A. D. 1701. 715 



negociant under a pecuniary penalty, and a like penalty on mechanics 

 ftiling themfelves merchants.' 



That board farther propofed, ' to take off the duty of 50 fols per 

 ton from the fliipping of the northern crowns, in order to allure them 

 to trade with France, on as advantageous a footing as the Dutch do, 

 who had that duty remitted by the peace of Rylwick. That the prin- 

 cipal end for laying on that duty, was to confine the coafling naviga- 

 tion to French Ihipping alone, which had before been wholely carried 

 on by foreign bottoms, much to the prejudice of France. But as it 

 alfo affefted the voyages of the Englifli and Dutch to France, thofe 

 two nations were obliged to lay a like duty on French fliips coming 

 into their ports. 



' It was very provident in the Dutch to obtain the remiffion of that 

 duty, feeing by the French cuftom-houfe books it appeared that the 

 Dutch had polTeffion of almofl all the commerce from France to 

 thofe northern nations : that duty, before the Dutch were exempted, 

 yielding 700,000 Uvres yearly, but now only 100,000. That the mo- 

 derate duties in Holland give the Dutch confiderable advantages, as 

 does alfo their good hufbandry in their navigation, fcarcely imitable 

 by any other nation. Thereby do they retain navigation and trade 

 to themfelves, and get into their hands the effeds of other nations 

 felling thera again to great profit. By fuch methods they have made 

 their provinces the florehoufe of Europe, from whence other nations 

 are obUged to furniih themfelves. In brief, the Dutch having thus 

 made themfelves maflers of the inland trade of France, by the help 

 of the refugees, and by commillions from the new converts *, and 

 the fadors they have in all our ports, they there fell goods cheaper 

 than even the wholefale merchants of France can do, and are eriabled 

 to fupply the French retailers as well as the northern nations, with af- 

 fortments of goods. So that while this is the cafe, no wholefale bufi- 

 nefs can be managed by the French, nor any great commerce car- 

 ried on direclly between the French and the northern nations. 



' For all which reafons this board propofes to fupprefs the duty of 

 50 fols per ton. 



' Or elfe to prevent the entrance into France of all commodities of 

 the north, which {hall have been before landed in any other country, 

 and (hall not be brought hither diredly from the place of their growth 

 or manufadure. To this the deputies from Nantes replied, that the 

 Dutch trade to the Baltic was fo well fettled, that they will ever go- 

 vern the prices of all merchandize going to, or coming from, the 

 north. Becaufe, carrying thither their own manufadures and mer- 

 chandize, and efpecialiy their fpices, of which the northern people 



* The proteftants of France wlio prof^s the catholic religion. A. 

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