22 A. D. 171 !• 



perpetual to the company, notwithflanding any redemption of their 

 fund. 



Upon the eftablifhment of this company with a proper fund, their 

 flock advanced very confiderably in price, and continued gradually to 

 rife : whereupon, the company's general court, in confequence of the 

 queen's aflurance of afllfting them with a lufficient force for eftablifh- 

 ing their trade to the South feas, refolved to prepare a cargo for the year 

 171 2, of L2oo,ooo value. 



Accordingly, in July 1712, L20o,ooo was iflued in bonds, under the 

 company's common feal. Yet, although a celTation of arms was, in 

 this fame year, agreed on with France and Spain, the company did not 

 however judge matters ripe for fending out any fliips this year, the peace 

 with France not being a(3:ually figned till the 31(1 of March 1713, nor 

 with Spain till the 2d of July following. 



In November 171 1, the prices of the public ftocks were as follows, 

 viz. 



Eaft-Tndia flock, - 124^ South fea flock, - yy^ 



Bank flock, - iii^^ Royal African flock, 4-1. 



The late total change of the Britifh miniflry had by this time made 

 new and flrange alterations of things, formerly in good efleem. Thus, 

 for one inflance, the general naturalization of foreign proteflants, which 

 had been enadled not quite three years before, and by that adl was de- 

 clared to be a likely means of advancing the wealth and flrength of a 

 nation, and which had been attempted to be repealed in the preceding 

 year, when the bill was rejeded by the houfe of peers, was now, by an 

 a6lofthe loth of Queen Anne, totally repealed; and the reafon for that 

 repeal is therein affigned to be, ' becaufe divers mifchiefs and inconve- 



■ niences have been found by experience to follow from the fiime, to 

 ' the difcouragement of the natural-born fubjeds of this kingdom, and 



■ to the detriment of the trade and wealth thereof.' 



That great numbers of fober and induflrious fubje(5ls are the main 

 flrength and wealth of a nation, will fcarcely be controverted by any 

 who underftand the true and folid interefls of nations and communities. 

 The inflance of the king of PrufTia inviting the French proteflant refu- 

 gees to fettle in his dominions, as quoted in the former ftatutc, and their 

 general admifhon into the United provinces, in both which countries 

 they have been of immenfc benefit to their protedlors, have flrongly 

 verified the above pofition in the firft flatute. 



In Holland, fays Dr. D'Avenant, in the fecond part of his Dijcoui-Jcs 

 on the public rcvetmes and trade of England, Loudon, 1698, p. iiytli, 

 ' there is reafon to think, that the national flock of that flate is increal- 

 ' ed near 8 millions fince the war ; in regard that by the wifdom of their 

 ' conftitution they invite dayly to them, and increafe in number of in- 

 ' habitants.' 



