AN ESSAY UPON THE Trade to Africa, &c.

IT is, no Queſtion, the hardeſt Thing in the World, to Convince Men's Judgments againſt their Intereſt, and perſuade Men to Believe, what they deſire ſhould not be true.

This I conceive has been one Cauſe, why the African Company and the Separate Tra⯑ders have Argued ſo long againſt one ano⯑ther to ſo little purpoſe; till at laſt, they ſeem to give over Diſputing for Conviction of one antoher, and labour to poſſeſs other Men, with the Reaſonableneſs of their re⯑ſpective Pretenſions; that the World being [4] Judges of their Arguments, they that have the Strength of Reaſon on their Side may have moſt Voices, and make their Cauſe moſt Popular.

But in this they have not been without their Difficulties, and the Ground they have gotten on either Side, ſeems hardly worth the Noiſe it has made: This ſeems owing Principally to the back⯑wardneſs of People's making themſelves Maſters of the Cauſe, either on one Side or other, and perhaps a little to the unhappy Cuſtom of the Age, viz. Of appearing for or againſt, as Parties, Prejudices, Friend⯑ſhips, Examples, or Intereſts Guide us, ra⯑ther than by the true Method of Enquiring into the Bottom of Things, and Impartial⯑ly Judging, according to the Weight of their proper Merit.

We chuſe to lay the Blame however, up⯑on the firſt of theſe, viz. Peoples Ignorance in the Cauſe, and hope the Time may come again, when Men of Senſe ſhall judge Things as they are, rather than as Men of Art would make them ſeem to be: In hopes of this, and to ſhorten this Diſpute if poſſible, theſe few Thoughts are put into Print, that Unbyaſs'd Men may ſee by a clear Light, and make a Judgment of Truth upon the Matter,

In order to this, we ſhall briefly, and with all poſſible plainneſs, enter a little into the [5] Merits of the Cauſe, and ſearch to the Bottom the Tranſaction it ſelf, between the Company and the Separate Traders: We ſhall enquire into their Management of the Trade, as it reſpects themſelves, the Trade itſelf, and the Nation: Their Behaviour to one another, how, and up⯑on what Foundation they have begun the preſent War between them; how they become, as no doubt they now are, Inconſiſtent with one another; and how their preſent contending Circumſtances are Inconſiſtent with the Trade it ſelf, and with the Publick Good of Britain.

The Original of the Company is known, and needs take up none of our Time, only it may a little concern the preſent Diſpute, to make this one Remark, viz. That they came in by Purchaſe, a Juſt, Lawful, and Honourable Way; the Circumſtances of the former Company declining, and they being in no Condition to carry on the Trade; and the Trade itſelf appearing then in its Infancy, to be a moſt Profitable, Uſeful, and abſolutely neceſſary Branch of our Com⯑merce; for theſe Reaſons, the Government concern'd itſelf, as no doubt all wiſe Govern⯑ments will, that ſo great an Advantage ſhould not be loſt to the Nation.

This they did by Encouraging a new Sub⯑ſcription, to which his late Majeſty K. Cha. II. and his Royal Brother then D. of York, after⯑wards [6] King of England, gave particular En⯑couragement, Subſcrib'd a conſiderable Stock, was pleas'd to grant a Royal Char⯑ter, Dated Anno 1672. from whence they derive the Title of the Royal African Compa⯑ny; this is not repeated in Compliment to the Company, but for the ſake of the o⯑ther part of the Story.

Notwithſtanding the Authority of their New Foundation, and the Favour of their Prince, which they had then to ſo great a degree as above; yet ſuch was the Reſpect had to the Neceſſity of Poſſeſſing the Coaſt of Africa, by Forts and Caſtles, and the Settlement of Factories, for the Manage⯑ment and Security of the Trade; ſo evi⯑dently did it appear, that without theſe Forts, Caſtles, and Settlements, it was im⯑poſſible to carry on the Trade, or to pre⯑ſerve and enlarge it; that this New Com⯑pany were oblig'd to take off theſe Forts and Caſtles, from the Hands of the Compa⯑ny that went before them.

As the Neceſſity for having theſe Forts and Caſtles for carrying on the War, pre⯑vail'd, ſo the Senſe of Juſtice to the Old Company prevail'd; and tho' they were not able to carry on the Trade, yet no Thoughts were Entertain'd of taking away their Property, without a valuable Conſi⯑deration; ſuch a Barbarous Thought ne⯑ver entred into the Counſels of thoſe juſter Times.

