CONSIDERATIONS UPON THE Eighth and Ninth ARTICLES OF THE TREATY OF
Commerce and Navigation,
Now publish'd by Authority. With some Enquiries into the DAMAGES that may accrue to the
English
Trade from them.
LONDON,
Printed for
J. Baker,
at the
Black Boy
in
Pater-Noster-Row,
1713. Price 6
d.
INTRODUCTION.
BEFORE any just Observations can be made upon the two Heads which we are now to consider, it is absolutely necessary to let the Reader a little into the general Knowledge of the State of the Commerce between
England
and
France,
as it now stands; and this cannot be done so as to give him a clear Understanding in the reading either the Treaty it self, or these Considerations, without letting him know what the Meaning of the Tariff of 1664, and the Tariff of 1699, so often now to be made mention of is, and as far as will consist with the Brevity of this Tract, to give an Abridgement of those Tariffs, as they concern the present Treaty of Commerce. The Necessity of understanding these Things perfectly before we can make any Judgment of the Matter in hand, is such, that it seems the most natural Introduction that could possibly be made to the Work, and without which, however the Book is written in
English,
it would be an unknown Tongue to most of the Readers, and might as well have been written in
Arabick,
or any other Language or Character which no body could understand.
A
TARIFF in the French,
as it may best be expounded to us in a Trading-Dialect, is no more or less than
a Book of Rates,
establishing the Duties and Customs of Goods exported and imported from and to the Kingdom of
France:
It is true, if you speak literally, it is the Acts of publick Authority, from whence the Books of Rates are collected, as our
Books of Rates
are, so many Abstracts of the Acts of Parliament, by which those Rates are establishe'd; and therefore, as our Laws of Customs are called Acts of Parliament, so those in
France
are called
Edits du Roy, Declaration du Roy, Ordonnance du Roy, Arrest du Conseild' Etat du Roy,
and the like; and the Collection of them into a Body is call'd in
French Recueil des Tarifs,
&c. and
Table de Tarifs Arrests & Reglemens des Droits de Entree & Sortie,
&c. that is in
English a Book of Rates,
and nothing else.
It is therefore a Vulgar Error to think these Tariffs are Treaties between
France
and other Nations, and to say the Tariff between
France
and
Holland,
or between
France
and
England,
&c. is to talk Nousense, or which is much the same thing, to say nothing to the Purpose, with this Exception only, That in several Treaties of Commerce there have been Agreements made, and Articles enter'd into, especially between
France
and the States-General, by which the Duties of Merchandises have been adjusted respectively; and in these Treaties the Tariffs in
France,
formerly made, have been made the Foundation, with such particular Additions, respecting the Duties of such or such Goods, about which they have then treated and made any Alteration. Of this we have an Example; after the Treaty of
Reswick,
when, by a separate Treaty of Trade, tho' in former Cases the Duties in general were adjusted, yet new Agreements were made for sundry things, the rest being refer'd to the Tariffs of other Years, and this was called indeed
Tarif Arreste Entre la France & la Hollande:
This was the 8th of
December
1699.
It is necessary farther, as an Introduction to this Discourse, to observe that the general Tariffs, or Book of Rates, which have been made and are refer'd to in the present Treaties stand thus: That of 1664 was the most general, in which the
English
Merchandises and Manufactures paid, upon their Importation into
France,
very moderate Duties; and particularly of our Woollen Manifactures: Thus,
Fine
English
Cloth, the Piece qt.
25 Ells, 40 Livres.
Half Cloths, or Dozens,
16 Livres.
Stockens Worsted,
per
Dozen.
3 10 Sols.
Serges, the Piece qt.
20 Ells, 6 Livres.
Cloth Serges,
15 Ells, 10 Livres.
Scotch
Serges and Shaloons,
25 Ells, 2 Livres.
And the like of other Merchandises. These Duties were enlarg'd in the Year 1699, and by an
Arrest du Conseil de Estat,
6.
Sept.
1701, an entire Prohibition of our Woollen Manufactures was publish'd, and new extravagant Duties laid upon those which were allow'd to be enter'd.
These Things being necessary to premise by way of Introduction on the Side of the
French,
it may suffice on the other Part to observe, that by sundry Acts of Parliament made on several Occasions, and with various Prospects in
England,
several additional Duties, and some Prohibitions have been laid upon and against the Goods and Merchandises of the Growth of
France,
besides the general Prohibition, or final Stop, of Intercourse, or Commerce between the two Nations, occasion'd by the Accident of the War.
As to particular Prohibitions, the chief are those first against Alamodes and Lustrings, in favour of the Company, who have erected the Manufactures of that kind here, and who, if those Prohibitions had not been made could not have succeeded.
Also, that for a Prohibition of all wrought Silks, for the Encouragement of the Broad-Weavers in
England,
and without which they must have been reduc'd, if not quite ruin'd.
The high additional Duties were such as principally respect the Wines and Brandies imported hither from
France,
which by the several Acts of Parliament establishing those Duties amount at this time as follows:
Wine
per
Ton
54
l.
Brandy
per
Gallon
6
s.
8
d.
These Duties being so great as to be equal almost to a Prohibition, stand as an Equivalent to the Impositions which the
French
have laid upon ours, and is the Foundation of the present Debate.
Thus much seems sufficient by way of Introduction.
CONSIDERATIONS ON THE Articles,
&c.
As our Considerations extend to no other Part of the Treaty than what relates to Trade, and to the Duties and Impositions upon Merchandise, so we shall confine it according to the Title to the two particular Articles which have made so much Noise in the Town,
viz.
the Eighth and Ninth Articles.
The Eighth Article runs thus:
Furthermore it is agreed and concluded as a general Rule, That all and singular the Subjects of the most Serene Queen of
Great Britain,
and of the most Serene the most Christian King, in all Countries and Places subject to their Power on each Side, as to all Duties, Impositions, or Customs whatsoever, concerning Persons, Goods and Merchandizes, Ships, Freights, Seamen, Navigation and Commerce, shall use and enjoy the same Privileges, and Immunities at least, and have the like favour in all Things, as well in the Courts of Justice, as in all such things as relate either to Commerce, or to any other Right whatever, which any Foreign Nation, the most favoured, has, uses, and enjoys, or may hereafter have, use, and enjoy.
This Article proposes an Equality in the general Circumstances of Trade for the Subjects of the two Nations, in their respective Dominions, with the Subjects of other Nations,
viz.
That
France
shall not demand any Toll, Duty, Custom, Impost, Port-Charges,
&c.
of the
English
Merchants, in any Ports or places of her Dominions, more than the Subjects of all other Nations pay in the same Ports, and
Vice Versa England
shall do the same.
I know it is objected here that this Article directly contravenes the Treaty with
Portugal,
and some People lay a great Stress upon that Treaty, in which we are oblig'd to admit the
Portugal
Wines at a certain Rate or Duty lower than the
French.
Whether the Parliament will think that Treaty relates to a farther Term than the Expiration of the War, I shall not determine; and this is named because some insist upon it, that that Treaty was made for Considerations which wholly related to the War, and which Considerations, or Conditions, on the behalf of
Portugal,
as has been mention'd in Parliament, were not honourably and punctually perform'd.
Vide the Votes of the House of Commons,
and Representation and Address last Session. Now, how far the Queen of
Great Britain
