586 A. D. 1677. 



here is Lr 30,000 farther addition to the flock of the kingdom. Both 

 together making L5 00,000, annually added to the nation's flock by the 

 Eafl-India commerce, befides all the confequences depending farther 

 thereupon, which come next to be confidered. 



For illuflration hereof, let us confider the flate of our Eafl-India 

 trade in the confequences depending thereupon, viz. 



In reference to the exports, principally of fo great a quantity of gold 

 and filver; what is very obvious, is, that if in any foreign trade 

 Li 00,000 exported in bullion brings back as much merchandize, as be- 

 ing re-exported to other foreign parts brings home L200,oco or 

 L250,ooo, that muft be a gainful commerce to the nation. 



The goods annually exported, amounting to Li 10,000, confift of 

 L6o,ooo or LyOjOoo in Englifh goods, as drapery, tin, and lead, and 

 the refl: is in foreign commodities. Our lead, it is true, might be taken off 

 by other European nations, although we had no trade to India ourfelves ; 

 but the drapery and tin, amounting to L5o,ooo (which now gains 

 L5o,ooo to the nation), would not be taken off at all ; for no other na- 

 tion carries EnglifliL cloth to India ; and for tin, there are great quan- 

 tities of it in fome parts of India. 



There may be annually confumed in England nearly to the value of 

 L20o,ooo, L230,ooo, or L240,ooo, in India goods, viz. about L6000 in 

 pepper, L30,ooo in faltpetre, L30,ooo in filks, raw and manufa6lured, 

 Li 60,000 in calicoes, and about Li 0,000 to Li 5, 000 in indigo and 

 other drugs*. All the refl of the returns above mentioned, amounting 

 to L63o,ooo value, are tranfported to foreign markets, as is alfo mofl 

 part of the private trade. The pepper I reckon at 8iper pound weight 

 (fo necefTary a fpice for all people), which formerly coif us 3y4 per 

 pound, being nowhere to be had but in India ; and were we obliged to 

 have it from the Dutch, they would probably raife it as high as they 

 do their other fpices : yet, fuppoling it fo low as 1/4 per pound, it 

 would be a farther annual expenfe of L6000 to the nation. 



Saltpetre is of that abfolute neceflity, that without it we fliould be 

 ■without the means of defending ourfelves. Poilibly, even if we had 

 no Indian trade, we might in time of peace purchafe it, though it 

 would cofl us double what it now does. But, in cafe of war, where 

 could we have fufhcient ? not furely from our enemies. Or, would our 

 gentlemen, citizens, and farmers, be willing to have their cellars and 

 rooms dug up (as in King Charles I's reign), and be deprived of free- 

 dom in their own houfes, expofed and laid open to faltpetre men ? which 

 method would be, befides, far fliort of entirely fupplying us. 



Raw filk we might poflibly be fupplied with from other parts, though 



* Tliere is here n i meiit'on of lea or coffee. Tlie company had not ytt fettled a trade to China 

 '*br .the fonncr, and ihc Liter was imported only by the I'urkey company. A. 



