, to theenormousprice of onethousandpercent. suddenly
shrunk ; th formertonothing, ineffect, andthelatterto less thanone-tenthpartof thenominal
valueit hadattained : andthesame, orworse, at thattime, besell suchprivatebankersas ventured
sar outoftheirdepth,andlost sightofthenecessaryprecautionofkeepingwithinthslimitsoftheir
is inthatrespectsosarfrombeingamisfortune, assomehaveinsinuated, thatit is a realandvery
considerable
tallic manufacturesofiron, .steel, tin, copper, lead, andbrass, areoflatertimesso vastlyimproved
andincreased, as justly to beesteemedthesecond to it, and arealso the sinest in theworld, being
exportedto almosteverypart,inimmensequantities: so thatsomethinktheyemployhalfamillion
withstandingsuchunpromisingappearances. Thelinenmanusacturesand sine sabrics ofScotland
manyhandsas ourmetallicmanusacturesinEngland. .
twomillionssterling; andwhenmanusactured it costs or is valued at six millions more;and is
thought to employupwards ofone millionof ourpeopleinits manusacture5 whereas in former
timesallourwoolwasexportedunmanusactured, ndourownpeopleremainedunemployed.
therental is nowincreasedtoaboutfourteenmillions,andsomethinkconsiderably higher:ofwhich
putation, viz.
yieldedtenyearspurchase, or — — — — 50
inlands, (copyholds, &c. included)onanaverage, at orneartwentyyearspurchase 200
III. Andfourmillionsinhouses,nowso vastly improvedandincreased, at eightyears
purchase,onamedium, - — — — — ,
It is quiteimmaterialwhether this increased computation be minutely exact: for, as it is not
probablv very widefromthemark, it willwellenoughservefortheillustrationofourgeneralposi
Yetthis so vast anincreaseof our rental is sar frombeingall thebenesitaccruingfromourin
creasedcommerce. Theimmenseincreaseofourpersonalestates arisingtherefrom, inplate, jewels,
Thesemayat leastbesupposedtohavekeptpacewiththeincreasingvalueof our rents. Tothese
Astothemoneyoutat interest, eitherduebyprivatepersonsorinthepublicsunds ; itmaypro
our computation: andyetits increase, couldit bediscovered,wouldbea collateral proofofour
increasedliches.
commercewouldinsallibly sinkthevalueandrentsoflandsinasimilarproportion. Ourcities and
manusacturingtownswhichdonowconsumesuchimmensequantitiesoftheproductofour lands,
mightintimescarcelybesufficient tosupportthenumberless poor, then destitute ofemployment.
Inwhichlamentablesituation, it is noexaggerationto assert, thatthelandedinterestwouldbemore
sensiblyaffectedthaneventhemerchants, traders, andmanusacturersthemselves; as thelattercould,
barepossibilityof so sadadeclensionoughtsurely tokeepusperpetually watchsul;moreespecially
nusactures, oursisheries, ourplantations, orournavalpower.
Solongagoas theyeir 1680, Sir illia Temple in his Miscellanies, observes, that trade
isgrownthedesignof all thenationsinEuropethataepossessedofanymaritimeprovinces ; as
AndLordVerulam,(thatgreatglory ofourisle) treating, inhisAdvancementofLearning, ofthe
advantagesofmaritimegreatness, sinelyobserves, (onehundredandsifty yearsago), that hethat
 proper : whereas, Potentateswhoaremerelystrongat land, are, notwithstandingtheirlandfupe-
 riority, frequently reduced togreatdifficulties : andtherichesof boththeIndiesseem in a great
 degreebuttheconsequenceofthecommandofthesea. It is almostunnecessary toobserve,how
Ourgreatrivalsonthecontinent, it is true, think themselves obligedto keepupvast standing
armies, intimeofpeaceas wellas inwar butthen, beingsurroundedoneveryside b adoubleor
treblechain ofstrongfortresses, theyhavethereby sufficient timeandmeansto preventa surprize.
Thisis sarfrombeingourcase, whosegreatresource forsasety is , tobeconstantlyandvery consi
derablysuperiorinnraritimestrengthto every other nation whatever. Thissuperiority ofnaval
power, necessarily requiring-orimplyinga proportionablesuperiorityofmaritimecommerce,sets be
stantsuperiorityontheocean, it willbeabsolutelyimpossibleforBritaintopreserveits externalin
add, that, is ever Britain'sexternalindependenceshouldbe lost, thatoftherest of thenationsof
Europethatshall dareto opposeanyorer-growntyrant, willbealso soonat anend.