will think Her self bound by that Treaty, which, on the other hand, they say, was never perform'd, is the Question these People offer in this Case: But this I shall not take upon me to determine of here, but leave it to the Casuists in those Cases, whose Judgments are founded on the Laws of Nations, and the Nature of Treaties.
But the Considerations of Trade are of a differing Nature; and tho' there were much more to be said for the Interest of the Kingdom, respecting Peace and War, than we think can be said here, yet those things weight not in Arguments of Commerce: The present Enquiry is, Whether the
French
or
Portugal
Trades are of most Advantage to
England?
Many Arguments offer themselves to our View upon this Head, but I believe no Man will pretend to say, but that as Things stand now, the
Portugal
Trade is much more to the general Profit than the
French,
because,
besides many other Reasons,
we make effectual Exportation of our Woollen Manufactures for all the Wines, Oyles,
&c.
that we receive from
Portugal;
whereas the Obstructions in
France
to our Woollen Goods by the War, and the Improvements made in
France,
not only in our Woollen Manufactures, but in many other things, makes that Trade run in a different Channel, and the Ballance, at least, before our Stop to their Wine, Brandy, and wrought Silks, by the high Duties and Prohibitions now in force were against
England.
The Argument brought against these things by those who think the Equality of Duties reasonable; at least, the Argument which is most Cogent is this. It may be true, that while our Trade to
France
lies under the Discouragements and Disadvantages of their Tariffs of 1699, and 1701; the Loss is Ours, because we export but few of our Woollen Manufactures thither. But the Question is not yet thought of, How great a Trade we may have to
France,
a Kingdom of so large Extent, so populous, and so wanting Manufactures of Wooll, when those high Duties are taken off, and the Tariff of 1664 restor'd, as by the Ninth Article is propos'd?
I shall, however, state this as impartially between both as possible. We are sure that now the Trade to
Portugal
is not only a great, but a gainful Trade, and we know it is an encreased and an encreasing Trade, also it is a Trade,
as is mention'd above,
especially advantageous to
Britain,
in that our whole Import from thence is ballanc'd by our Woollen Manufacture, and great Sums brought hither, in Specie of Gold, every Year. This, as it is said, we are sure of, and it can be no Offence to any to say, we hope that when Commissioners shall meet as is provided by the Ninth Article to remove the Difficulties, and to regulate mutually the Duties and Circumstances of Trade, they will be very careful to prevent breaking in too far upon so beneficial a Trade as that to
Portugal,
before they have a clear View of making, at least an equal Advantage to
Britain
in the Trade to
France;
and this may suffice to say at present upon the Affair of general Equallities in Commerce, which is the Sustance of the Eighth Article.
The Ninth Article requires a farther Discussion, and may be particularly divided into three Periods or Heads.
1. The proposal of repealing the Laws on either hand, which relate to additional Impost, and Duties on Merchandizes in both Kingdoms, and all the Prohibitions of Importation also, from the Year 1664.
2. The settling the Duties upon
French
Goods imported into
England
upon the same Foot, and at the same Rates upon which Goods of the like Nature are imported from other Parts.
3. The appointing Commissioners not only to adjust the Exceptions and separate Proposals which are not yet settled, but to regulate the Methods of future Commerce between the Nations, in such a manner as may be for mutual Advantage.
The two first of these are contain'd in the first Part of the Ninth Article of the Treaty, in these Words:
It is further agreed, That within the space of two Months after a Law shall be made in
Great Britain,
whereby it shall be sufficiently provided that no more Customs or Duties be paid for Goods and Merchandizes brought from
France
to
Great Britain,
than what are payable for Goods and Merchandizes of the like Nature, Imported into
Great Britain
from any other Country in
Europe;
and that all Laws made in
Great Britain
since the Year 1664, for Prohibiting the Importation of any Goods and Merchandizes coming from
France,
which were not prohibited before that time, be repealed, the general Tariff made in
France
the 18th Day of
September,
in the Year 1664. shall take place there again, and the Duties payable in
France
by the Subjects of
Great Britain,
for Goods Imported and Exported, shall be paid according to the Tenour of the Tariff abovementioned, and shall not exceed the Rule therein settled, in the Provinces whereof mention is there made, and in the other Provinces the Duty shall not be payable, otherwise than according to the Rule at that time prescribed; And all Prohibitions, Tariffs, Edicts, Declarations or Decrees made in
France
since the said Tariff of the Year 1664, and contrary thereunto, in respect to the Goods and Merchandizes of
Great Britain
shall be Repealed.
To consider this with all possible Impartiality. It must be allow'd, that the
French
binding themselves to Repeal all their Tariffs, Edicts, Declarations or Decrees, made in
France,
back to the Year 1664, entitled them very justly to insist upon the same Thing with us; and were we sure that Repealing those Tariffs would open the Door to a Free Trade for our Manufacturers into
France,
that Demand would meet with the less Difficulties here, and the Alternative be the more just. Of which we shall say more when we come to enquire into the Excepted Articles.
But altho' this may seem very Just for the
French
to demand, yet it will require some Retrospect upon our own Circumstances, to consider whether it consists with our Trading Interest to come into this Mutual Repealing of Duties and Prohibitions; and indeed whether it be consistent with the very Nature and Being of our Trade: As particularly, the taking off the Prohibition of
Wrought Silks,
which we call
Broad Silks,
and that severe Prohibition of
Alamodes
and
Lustrings.
It might require here some very mature Thoughts to reflect upon the State of our own Trade;
for Example,
The Encouragement given to the Making
Lustrings
and
Alamodes
in
England,
and upon which the Subscribers to the
Lustring-Company
embark'd their Stocks was, without question, the Prohibition of the
French Silks
of that Kind, and the Confidence they had, that if at any time that Prohibition expired, they should obtain that Encouragement which is generally granted to all New Undertakings of that Nature, and without which they are supposed not to be able to promote or set up such Works, or at least with any Success; this Encouragement is generally the laying large Impositions, or actual Prohibitions, upon Goods of the same Nature made in other Countries: But if on the contrary the Impositions and Prohibitions aforesaid are actually taken off, and the Trade laid open, so that the like Goods may be admitted upon low Terms from Abroad, those Undertakings are Ruin'd of meer Consequence. This I take to be the Case of the
Lustring-Company
in
London,
and I believe the Master or Members of that Company will be free to own that they can make but small Pretence to the carrying on their said Trade, if the Prohibition and Duty upon the
French Lustrings
and
Alamodes
should be taken off by this Treaty. What Weight the Interest of the Company shall bear in the Consideration of this Great Affair, when either the Parliament in general, or the Commissioners when nominated to enquire into it in particular, shall come to debate it, I will not undertake to determine.
The Case of our
Broad Weavers
may come next to be mention'd, in Favour of whom, and in Consideration of the Numbers of Families maintain'd by the Manufacture of
Silk
in this Nation, the General Prohibition of
French Wrought Silks
first, and afterwards of
East-India Wrought Silks
was made. What other Considerations moved the House to those Prohibitions, and how importunate the
Weavers
and Importers of
Silk
