ing moft Clarets, at a moderate Computation, would coft in France 450000l.

IX. As to Brandy, fince we have laid high Duties upon it, the diftilling of Spirits from Malt and Molaffes is much improved and increased, by means of which a good Sum of Money is yearly faved to the Nation; for very little Brandy hath been imported either from Italy, Portugal, or Spain, by reafon that our English Spirits are near as good as Brandies of those Countries. But as French Brandy is esteem'd, and is indeed very good, if the extraordinary Duty on that Liquor be taken off, there's no doubt but great Quantities will be imported. We'll fuppofe only 3000. Tons a Year, which will coft Great Britain about 70000 l. yearly, and prejudice befides the Extracts of our own Malt Spirits.

French Li

nen will

carry off

X. Linen is an Article of more confe-Lessening quence than many People are aware of: Duties on Ireland, Scotland, and feveral Counties in England, have made large Steps towards ruin our the Improvement of that useful Manufac- own, and ture, both in Quantity and Quality; and, 6000001. with good Encouragement, would doubt-annually lefs, in a few Years, bring it to perfection, and perhaps make fufficient for our own confumption; which, befides employing great Numbers of People, and improving many Acres of Land, would fave us a good Sum of Money, which is yearly laid out

abroad

from us.

Leffening

on French

Paper,

ours.

abroad in that Commodity. As the case stands at present, it improves daily; but if the Duties on French Linen be reduc'd, 'tis to be fear'd it will come over fo cheap, that our Looms must be laid afide, and 6 or 700000l. a Year be sent over to France for that Commodity.

XI. The Manufacture of Paper is very the Duties near a-kin to that of Linen. Since the high Duties laid on foreign Paper, and that ruinous to none hath been imported from France, where 'tis cheapest, the making of it is increafed to fuch a degree in England, that we import none of the lower Sorts from abroad, and make them all ourselves: But if the French Duties be taken off, undoubtedly most of the Mills which are employ'd in the making of white Paper, must leave off their Work, and 30 to 40000 l. a Year be remitted over to France for that Commodity.

XII. The last Article concerns the Silk Leffening the Duties Manufacture. Since the late French Wars on French 'tis increased to a mighty degree; Spittlenous to fields alone manufactures to the Value of

Silks rui

ours.

Two Millions a Year, and were daily improving till the late Fears about lowering the French Duties. What pity! That fo noble a Manufacture, fo extenfive, and fo beneficial to an infinite number of People, fhould run the hazard of being ruin'd! 'Tis however to be feared, that if the French can import their wrought Silks up

on

on eafy Terms, they out-do us fo much in cheapnefs of Labour, as hath been already fhewn, and they have Italian and Levant Raw-Silk upon fo much easier Terms than we, befides great Quantities of their own in Provence, Languedoc and other Provinces, that in all probability half the Looms in Spittlefields would be laid down, and our Ladies be again clothed in French Silks. The Lofs that would accrue to the Nation by fo great a Mischief, cannot be valued at lefs than 500000 l. a Year.

To fum up all, if we pay to France yearly,

For their Wines

For their Brandies
For their Linen

For their Paper

For their Silks

And they take from us in Lead, Tin, Leather, Allum, Copperas, Coals, Horn-Plates, &c. and Plantation-Goods, to the Value of

Great Britain lofes by the Balance of that Trade yearly

1.

450000

70000

600000

30000

500000

1650000

200000

1450000

+

Which

Which feems unavoidable, if we are fo good-natur'd as to take off the high Duties; the only Fence we have left against an Inundation of French Commodities up

on us.

Objections If any body thinks fit to object, That answer'd, there are many Commodities that used to

be fent to France, of which there's no notice taken here; I defire them to give a Lift of thofe Commodities not only by Name, but to put the Quantities which they judge are like to be exported, and their Valuation: and I promise them in return another Lift of many Commodities I have omitted, which would certainly be imported from France upon lowering the Duties, with the probable Quantities of each fort, and their Coft on board there: and I dare anfwer, I fhall be even with them upon that score; having here for Brevity's fake mentioned only fuch Commoditics as are most confiderable. Thus perhaps by making accurate Estimates and Calculations of all Commodities that can be exported to France, or brought over from thence, fhall we come to a right understanding of the matter, and what the Trade between Great Britain and France is like to be in case the Duties be taken off.

All the Nations of Europe feem to strive who fhall out wit one another in point of Trade; and they concur in this Maxim,

That

That the lefs they confume of foreign
Commodities, the better it is for them.

The Dutch, to obviate too great a confumption of foreign Goods amongst them, make ufe of Excifes; and they have for that reason laid a very high Excise upon French Wines.

The French study to prevent it by Duties on Importations, Duties on Confumptions, Tolls from one Province into another, by strict Vifitations, Restraints, and Prohibitions, and by the Example of the Court in wearing their own Manufac

tures.

Goods.

We have of late Years faved a great The Benefic deal of Money, by laying high Duties up-high Duon foreign Commodities; which hath not ties on foonly hinder'd their too great confumption reign among us, but hath had this good effect besides, that it hath given encouragement to the fettling, improving and perfecting many useful Manufactures in Great Britain. So that we must be out of our Senfes if we permit the French to import their Manufactures to the Prejudice and Destruction of

our own.

We are now, God be praised, in Peace and Friendship with the French; we have a free Correfpondence and Commerce with them: they do and will take from us what they want, and 'tis all we can expect or defire of them.

Vol. I.

C

We