Part 4

And as to Navigation, I think it will not be disputed, that long Voyages rather use Sailors than make them, both the Employers, and the Employed, chusing rather to make their first Experiments on short ones.

[Sidenote: West-India and Africa.]

I will next proceed to the _West-India_ and _African_ Trades, which I esteem the most profitable we drive, and join them together, because of their dependance on each other.

[Sidenote: Whether Settling of Plantations hath been an Advantage.]

But before I enter farther thereon, I will consider of one Objection, it having been a great Question among many thoughtful Men, whether the settling our Plantations Abroad has been an Advantage to the Nation; the Reasons they give against them are, That they have drained us of Multitudes of our People, who might have been serviceable at Home, and advanced Improvement in Husbandry and Manufactures; that this Kingdom is worse peopled, by so much as they are increased; and that Inhabitants being the Wealth of a Nation, by how much they are lessened, by so much we are poorer, than when we first began to settle those Colonies.

To all which I answer; that though I allow the last Proposition to be true, that People are the Wealth of a Nation, yet it can only be so, where we find Imployment for them, otherwise they must be a Burthen to it: ’Tis my Opinion, that our Plantations are an Advantage to this Kingdom, though not all alike, but every one more or less, as they take off our Product and Manufactures, supply us with Commodities, which may be either wrought up here, or exported again, or prevent fetching things of the same Nature from other Places for our Home Consumption, employ our Poor, and encourage our Navigation; for I take this Kingdom, and all its Plantations, to be one great Body, those being as so many Limbs or Counties belonging to it; therefore when we consume their Growth, we do as it were spend the Fruits of our own Land; and what thereof we sell to our Neighbours, brings a second Profit to the Nation.

These Plantations are either the great Continent from _Hudson’s-Bay_ Northward to _Florida_ Southward, containing _Nova Scotia_, _New-England_, _New-Jersy_, _New-York_, _Pensilvania_, _Virginia_, _Mary-Land_, _Carolina_; and also our Islands, the Chief whereof are, _Newfoundland_, _Barbadoes_, _Antegoa_, _Nevis_, _St. Christophers_, _Montserat_, and _Jamaica_; the Commodities they afford us are more especially Sugars, Cotton, Tobacco, Piamento and Fustick, of their own Growth; also Logwood, which we bring from _Jamaica_ (but first brought thither from the Bay of _Campechia_ on the Continent of _Mexico_, belonging to the _Spaniards_, but cut by the Subjects of this Kingdom, who have made small settlements there) besides great Quantities of Fish, taken on the Coasts both of _Newfoundland_ and _New-England_: These being the Product of Earth, Sea and Labour, are clear Profit to the Kingdom, and give a double Employment to our People, first to those who raise them there, next to those who prepare Manufactures here, wherewith they are supplied, besides the Advantage they afford to our Navigation; for the Commodities exported thither, and those imported thence hither, being generally bulky, do thereby employ more Ships, and consequently more Sailors, which leaves more Room for other labouring People to be kept at work in our Husbandry and Manufactures, whilst they consume the Product of the one, and the Effects of the other, in an Employment of a distinct Nature from either.

This was the first Design of settling Plantations abroad, that we might better maintain a Commerce and Trade among ourselves, the Profit whereof might redound to the Center: And therefore Laws were made to prevent the carrying their Product to other Places, and their being supply’d with Necessaries save from hence only, and both to be done in our own Ships, navigated by our own Sailors, except in some Cases permitted by the Act of Navigation; and so much as the Reins of those Laws are let loose, so much less profitable are the Plantations to us.