were to obtain those Prohibitions, is too fresh in the Memories of all Men who think of these Things, that I need not repeat any thing of it here: What a Hurt it will be to the
Silk Manufacture
in
England,
I rather leave to the People concern'd to talk of, who are apt to be loud enough, than to pretend to meddle with it here.
It is argued here, that the Encrease of the Exportation of our
Woollen Manufactures
will follow, by taking off the high Duties in
France,
by which that whole Nation will be open to our Sale, and we shall Export vast Quantities thither Yearly; I say, if this be urged as a thing of such Weight, to which the Loss in the
Silk Manufactures, &c.
is not to be compared,
I readily yield to it,
only with this Proviso,
(viz.)
that we are certain that Exportation shall so increase. I shall allow my self to hope it will do so, at least if the Commissioners, who are to meet, can bring the
French
to consent that the
English Woollen Manufactures
be comprised in the Treaty, and the Duties upon them be reduced to the Tariff of 1664. Nor will I allow that to be a Question in the Case, since the known Interest of their Country so much requires it, and the Ruin or Damage to other parts of our Trade will be so just an Equivalent.
But as that Notion of the Increase of our
Woollen Manufacture,
is an Answer to the Nation in general, so here may be an Answer suggested to the
Broad Silk Weavers
and
Lustring-Company
in particular,
(viz.)
That altho' the Prohibitions be taken off, yet still there seems to be a liberty left to
Britain,
by this
Ninth Article,
to continue or lay any higher Duty on such Foreign
Wrought Silks,
as the Government shall think needful, to encourage our
Silk Manufactures,
and yet the
French
be obliged to Repeal their high Duties at the same time. This, I say, seems plain at least to our common view, who can judge of these Things but without doors, from these two Circumstances.
1. From the Demand the
French
make of keeping four Species of Goods up to the Rule of the Tariff of 1699, which if they insist upon, there seems to be a Parity of Reason that our Commissioners may insist upon the like advance of a Duty on the
Wrought Silks
made in
England;
(1.) Because the Reason of the
French
for holding up their Duties on our
Woollen Manufactures
to the Tariff of 1699, is the very same which we would give for Laying a Duty on their
Silks; (viz.)
the giving the Manufactures at Home the Advantage against those which are Imported from Abroad, and encouraging the proper Subjects of each Kingdom. (2.) Because it does not contradict the Letter of the Treaty to Lay any new or high Duties or Customs upon the Goods and Merchandizes of any Kind Imported from
France,
provided it is no more than is paid upon Goods of the like Nature Imported from other Parts; and I must grant, that if this Construction of the Article will hold, as I hope and believe it will, the Prohibitions may be all Taken off of the
Broad Silks, Lustrings, Alamodes,
&c. without such Ruin and Destruction to the
Broad Silk Weaving
and
Lustring Trade
as has been apprehended. But as the Ministry on both sides must be allowed the Construction of their own Terms, and to explain their own Thoughts to one another, so it may not be proper to anticipate all the Thoughts our Commissioners may have, least it prepare the Enemy to oppose them.
The
French
are no more to be look'd upon in Trade as they formerly were,
(viz)
as an Improving and Encroaching People in respect to the General Commerce of
Europe,
but as a Nation arriv'd to such an Improvement, that they are really our Rivals in the best and greatest Part of our Trade in particular, I mean the
Woollen Manufacture.
Indeed we have the good Fortune to be on the better side of the Hedge with them, and they have the Difficulty of the Want of Materials to struggle with,
(viz.) the WOOLL.
But then against that, by their Art, dexterous Management, Money, and other Helps, joined to the Baseness and Treachery of our own People, who for Private Gain will set their Hands to the Ruin of their Country, They have found the way, in spight of severe Laws, strict Guards, and the utmost Vigilance of Officers, to get so great Quantities of our
Wooll
conveyed over to
France,
as sufficiently enables them, in Conjunction with
Spanish Wooll
and
Wooll
from
Barbary,
to make a very great Quantity of
Woollen Manufactures,
and thereby do us an Inestimable Damage in our Trade; and which is yet more, as the People are Poor, Industrious, and work very low; where they are able to make the Goods at all, they are sure to underwork and undersell us.
For this Reason it must be allow'd, that if the
French
can be brought to open a Door for a free Trade, that is, for an Importation of our
Woollen Manufactures
into
France,
with moderate Duties, the Value and Gooodness of our
Manufactures
would force their own way so far, at least, that the Advance they make upon us in those things would not be so great, or encrease so fast: In order then to come to such a free Trade, many things may be thought on, and it may be counted rational, that
England
should grant all they can be suppos'd to grant, and take every Step that can conduce to that main End and Design, which they can take and grant without Prejudice to their own Nation, and to the main Trade thereof,
(viz.)
the
Woollen Manufacture
in some other Branch; for to do thus,
(viz.)
to yeild what would be fatal to it in another Part, would be to build with one Hand, and pull down with another.
This brings us then to the second Head, mention'd above.
2.
The settling the Duties upon
French
Goods, upon an Equality with the Duties on Goods of the like Nature imported from foreign Countries.
This,
as is noted above,
signifies not at all,
as I can understand it,
an entire Reduction of our Impost and Customs upon
French
Goods, or as the Article at first View seem'd to suggest, and as many still understand it to take off all our new Impositions since the Year 1664, but rather an Agreement with
France,
that as Peace is restor'd between the two Nations, and they stand to one another upon an Equality of general Interest, in the same relation
of Neighbourhood
one to another, so they should
of Trade
also; and the Equality of Duties upon Goods of like Sort, I laid down as the Foundation of this Equality. Those who are of Opinion that an Equality of all Nations in Trade is requisite, must produce other Arguments to back that Opinion than I'have seen yet, unless by Equalities they will make suitable Allowances for tie different Scituations of Countries, Quality of Goods, and Circumstances of Trade.
Now let others put what Construction they will upon the Ninth Article, and upon the Meaning of those Words,
the same Duties,
and
Goods of like nature,
I must be allow'd to think that it is implied that Allowances and Regulations must be made, in order to bring the Nature of Things
to be like,
and the Duties to
be the same;
Things may be said to
be the same,
when by just Allowances and Proportions they are regulated and adjusted, and brought to an Equality; on the contrary, tho' the Sum paid upon any Goods
be the same,
yet it may give one Side a great Inequality and Advantage over the other; and that which is the same thing in the Letter, is not the same in the Consequence.
These are things cannot be reason'd upon so well before hand, as they will be debated and calculated upon a Personal Treaty with Commissioners, and therefore, I say, no Judgment can be made at present by a common Eye: But that every Body may judge a little what may be the State of our Trade, when this Door of Intercourse and Commerce is open'd, it may not be improper to look back, and see what the Trade was formerly, and to know thereby what we are like to expect, when the high Duties are taken off from the
French
Goods here.
It is true, that Dr.
Davenant,
in his Report, from the Books of the
Custom-House
to the Commissioners, named in the Act for taking, examining, and stating the Publick Accounts, observes, that in the Four Years Interval of Peace, at the latter End of King
William,
we exported to
France
only thus,
that is to say,
in our
Woollen Manufactures
only.
 