With
tain(as hasgenerallybeensaid, and nearlyproved) containsabove (butwewillnowonlysuppose
thatnumber)eightmillionsoffouls ; andthat, as is also thought, every soul, onewithanother,or
richandpoor, youngandold, onanaverage, spendsannuallysevenpounds thentheirwholean
nualexpencewill bea least sifty-sixmillions.
(cxportationsincluded)tothevalueof — — — — 48
to all foreigncountrie doesnotexceed, inourownproduct andmanusactures,andthose
ofburplantations andforeignsactories, — — — — 8
(Mr.WallaceandMr.Hume)uponaquestion, Whethertheancientworld wasor wasnotmore
Afillions.
makesthepeopleofFrancebutseventeenmillions).
(LordWhitworth'saccountofRussia, as it wasintheyear1710,makesthepeople
Denmark,Sweden, andNorway,areover-ratedconsiderably).
VI.InItaly andtheisles adjacent, i. e. Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Malta, &c. — n
VII.InEngland — f — — — — 8
earth,whichprobablyinducedtheFrenchmanto display histalents incomputation.
WithrespecttoGreatBritainandIreland, jointlyconsidered, surely Deslandesis mistaken,and
millionsofpeople whichprobablymaybethusdistributed, viz.
II. InScotland — — — — i
books, he. viz.
Protestants, verynear — — — 600,000 )
year 1699, quotesa manuscriptofone,whomhestiles theingeniousMr.GregoryKing,exhibiting
thenumbersofpeopleinEngland, at thefollowingperiods, viz.
II. AttheIncarnationofourSaviour, increasedto — — 400,000
III. AttheNormanconquest, to — — — — 2,000,000
V.Inaboutfourhundredandtwenty-sive yearsmore, accordingto him, thepeople
ofEnglandmayhavedoubledthelast-recitednumber,viz. in1685, about 5,500,000
theBishop'ssurvey, in1676, the peopleofEnglandwerereckoned nearsix milhons, eighty-six
yearsago.
themtobeabouteightmillionsofpeople, whichmayperhapsbetoohigh.
only for preservingwhatweareinpossession of, butforavailingourselvesofthemistakesor negli
China, shouldonedaycomethemselvestobesuppliedwiththoseandother articles bytheremote
msterdamandaeemshouldgradually lose (as in parthasalreadyhappened,andlikelymoreand
at Venice, Florence, Pisa,-andLucca,uponthe early revival ofcommerceaster the sall of the
westernempire fromwhencethebulk of it removed, abouteighthundredyearsago, totheNe
therlands; ndfrotheNetherlands,abouttwhundredyearsago,intoEngland orthatthegreat
fromLondonto theports of France; sinetoys, haberdashery, jewels, watches, hardware, hats,
stockings, &c. from andGermanyinto Thevarious removes of herring-
sishery, also, areremarkable, as willbeseeninitsplace. These, andmanymoreinstances,which,
were it necessary, mightbegiven, render several oftheaxiomsand dogmatical opinionsofsomeof
ourolderwritersuponcommerceunsaseto be relied on, as moresullyremarkedin our presace.
enthatexcellenttreatise of Sir Jofiah Child, is already somewhatliable to this caution; espe
ciallywhenwritingontheDutchcommerce,thenin its sull persection, thoughsinceconsiderably
Italy, andsewornonewithregardtothe ans-towns,Hamburgexcepted. Suchchangeshavein
thefoundingofRome,whoobserves,  thatseveralofthecities of Phenicia,whichwereformerly
 large, hadformerlybeenlittle.
Russia : theonlycrimesofmostofwhichplaces, in ermany seeming to havebeen theirgreat
wealth,andtheirunhappyvicinitytosomeall-aspiringtyrant.
vol.1. g supplied
this reason,ouroldcommercialwritersarealmostwholly takenupwiththeimportanceofourwool
cles, wereallwepretendedto call ourstaple commodities.
 Withrespecttoourimportations, Venice sirst, andLisbonnext, supplieduswiththemerchan
withthebest ofourshipping. Germanyalso, withlinen, tinplates, andhardware, evenso lowas
to nails themselves. France suppliedus, ingreat abundance, withsilks, linen, wines, brandies,
paper, toys, and srippery. Howhappy then is the changeinournationalcircumstances, sincewe
havehadAmericanplantations, thedemandfromwhence, of allkindsof merchandize, havingso
greatly excitedourpeopleathometotheimprov entandincreaseofcuroldmanusactures, andto
riousdependenceonother nations, forwhatwenoweithermanusacturemuchbetter athome,or
else aresuppliedwithfromourownplantationsandforeignsettlements, inexchange forournative
areourcustomsthereby increased, fromthirty-six thousandpoundsatQueenElizabeth'sdeath, to-
fourtimesasmanyt present.
