A. D. 1672. 56^ 



having been communicated to the author bjT, private friend, fcts fortli, 

 that, ' whereas, by the goodnefs of Almighty God, our dominions have 



* of late years been confiderably enlarged by the occafion of many 

 *■ great colonies and plantations in America, and elievvhere ; and both 

 ' our cuftoms and revenues, as well as the trade and wealth of our good 

 ' fubjeds at home and abroad, much increafed by the mutual commerce 

 ' and traffic between thefe our kingdoms and our faid colonies and 



* plantations. And whereas feveral other colonies and plantations may 

 ' hereatter accrue to us, and many other great improvements may juft- 



ly be expeded, if fufficient care be taken for the encouragement, pro- 

 tection, and defence, of ovr faid colonies and plantations, and of all our 

 good I'ubjecls in their refpedive trades and commerce, and a due regu- 

 lation be niade therein. We have thought fit to ere£t and eftablifh a 

 felecl council, whofe employment fliall be to take care of the welfare 

 of our colonies and plantations, and aUo of the trade and navigation 

 of thefe our kingdoms ; and to give us a true and faithful accolmt 

 thereof, from time to time, with their opinions and advice thereupon. 

 To that end know ye, that we, repofing efpecial trull: and confidence 

 in your abilities, &c. have conftituted, &c. (here the whole board is 

 named) to be a ftanding council to us for all the affairs which do, or 

 may any way, concern the navigation, commerce, and trade, as well 

 domeftic as foreign, of thefe our kingdoms, (Tangier only excepted) 

 whether immediately held by us, or by any others, in virtue ot our 

 charters, already made or granted, or hereafter to be fo made or 

 granted * Axid for the better affiftance of our faid covmcil in all 

 their debates and confuhations, it fliall be lavrful for our mod dear 

 brother James <]uke of York, our high admiral, our mod dear coufin 

 Prince Rupert, (and feves:al other great perfonages therein named) to 

 be prefent at their debates and reiolutions,' Sec. Yet,' in a few years 

 time, all thefe fine v.-ords came juil; to nothing, the commillion being 

 entirely dropped ; his luxury, and his fchemes for the advancement of 

 popery and lawlefs power, not permitting him to be long at fo much an- 

 nual e.xpenfe for. fo good a purpole. This commillion was laid to have 

 been principally promoted by the chancellor Shaftefbury. 



The court of France (or rather Colbert) obferving, that all the moft 

 confiderable European nations tradhig to Eail-India law it extremely 

 needful to have a fettlement near the Ibuth end of Africa, for the con- 

 veniency of their fhips in thofe voyages, nowniade a fettlement on the 

 ifle then called Malcaregnas, which they have llnce named Bourbon, 

 which is about 370 miles eafh of the great ifland of Madagafcar, and 

 about 4.0 leagues in compafs. There their flilps meet with proper 

 refreibments, the ifland being well watered, and abounding in many 



* This claufe refers to the Eiigliflt incorporated companies, y^. 