 
 
 
l.
s.
d.
From
Christmas
1698
to
Christmas
1699
17269:
 
 
 
1699
 
1700
47151:
5.
11½
 
1700
 
1701
27774:
7.
11½
 
1701
 
1702
1580:
6.
9
 
 
 
 
93775:
—
8
The last Year being the Year when the Trade was stop'd, by breaking out of the War, may pass for nothing, and then we see the Export of our
Woollen Manufactures
to
France
appears very small, if the Doctor's Valuation of those Goods are right.
On the other Hand, in a Representation of Trade and Commerce with
France,
made to the late King, by his Majesty's Especial Command, Dated
December
23. 1697, by the Commissioners of Trade, as I have been inform'd there was given in the following terrible Abstract of the
French
Trade with
England, viz.:
1.
In General,
That the
French
over-ballanc'd us in Trade above a Million
per Annum.
2.
In Particular,
That in One Year the Importations from
France
into
England
only, (for
Scotland
was not then United)
Amounted to
1,136,150
Pou. St.
Whereas our Exportations to them for the same Year, amounted but to
171,021
Pou. St.
Over-ballance against us
965,129
In the same Report it is laid down, that the Goods which were Imported from thence Yearly had been Computed thus:
 
l.
Wrought Silks
to the Value of
300,000
Linnens
500,700
Wines
and
Brandy
217,000
In all
1,017,700
To descend to farther Particulars: They say that in the Year 1685, there was Twenty Thousand Tons of
Wine,
and Six Thousand Tons of
Brandy,
Imported into
England
from
France;
and more especially, that from . . . . .
Anno
1688, to . . . . 1689, there was upwards of the said Quantity of Twenty Thousand Tons of
Wine,
and Six Thousand Tons of
Brandy,
Imported.
It would be Unjust, at this time of day, to let such Accounts as these lye open for every one to pass their Judgments of, without giving the Opinion of him that publishes them, because the Reason and Design of the making them publick will very much lye in the giving, or not giving, that Opinion; and therefore I think my self bound to own, that I do not look on the said Account to have any Foundation in the Matter of Fact, or in the Nature of the Thing: And therefore as it does not Comport with the
Custom-House
Books of those Years, so neither does it to me appear Reasonable. Howbeit being given in to the late King by such Persons so qualified to know, and who were under such Obligations to do it exactly, I shall say no more to it but this, That no Man need go any farther for a Reason why the late King appear'd very backward, after the Peace of
Reswick,
to enter upon any Treaty of Commerce with
France,
or to open the same by Taking off the said high Duties, which at that time and 'till now have been as a Prohibition on both sides.
And I cannot wonder, why any Man who may have drawn his Calculate of Things from these Estimates, should be of the same mind now; for certain it is, that no Export which we can hope for of our Woollen Manufactures to
France,
can ever come up to Balance such an Account as this, nay, tho' the King of
France
were willing to Take off and Revoke all his Tariffs to 1664, and the Tariff of 1664 too.
On the other hand, the
Custom-House
Books make it appear, as is also to be seen in the said Report of Dr.
Davenant,
that the whole Import of
Wine
and
Brandy
in the Year from
Michaelmass
1668, to
Michaelmass
1669, came out thus;
Wine
5726 Tons
Brandy
330 Tons 7/9
Which it seems was plac'd to the Balance of Trade, just as the Inclination of the People pleased to lead them: Some reckoned it at the Rate, or Price, which the
Wine
Cost in
France,
which I must acknowledge is the true way to state the Balance between the Trade of the Two Kingdoms; because in Estimating our Exports to
France,
we always reckon the Value of those Exports, being of our own Goods, at the Worth here, and can do no otherwise: But others willing to make the Sum appear big, Rated or Valued them at the Price
Wine
and
Brandy
was Sold for by the Retailer in
England.
In which Valuations the Difference was as follows: The first Rated the
Wine
at 8
l. per
Ton, and the
Brandy
at 9
l. per
Ton; the other at 36
l.
and 45
l.
By the first the Rate was thus:
 
