A. D. 1677. - 585 



' letters, lately publifhed, infinuating the contrary.' (Poflibly by Sir 

 Jofiah Child.) 



His general pofitions are, 



That the Eaft-India trade takes off a confiderable quantity of our 

 native commodities and manufadures. 



It fupplies us cheaply with the moft neceflary commodities for our- 

 own confumption. 



It brings us feme commodities for our further manufadturej 



It furniflies large quantities of goods for foreign markets. 



It employs a great number of Englifh {hipping. 



It occafions the building of more Ihips of burden and force, fit for 

 warlike fervice and defence of the kingdom, than any other trade what- 

 ever. 



It brings in a confiderable revenue to the king's cuflioms, and the 

 greateft addition to the kingdom's flock. 



Thus evinced. 



It employs, in a dired courfe, to and from India 30 to 35 (hips from 

 300 to 600 tons burthen ; and in feven years pafl there have been built, 

 new from the fiiocks, 26 to 28 fhips from 350 to 600 tons each : where- 

 by there is a very large addition of fi;rength for defence of the king- 

 dom, as thofe fhips, equipped in a warlike manner, will carry from 40 

 to 60, and 70 guns each *. 



The exports of the company in one year (viz. part of 1674 and 

 and 1675) may be about L430,ooo, whereof about L320,ooo in bul- 

 lion, and about Li r 0,000 value in cloth and other goods. 



The returns from India for that adventure are calico, pepper, falt- 

 petre, indigo, filk (raw and wrought), drugs, &c. ; which, on faie in 

 England, produce at leaft L86o,ooo, and often as much more. 



The amount of cufloms, freight, and all other charges, of officers, 

 warehoufes,- carts, lighters, porters, &c. is altogether as much the king- 

 dom's flock as the clear profit added to the company's ftock is. 



So that there is, in a plain and dired: way, added to the flock of the 

 kingdom by the company's trade in one year, if no accident inter- 

 vene, L430,oco, deducing, however, about L6o,ooOj being the charges 

 in India for the maintenance of ludors, fadlories, forts, garrifons, nego- 

 tiations with princes, &c. 



The private trade, allowed by the company to owners of fhips, com- 

 manders, and feamen, as well as to their fadors, &c. for diamonds, 

 pearls, mufk, ambergris, &c. ; for which there may be annually export- 

 ed, in goods, about L40,ooo or L5o,ooo, and in bullion from L8o,ooo 

 to Li 00,000, yields at home in returns L250,ooo to L30o,ooo. So- 



* It appears that the very largeft of the India fhips at that time were fmallcr than any. India fliip is 

 at piefent. M, 



Vol, IL 4 f, 