OurAmericanplantations, therefore,bythevast increaseoftheirpeople,andofthecommodities
home,manyhundredsofstoutships, andmanythousandsofmariners,constantlyemployed much
sincegivenalarmingapprehensionstoall theirneighbours.
equalin quantity,andtoexceedin prosit, alltheothercommercewehavewiththerest oftheworfd.
moreespecially inthesine continentalcoloniesof CarolinaandGeorgia ; which, intheopinionof
veryknowingpersons, arecapable, withproperindustry, ofraisingthesinest productionsofail the
threedivisionsofthsoldworld, as wellas thatofthenewone.
ofKingGeorgeI. andwhichhe asterwards printed, in1724,uponhisapplicationforcarrying
intoCarolina a colony ofProtestant Switzers , he lays it downas a pojlulatum,  Thatthereis a
** certainlatitudeonourglobe, so happilytemperedbetweentheextremesof heatand cold, as to
 bemorepeculiarly adaptedthanany other for all thesaid riohproductions: andheseems, with
 judgment, tohavesixed nthe latitude ofthirty-three degrees, whethersouthornorth, being
 thatofCarolina, as theidenticaloneforthatpeculiarcharacter.
Thatsensibleman,anativeofSwitzerland,whomtheauthorof thisworkonce conversedwith,
heendeavouredtopersuadethemtoplantnewcoloniesohthe coastofCasfrcs, neartheircolony at
 plants ; wherebythe ompanywouldbeenabledtosupplytheirEastIndiasettlementswithwines,
** peans. But in this memorial, Purry, it seems, touchedonsomepointswhichtheCompany
judgedimproperto be published, andwhichconstrainedhimtoleaveHolland. Hisnextapplica
Thattheycouldnotjudgeofcountrieswhichtheyhadneverseen.
putablesacts,  Thattheidenticallatitudeo SouthCarolina,whichthencomprehendedthecoun-
 willeverbefoundtobeproductiveoftherichest plants, fruits, drugs, &c. ofanypartwhatever
 ontheterraqueousglobe, all otherthingsbeingsupposedequal, i. e. providedtherebenonatural
< impediments, such as rocks, marshes, sandy defarts, &c. Alatitude, sayshe,  which,by
 themoderationofits heat, andtemperature fits air, shedsfruitsulnessontheearth, andhappi-
 nessonmankindingeneral ; who,thesurtherthey aredistantfromthis degree, areonlysomuch
 tries arefoundtoexcel,inproportion, thenearertheyapproachto thisdegreeoflatitude. Upon
 Plataonits southside, mustbecountriespreserableto any in all America, as being all situated
 aboutornearthesaid thirty-thirddegree. It is, continuedhe, aconsequencethatneversails.
 ThusAndalusia isthebestofall theprovincesofSpain, ascomingneartoourthirty-thirddegree
 silk in theworld, as beingsitter forthe breeding of silkworms,thaneither France, Spain, or
  Italy ; as it is also for wines, oils, cotton, indigo, wax, fruits, cocoa nuts, timber, tar, flax,
 hemp,rice, wheat, &c. ThePresaceoftheEnglishtranflationofthesaid Memorialalleges,
tiutourgreatSirIsaac ewto.did, ingeneral, agreetotheprinciplesofthis sameopinion.
Carolina ; as havealso beentheexcellentproductionsofthewinesandfruitssinceraisedonthecoast
eighty thousand to one hundredand four thousand barrelsforexportation; so thatit grewtobe
morethan could be vendedto advantage; which, it seems, wasoneoccasionoftheirengagingin
thecultivationofindigo,nowalso broughtto a greatdegreeof persection. Theproductionofrice
at Carolinawasas accidentalas wasthatof sugarlongbeforea Barbadoes, (ofwhichinits place)
and therefore deserveslikewiseto be ommemoratedfor theencouragementof similarattemptsin
future. Itseems, thecaptainofa snipfrom Madagascar, touching at Carolina, inthereignofthe
lateQueenAnne,left, witha planterthere, a smallbag, notexceedinga peckof seedrice, byway
of experiment: and, soon aster, Mr.DuBois, thenTreasurerof ourEastIndia ompany,sent
thitherfromhence, for thesameexperiment, a bag of anothersort ofseedrice: and, aster several
trials ofboththosesorts, theplantersat lengthfoundoutthetruemethodofcultivatinganddressing
is broughtfromSweden yet, byasurthercontinuanceofthebountiesthereon, and other
newproductions, theymayprobablybebroughttopersectioninareasonabletime.