 
l.
Wine
5726 Tons at 8
l.
is
45808
Brandy
330 7/9 Tons at 9
l.
is
2977
 
 
48785
The other thus:
 
 
l.
Wine
5726 Tons at 36
l.
is
206136
Brandy
331 Tons at 45
l.
is
14895
 
 
221031
This makes a manifest Difference, and shews that we ought, upon very good Examination, to take the Calculations of other People in these Cases, who always speak as their Party Opinions guide them: However, take it which way we will, it is apparent, that after this the Quantity of
Wine
in general Imported from all
France,
and from other Countries too, increased prodigiously; for whereas during the Years 1668 and 1669, as abovesaid, when we Imported Six Thousand Tons of
Wine
and
Brandy
from
France,
there was then no Importation at all of
Wine
from
Portugal;
or if there was, the
Custom-House
knew it by no other Name than of
Spanish Wines,
which might indeed be the Case; and those
Spanish Wines
amounted the same Year to 6343 Tons: So that the general Import of
Wine
in
England, Anno
1669, was 12069 Tons; the same General Account about the Year 1699 or 1700, was one Year with another near 19000 Tons. In Particular thus Entred:
 
Tons
Spain
9309
Portugal
6897
Italy
1508
France
1245
Total
18959
How much of this Wine shall in a future Trade be imported from
France,
is hard to determine; some alledge the whole Draught of Red Wines will come from thence; but this is running too far and too fast, for even before the War, tho' the Duties of
French
Wines were much lower than the Duties of the
Portugueze
Wines, yet there were always great Quantities of
Alicant, Florence, Bar a Bar,
and
Oporto
Wines brought in, which, by reason of the deepness and brightness, of the Colour or Face of the Wines, were always found useful by the
Vintners
to draw with their thin meaner
French
Wines, and sold at a much greater Price; and if, as sometimes it happen'd, the Vintage in
France
fail'd, or the Wines prov'd small and ill colour'd, the Quantity and Price of the Wines from
Lisbon, Oporto, Alicant, &c.
always encreas'd in Proportion.
If this was the Case then, when the Duties of those other Wines were about 7
l. per
Ton greater than the Duties of the
French,
we may reasonably hope it will be still so, and with more Advantage to the
Spanish
and
Portugal
Wines, when the Duties of the
French
Wines shall be made Equal.
But here comes in an Objection, which was hinted at before, upon the Subject of what you will call Equality,
viz.
That the
Alicant, Florence,
and
Lisbon
Wines,
&c.
come in here at a greater Expence, both in their first Cost, as also in their Freight, Cask, length of the Voyage,
&c.
than the
French;
and thus, therefore, if the
French
Wines pay but an equal Duty, yet the Trade is not thereby put upon an Equality, but the Advantage given to the
French,
and that a Proportion ought to be stated here, to bring this Matter to an Equality.
This may have some Weight in it, and as I can do no more than mention it here, so I cannot prevail upon my self to doubt but the Government will take Care to have the Disproportion consider'd in the further Debates they are to have of that Affair.
As to the Treaties with
Portugal,
and the Conditions to be perform'd in that part of the Case with the King of
Portugal,
they are not for a Subject to dispute, but must be left to the Consideration of Parliament, to whom it belongs, and who no doubt will do what is requisite in that Case.
It remains now to examine a little into that part of the Ninth Article which speaks of the excepted Species of Goods, and of appointing Commissaries to regulate the Duties and Differences of those Species, according to the Tenor of the other part of the Agreement: This is contained in the following words of the Article it self, (viz.)
But whereas it is urged on the Part of
France,
that certain Merchandizes, that is to say, Manufactures of Wooll, Sugar, Salted Fish, and the Product of Whales be excepted out of the Rule of the above-mentioned Tariff, and likewise other Heads of Matters belonging to this Treaty remain, which having been proposed on the part of
Great Britain,
have not yet been mutually adjusted, a Specification of all which is contained in a separate Instrument Subscribed by the Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries on both sides; It is hereby Provided and Agreed, that within two Months from the Exchange of the Ratifications of this Treaty, Commissaries on both sides shall meet at
London,
to consider of, and remove the Difficulties concerning the Merchandizes to be excepted out of the Tariff of the Year 1664, and concerning the other Heads, which, as is abovesaid, are not yet wholly adjusted. And at the same time the said Commissaries shall likewise endeavour, (which seems to be very much for the Interest of both Nations) to have the Methods of Commerce on one part, and of the other, more thoroughly examined, and to find out and establish just and beneficial means on both sides for removing the Difficulties in this matter, and for regulating the Duties mutually. But it is always understood and provided, that all and singular the Articles of this Treaty, do in the mean while remain in their full force, and especially that nothing be deemed, under any Pretence whatsoever, to hinder the benefit of the General Tariff of the Year 1664, from being granted to the Subjects of Her Royal Majesty of
Great Britain,
and the said
British
Subjects from having and enjoying the same, without any Delay or Tergiversation, within the space of two Months after a Law is made in
Great Britain,
as abovesaid, in as ample manner and form as the Subjects of any Nation, the most favoured, might have and enjoy the benefit of the aforesaid Tariff, any thing to be done, or discussed by the said Commissaries, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
It seems here that the four Species of Goods mentioned,
(viz.) Fish,
produce of
Whale,
that is,
Whale Fins
and
Oyl, Sugar
Refin'd, and
Woollen Maenufactures,
shall be excepted out of this Article; that is to say, out of the Tariff of 1664: But what then, say we, signify all the rest, for our Woollen Manufacture is the main thing which we have to insist upon, if this should not be adjusted then the whole Trade is gone? It is to be hoped, that the Wisdom of our Parliament will provide, That unless such a Method may be found out that our Manufactures may be admitted into
