REASONS Humbly offered to the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal Assembled in Parliament, to induce the speedy passing an Act for further encouraging Privateers.
1. THat it is manifest the Privateers have (during the War) not only taken and retaken many Prizes from the French, but have burnt, sunk, and destroyed, a great Number of the Enemies Ships on the Coasts of France; which as it hath much impoverished and weakened the Enemy, and annoy'd them in their Trade, so it has enriched this Nation to the Value of the Prizes taken, and by that means becomes a double Advantage to the Kingdom.
2. That by the Privateers Cruising, the French are so interrupted, or impeded in their Coasting Trade, That Provision and other Goods are already treble the Value, in the Eastern parts of France, than otherwise they would be; and if further Encouragement be given to Privateers, the French Army in Flanders will not be able to subsist.
3. That Privateers often meet with Wool Vessels, and other Advice-Boats going to France, and thereby prevent the giving Intelligence to the Enemy.
4. That Privateers are an excellent Nursery of Seamen, by manning their Vessels with so many Landmen as they do, and making them the best of Seamen, fit for any Service.
5. That the Prizes and Recaptures made by Privateers pay great Sums of Money to his Majesty for Customs, and very often secure and rescue our English Shipping from the Enemy.
6. That the Privateers being encouraged by the Bill that is offered, will be a means to put a stop to the French infesting our Coast, as they daily do, to the great loss of our Merchants.
So that it may be truly said of the Owners of Privateers, that they are useful to his Majesty, and all his Subjects; and prejudicial to none but the Common Enemy. And therefore 'tis hoped such an Undertaking will be Encouraged.
Obj. If it be objected, That the Encouraging Privateers may open a Trade with France, by taking Ships collusively.
Answ. The perusal of the following Account, made up of a Ship supposed to be loaden with Wines, and taken by Collusion, will sufficiently evince the weakness os such an Objection.
The Owners and Freighters of the Wine-Ship are Debtors
| To the first Cost, foreign Customes, and Charges of 100 Tuns of Wine | 1500 |
| To the Freight thereof | 0300 |
| To the Kings Custome and Prizage of 90 Tun, 10 Tun being allow'd for Leakage at 23 l. per Tun | 2070 |
| To one third of Ship and Cargo, (after Custom paid) which always goes to the Captains, Officers and Seamen of the Privateers | 0800 |
| To Charges of Condemning, Selling, &c. | 0100 |
| To the maintenance of the Master and Marriners belonging to the Prize, during their Imprisonment, till they are either returned or hanged | 0120 |
| 4890 |
| By 90 Tuns of Wines at 45 l. per Tun, 10 Tun being allow'd for Leakage | 4050 |
| By Ballance of this Account, whereby the Owners will be found to be losers | 0840 |
| 4890 |
This modest Calculation may serve for any other Merchandize, and demonstrate the apparent loss that must be sustained by such Methods of Trading; besides these Inconveniences and Hazards following are likewise run thereby, viz.
1. If but one Officer or Mariner of either Ship, or any other, happen to discover the Collusion, which is almost impossible to be avoided, then both Privateer and Prize are wholly forfeited. The Captains are to suffer Imprisonment, and be incapable of serving the King.
2. The Owners hazard sufficiently, being thereby guilty of Treason, besides Loss of Privateer and Prize.
3. If the Winds prove not fair to a Miracle, the Privateer must probably miss of the Prize, and some other Ship get her, or at least come in with her, and have a share, which will sufficiently Ruine the Voyage. 1