country-people, onthe river Savannah, whichpartsCarolinafromGeorgia;wherehe hasper
petuated hisname,byfounding hetownofPurrysburg, inwhichtheposterityofthoseProtestant
Switzersremainat this time.
androots : inCarolinaandVirginia,theyhavefoundseveralexcellentoriginally-nativeproductions
sohighlycelebratedinChina.
published in 1729, entitled, TheTradeand Navigationof GreatBritainconsidered, assuresus,
thatthehempofVirginiahas, upontrial, beenfound toequal, ingoodnessandstrength, that of
AnconainItaly, allowedtoexceedanyotherhempinEurope.
toEurope, innearthreehundredsail ofourownshipping, bringingina revenueofaboutornear
nually re-exportedtootherEuropeancountries. Ironalso isnowbroughtfromthenceinconsider
exchange
asit is said, aboveonethirdpartof the ironweuse; and as Swedenmaysometimeorothertake
thesameunreasonableadvantageof usinthis ommoity,as theydid in the article of tar, inthe
year1703, it is therefore surely the highestwisdom,to have all suchcommoditiesentirelyfrom,
ourowncolonies.
 It is almost impossible, says the said ingenious Mr.Gee,  to sindoutsive such necessary
 articles ashemp,flax, silk, iron, andpotash, forcarryingonthemanusacturesofthiskingdom,
 thatcanbedonewithso little trouble. Moneyoughttobeadvancedbythenation, forthepro-
 plantations, thereneedsnot obeone idle person in Great Britain and Ireland; though, it is
 said, thereis nownearonemillionidle, ofonefort orother. Notonefourthpart, continues
he,  oftheproductofour plantationsredounds totheprosit of theplantersthemselves: for, out
 ofallthatcomeshither,theyonlycarrybackcloathingandother ommodationsfortheirsami-
 it is laiduphere ; andtheirchildrenaresenthitherforeducation. Thereareverysewtradingor
Geealso thought,  that tea, coffee, and produced in see pre
miumsofthetrulyhonourablesociety fortheencouragementofarts, manusactures, andcommerce,
inthe years1759, ll , anc I7I,  which, with wildolivetrees, rosin, turpentine, iron-stone*
 boards, lumber, pipe-staves, masts, yards, hides, tallow, surs, beef, pork, butter,cheese,buck-
 wheat, oats, barley, andtheother before-namedproductions ofour several colonies, is sucha
 catalogueofmost excellentandusesulmerchandizeas cannoteasily bematchedinanycultivated
 country ofChristendom. Byallwhichmeanstogether,wemightsaveabovetwomillionsan-
 nually,whichwenowpay to foreignnations,andtoourownpoor.
medicines,somematerialsforbuildings, toys, andother curiosities.
thetradewiththemis notlike thosecarriedonwithforeignnations, whichundoubtedlymay,from
mittingtheshipsofforeignnationsinto their ports, stressofweatherexcepted,andalso fromtaking
sindsemploymentforfourtimes asmanyathome. Now,supposingthat, sincehistime,theremay
betwhundredandsifty thousandwhitemeninall ourcolonies, (exclusiveofwomenandchildren,
thousandvessels oftheirown,greatandsmall)thenisemploymentgiventonoess thanonemillion
may
whetherbysetting rksuchimmensnumbersofourmanusacturers andartissicers ofall kinds,
year 1735, ina memorialandpetition t theprivy council, clearly, thoughina bluntmanner, re
presentthethenunsettledandveryhazardousconditionofNovaScotia, andits imminentdanger
hisplanwaspuisued; bywhichdelay, ourenemieshadsomanymoreyearsofleisure tomakesur-
America, notby its sertility, butsituation; andhowmuchbloodandtreasurehasthatsatal neglect
• since costus.
 disinterestedly undertakento ascertainandset outthejust southboundariesofCarolina,bysoliciting
• the Britishensignsaredisplayed.
naturalandincurablesterility, it doesnotpromisetoberenderedconsiderablemerelyas a plantation
thousandpoundssterling, addedannuallytothenationalbalanceorstockinoursavour, it is ofvery
ofLouisiana, andall thecountry of Florida, toprotectourCompany'sforts, andtheir tradeand
boundaries ; whither also, in theopinion ofsomeintelligentpeople, amoreextensivecommerce
withthesavagesmightbecarriedonwithourcoarserwoollen, metallic,andlinenmanusactures, 5ec.