France
upon such Terms as will make them Vendible there, and that they may not only come to Market, but may have a Market to come to where they will be Sold, they will be very Cautious how they make a Law to Take off our high Duties and Prohibitions upon the
French
Goods; for this would be to Ruin us effectually, by admitting
French
Goods of all kinds into
England,
and having our Woollen Manufactures, in effect, prohibited.
The great Question then is, What is the Tariff of 1699, which the Articles make mention of, and what is the Difference between that and 1664? And to Answer this directly it is to be understood, that there is no such thing in
France
as a Tariff of 1699, that respects
English
Goods, other than that mentioned before made with
Holland,
by which the
English
Fine Broad Cloth is Taxed at 20 Livres for 25 Ells
French, (viz.)
for about 30 to 31 Yards more than they were Charged before,
(viz.)
by the Tariff of 1664, and Serges, Stuffs,
&c.
in proportion. This Addition is the Thing upon which it seems turns the Question between a Trade and no Trade with
France.
If this Addition will effect a Prohibition, the King of
France
cannot insist upon it when he proposes a Treaty of Trade; for that would be to have us open our Trade to him, and shut up his Trade from us: But if the
French
King is in Earnest to seek a Treaty of Commerce with us, then the Difference between the Tariff of 1664 and 1699 is so little, that he cannot scruple to give it up: Besides, as by the Eighth Article,
the Subjects of
Britain
are to enjoy all those Privileges, Liberties and Immunities, and have the like favour in all things as to all Duties, Impositions or Customs whatsoever, concerning Persons, Goods and Merchandizes, which any Foreign Nation, the most favour'd, enjoys, or may hereafter have, use and enjoy.
If this, I say, be agreed, then it will remain to enquire, How the Treaties of Commerce with the
Dutch
and other Nations have settled this Affair, as to Salted Fish and Woollen Manufactures; for as to the Produce of Whales it concerns us little, who have no Whale Fishing; and as to Fish, the
Dutch
also are the main Parties concern'd: But as to the Woollen Manufacture, if the
Dutch
have yielded that Point, then we seem to be stop'd by the Eighth Article from asking any more; and how far that may consist with the Sale of our Manufactures in
France
remains to be Examined, and we may hope will be effectually Debated before it be yielded to
France.
The Debate which the respective Commissaries to be appointed are to have, as the Article says
for the Interest of both Nations,
will no question be very agreeable to all Honest Men, if it may be so adjusted as that our Woollen Manufactures may meet with no Interruption in their Exportation to
France.
No question, there may be such Regulations of Commerce made as may be for the Interest of both Nations, but all must be with a supposition of admitting our Manufactures into
France
upon Equal and Reasonable Terms; which if it be not done, our Trade is rather prohibited than extended, rather shut up than opened; so that upon this one Article all the rest depends,
(viz.)
That the Trade be open'd for our Woollen Goods in
France.
How else shall we make our selves amends for the Loss of our Trade in
Portugal?
I shall say nothing here to the Obligation upon Her Majesty to the King of
Portugal;
the Government will no doubt concern themselves to preserve the Conditions of every Agreement with the Princes of
Europe,
from any Clashing Inconsistencies one with another: No more will I undertake to say the
Portugueze
wait to prohibit our Manufactures as soon as they shall hear this Transaction is settled; I do not believe the
Portugueze
so weak neither: We are told, this will be most certain, that whatever amends we may make our selves by the
French
Trade, we shall certainly lessen our Wine Trade from
Portugal,
and to also from
Leghorn,
and other parts, to whom we at the same time send very large Quantities of our Manufactures; and therefore if the Treaty with
France
do not make up the Diminution of those Trades, it will not then be an Equivalent to us for the Exchange. But we hope the Commissioners, who are to meet upon this Subject, will concern themselves to weigh this part also, and so to admit the
French
Trade, that the Trade to
Portugal
may not be in a worse Case than it was before the War. Indeed it must be Own'd, it would be hard to suggest that the Trade to
Portugal
can be in a worse state than it was before the War; when it is known that before the War, the whole Duties upon
French
Wines were not more than 8
l.
or thereabout
per Ton;
and at the same time the
Portugal
Wines paid above 16
l.
8
s.
Duty: And beyond the Years 1664, we do not find any Wines imported from
Portugal
at all, but under the Title of
Spanish
Wines; which may be noted, not that there came no Wines from
Portugal
at all; but that
Portugal
was then under the Dominion of the King of
Spain,
'till the Revolt of the Duke of
Braganza,
the Grandfather of the Present King: I say then it can hardly be rational to think the
Portugal
Trade will be quite sunk, or that the King of
Portugal
will prohibit Trade with us; but that the
French
and
Portugal
Wines paying the same Dutys, the first will gain the preference at Market, no body will question; and therefore it had been to be wished, there had been some little reserv'd advantage to the Trade of
Portugal
Wine: But since it is otherwise determin'd, the
Portugal
Trade must take its Fate; and all that remains seems to be the taking a due Care, that the Trade to
France
for our Manufactures may be so enlarged, as may be a Recompence for what may happen on the other side; and if this may but appear, we shall have reason to be the better satisfy'd with the Treaty of Commerce; and we shall all be glad to find it so, that the Complaints of those, who pretend to fear, nay to know (as they say) the contrary, may appear to have been without ground.
The
Silk Manufacture
is next to be considered; the
Lustring Company
is now near expiring, and their Charter, which was granted for
Years, is almost run out; whether they will obtain a New Charter or no is not for us to enquire, whatever we may suppose; but whether they shall or not, it may be the same thing; the Prohibition, or Duty equal to a Prohibition, upon
Lustrings