Among these Plantations, I look upon _New-England_ to bring the least Advantage to this Kingdom; for the Inhabitants thereof employing themselves rather by trading to the others, than raising a Product proper to be transported hither, and supplying them (especially the Islands) with Fish (which they catch on their Coart) Deal-Boards, Pipe-Staves, Horses, and such like Things of their own Growth, which they cannot be so well furnished with hence, also with Bread, Flower, Pease, and other Grain; and from thence fetching the respective Products of those Islands, and sometimes Tobacco from _Virginia_ and _Mary-Land_, have carried them to foreign Markets, to the great Prejudice of this Kingdom: But to prevent this, they have been by sundry Laws obliged to bring them all hither, except what is consumed among themselves: By which Means this Kingdom is become the Center of Trade, and standing like the Sun in the midst of its Plantations, doth not only refresh them, but also draws Profit from them: And indeed it is a Matter of exact Justice that it should be so, for from hence it is that Fleets of Ships, and Regiments of Soldiers are frequently sent for their Defence, at the Charge of the Inhabitants, towards which they contribute but little.

Besides the forementioned Commodities, we have from _Carolina_ excellent Rice, and there has been Cocheneel taken, which as yet is but a Discovery, and perhaps may not meet with any considerable Improvement, till that Colony is better peopled; what I have seen thereof in the Hands of a Gentleman who brought it thence, seems by its Figure, to be much like what we call a Lady-Cow, or Lady-Bird, but is very small, and I take it to be the _Fœtus_ of an Insect, which laying its Eggs on a Shrub called the Prickle-Pear, or something very like it, leaves them there, till Time brings them to Maturity, in the same Manner as the Caterpillar does with us in the Cabbage or Collard Leaves, wise Nature thus directing, that the _Fœtus_ may find its Food, so soon as it wants its Sustenance. It gives a very curious Colour when bruised, but being extraordinary small, does require long Time to gather in any Quantity, and Labour being very dear there, ’twill not yet answer the Charge; but by cultivating and improving the Plant, which now grows wild, and by being better acquainted with the proper Seasons to collect them, when they are at a more mature Growth, greater Quantities may probably hereafter be procured, and at less Charge; and I think it would be a good Step towards it, if an Encouragement was given on its Importation hither, in such a Manner, as to the Wisdom of the Parliament shall seem fit and proper.

[Sidenote: Africa.]

Now, that which makes these Plantations more profitable to this Kingdom, is the Trade to _Africa_, whereby the Planters are supplied with Negroes for their Use and Service; a Trade of the most Advantage of any we drive, and as it were all Profit, the first cost being some Things of our own Manufactures, and others generally purchased with them, for which we have in return, Gold, Teeth, Wax, and Negroes, the last whereof is indeed the best Traffic the Kingdom hath, as it occasionally gives so vast an Employment to our People both by Sea and Land. These are the Hands whereby our Plantations are improved, and it is by their Labours such great Quantities of Sugar, Tobacco, Cotton, Ginger, Fustick and Indigo, are raised, which employ great Numbers of Ships for transporting them hither; and the greater Number of Ships, employs the greater Number of Handicraft Trades at home, spends more of our Product and Manufactures, and makes more Sailors, who are maintained by a separate Employment; for if every one raised the Provisions he eat, or made the Manufactures he wore, Traffic would cease, which is a Variety of Employments Men have set themselves on, whereby one is serviceable to another, adapted to their particular Genius’s, without invading each other’s Provinces: Thus the Husbandman raises Corn, the Miller grinds it, the Baker makes it into Bread, and the Citizens eats it: Thus the Grasier fats Cattle, and the Butcher kills them for the Market: Thus the Shepherd sheers his Sheep, the Spinster turns the Wool into Yarn, the Weaver makes it into Cloth, and the Merchant exports it, and every one lives by each other: Thus the Country supplies the City with Provisions, and that the Country with Necessaries; now the advising a former Reign to monopolize this Trade, and confine it to an exclusive Company, was the same, as to advise the People of _Ægypt_, to raise high Banks to keep the River _Nilus_ from overflowing, least it should fertilize their Lands; or the King of _Spain_ to shut up his Mines, least he should fill his Kingdom too full of Silver: This Trade indeed is our Silver Mine, for by the Overplus of Negroes above what will serve our Plantations, we draw great Quantities thereof from the _Spaniards_, who are settled on the Continent of _America_, both for the Negroes we furnish from _Jamaica_, and also by the Assiento, lately settled by a Compact of both Nations: ’Twas these which first introduced our Commerce with that People, and gave us Opportunities of selling our Manufactures to them.