presentCompany'*capitalstockof littlemorethanonehundredthoufandpoundmighb thereby
fourshipshitherto ; wereanothercompanyto makeupaproportionablecapital, withthesanctionof
an act of Parliament, anda royal charter, which, without doubt, his Majesty, for thebenesitof
comrce, ldbegraciouslypleasedto grant: for thepresentHudson'sBayCompanys notan
exclusiveone. Yetas this Company'sforts, such as they are, wereerectedat theirownexpence,
they haveanundoubtedrighttoexcludeall othersfromtakingthebenessit oftheirprotection, with
ewn,inotherpartsofthewidely-extendedcountriesroundthat vast bay, .andmighttradewiththe
savagesthereof, withoutinterseringwiththepresentcompany or elsemightbeenabled,fora valu
wellbesupported,forall his Majesty'ssubjectsfreelytotrafficinthatBay, andupintotheadjoining-
likelytosindthesomuchandso longsoughtfornorth-west passageto ChinaandJapan, thanthe
mayhere, observe,thatour latekindneighbourstheFrenchof anadhaveformerly encroachedon
ofthetreaty ofUtrecht;whichboundaries, it is tobehoped, therewillnotnowbeanymoreocca
sionexactlytoascertain.
theisle ofCapeBreton, thenesteemedofvery little value..
TheBermudasorSommersIsles, aresomeofou earliest possessionsintheWesternSeas, sarre*
whattheypickupamongourSugarIslands. Yetas itwouldbeverydangerous toBritainforany
sonableencouragement.
modiousintimeofwar, onaccountof prizesbroughtin thither. It has, however, very littleof
productforexportation,exceptsomeambergris,certainsine timbers,oranges,andsomeother fruits,,
andthatitwouldbedangeroustobeinany othernation'shands.
benotonlyabridleagainstCanada, iseverthatshouldagain omeFrench, butmayalsoinesfect
besaid tobeacurbonallothernationssailing inthoseseas.
Thirdly, It isextremelyhappyforus, thatit is sowellstocked withtimber, masts, &c. forthe
useoftheroyalnavy moreespecially as it omesevery year moredisficult to be suppliedwith
thosearticleselsewhere.
theroyaldockyards, andtimberforthebuildingofmanygoodmerchantships.
andalso pipe staves, lumber, &c. for thatend. Forall which, the islanderspaytheminsugar,
jrielasses, rum, andSpanishcoin ; withwhich, again, thosecontinentalcolonies pay GreatBritain
andIrelandfor every thing they ntfro us, andwithwhattheygetfromtheFrench, Dutch,
andSpanishcolonies, as also withwhattheygetfromPortugal, Spain, Italy, andsometimes as sar
asfromtheLevant,whomthey supply, in theirownshipping, with sishcaughtintheAmerican
seas, andoccasionallylikewisewiththeircorn.
is hithertopeculiartous; therebeingas yetnootherEuropeannationwhateverthathascoloniesin
Americacapableofsupplying their mother-country withthecorn, andotherexcellentproviiions,
whichours, in caseof necessity, can do, as well as with naval stores; with whichlast-named
great article, it i nowearnestly to be hoped, weshall, byall pofsible means, endeavour to
supply ourselves entirely fromthem, and our vast newacquisitions onthe same continent
of America,andthereby save theimmensesumshithertopaidto theDanes,Swedes, Poles,and
Ruffians.
Whathasbeenalreadyobservedofthe,productandgreatbenesitsoftheprovincesofVirginiaand
Marylands sufficient to illustrate their vast importance; and, particularly, thevervgreatemploy
mentthey give to our ships, mariners, and manusacturers, and to almost all otherbranchesof
business.
ports,
Americancolonies, publishedin1757, asfollows, viz.
wax,myrtle,somerawsilk andcotton.
