18 Industrial Experiments in Colonial America. 



couragement to all who would undertake it/ This seemed to 

 be Dudley's opportunity, and his company now presented to 

 the Board of Trade new proposals "for working copper mines 

 and for making and producing all manner of naval stores in 

 New England."- In the meantime, Ashurst and Evance had 

 offered proposals of their own, but they were put ofif by the 

 Board of Trade with the excuse that it would be better to wait 

 until they heard from the plantations.^ Dudley's new petition 

 was handed over to the Admiralty, and in turn to the Navy, for 

 inspection. The petitioners also sent in to the Board of Trade 

 a computation of the quantities of stores which they proposed 

 to supply.* Within twenty months after the charter was 

 granted, they would undertake to furnish stores at the rate of 

 no masts, 44 bowsprits and 75 yards the first year, and after- 

 wards such quantities as should be desired, on twelve months' 

 notice; also tar, pitch, rosin, and various timber of oak, pine 

 and ash. Nothing was said about copper or minerals, which 

 seem to have dropped out of the scheme. The petitioners 

 begged for despatch. The matter had been talked of for six 

 years and the proposed delay until Massachusetts could be 

 heard from was a mere idea of Ashurst to delay the charter.^ 

 In May, Ashurst and Evance openly protested against the 

 granting of Dudley's petition. 



For the next two years, there seems to have been very little 

 discussion of the subject of naval stores by the Board of Trade. 

 In the spring of 1696, Ashurst's specimens from New Eng- 

 land arrived at the navy-yard, but proved to be of little value.^ 

 At this juncture came the long expected communication from 

 Massachusetts, expressing the views of the colony on the pro- 

 posed Dudley charter, signed by William Phips for the Gov- 



^Order in Council to Board of Trade to receive proposals for naval 

 stores, B. T. New Eng., Entry Bk. A, Jan. 15, 1694. Cf. p. 6, 

 ^Given in B. T. New Eng., A: 4. 



^The history of their attempt has been related in Ch. I, p. 7, 

 4B. T. New Eng., A: 2. 



^Dudley to the Board of Trade, B. T. Plants. Gen., C: 9. 

 *Cf. p, 7. 