But tho’ this Trade be now laid open, yet it will not be amiss to enquire what Reasons should persuade that Government to monopolize it, and what has been the Consequences thereof, in order to obviate any future Attempts that may be made to get it done again.

As for the First; The Necessity of having Forts, Castles, and Soldiers to defend the Trade which could not be carried on without them, had then Force enough to prevail.

But let us consider what these Forts, Castles, and Soldiers were, their Use, and whither the Trade is not as well secured now it lies open.

The greatest Number of Soldiers, offered as I remember at a Committee formerly appointed by the honourable House of Commons to enquire into that Affair, did not exceed One Hundred and Twenty on the whole Coast, nor did their Forts and Castles appear to be any thing else than Settlements for their Factors, nor was it ever made out, or indeed pretended, that they were fitted to wage a National War, or to secure against a National Invasion, nor were there any Magazines laid up to expect a Siege from the Natives; nor could they hinder Interlopers from trading on the Coast of what Nation soever; but the Company having obtained Frigates from the Government, destroyed our own Merchant Ships (unless permitted on the Payment of great Mulcts at home) whilst they let others alone: This, together with the Powers given them in their Charter, to seize in the Plantations, such as had the good Fortune to escape them on the Coast, and also their Cargoes, discouraged private Traders, who else found no Difficulties, the Natives receiving them as Friends, and chusing rather to deal with them than the Company, whose Factories also being at remote Distances from each other, great Part of that Coast was untraded to.

Nor do I see what Need there was to fight our Way into a Trade, altogether as advantageous to the Natives as to us; for whilst we supplied them with Things they wanted, and were of Value amongst them, we took in exchange Slaves, which were else of little Worth to the Proprietors; and there was no Reason to think, that the People of this Kingdom, who had settled such large Colonies on the Continent of _America_, (besides it several Islands) where there was at first such small Hopes of Advantage, without the Help of a Company, should fall short in securing this Trade, which carried with it the Prospect of so great a Profit.

I will next consider the Inconveniencies that have attended this Monopoly, and the Advantage the Nation reaps by the Trades being laid open; we now send more Ships, and supply the Plantations with more Negroes, and vend more of our Commodities for their Purchase: Besides, every Negro in the Plantations gives a second Employ to the Manufacturers of this Kingdom; and had we many more to spare, the _Spaniards_ would buy them, and pay us in Bullion, so there could be no Ground for putting this Trade into few Hands, unless ’twas designed those few should grow rich, whilst for their Sakes, the Nation suffered in its Trade and Navigation, the Company having made this detrimental Use of their Charter, that they bought up our Manufactures cheaper at home, and made the Planters pay dearer for Negroes abroad, than could have been done, if there had been more Buyers for the One, and Sellers of the Other.

It is not to be doubted, whether the vending our Manufactures, and encouraging our Navigation, on advantagious Terms, are the true Interest of this Kingdom, and that all Foreign Commerce, as it advances either, is more or less profitable to us; but the confining this Trade to an exclusive Company could promote neither; and I believe ’tis one great Reason, why we know so little of that great Continent, because the Company, finding Ways enough to employ their Stock amongst those few Settlements they had made on the Sea-Coast, never endeavoured a farther Inland Discovery; whereas, now the Trade is laid open, the busy Merchant, that industrious Bee of the Nation, will not leave any Creek or River untraded to, from whence he may hope to make Advantage.

’Tis to Trade and Commerce we are beholding for what knowledge we have of foreign Parts, and it is observable, that the more remote People dwell from the Sea, the less they are acquainted with Affairs abroad. _Africa_ is a large Country, and doubtless the Trade to it, may be much enlarged to our Advantage: Use and Experience, make us by degrees, Masters of every thing, and tho’ the first Undertakers of a Design may fall short of answering their private Ends, yet they often lay open beaten Paths, wherein Posterity do tread with Success, though they miscarried: Now that all Places are permitted freely to send Ships, and to have the Management of their own Affairs, Industry is encouraged, and Peoples Heads are set at work how they may out-do each other, by getting first into a new Place of Trade. Besides, the more Traders, the more Buyers at home, and Sellers abroad, and by this means, our Plantations on the large Continent of _America_, are better furnished with Negroes, for want of which the Inhabitants there could never arrive to those Improvements they have done on the Islands, the Company having given them little or no Supply, but chose rather to send their Negroes to the latter, because they were able to make them better Payments; but the Free-traders have since done it, to the great Advantage of those Plantations, and of the Nation in general.