NorthCarolinaexportedintheyear 1753,
silk, andtoexportsomecornandlumbertotheWestIndies. Theyhavealsosometradewiththe
muchmorenumerousnegroesneed, butlikewiseonaccountof the vast quantityoftheveryrich
kinds,andmahoganytimber ; therebygreatly augmentinghis Majesty'scustoms, ndmploing
greatnumbersofourships, mariners, manusacturers, &c.
tonolessthanonemillionthreehundredthousandpoundssterling ; andthat, till theFrenchsup
sogeneralalmostoverall Europe, theconsumptionof sugar has sogreatlyincreased, that it is, at
thisday, oneofthegreatestarticles incommerce.
at leastknowninAmerica, till transplanted thither bytheEuropeans. Its originwasfromthe
inlandcontinentofAsia, veryprobablyas sar east as China, whereit still greatlyabounds. Itwas
fromthatcontinentsirst transplanted toCyprus andthence, according to various authors, into
Sicily, wherenofootstepsofit nowremains ; thenceit wastransplanted'totheMadeiraandCanary
foretheydiscovered,orat least plantedinBrasil, beinginpofsessionofthecoastofAngola,inAfrica,
FromBrasil it wastransplanted, asweshall see, sirst to our isle ofBarbadoes, andthenceto our
otherWestIndia isles ; asfromBrasil also it wascarried to theSpanishWestIndia isles, andalso
totheSpanishdominionsinMexico, Peru,andChili; and, lastly, to theFrench,Dutch, andDa
nishcolonies. Moreofthehistoryandtransplantationsof this mostuniversalmerchandizewillbe
judiciousObservationsontheconductoftheFrench, and their ncroachments our American
Colonies: (-Bostonprinted,andLondonre-printed, in1755) viz.  Thatourannualexportsto
 allthepresentshippingofGreatBritain. Besides, that this tradewill enableher, with greater
 advantage, toextendhercommercewith other countries. Ourannual importsfromall our
Americanplantations,areconjecturedto amounttonearthricethevalueofoursaid exports ; which,
contrarytothenatureofourimportsfromforeignnations, constitutesa real balanceinoursavour
tiongoodstoforeignparts, viz. oftobacco, rice, sugar, peltry,&c. is one very great, is not the
greatest, meansofbringingthegeneralannualbalanceoftradetobesomuchinoursavour.
discouraged, beinggreatlosers bytheiryearlyembarkations thither, as appearsbythe histories of
Virginia,Barbadoes,Bermudas,&c.whichwereindeed, fora longtime,mereunprositabledrains
ofourpeopleandsubstance, until, bypatienceandperseverance, theyhadclearedandplantedthose
ploying, encreasing, andenrichingtheirsellow-subjectsathome sothat, isforoursins, anygreat
settlementofmanymoremillionsofpeoplethanthewholeBritishempirenowcontains. Neither
ourcontinentalcolonies dueencouragement, prove sopotentandpopulous, as tobewell
abletosuccourtheirmothercountry, bothwithtroopsandshipping, incase ofan unequalwar
againstencroachmentsinAmerica. Atimetoo,wehope, is still morelikely to come, and less
remote, he shallnolongerdependonthenorthernnationsofEuropeforevenanypartofour
norperhapsonanyotherEuropeancountryforwines,drugs,ordriedfruits.
Whitepeople.
to SouthAmerica,bycommandoftheKingof Spain, between the years 1735and
1746, quotesamemorialdrawnfromthepapers of theMarquisdelaMaisonforte,a
 thespaceofasinglecentury, thepeople ofNewEnglandwill be asnumerousas
 asthoseofOldEngland,andinaconditiontogivelawtoallthenationsinNorth
 America. ]
thethreetocontain, at least, — . . _
hundredthousandwhiteinhabitants,exclusiveofournewandveryimportantacquisitionofCanada,
andofFlorida, andagreatpartofLouisiana.
quotedanonymousauthor.
Whites.
however, besidethetwosmallgarrisons,wehavebutverysewwhitepeople.
Grenadines, obago,St. Vincent, andDominica,wehavegoodgroundtohopethey will allbe
soonplantedandcultivated,and omevery usesulsugarislands.
coloniesintoonekindofgovernmentorconstitution, soasthepublicexigencies, intime ofcom
mondanger,mightbemoreeffectuallysuppliedthanhashithertobeenthecase, theybeing at pre
lina, Virginia,NewYork,NewHampshire, (beingpartofwhatis usuallycalledNewEngland)
andNovaScotia; inallwhichprovinces, boththegovernmentandalso the propertyofthelands,
orDominumdirectum, (/. e. ofthequit-rents)are inthecrown, exceptingEarlGranville'sundi
Fourthly, Inthebest peopledandbestcultivatedprovince , calledMassachuset'sBay, morepecu
retainingtheirabsolutedependenceontheirmothercountry, theymightundoubtedly berendered
upwardsofa millionofwhitepeople, andperhapsof near halfa millionof negroesanddependent
Indians; anumberofsubjectssuperiorto thatossomeentirekingdomsinEurope possessed also-
ofaterritoryextendedinlengthforat least sifteen hundredmiles, Floridaincluded,alongtheDeu-
beenalreadyextendedandsettledmorethanperhapshalfasmanymiles in breadth, ardto
ravagedb ahandsulofcloselyunitedenemies. Allwhichis, andmustbesolely submittedtothose,
inwhosepoweraloneit is to rectisy, as sar asis possible, whateverhas beenthus formerly so su-r
pinclyneglected.
