OVERTURES For Promoting the Trade of this Nation: Humbly Offered to the SERIOƲS CONSIDERATION Of the Ensuing Session of Parliament, By a Well-wisher to his Country.
THAT the Government may, conform to the prudent Practice of most Nations, Regulate with other Countries the Ballance of Trade, which now, to our great Loss, lyes strongly every where against us.
To which purpose, 'tis humbly conceived, That such Foreign Commodities, as may be conveniently spared, be Prohibited.
That such unwrought Commodities from Abroad, as may be Manufactured at Home, be encouraged to be Imported; not only to keep our People and Money Vertuously Imploied at Home, but also to send Abroad for such Necessaries thence, as cannot be wanted.
Therefore, the following Particulars of Trade with Foreign Countries, are humbly tendered. viz.
Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and all the Baltick Sea,
Take our Commodities, and we want theirs; As Timber, Pitch, Tar, Hemp, Flax, Pot-ashes, Iron, Copper, Brass-Wire, &c. And if our Manufactures were encouraged, the Ballance would be on our side.
Hamburgh, and Bremen
Affords us few Things necessary.
Holland
Furnishes us with many Commodities, but few of them are absolutely necessary, and the Ballance is now on their side; whereas, before our Wool was exported, we yearly drew much Money thence by Woollen Manufactures, exported chiefly from Aberdeen; as may appear by the great quantity of Dollers and Ducatoons, still current among us.
England
Takes but few of our Commodities, except Cattle; yet our Merchants bring in considerable Quantities of such Goods, as might well be wanted: So that, what by the Expense of our Nobility and Gentry at Court, and the unnecessary Commodities imported thence, the Exchange is raised so high, that vast Sums of Gold and Silver in specie, are carried thither.
France
Tends much to our Disadvantage in Trade: For they prohibite, under Forfeiture of Ship and Cargo, the Importing our Herring, and all our Manufactures: And we expend vastly for their Salt, Wine, Brandy, &c. The two last take above 30000 l. Sterline per annum; whereas we may be sufficiently provided from other Countries with Liquors, by our own Product.
Portugal, Spain, and all the Straits,
Whose Product is Silk, Wool, Brasile-Sugar, several sorts of Wine and Fruits. Rice and Oyl: They allow us the Freedom of Trading with them, not so much to our Loss: And, were our Manufactures duely improved, it might more likely contribute to our Profit. So that, if we be fond of Wines, it were more reasonable to have them from thence; tho Care must be taken, that, under colour thereof, French Wines be not imported; and that neither Wines nor Fruits be brought, but directly from the Place of their own growth; because Bad of both sorts come often from Holland.
IT is also humbly Offered, That the Exportation and Importation of the following Goods may be prohibited, under severe Penalties, as highly Prejudicial to the Interest of the Nation.
Exportation of Goods to be prohibited, as
Wool, all sorts of Yarn, Skins and Hides, of our own Growth Unmanufactured; But that all Foreign Wool may be imported, free of any Duty: The benefit of which, the Practice of our Neighbouring Nations, making the Offences Capital, may fully Convince us of. The great Industry of Sweden, Denmark, &c. tho they have very little Wool, as well as France and Holland, who have not much, to promote their Manufactures; are sufficient Demonstrations of the Benefit of Importing, and the Damage by Exporting Wool.
- Linseed, as being a Material for Oyl.
- Talow, a Material for Soap.
- [Page 3]Wax, for Candles and Flambeaus.
- Brass and old Copper may be Re-manufactur'd.
- Lead-Ore.
Importation of Goods to be Prohibited, as
- Hats, being very well Manufactured at Home.
- Stockings, in the like manner.
- Powder and Fire-Arms, which are made as good here as any from Abroad.
- Cabinets, and all other Pieces of Wrights Work.
- Points and Laces: But fine Threed for that purpose to be free of all Duty imported.
- Earthen and Glass Ware, of all sorts.
- Iron Work of all sorts, except Sword-blades, till we recover again the Making of them.
- Soap White or Black, French Barley, and Starch.
- Cheese and Butter.
- Tapestry, and Hangings of all sorts; which may be made here upon due encouragement.
- Flannel, and all sorts of Woolen Manufacture, in like manner.
- Mum-Beer.
- All East-India Goods, unless imported directly from thence.
- That no Goods, but of the Growth and Manufacture of the Places they directly come from, be Imported.
Encouragements for promoting what is above said.
All Tacksmen and Collectors of Customs, that shall pass any thing so prohibited, shall incur a certain Penalty toties quoties, the one half to the King, and the other to the Informer; and that those belonging to Manufactures, have Liberty to enter into Ships, Vessels, Shops, or other Places, the better to discover the Goods so prohibited.
That all Foreign Tradesmen and Artificers, who Excel in their Professions, may be Enfranchised, and have Liberty to Set-up in any Town or Incorporation, and that free from all publick Burdens and Impositions, for a certain number of Years: Which being duely observed, will not only further encourage skilful Artificers to come and inhabit amongst us, but strongly invite many Masters to import their Stocks also, to the great Advantage of this Country.
That the Law or Custom, obliging Strangers and Un-freemen to make the first Offer of their Goods to the Dean of Guild, be taken away, and in lieu thereof, the Strangers to pay them only Two per Cent. and Natives but One per Cent. more than Burghers, and this Money to be given to New Manufactures. And all Towns and Shires that set not up Manufactures to imploy their own able Poor, may be obliged, according to their valu'd Rents, to pay to others who do imploy their Poor, as much as may amount to One Shilling Scots per day for each Head for some Years, commencing from the time they shall be received; which will greatly encourage Manufactures, & yet be more Ease to People, than what is used to be Collected for the Poor, and given at Doors: Besides the Benefit that the Publick will receive, by having all Hands Vertuously imploied: Which [Page 4] Numbers of Poor, will more than Manufacture all the Wool of this Nation. And this will remove the great Scandal of so many Beggars going about, many of whom, within these few Years have Starved for Want. Indeed these who are unable to work, should be reasonably provided for in the Place where they have lived, like the Prudence of Holland, where not one Beggar is to be seen.
That further Laws be made for encouraging our Herring and other Fishings, that Trade being of great Consequence for the Good of the Nation.
That neither Silk, Woollen, nor Linnen, but what is Manufactured here, be made use of in this Kingdom; and therefore Raw Silk be imported free of all Duty.
I shall not mention what is fit to be offered concerning the African and Indian Company, that being proper to come from the Directors thereof.
These Overtures being seriously Considered by His MAJESTY's High Commissioner, and the Honourable Estates of Parliament, I am perswaded they, in their Wisdom, will find them necessary to make the Nation Happy: And however this may seem to cross the Interest of some; yet it is always known, that a Publick Good, will, in a short time, Recompense a present Loss.