Bntijh Trade with Turhy. 26? 



the very lar<re quantities of cottons and drugs, Sec. which 

 come from Holland and Italy, as the cuftom-houfe books 

 prove. This was the cafe till our trade to Holland and the 

 Mediterranean was flopped by the war, and in that fame 

 fituation we mail be when a peace takes place. 



The drugs, &c. which are imported from Italy, were car- 

 ried thither from Turkey ; they had already given a profit to 

 the Italian factor in Turkey; to the importer, and to the 

 purchafer in Italy, who cleans, aflbrts, repacks, and often 

 adulterates them; to the commiffioner, who purchafes them 

 for his correfpondent in England ; to which add charges, 

 and intereft of money for fo long a difburfement, which the 

 different people through whbfe hands the merchandife has 

 gone have all calculated, as well as their profits, double 

 freights, and loading and unloading, &c. &c. 



Cottons are imported from Holland, becaufe the company 

 cannot import themfelves enough for the confumption; and 

 the reafon why they do not is, becaufe the old members, 

 who are under no apprehenfions of the bye-laws, find other 

 articles enow to employ their whole capital, and beyond that 

 the trade cannot increafe. This is the reafon, as will be 

 feen hereafter more fully, why the trade in exports as well as 

 imports is confined within fuch narrow bounds. 



The Britifii merchants in Italy and other foreign countries, 

 not being members of the company, (and to become free of 

 the company they muft come to England,) cannot trade with 

 Britifii houfes in Turkey ; and thefc, if they will trade to 

 Italy, muft trade with foreigners : thus all combinations of 

 the trades arc prevented. Englifh veflels in the Mediter- 

 ranean might often make a voyage to Turkey, inftead of 

 lving in an Italian port, and return time enough to take in 

 their cargoes for England. 



The great preference given to Britifii veflels in the Medi- 

 terranean woidd affiire them an employment whenever they 

 want freights. This carrying or caravan trade is fo sxtenfive, 



thai, 



