288 Tea with refpeft to the Export of Gold and Silver. 
ftands in the india trade, may be againft us ; yet I queftion, 
notwithftanding what has been fo often thrown out, whether 
this ballance exceed one hundred thoufand pounds ; and in 
fome years I fuppofe we receive in ballance : but as this is 
mixed with the general ballance, it is difficult to make an exad 
eftimate. 
In confidering the great export of filver, one is at a lofs to 
know whence it can revert to us in fufficient quantities to carry 
on trade. From Portugal we can receive no gold, which I 
confider in the fame light as filver, in exchange for india goods, 
for thefe are not permitted to be imported there. Spain, how- 
ever, takes off large quantities, for which the returns mufl be 
confidered as included in the general ballance of our trade, 
juft mentioned. Africa fends us home fome quantities of 
gold ; and America, independent of our ballance diredly with 
Spain, returns us filver for thefe india goods ; but ftill this 
alfo mu ft be confidered as part of our general ballance. Ger- 
many pays us for the india goods ihe takes, chiefly in linens* 
and France in tea, brandy, and fuch like. 
The vaft export which we make of gold and filver to india, 
gives us an afcendency in this oriental trade over all other na- 
tions who are engaged in it : and if it were to east-india 
alone, the draught of gold and filver might not impoverifh us ; 
but the fubjed of our prefent enquiry relates to the fum of above 
two hundred thoufand pounds fent annually to china, near one 
hundred and fifty thoufand of which I apprehend is laid out in 
tea, being about one fhilling a pound, good and bad teas toge- 
ther, on three millions of pounds weight. It is true we export 
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