The Bounty System. 63 



terms with the petitioners, and expressed their opinion that, in 

 view of the disadvantages which the merchants enumerated, 

 very Httle could be expected through private enterprise; so that 

 the only method of promoting trade would be to induce the gov- 

 ernment to bear some part of the expense, by offering a pre- 

 mium to importers to compensate for the dearness of freight.^ A 

 second report sent in to the Privy Council five months later, at 

 the Queen's request, offers no new suggestions, but repeats the 

 opinion of the Board, that, as all the plantations together could 

 not, under the existing conditions, supply enough stores for the 

 navy, some provision for a bounty was desirable.- Whereupon, 

 Secretary Hedges uTote to inquire what premium, in their opin- 

 ion, might be offered with least burden to the public.^ The 

 Board consulted Mr. Bridger, who was then in London. He 

 suggested lo shillings a barrel (4 pounds a ton) for pitch and 

 tar, as sufficient to induce the merchants to venture on importa- 

 tion and the colonies to apply themselves to the production of 

 those commodities.'* The Board, accordingly, recommended 

 that 3 pounds per ton be offered by way of experiment for three 

 years, beginning in January, 1705. and that the duty be re- 

 moved, as a further encouragement.^. 



On the 1 8th of December, 1704, the Secretary informed the 

 Lords of Trade that the House of Commons had that day given 

 leave for a bill to be brought in to encourage the importation of 

 naval stores from the plantations.'^ Therefore, in accordance 

 with a command from the Privy Council, the Board of Trade 

 drafted a bill which was passed by Parliament early in 1705, to 

 go into effect in Tanuarv of that vear and to continue in force 

 nine years. By this act' provision was made for the encourage- 



iB. T. New Eng., N: 4- 



^Report of Board of Trade, B. T. New Eng., Entry Book E., 

 March 18, 1704. 



^Secretary Hedges to the Board of Trade, B. T. New Eng., O: 26. 



^Proposal by Bridger, B. T, New Eng., O: 28. 



■'Board of Trade to Secretary Hedges, B. T. Plants. Gen., Ent. 

 Bk. A, June 23, 1704. 



^Secretary Hedges to the Board of Trade, B. T. Plants. Gen., G: 24. 



"3 and 4 Anne, c. 9. 