and
Alamodes,
if it is to remain, as by the Equality with other Nations mentioned in the Treaty, it may, makes a very great Difference in the Manufacture at home, and the Importation from abroad; whether the
Lustring-Company
can go on or no, is for them to determine: But it must be own'd, that if the Dutys on Foreign
Lustrings
are held up at about 35
l. per Cent.
more than the Manufactures of
Lustrings
at home are valued at, and the
Lustring-Company
cannot go on, but the Foreign will outsell them, the making them at home must sink under the Imperfections of the Performance, rather than under the mistake of the Treaty of Commerce.
It is true, a Man, who has any Value for the Trade of his Native Country, cannot but regret the misfortune of the Humour of our People in
Britain,
who are so far from Encouraging the Manufactures of their own Country, that they will upon all Occasions, and almost in all Cases, choose any thing to wear that comes from abroad, and advance in price for such Goods, without regard to the real Goodness or Worth of the thing they buy, meerly upon its being Foreign. This puts all Manufacturing, at least of Silks, under very great Discouragements, and frequently has defeated the End and Design of many wholesome and good Laws, which have been made for the Encouragement of our own People; and it is feared, this will still be a help to the
French
Interest in Trade, when our Duties on their Goods shall be reduced to an Equality with the Goods and Merchandises of other Countries; It is true, that this is a Mischief that ought, if it were possible, rather to be punished than Encouraged; but still while this is our Misfortune, and we cannot help it, the Government may provide as well against it in Treaties and Capitulations, as the Nature of such things will admit.
How far it can be expected, that the Ministers of State should in Treaties of Peace and Commerce allow for these National Follies, I will not meddle with here; it is most certain, that if this Humour of our People prevails after the present Treaty, they may defeat the best Designs of the Government in the Treaty, and make that mischievous, which otherwise would not be so: We had an Eminent Example of this Humour of the People, in the Extravagance of their Fancy after the
Painted Callicoes
and
Fine Chints
of the
Indies,
which run on to so ridiculous an Extreme, that on a sudden you saw all the Ladies of Quality, and wealthy Citizens Wives, dress'd up in a Tawdry piece of
Callicoe,
which but a few Years before, their Chamber-Maids would have thought beneath them to be seen in: Nor was this all, but immediately by the same Rule our Velvet and Damask-beds, fine Window-curtains, nay the very Hangings of Rooms, were all turn'd into
Painted Callicoes
and
Meslepatan Chints,
to the entire Destruction, if it had gone on, of the
Silk Manufacture,
and the exceeding Damage of the
Woollen Manufacture
also: There was no Remedy for this Distemper,
(for no doubt it was a Distemper in our People)
but to quash it at once by an immediate Prohibition of all
East-India Silks
and
Painted Callicoes,
and forbidding the wearing and making them up, upon the severest Penalties that could be though
of.
I should have observed, that as the Humou
for
East-India
Goods began at the
Chints
and
Painted Callicoes,
so as they began to grow familiar, the Ladies went on to the
Wrought Silks
o
China
and
Japan,
and to wear fine
Atlasses,
Rich
Gold
and
Silver Stuffs,
and fine
Damasks;
and this to that degree, that the
Company
Imported Nine Thousand Pieces of Rich
Damasks
in one Ship: Nay even in furnishing our Houses, the
Indian
Pictures, in themselves simple, ordinary and ridiculous, became more valuable than the Finest Paintings of
Italy.
These Things are mentioned here for this reason, to note, that since our Fancies are thus debauch'd; if possible then, whatever Treaties of Commerce are made, as much Provision ought also to be made, as the Nature of the Thing will permit, to prevent the ill Consequences of it in our Trade.
It is very well known, that the like Excess in the Humour and Temper of our People has for many Years past appear'd in their Extravagant Passion for every thing that is
French,
as well in Wearing Apparel,
Silks,
&c. as in
Wines;
and if the Extravagance should now return to possess our Fancy, when the
French
Trade opens by this New Treaty, we may ruin our own Trade in spight of the best Conditions and Articles in the World. As an Exhortation against this Humour in the People would be of greater Use in the main, than all possible Exclamation can be against the Treaty, so it cannot be offensive to any one to say, that this will necessarily move the Government, when they shall treat by the New Commissioners, which the Treaty allows, that such Dutys may be kept up upon Foreign
Wrought Silks,
or added if need be, as will give our
English Manufactures
of
Silk
a sufficient preference, and cause those People, who will still be for
French
Goods, to see the Madness and Distraction of their Fancy, and how dear they must pay or worse Goods than they may have at home.
It cannot be doubted, but such Measures would in Time give a shock to the Mischief, and perhaps in Time take off our People from the Extravavagance and Folly, which has formerly done them so much Harm in Trade, and is still so dangerous in the Case before us.
The
French
are an Industrious People; they work cheap, and work well; their Fancy in contriving Fashions, Figures and Fancies in their Work, is very bright and quick, and these Things recommend their Goods to us; the Vanity and Levity of their Nation prompts them to apply to all the Novelties and Niceties of Dress; they gratify the Beaus and the Ladies, and this leads us insensibly into the Error, and makes our People infinitely fond of their Trade. If then the Commissaries, who are to meet and regulate the Trade, do not state the Duties on
Wrought Silks,
&c. so as to give a very great Difference to the
English Wrought Silk,
so as that they may not be discouraged in their Work, and the Humour for every thing that is
French
again prevail, our Home-Trade will be ruin'd of Course, and by its own Friends, even the very People who ought to support and carry it on.
The present Duties upon
Wrought Silks
to be paid in
Britain,
as well from
France
as from other Countries, are thus,
 
