A. D, 1670. 545 



And witli refpecl to our having loft (as he juftly obferves) a very- 

 great part of our former exportations to France, we need only to ob- 

 ferve, that fince his time our legillature have done all that was in their 

 power to retaliate their great impofts on our draperies, by laying high 

 duties on their wines, brandies, &.c. and by rejeding the French bill of 

 commerce in the year 171 3. 



He fays that a great part of the plate-trade from Cadiz is loft by us 

 to the E)utch *. 



What he fays of the Dutch having bereaved us of the trade to Scot- 

 land and Ireland, is quite reverfed in our time. With regard to the 

 former country, by the confolidated union of the two kingdoms ; and 

 to the later, by the greater application of both nations. 



He well obferves, that no trades do fo much merit our care as thofe 

 which employ moft fliipping ; fince, befide the profit by the merchan- 

 dize, the freight is often more in value than the merchandize, and is all 

 clear profit to the nation ; and the ftiips and failors are an addition of 

 power and ftrength to us. 



Next, he comes again to the brighter fide of our commerce, befides 

 our two fifiieries, &c. 



In our Turkey, Italian, Spanifli, and Portuguefe, trades, we have the 

 natural advantage of our wool. 



Our provifions and fuel, in country places, are cheaper than the Dutch 

 have them. 



Our native commodities of lead and tin are great advantages. 



He juftly terms our ait of navigation our Charta mantimn, on ac- 

 count of its many benefits to us ; as it compels us to import foreign 

 merchandize in our own fiiipping, and as it alfo fecures to us the fole 

 trade to our own plantations in America. 



He fhews the vaft increafe of England's riches, even in only twenty 

 years fpace, i. e. fince the year 1 650. 



For, ift, (fays he) we give generally now one third more money with 

 apprentices than we did twenty years before. 



2dly, Notwithftanding the decay of fome, and the lofs of other, trades, 

 yet, in the grofs, we ftnp off now one third more of our manufactures, 

 and of our tin and lead, than we did twenty years ago. 



3dly, Houfes in London yield twice the rent which they did before 

 the conflagration in 1666 ; and immediately before that difafter they 

 generally yielded about one fourth more rent than they did twenty 

 years ago. 



4thly, The fpeedy and coftly rebuilding of London after that great 

 fire is a convincing (and to a ftranger an amazingj argument of the 

 plenty and late increafe of money in England. 



* Had he lived till our time, he would have feen more reafon to complain of the French in this re- 

 fpea. A. 



Vol.il - 3Z 



