British Committees, Commissions, and Councils of Trade and Plantations , 1622-1675 Part 10

And what Stores they have of Armes, Ball, Powder or any other Ammunition respectively, and what care is further necessary to be employed, for the better Securing and praeserving each of them, and to give an account from time to time of the whole to us.

[Sidenote: To recommend to the Governours, the breeding and producing of Salt Petre.]

2. And forasmuch as we are informed, that there are among severall of our Plantations, Grounds very proper for the Breeding and producing of Salt Petre.

And those so rich also that if they were improoved to the utmost, great quant.i.ties of that Commodity might be easily had from those parts, without sending into the Indies for it:

You are therefore very specially to Recommend this affaire to the Governours of such Plantations, where you shall be informed the Grounds are fittest for this purpose. And not only to require their care for the Improovement of it; but to send your Advice to them, and to receive their respective answer and opinion, how and in what manner they judge the same, may be best, and most speedily put in Execution.

[Sidenote: The Planting of such Commodities as are most for the benefit of the Plantacons and to redresse all praejudiciall Courses of Planting.]

3. And forasmuch as the greatest benefitt that can arise to any of our said Colonies, must be when the Planters of any of the said Colonies shall be able to improove their Labour or Ground to the utmost Profitt respectively.

Wherefore if the Sayle of any of the said Plantations shall be equally fitt for the producing as well of severall other Commodities, as for the producing of that which the said Colonie is accustomed unto.

And that the said other Commodities are such also as are of more profitt to be planted by farre then that which is usuall, And that doe not only grow in the Countries adjacent to the said Plantations, but are found by Experience to thrive well even in the very said Plantations themselves.

In this Case you are to take care that a Custome be not nourished to the praejudice of Trade, and of the said Plantations, But that you take order for the Planting, Husbanding and Improoving of that Commodity that is most profitable and most for the benefitt of the said Plantation. And to this End that you by Letters conferre with the Governour, or with the a.s.sembly of the said respective Plantation, that some redresse may be made and some stopp put to such a praejudiciall Course, or Custome of planting as is aforesaid.

[Sidenote: To consider how Spices, Gummes, Drugs, Dying Stuffes &c. may best be obtained from the East Indies, and other places, for the storing and enriching Plantations, and how to Reward the Undertakers thereof.]

4. And forasmuch as the scituation of severall of our said Plantations is such, as that it seemeth very probable to us, they might be stored with many more Druggs, Gummes, and Dying Stuffes than what they now have. Yea with severall Spices, and other Merchandises as well from the East Indies, Turkie, and other places, as from severall of the Spanish and Portugeeze Plantations. You are therefor required to consider and advise what Commodities, in any of the Countries aforementioned or in any other that shall be considered by you, may be (as you Judge) best and fittest to transplant into any of our said Colonies (respect being had to their said severall and respective Climates). And how the said Commodities may easiest, best, and with least Observation, be obtained from the said Countries:

What methods are meetest to be used, or what Rewards fittest to be given, to any that shall runne the hazards and Expence of it, to undertake them.

And which may therefore the same, may be most probably soe effected, as that the Commerce mey be encreased, and the said Plantations enriched through it.

[Sidenote: What Councills are established in other Kingdomes, and what Powers and instructions are given them for the improving of their Trade and Plantations and to consider the Advantages and Disadvantages thereof.]

5. You are to informe your selves as farre as you may what Councills are Established in any other Kingdome for the good Governement, and Improoving of their respective Plantations. What Directions or Instructions, also, are particularly given to the said respective Councills, and what Policy, Method or Conduct is used by them with relation to the Strength, Trade and Increase of the said respective Colonies, or with relation to the people themselves that are sent thither.

And if you shall discerne such Methods and Directions to be good, or to be well founded in Experience and Reason, You are to consider either how the same may be aplyed to the Advantage of our owne Plantations, or how any Inconveniences that may follow from them may be by you prudently avoided.

