1. SInce some very good Friends, of both Old and New Stocks, are endeavouring, by all honest ways, together, to joyn, and in order thereto, are Writing, Pleading, and Printing their Cases; and since Losers have always the Liberty to speak, why may not I as well Print and Plead my Case; For I am sure I have as much, nay more reason to do it than they?

2. If these two contending Stocks be made one, and the English Manufacturers Case be not taken some care of, I can, without Star-gazing, plainly foresee, That they, and some other Folks, soon Ruin'd will be; And therefore pray, Mind what I say; If not for their sakes, for your own, be pleas'd to take care on't.

3. Is it not much more demonstrable, That the East-India Trade is of greater advantage to England than 'twas two Years ago; For since that time, it has in a great measure Ruined the Canterbury Silk Trade, and obliged most of the London Silk Weavers, Throwsters, &c. to give over their several Trades and Employments?

4. Will not this be of great Advantage to all the Clothing Counties in England, because some of these poor People, rather than starve, are gone to Ireland, and set up Trade there; others fall'n to Comb, Card, and Spin; make Cloths; Stuffs and Serges; who being at the Principal Mar­ket, can make and sell them as well, or better, than the Country Weaver and Clothier can do?

5. Does not Sir Jos. Child, who is well known to be Skilful in Trade, prove plainly, That the Discourse of Trade. The Pre­face. East-India Trade ought to be greatly Encouraged, when he tells us in Print, That the Expence of Foreign Commodities, especially Foreign Manufactures, is the worst Expence a Nation can be inclinable to, and ought to be prevented as much as possible?

6. Has not the Author of the Essay on the E. India Trade, as sufficiently proved it Gainful, not Essay on the East-India Trade page 14. only to us, but all Europe, when he tells us, They had been Richer by a full Third than they now are, if that Trade had never been Discovered or Undertaken; and that it bears hard only upon those Countries that Consume those Commodities?

7. Is it not plain, That it bears not hard upon England, since it could never be proved (and I challenge any now to do it) That we Consume at Home, in Ireland, or our Plantations, above nine parts in ten: Or that in Foreign Parts (except our Plantations, &c) there are Consumed above one eighth part of the Wrought Silks, Bengals, and Printed Callicoes?

8. Since 'tis allowed this Trade is hurtful to Europe, and all are agreed in a General Peace, What if they should agree to Banish it out of all their Dominions? But if not, Why should we restrain any part, Since we have nothing from thence of solid Use, (but) Materials for Luxury, and Page 12. perishable Commodities, for our Gold and Silver, which is there buried, as the same Author tells us?

9. Is it not better we should be at four or five hundred thousand Pounds Charge per An. for In­dian Vanities, having such plenty of Money, than for the sake of imploying our own Poor, upon our own Wooll, disoblige several Maids and their Mistresses, who would then be at a loss how to Dress up themselves, their Chambers, Parlours, and Closets?

10. Is it not our Interest (as the Essayer tells us) to wear these Indian Manufactures, because they would soon bring down the price of our own so low, That we may Export them to all Foreign Page 29. Markets, and be able to under sell all Nations; For (surely) they neither can, or will ever think of falling in their Prices as we do.

11. Or if they should, rather than leave off and starve, sell their Commodities as cheap as we, Pray what shall we get by this Learned Advice, since, after all, our Reducing the Indian, that Work for a Peny a Day, will out do us all, unless we're resolv'd to Work as Cheap, or Cheaper than they?

12. Will not the Falling the Prices reduce the Wages of the Poor, and by that means make the Nation grow Rich, since Sir Jos. Child has very well observed, That where ever Wages are high, Preface. throughout the whole World, it is an infallible Evidence of the Riches of that Country; And where Wages for Labour runs low, 'tis a proof of the Poverty of that Place?

13. But if bringing down the Prices will be such an Advantage, Why may we not as well send for the Corn we spend to the East Country, for theirs is much cheaper than ours? And then we may send our own Corn with our own Cloth, &c. to seek Abroad for a Market; Would not this soon Raise the Value of all the Rents and Lands in England?

14. And to save yet the more, employ the Dutch Shipping, for they always Sail much cheaper than we do, and then we may send our own Ships to all Foreign Nations, that either want, or will hire them, or else save the Building of more, to the much greater Preservation of both our Seamen and Timber?

15. And if nought but cheap Working will vend our Commodities, let's to't in good earnest, Page 27. and Employ the Twelve hundred Thousand which the Essay tells us receives Alms, which by the way is a very great Number, and shews how much we want the poor Indians to Work for us, and they sure [Page] will bring down the Prices so low, that when our Money is gone, the Indians will take some Stuffs for their Callicoes.

16. What if the Landed Men should apprehend, that this would Begger their Tenants, and Fall all their Rents, Can't we by another Essay, with Rhetorical Flourishes, amuse them, and then by imaginary, or fabulous Computation, &c. prove this cannot be; Or that 'tis our Interest it should be so, rather than restrain the East-India Trade?

17. Has not this Nation been great Gainers for many Years by the use of Muslings and Calli­coes, which are worn in the room of German Linnens, Silesia Cambricks, and Lawns? For the first we have had for our Money and Bullion: The last were the Return of our own Woollen Mann­factures, which now we can keep for our own use at Home.

18. Were not the Silesians very great Fools, when we would not take off their Cambricks and Lawns, to set up the making of Woollen, with which they now supply both themselves and their Neighbours; Whereas we could yet have very well served them both for their Money? And may not some others soon follow such foolish Examples?

19. If the Parliament would be so kind as to take off the Duty from course Callicoes, which be­ing from twenty to fifty per Cent. is a very great Clog upon them; We could then also soon beat them out of most of the rest of their Linnens, which might be as much more for the Profit and Gain of this Kingdom.

20. But if this will lessen the Customs, we're content they should double the Duties on all Wrought Silks; for they may well bear about 25 per Cent. And being such Bulky Commodities, sure none will Run them to save such small Customs, or the Ladies wear them when they'll be so dear: And will not this please the Clamorous Silk Weavers?

21. Or if they complain still, Can any one think the Parliament may not have some regard to so considerable a Company of poor Manufacturers as they are? When as, with no very great dif­ficulty, they lately pass'd an Act for Relief and Support of the Hair and Silk Button-Makers?

22. If the East India Company had Imported these Commodities, would it not have been easier for these Button Makers to have gained their Bill? And since the Parliament have past an Act in fa­vour of the Trimmings, may they not in time do as much for the Principal Parts of the Garments?

23. And now to conclude: To your selves be so kind, These Quericals mind, For they are design'd, To inform all Mankind, So as Truth they may find, If not wilfully Blind: But whosoe'r by private Interest is sway'd, Or Money have paid, To the East-India Aid, I am very much afraid, That for all I have said, They will me upbraid, And cry out I am Mad.

24. But if they do, I must tell them plain, I find in my Brain, So much Sense still remain, As the Cause I'll maintain, 'Gainst them and their Train: Therefore don't disdain, My Queri­cal Strain, And I shall remain, Your Friend as before, To stand at your Door, To plead for the Poor, And have yet in store, Of such Quericals more, At least a whole Score: Which you may have when you please.