 
l.
s.
d.
Alamodes
and
Lustrings.
For every 20 lb. weight
34:
00:
00
All other Sorts of
Broad Silks.
For every 20 lb. weight
12:
3:
7
These Dutys the
French
may still be obliged to pay, because all other Nations pay the same: Nay, if our Articles are rightly managed, and the Parliament thinks fit to lay any other and higher Dutys on the said Species of
Wrought Silks,
so be it, that other Nations pay the same Dutys upon Goods of the like Nature.
It is humbly recommended then to those, in whose Hands Power is or shall be lodg'd to do these Things, that they would consider the many Thousand Families of our Poor, as well
Weavers
as others, who depend upon the
Silk Manufactures
in this Nation; as also the Great and truly Beneficial Trade to
Turkey
and the
Levant,
from whence our
Silk
is chiefly Imported, and to purchase which, our
Broad Cloth
is sent in such great Quantities, as to make a very considerable Figure also in the Employment of our People in the Country; all which must sink in a very great Degree, if some immediate Care is not taken, and Means used to keep up the Value of our own
Broad Silks,
and keep down and discourage, as much as may be, the Importation of
French Silks,
upon this New Opening of the Trade.
This is the rather urged now, because it is evident that there is room very happily made in the Treaty for it, and that at the same time that we apprehend the Danger, we yet can with Satisfaction so far Compliment the Makers of this Treaty, in that they have left room for so advantageous a Step to be taken in favour of the
Weavers,
and
Workers
of
Silk;
and that by the Treaty it may be done, since, as above, the
French
scruple not our high Duties at all, only desire that they may pay no more than other Nations, which if it be Granted them can do us no Harm, provided that both they and all other Nations may but be obliged to pay so much, that we may be able to go on with our Trade at Home.
This is not said by way of Complaint against any thing agreed on in the Treaty: The Danger does not seem to be in what is done, and Agreed on by the Treaty, but from what may yet be done in Consequence of the Treaty; and therefore it is, that this Case is insisted on.
We have seen very large Accounts Published of the Importations of
Foreign Silks
from
France:
Dr.
Davenant
in his Report to the Commissioners of Accounts says, that the Commissioners of Trade in King
William
's Time gave his Majesty an Account, that the Importations from
France
to
England
only, amounted in Value in this one Article of
Wrought Silks
to
l.
300,000
Sterling.
By a Scheme of the Trade to
France
now Printed and handed about, the same is Calculated for the Year 1674,
At 150,000 lb. weight of
Wrought Silk,
Value
l.
2
per
lb. weight is
l.
300,000
It is noted in the same Scheme, that there was recieved at the Port of
Dover
that Year
l.
15000 for the Dutys on
French Wrought Silks,
besides what may be supposed to be run there that Year.
It is not material for us to examine into the Truth of these Accounts: Nay, tho' they should be allowed to be Fictitious and False, as I believe they are.—But it will be allowed that the Quantity was very great; and it is Humbly Offered to the Consideration of those whom it concerns to weigh from hence, How great a Consumption of the
Silk Manufacture
this Nation makes, and consequently how well worthy their Concern it is, that as much of this as is possible, might be manufactur'd by our own Hands, and the Trade be kept among our selves.
It is true, as the Dutys are now,
(viz.)
12
l.
for every 20
l.
or 12
s. per
Pound Duty on the said
Wrought Silks,
it is a very great Difference; but as this comes to be reckoned upon the Measure, it does not, especially in midling slight
Silks,
amount to much by the Yard; and suppose it was one Shilling, or Two Shillings
per
Yard, it is too well known that the Humour of our Ladies, when they are buying Fine Cloths, and are wheedled with the Opinion of the Fineness and Goodness of
French Silks,
is not to be restrain'd by a Shilling, Two or Three in a Yard.
If then the Duties were enlarged upon the sine Wrought
Silks
to such a Degree, that the Weaving of
Broad Silks
and Rich
Brocaded Silks
in
Britain
may not be discouraged, such a Treaty of Commerce will be a happy means to prevent the Ruin of our Trade, the starving many Thousands of Poor Familys, and the
French
Trade may not be so prejudicial to us in that particular Trade, as otherwise there is reason to fear. It might be offered at to set down what Addition of Duty would be sufficient to preserve our Trade in this Case; but I rather choose to omit that, than prescribe to our Legislature: The
Weavers
are of Age; ask them, they are the best Judges.
The like Argument, and with the same Force, will hold good in the
Linnen Manufacture,
especially since two great Events, both which have happened since the Commencement of the late War.
1. The
Union
with
Scotland.
2. The Prohibiting the Exportation of the
Woollen Manufacture,
and the encouraging the making of
Linnen
in
Ireland.
Both these Countrys are now employed, at least very considerably, in
Linnen Manufactures,
and it is not to be doubted, but that we are and ought to be very justly concern'd for the Encouragement of them both. Now if the aforesaid Printed Accounts of Importations from
France
are true for the Year 1674, which however I must own I do not Credit, yet thus far they serve to argue in this Case, that the
Linnen Manufacture
of
France
is very considerable.
That Account stands thus;
Imported from
France
into
England, Anno
1674,
60000 Pieces of
Lockram
and
Dowlas.
17000 Hundred of
Vitry Canvas
and
Noyals.
5000 Hundred of
Ditto Normandy.
2500 Pieces of
Quintins.
1500 Pieces,
Dyed Linnen.
97604 Yards,
Diaper Tabling.
33896 Yards,
Ditto Napkining.
1376 Pieces,
Buckram.
1200 Bolts of
Poldavies.
2820 Pair of Old
Sheets.
It is without any Question, that the
Canvas,
the
Dowlas
and the
Diaper
may in a little Time come to be all made in
Britain
and
Ireland;
the
Diaper
is already improved to such a Degree, as nothing can be better: And it is Humbly hoped, that the Dutys which may be still added upon the
French Linnen
will be such, as shall prevent the Discouragement upon these
Manufactures.
This, we think, is the only way to make the Articles of Commerce effectual to the Advantage of
Britain,
and to enable us to Trade with
France
for the Future, upon as good Terms as we do with other Nations of
Europe.
FINIS.