Given at our Court at Whitehall, the first day of August 1670, in the two and twentieth yeare of our Reigne.

By his Ma^{ties} Command

ARLINGTON.

APPENDIX III.

Draft of Instructions for the Council of Trade and Foreign Plantations, 1672-1674.

The Commission and Instructions Were Issued on September 27, 1672.

[Sidenote: To consider the Improvem^{t} of the Commodityes of these Kingdomes.]

1. You are to consider how all Goods and Commodityes of the Production or Growth of these Our Kingdomes may be best Improoved. What other usefull Commodityes or Materialls for Manufactures there are which the Nature of Our Sayle with good Husbandry will beare, or that tyme and Industry can make Native.

[Sidenote: To consider the Setting up of Manufactures.]

2. You are likewise to consider the setting up and Improoving of Manufactures within Our said Kingdomes, especially of shipping. And such others as are most for the Employment of Our people of best use, and greatest Proffit to our Kingdomes. The Establishing of Such Manufactures in Townes and places most convenient for them. And to provide that all such Manufactures (especially our Old and new Draperyas) be truely made and fully manufactured at home.

[Sidenote: The improoving of the Fishing Trade at home & abroad.]

3. You are to consider how the Fishing Trade both at home and abroad may be encouraged and improoved to the best advantage.

[Sidenote: The opening of Rivers, Ports and Harbours.]

4. How Our Rivers may be made Navigable and Our Ports and Harbours more capable of receiving Shipping.

[Sidenote: The Distributing of Trade and Manufactures.]

5. And how Trade and Manufactures may be more fitly and equally distributed through Our Kingdomes.

[Sidenote: To examine the Burthens of Trade.]

6. You are strictly to Examine what Burthens the Trade of Our sayd Kingdomes doth at present Groane under both at home and abroad, more then the Trade of Neighbouring Princes and States.

[Sidenote: To enquire into abuses in Trade and Manufactures.]

7. You are to make due Search and Inquiry into the abuses practised among Merchants, Vintners, Wyne-Coopers, Brewers, Dyers, Apothecaryes, Goldsmyths, Refyners, Wyre-Drawers, Penterers, Hatters, Clothiers and other Trades and Manufactures within these Our Kingdomes, as also concerning Weights and Measures.

[Sidenote: To consider of the better venting of Native Commodity's.]

8. You are to consider how Our Native Commodityes, and Manufactures may be vented in greater Quantetyes, and with more Hono^{e} and profitt to Our said Kingdomes.

[Sidenote: How forreigne Commodityes may be brought in at cheaper Rates.]

9. And how forreigne Goods, and Commodityes may be brought from the severall places of their Growth or making in fitt and reasonable tymes, and at the Cheapest rates.

[Sidenote: about building of Ships for the carriage of Bulky Commodityes.]

10. You are to consider about the Building of Pinkes, Flutes, and other great Ships for the more convenient Carryage of Masts, Tymber and other Bulky Commodityes. And about setting them out (according as the place to which they are bound may allow) with fewer men and Gunns then usuall.

[Sidenote: How Correspondencyes may be kept in places of great commerce abroad.]

11. You are to consider how Correspondencyes may be settled and kept in all places of Great Commerce abroad for the better knowing with what proffit or Losse Our Native Commodityes and Manufactures are vented. And What Lawes are from tyme to tyme made or Trades new Erected in forreigne parts to the advantage, or Disadvantage of Our Trade or Commerce.

[Sidenote: How free Ports may be opened.]

12. You are to consider how Free Ports may conveniently be opened about Our Coasts for the Landing, and Storeing of Forreigne Commodityes. Giving leave to retransport them paying only some small acknowledgements. And of the severall Advantages that may arise unto these Our Kingdomes by Giving way (according to the Example of other Nations) to a more open, and free Trade then that of Companyes and Corporations.

[Sidenote: To receive Propositions concerning Trade and Navigation.]