xxiv . INTRODUCTION. 



forbid al] traffic in the Wejl Indies between their fubjeds and 

 thofe of the colonies there, belonging to other nations ! But 

 vain is it to imagine that Spaniards or any elfe will fuffer the 

 natural right of providing themfelves with conveniences to be taken 

 from them ; and that they will not endeavour to come at them 

 by fome clandeftine means, while no care is taken to obtain a 

 proper fiipply from the mother country. Much of the gold and 

 filver therefore, that fliould have palled into Spain by the galleons, 

 has made its efcape in this manner, efpecially to Jamaica^ from 

 whence the Spaniards at Carthagena^ Porto Bello^ Rio de la 

 Hachdy and other places, have been fupplied with European com- 

 modities, notwithftanding the great hazard they run in the ma- 

 nagement of fo dangerous a trade, the lives both of buyers and 

 fellers being equally expofed, and often forfeited to what their 

 government is pleafed to call juftice. It feems however to be mir 

 interefi; to put a Hop to this contraband traffic, could we thereby 

 effe(fiual]y procure the friend/Lip of Spain, and engage them to 

 pay in return a grateful regard to our commerce in particular. 

 There is a certain proportion of our goods and manufactures, that 

 will be ever necefTary to the inhabitants of Spanijh America y and ^ 

 which they will have by fome means or other : now it is cer- 

 tainly preferable in refped of ourfelves, that they fhould purchafe 

 them in a fair and regular, rather than in a clandeftine manner; 

 which if it could be brought to bear, might fettle a lafting, nay a 

 perpetual good underftanding and harmony between two nations, 

 whofe mutual intereft it is never to be at variance. 



A 