As for the other Commodities brought in returns from _Africa_, _viz._ Wax and Teeth, one serves for a foreign Export, without any Disadvantage to our own Product; and the other is manufactured at home, and afterwards carried to Markets abroad: And as for the Gold brought thence, I need not mention how much it doth advance our Wealth, all allow it to be a good Barter.

On the whole, I take the _African_ Trade, both for its Exports and Imports, and also, as it supplies our Plantations, and advances Navigation, to be very beneficial to this Kingdom, and will every Year grow more so, if it remains open.

[Sidenote: Ireland.]

I come now to discourse of _Ireland_, and of the Trade we interchangeably drive with that Kingdom, with whom it is necessary to maintain a good Correspondence, which must be done on such Terms, as may be profitable to us both; and I think nothing is more likely to answer this End, than the encouraging the Linnen Manufacture there, which it is highly our Interest to promote, and theirs to set upon, being for the most Part of another Nature, than what is made either in the _North_ or _South-Britain_; for, besides the Employment it will give to the Poor, large Tracts of Land will be taken up for raising Hemp and Flax, both which thrive well in many Parts of that Kingdom; on the other Hand, the low Labour of _Ireland_ being employed on that Manufacture, will no way prejudice ours, but make them better able to trade with us, for such things wherewith they are supplied hence, it being undoubtedly the Interest of this Kingdom, that all those Nations we trade with should grow rich, by any Methods that do not make us Poor; and more-especially _Ireland_, whose Profits are generally spent here.

But then, how shall this Manufacture be carried on? Truly, the first Step must be, by furnishing Money on reasonable Interest, and receiving it again by such Payments as the Borrowers can make, and buying up the Linnens when made, and then the landed Men will encourage it, on their own Estates, and thereby enable their Tenants to pay their Rents better; which last Effect it hath already had in the North of _Ireland_, where by spinning the Yarn in the Winter Nights, and getting their Cloth ready, and fit for Sale, early in the Year, they provide for their _May_ Rents, without being constrained to sell their Cattle whilst they are lean, and their _November_ Payments do not become due, till they are fat, and their Harvest is over.

Now these Loans must be made, either by a Joint-Stock raised for that Purpose, of by the Bank of _England_, which will be attended with good Security; for by reason of the Register settled there by Act of Parliament, I take the Securities of _Ireland_, to be rather better than those in _England_: and this way of lending Money, must likewise be very acceptable to all those whose Estates are under different Incumbrances, which may by this means be reduced into one, and paid off, as they can spare the Money by degrees.

Nor can I see how any ill Consequences will attend the bringing the Money to _Par_ in both Kingdoms, I know it had none when the Crown-piece was some Years since reduced from six Shillings to pass at five Shillings and five Pence, and all other Money in Proportion; it neither caused an Alteration in the Rents to the Landlords, nor in the Price of the Product to the Tenants; and I cannot see why the falling it to five Shillings (as it passes here) should carry with it any ill Effect; the Lands of _Ireland_ would thereby be more worth to the Proprietors, who would then be more willing, and better able, to spend their Money here, when they were freed from such high Exchanges; besides the Advantage to the King in his Revenue.

The Commodities we have thence are, Wool, Hides, Tallow, and Skins, all useful in our Manufactures; as also some Herrings, which we export again; and we ship from thence for other Markets, Beef, Pork, Salmon and Butter; we likewise supply them with Tobacco, Sugar, and other Plantation Goods; also with fine Broad-Cloth, Silk Manufactures, and several other things made here; and with sundry of our Products, as Lead, Tin, Coal, &c. of which last, so great Quantities are carried thither yearly, that it will scarce be credited, how much they say there it amounts unto; besides Muslins, Callicoes, China-Ware, Tea, Coffee, and other _East-India_ Goods: They have indeed, discouraged the Importation of Callicoes, by loading them with a great Duty, but I wonder they do not totally prohibit them, for that single Commodity doth more Injury to their Manufactures, both of Linnen and Wollen, than all the Things they import besides.