leastdegreeofrestraint, andmuchmoreofpersecution formerereligious differences, is themost,
consistingofpersonsofall persuasionsofProtestants,whoall undoubtedlyhaveanequalandna
sionaries.
ofwhich, ofthesirst orsecondrate, inourdays, exceedsthecostofperhapsanhundredofthebest,
soexcessive, thatthepotentatesofEuropeareindispensibly obliged to endeavour at an increaseof
theirrevenues, by all pofsiblemeans money,andnot merelymultitudesofmen,as inoldtimes,
beingnowthemeasureofpower. Andas therearebuttwonationalmeansforpeaceablyobtaining
tation ; thatKing's revenueswere,therefore,comparativelyveryinconsiderable for, inthetwenty-
secondvearofhisreign, in1348,wheninahotwarwithFrance, thewhole subsidyonwoolex
ported, at forty shillings persack, (a very heavytax) was but sixty thousandpoundsof theirthen-
money,oronehundredandeightythousandpoundsof ours. Intheyear1371, hecouldraiseno
threehundredthousandmarks, or twohundredthoufandpounds, nearly equal in weightto four
huridredthousandpoundsofourmoney. Sir RobertCotton,inhisPosthuma, makesthatPrince's
oneshilling andeight-penceofourmoney,beingthewholerevenueofhiscrownlands,onwhich,
inthos days, our Princes entirely subsisted in peaceable times, without applying to their Par
liaments.
inthis Introduction, treatedofourverylosingtradewith France, and of our still prositableone
withHolland,weshallnowgoonwitha briefviewofourpresentcommercewith other nations,
poundsyearly : yetfromthosepartswemuststill continueto be suppliedwith immensequantities
ofnavalstores, shipandhousetimber, pipe-staves, copper,hemp,flax, andtheirseeds, iron,pot
ash,&c. untilwe omewiseand happyenoughto be suppliedwith everyoneofthese articles
fromourownAmericancolonies: foralthoughthesenorthernpeoplecannottakeoffanequalvalue
tures,&c.
offgreatquantitiesofourwoollenmanusactures, Plantation andEastIndiagoods,moreespecially
plyustherewith: they also sendusoaktimber,jpipe-staves, battery,&c. It isthereforemuchtobe
apprehended, thatwearestill indebtedtothemforanannualbalance; though, it is to be hoped,
notaveryconsiderableone.
But
somehundredthousand poundsannuallyagainstus, for theirnavalstores, linen, andlinenyarn,
flax, hemp,andtheir seeds, drugs, bees-wax, timber, Russia leather, andsometimesrawsilkfrom
Persiawhenina peaceablestate, &c.whichwetakeofthemingreatquantities, overandabove all
ofourtakingoffsuchgreatquantitiesoflinenyarn, spuninRussia, Poland, and ermany,where
ourLegislature, asmuchas possibletoencouragethespinningof it inBritainandIreland. Asthe
dressingandspinningofthe flax givesforeignerstoomuchofthemanusacture; it issurthertobe
theirlinenyarnis saidto be imported inforeign bottoms ; weevidentlylyeundertwoverycon
siderabledisadvantages.
whilsttheSevenUnitedProvincescanpreserve theirindependence: theformer, therefore, mustbe
although, in all butthe wines,wehopeintimetobecompleatlysuppliedfromScotlandandIre
land. Atpresentourtradethither, andespeciallytoFrenchFlanders, is alosingonetous,though
woollen and linen goods, forthe foreignplantations: yet, as Francehasof late years verymuch
encroachedonusinthetradetoPortugal, withtheirflightwoollen, silk, andlinen stuffs, &c. and
itismuchmoretheinterest ofbothSpainandPortugaltoencourageusratherthanFrance, sincewe
whichlast-namedkingdomtakesnoneoftheirwines: sothatprobablyFrancegainsagreaterbalance
withSpainis still aprositableonetous.
