592 A. D. 1677. 



The joint-ftock company is moreover far more national, with refpedl 

 to the number of perfons who have benefit thereby, than poflibly it- 

 could be under a regulation : for then, none could trade to India but 

 merchants who underftand trade, and only fuch as have great eftates, 

 and are able to lie two years at leafl: out of their money. So that the 

 trade would be confined into a few hands (100 or 150 at moft.) Where- 

 as in the joint-fi:ock, noblemen, clergymen, gentlemen, widows, orphans, 

 fhop-keepers, and all others, may have flocks there, and reap equal be- 

 nefit thereby. 



There are at this day about 600 perfons, who appear on the compa- 

 ny's books to be interefted in the Eaft-India flock, and under them, it 

 may be, many more. 



This author alleges, that the true ground of the prefent company's 

 many enemies proceeds from their not having fubfcribed at the begin- 

 ning, nor yet afterwards, when the books were laid open, but are fince 

 filled with envy at the company's profperity. 



But whatever may have been the caufes of the difcontents againfl 

 that company, this advocate for them has faid fo much in favour of an 

 exclufive joint flock company to Eall-India, as feems not eafy to be re- 

 futed. We are moreover indebted to this able author's 27 quarto 

 pages for fundry very important hiflorical fads, which otherwife we 

 Ihould not perhaps have fo well known at this diflance of time : which 

 may well apologize for the length of what we may fairly denominate a 

 complete fyflem of the Eafl-lndia company's trade and condu6l at that 

 time, and alfo of the general theory of the commerce to India, which 

 may be faid to be fuitable to all times and feafons : and we cannot but 

 remark, that, as far as we are able to judge, whatever has fince this- 

 time been written and publifhed, even down to our own days, on the 

 Eafl-lndia trade, contains nothing materially new, or which may not 

 be found to be comprehended in this very diflertation ; although all" 

 that has been fince that time publiflied for and againfl the trade, and 

 alio againft an exclufive joint flock, v^ould fill up a large folio, were they 

 all put together. 



1678.- — The a<fl for burying the dead in woollen [18 Car. II, c. 4] 

 not being duely obferved, it was repealed : and a new ad [30 Car. II, 

 c. 3] direded that a regifler fhould be kept in every parifh by the in- 

 cumbent, or his fi.ibfiitute, certifying that every thing about the corpfe 

 of the deceafed was made of fheep's wool ; of which an affidavit fhall 

 be made by the relation of the deceafed, and lodged with the incum- 

 bent, under the penalty of L5, a moiety whereof to go to the poor of 

 the parifh, the other to the informer. Neverthelefs, fuch flill is the 

 vanity of many of the rich and great, that they continue to pay the 

 penalty, rather than not adorn their deceafed friend's corpfe with fine 

 linen, lace, &.c. though fo contrary to our true national intereft, 



a 



