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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A60869
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Some thoughts about trade
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1699
(1699)
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Wing S4626; ESTC R217699
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6,367
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12
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by I am sure that low Ebb that Trade is run to especially in the Plantations calls for the speediest Care unless we are willing to lose at a Lump those Advantages we have been Years attaining to Clandestine Trade in this severest Acceptation for 't is as I have shew'd clandestine in the other is of a dangerous Consequence to Trade in general Those that have us'd it were never valu'd by Persons of Integrity And tho' one in an Age may have been said to have got an Estate under it the Number that found it unthriving is so much greater that if a Man had the Gift of Consideration that of it self were enough to put it out of Countenance But hope of Success and Expectation of Gain will not allow those frâilest of Men to be wise and therefore it is to be hoped the Parliament will provide against it by severe Penalties this Session For by means of this Knavish Practice the Fair Merchant is not able to sell with these Vermine who by having their Creatures at private Ports and running their Goods in private Creeks save the King's Duty as they phrase it and may consequently under-sell the Fair Merchant very considerably In my Opinion there is not a Punishment great enough for such Wretches The Romans made a Crime against the State Death and a Man that acted against the Interest of his Country was punish'd with the greatest Ignominy The Present King of Persia's Father detecting a Baker and a Flesh-Roaster in the Publick Market of Fraud ordered the one to be roasted and the other to be baked publickly If they for cheating a private Person as he to them appear'd suffered such Ignominy as well as Pain what is due to them who cheat their Country We are in a Christian Nation 't is true where such Barbarities will I hope never have Place But the Tallio of the Romans was a very good Law Nor is it altogether impracticable with us for I find in an Act of 14 Car. 2. That any Person found guilty of transporting Hides to any other Places than as provided in that Act was by the same disabl'd for the future to Trade in that Commodity and severely fined If the Act were a little extended here and the Person found guilty condemn'd never to use any Trade but a Handy craft it would be somewhat conformable to the Lex Talionis and not in any great matter differ from the Act of King Charles But perhaps it would not be amiss to confiscate his Estate one half to the King and one half to the Discoverer be he who he will and by all means to enforce the Justice of Peace to issue out his Warrant for a speedy Seizure We see in the Act against the Exportation of Wooll what Encouragement is given Greater should be given here because the Duties being great the running Gentlemen can be more liberal in their Bribes and Gratuities Nor should the Punishment of an Officer that is conniving or abetting be less than in former Cases an utter Deprivation of all the Offices he at that present does enjoy and a total Incapacity for the Enjoyment of any other for the future I cannot see that any material Objection can be made against any thing I have said I have made it plain I think that Trade ought to be made easy And that to make it so the Merchant ought to meet with no Incumbrances at the Fountain Head I think I have made out too the Nature of the Extension of the Trade that is consistent with the Interest of the Nation and that it does not depend so much upon the Multitude as the Ability of Merchants For tho' the first may bring Plenty and make things cheap it is such a Cheapness as is very dangerous and inconsistent with the Interest of the Nation What the Merchant loses is a Loss to the Nation one Man's Ruine commonly drawing on many others Gold they say may be bought too dear and I am sure Cheapness bought with the Ruine of its Authors is the worst way of buying it But on the contrary Plenty with a moderate Profit is what will ever be the Honour and Safety of a Kingdom FINIS