I should be very glad to see the Linnen Manufacture there brought to a good Perfection; and I am sure if the Government were at some Charge in doing it, ’twould not be ill laid out.

[Sidenote: Canaries.]

I shall proceed next to the Trade we drive to the _Canary-Islands_, which brings us nothing but what we consume, and I believe takes from us little of our Product or Manufactures; but since we must drink Wines, ’tis better to have them from the _Spaniard_ than the _French_; the first takes off much of our Manufactures, the other little; and I am apt to think, those Wines are paid for out of what we ship to _Spain_.

[Sidenote: Spain.]

This brings me to the _Spanish_ Trade, which I take to be very profitable to this Kingdom, as it vends much of our Product and Manufactures, and supplies us with many Things necessary to be used in making the Latter, and furnishes us with great Quantities of Bullion; I shall divide it into three Parts, _Spain_, _Biscay_, and _Flanders_.

To begin with _Spain_, by which I mean, that Part from the Bay of _Cadiz_ inclusive, Eastward into the Straits of _Gibraltar_, as far as _Catalonia_; whither we send all Sorts of Woollen Manufactures, Lead, Fish, Tin, Silk and Worsted Stockings, Butter, Tobacco, Ginger, Leather, Bees-Wax, and sundry other Things. And in Return we have thence, some Things fit only for Consumption, such as Fruit and Wines; others for our Manufactures, such as Oil, Cochineal, Indigo, Anata, Barillia, and some Salt, with a great Part in Gold and Silver, wherewith they are supplied from their large Empires on the main Land of _America_, whither they export much of the Goods we carry to them.

The _Spaniards_ are a stately People, not much given to Trade or Manufactures themselves; therefore the first they carry on by such chargeable and dilatory Methods, both for their Ships and ways of Navigation, that other trading Nations, such as the _English_, _French_, _Dutch_, and _Genoese_, take Advantage of them; only their Trade to their _West-Indies_, hath, on strict Penalties, been reserved to themselves; but having no Manufactures of their own, the Profit thereof comes very much to be reaped by those who furnish them: Nor is it so well guarded and secured, but that the Inhabitants thereof have been plentifully supplied by us with Manufactures, and many other Things from _Jamaica_, and may be more, by the Liberty lately granted to the _South-Sea_ Company, whereby we get greater Prizes for them, than when they were first shipp’d to _Cadiz_, and exported thence thither, which adds to the Wealth of the Nation: This I take to be the true Reason why our Vent for them at _Cadiz_ is lessened, because we supply _New-Spain_ direct with those Things they used to have thence before.

By _Biscay_, I mean all that Part under the _Spanish_ Government, which lies in the Bay of that Name, or adjoining to it: The Commodities we send thither are generally the same as we do to _Spain_, and in Return we have Wool, Iron, and some Bullion, whereof the first is the best and most profitable Commodity, which could we secure wholly to our selves, ’twould be of great Advantage to the Nation; but both the _Dutch_ and _French_ come in for their Shares; tho’ I am apt to think the former might be induced to bring it hither by way of Merchandize, if we did so far relax the Act of Navigation, as to give them Liberty to do it.

The third Part of our _Spanish_ Trade is that to _Flanders_, whereby I mean all those Provinces that were formerly under its Government, but are now under the Emperors, whether we send Commodities much of the same Nature as those we send to the other Parts, tho’ not in so great Quantities, and among our Woollen Manufactures more coarse Medleys; also Muscovado Sugars and Coals, but not so much Leather as we have formerly done, being supplied with raw Hides from _Ireland_, which are tann’d there: We have thence Linnens, Thread, and other Things, which are used both at Home, and also shipp’d to our Plantations.

[Sidenote: Portugal.]