Attempts to Form Chartered Companies. 28 



whether such a charter would be in any way prejudicial to New 

 England.^ Ashurst acknowledged the receipt of the commu- 

 nication a few days later.- There was already in their Lord- 

 ship's office an answer to those proposals, which, he says, "have 

 been made to King Charles II., to James II., and to King Wil- 

 liam, but in each case, after mature debate in council, have been 

 laid aside. If their Lordships have any new reasons for grant- 

 ing such a charter, they will receive answers from the traders 

 about the city who negotiate with New England." He ob- 

 serves, in closing, that the commissioners are just ready to de- 

 part for New England. Ashurst wrote from Tunbridge Wells, 

 where he was "drinking the waters," but he evidently hastened 

 up to London to bestir the merchants to opposition, for, on Oc- 

 tober 2d, he sent the Board of Trade a detailed statement of 

 objections, consented to by several inhabitants and merchants.^ 

 It was maintained that the patent was prejudicial to England 

 and a ruin to New England, and that, by enhancing the price, 

 it would obstruct the desired end of having naval stores from 

 the plantations. Nine reasons were enumerated for withhold- 

 ing the charter: 



1. "The gentlemen have taken over Sweads to work mines, but have 

 been unable to separate the metal from the earth, and there has not 

 been any copper yet perfected there. * 



2. 'The corporation do not propose to import above eight ship loads 

 of stores for two years, which will not amount to above ;if 6,000, which 

 certainly may be within reach of two or three private merchants, with- 

 out a corporation. 



3. 'The patent appears to be a monopoly, for it will lower the price 

 of our nation's commodities, and the company's warehouse in New 

 England will have all the trade, for they will think it to their advan- 



^Wm. Popple, Secretary of Board, to Ashurst and Phips, B. T. 

 New Eng., Entry Bk., A, September 14, 1697- 



-Answer from Ashurst, B. T. New Eng., B: 47. 



^Detailed statements drawn up by Ashurst and consented to by 

 several inhabitants and merchants, B. T. New Eng., Entry Bk. A, 

 October 2, 1697. 



*This is the only intimation I have found of the company's making 

 an actual beginning of their undertaking in America. 



