A. D. 1744. 241 



moreover, the French have increafed their trade to Turkey by carrying 

 thither indigo and coffee in great quantities, which we have not, as alfo 

 fugar, which they fell much cheaper than we can do. The wars of the 

 great Peter, czar of Ruflia, againfl Perfia having obflructed the bring- 

 ing of Sherbaff filk from the province of Ghilaun through Turkey, 

 the Englilh before that period ufually bought at Aleppo and Smyrna at 

 lead 1000 bales, one year with another, worth about Lioo each bale, 

 and chiefly in barter for our cloth ; a great part whereof the filk 

 merchants carried back into Perfia, fo that Uttle or no filk comes now 

 that way ; and indeed it is now permitted to be brought through Rullia, 

 as is alfo rhubarb, once a good article of return, but now become a mo- 

 nopoly in the hands of that court. And that, though that province has 

 been refiiored to Perfia, yet the wars that have fince been in thofe pro- 

 vinces have fo interrupted the commerce, that it is now much diverted 

 into the other channel through Rulfia. That there is a decreafe, of one 

 half at leaft;, in the confumption of fundry drugs, as well as in galls, 

 goats-wool, and mohair-yarn, occafioned by the change of fafhions. 

 That the great increafe of Italian and Spaniih raw filk alfo leflens the 

 vent for Turkey raw filk ; although thofe filks are bought with ready 

 money ; whereas the Turkey raw filk is taken in return for the Britifli 

 manufadures fold there. That the company, confiding in the royal 

 charters and privileges, have conftantly carried on a very confiderable 

 commerce to Turkey, whither they annually export large quantities of 

 woollen and other manufadures, &.c. and bring back great quantities 

 of raw filk, mohair-yarn, &c. for the ufe of our home manufactures; 

 and are at a very great expenfe in fupporting the charge of an ambailli- 

 dor at Confiantinoplc, and of coniuls in other parts ol" Turkey; as alfo 

 in obtaining and renewing the needflil capitulations with the Ottoman 

 Porte, and in making confiderable fettlements at Confiantinople, Aleppo, 

 Smyrna, &c. and that they apprehend this bill will deprive them of 

 thofe privileges, fo dearly purchafed, if it does not likewiie occafion the 

 total lofs of the trade. 



It feems the Jews w^ere very active in promoting this bill, which af- 

 forded the company and their friends within doors an occalion to ex- 

 plain to the parliament and people, how probable it was, that they would, 

 by being admitted, as was by many intended, into this trade, when laid 

 open, engrofs the entire Levant trade, in conjundion with their own 

 l^eople in Turkey, wlio are the agents for the great men there, and the 

 general brokers for merchants ; and who, by combination amongfi ihem- 

 felves, very much govern the fale of merchandize. For which, and 

 other reafons, it was judged fit to drop the bill, i'his brief account will 

 let thofe who were before ignorant of the nature of this trade, in a great 

 meafure into at leaft a general idea of it, which, indeed, is as much as 



Vol. III. H h 