&c. manusactures, tin, lead, sish, corn, &c. Ontheotherhand,wetakeofthemsine velvetsand
brocades, sineGenoapaper, Florence and other wines, oils, rawandthrownsilk, drugs, fruits,
&c. all ormostoftheminconsiderablequantities ; so thatperhapsit is notvery easytodetermine
onwhichside thebalancelies. Yet, aswetradethitheralmostentirely inourownshipping, and
however, herebrieflyandproperlyremark, That, notwithstandingtheGrandSeignior'svastdomi
littlecommercebutwhatis entirelypassive, broughtto their portsbytheshippingofChristendom;
yarn, galls, andotherdyingdrugs, &c. as also medicinaldrugs, coffee, carpets,&c. inwhichtrade
we, theDutch,andtheVenetians,havestill a considerableshare althoughthe FrenchfromMar
seilleshavegreatly gainedgroundonus, andall others,oflate years,inthattrade, bythevastquan
tities of theirsinewoollencloths, stusfs, &c.andtheir AmericanandEastIndiagoods, carriedto
Constantinople, Smyrna,Aleppo, Alexandria, and other ports. We,however, still carry ona
considerabletradethither, bothwithrespecttothebefore-mentionedexported, imported, andother
urkey thebalancemaybeprobably, ina literal sense, againstus; yetthegreatestpartofoursaid
importsbeingemployedinourownsilk, &c. manusactures, wecanbynomeans,uponthewhole,
ands, whileweretainoursuperiorityontheMediterraneanSeas,weshall generallybeabletocom
pelall theBarbary piratical states to beat peacewith us; it is, therefore, evidentlyadvantageousto
us, thatthey remain, asat present, at warwithotherChristianpowers, in consequenceofwhich
wenotonlyundisturbedlycarryonourowncommercen thoseseas, butaremoreo become, in
somemeasure,thecarriers ofboththemerchandizeandtreasureofotherstates atenmitywiththem.
&c. isnowmostlylodged inwarehouses at ourportofGibraltar, fromwhencethosegoodsaresaid
tobesenthometoBritainandIreland,nearlyonas easytermsas theywereformerlybroughtdirect
scarcelythoughtconsiderableenoughtobringthebalanceinoursavour.
fortsonits shores, for theprotectionofourtradewith itswretchednatives; whichindeedwould
beoflittleimportanceto us, wereitnotfor thegreatan constantsupplieswegetfrom thenceof
negro slaves forourAmericanplantations, purchased entirely with ourownBritish produceand
manusactures
tools, lead, andsomeEastIndia articles ; withwhichalsowepurchasesomegolddust, gums,ivory,
andGuineapepper; beinginesfect all theproductto behadonthatbarbarouscoast. Sosar, there
fore, this trademaybe said to be benesicial to us. TheLegislature, oslateyears, haslaid this
Africantradeinsomesort open, undercertainregulations; wheresoreit is to behoped, thatit may
intimebebroughttoflourishmorethanever.
ing work, than perhaps any other single branch ofourcommerce.Wehall thereforereser<hc
readerthither, aster just remarking,whatmanyhavedonebefore, That, althoughourownpresent
East IndiaCompanyenjoys an extensive trade, and is seemingly inaveryprosperous condition,
havingmanysine forts andsactories, and considerableterritorial property, inIndia;makingalso
athomeconsiderabledividends, andsuchimmensesales, too, as wereneverknowninformertimes;
withsuchspacious and numerouswarehouses as perhaps arescarcelyequalledinany othernation :
allwhichaielikewisetheirownproperty. Yet,withrespecttoallEuropecomplexlytaken, it seems
tobeuniversally agreedto bea pernicioustrade; a trade, draining it of all or most of the silver
whichAmericabringsto it.
single, thoughindeedgreat, article of saltpetre, andsomemedicinal, dyers, and paintersdrugs, all
ormostofwhichalsoAmericacansupply,wecanhardly recollect anynecessarily-useful ommodity
doubtedly, in our stead, supply all theneighbouringnationswithEast Indiamerchandize, should
no atanytimedropthattrades to theirownverygreatadvantage ; andas, byour allthe
richandnumerousIndianmanusactures,directly interseringwithoursilk, woollen,andlinenones,
is annuallygainedtothiskingdom which,onsuppositionofdroppingallcommercetoIndiawould
judgment,andalsoas saltpetre is so absolutely necessary forournationalandprivatemagazinesfor
gunpowder,for whichwemustotherwisebe atthemercyofdangerous rivals ; wemustever beof
opinion, thatourEast India trade, under its presentcircumstances, is really abenesicialonefor
GreatBritain; andthat, moreover,onthesamesupposition, it ishighlyforthenation's as wellas
forthecompany'sinterest, tosupport, improve, andincreaseourEastIndiacommerces muchas
thinkap