62 IndusMal Experiments in Colonial America. 



ery, at the prices mentioned." The freight at that date was 

 estimated at the exceedingly high rate of 25 shilHngs per bar- 

 rel and insurance with convoy at about nine per cent.^ Alessrs. 

 Mason and Oursel, after having consulted several merchants, 

 reported to the Board that the opinion prevailed that consider- 

 able pitch and tar could be furnished from the plantations; but 

 that the merchants were "tender of engaging in any contract lest 

 they should be under a necessity of disappointing Her Majesty 

 or ruining their families, for the following reasons." These 

 reasons are worth quoting in full, as an epitome of the mer- 

 chant's position : - 



I. "If the rumors of such a contract spread abroad prices 

 would immediately rise greatly, we being under the absolute 

 necessity of buying. 2. Though we should order our factors 

 ro get us supplies, the task would be difficult, because land is 

 generally particular men's property, which we cannot expect to 

 purchase. 3. Little land remains to the Crown near the sea 

 or any river, and the best lands are now in New Hampshire and 

 Maine, which are now embroiled by the Indians. 4. By the 

 time due provision can be made for making tar, peace may be 

 made, and Her Majesty be supplied otherwise much cheaper. 

 5. We must pay to seamen double what Her Majesty pays. 6. 

 Shipping being scarce, and we under necessity of sending, an 

 extraordinary freight will be exacted. 7. We fear to depend 

 on convoys, there having been so many instances of serious de- 

 lays by being blown ofT the coast." In view of this hesitation, 

 of the merchants to make contracts. Mason and Oursel sug- 

 gested that it would be better to employ merchants, whose 

 credit was good, to purchase stores on commission, to Her 

 Majesty's account, through factors in the plantations. 



The Lords of Trade forwarded all the above proposals and 

 suggestions to the Privy Council with their own report. In this 

 they reviewed the Dudley case and their inability to come to 



^Richard Haynes's proposals, Nov. 1703, B. T. New Eng., N: 3. 

 ^Memorial from Messrs. Mason and Oursel, Nov. 11, 1703, B. T. 

 New Eng., N: 4. 