[7] Nor were the Old Company in all their moſt deſpicable Circumſtances, oblig'd to part with them as Heaps of Materials, and old Stuff for Building; the Price was not run down as of old Houſes, to be Demo⯑moliſh'd and good for little, tho' they were at that Time really in but a mean Condition, of ſmall Strength, and no way proportionable to what they are now, or what the Security of the Trade call'd for.

But they were conſider'd at a moderate reaſonable Value between both, as Things neceſſary to the New Company, and that had been very chargeable to the Old; uſeful for the Security of the Com⯑merce, and eſſential to the very Being and Nature of the Thing: Thus the New Com⯑pany came in upon a very fair Purchaſe, and gave at firſt, in the very Infancy of the Trade 34000 l. Sterling, for but one of thoſe very Forts and Caſtles which are ſince that made the Subject of ſome Peoples Jeſt; and which firſt they would have be thought of no Uſe to the Trade; but when that was not to be made out, then they would have it, that the Number was too great, and the Value of them but a Trifle.

This is the more needful to be obſer⯑ved here, to give all Men leave to take Notice of the remarkable Juſtice of the preſent Separate Traders who oppoſe the Company; who would not only have the [8] Company's Forts and Caſtles vallued at lit⯑tle or nothing, but would not have that little paid them neither, but would have them taken from them; either by dive⯑ſting the Company of their Property upon a pretended Aſſignment for Payment of Debts, or which is equally juſt, would have them put into the Hands of the Government, without making any Satis⯑faction to the preſent Company for them, which is little better than endeavouring to get an Act to make a General Plunder of the Company's Effects.

Nor was this all, but when they pro⯑poſed that the Government ſhould have the Forts and Caſtles, their Juftice to the Government was as Eminent as their Juſtice to the Company, for they were not to make any Settled Payment to the Govern⯑ment, for the Expence of Maintaining the Garriſons, &c. and the Forts, except a Certain Rate per Cent. upon an uncertain Degree of Trade; for no Man was to Export more than he pleaſed, or to pay for more than he Exported. Theſe are Speciments of the Juſtice of the Treat⯑ment both the Company and the Govern⯑ment were to meet with with from theſe Gentlemen.

But to return to the Caſe in Hand. The Company having obtain'd a Charter from the Crown, and their Trade ſecur'd with [9] excluſive Privileges, ſuited to its Preſerva⯑tion at Home, and with Forts, Caſtles, and Settlements, for its Defence Abroad, went on proſperouſly for many Years.

If any Perſons yet remain'd doubt⯑ful of the Neceſſity and Advantage of this Trade, or of the Magnitude it roſe to under the Protection of the ſeveral Princes aforeſaid, it might not be amiſs to enlarge here, by telling them, What in the Space of Twenty Years, or thereabout, they Ex⯑ported in Engliſh Manufactures; How many Negroes, they ſent to the Engliſh Colonies in the Weſt Indies; and how many Thouſand, Ounces of Gold they brought into England, beſide the Export of Foreign Goods by De⯑bentures, and the Import of many Thouſand Pounds Sterl. in Wax, Elephants Teeth, Drugs and valuable Commodities, the Growth of the Country there, and neceſſary to ours here.

We might tell you how, had this Trade been neglected and left languiſhing, as it has been ſince, under the Depredations of Interlopers and Separate Traders, the Ha⯑zards of the War, and Loſſes at Sea; had they been worryed, and kept in conſtant Alarm by the Attacks and Barking of their Rivals in the Trade, not a third Part of the Poor had been employ'd, whom their Trade kept Alive; not a third Part of the Negroes had been carryed to America, tho' at double [10] Price; and not a Tenth Part of the Gold had been brought in to help our declining Caſh to circulate, in a Time when a long War had ſtopt the Channels of Bullion from Mexico and Peru.

But theſe Things need not to be enlarg'd on, they come within every Man's Reach; and the moſt ignorant in Trade know them.

It is evident, that the Proſperity of the Company was ſuch, that they had very little Debt upon them, an unlimited Cre⯑dit, a full Caſh, a vaſt Stock, and their Actions run the higheſt upon a real Bot⯑tom to ſupport them, of any Company that ever was in England; being once Sold at Four Hundred Pound per Cent. being the ſame Thing that has ſince been Sold for Ten Pounds, or very little more.

This Remark is Needful to let the World ſee, that the Great Debt upon the Com⯑pany, which the Separate Traders make uſe of as an Argument, why they ſhould be given up, is meerly occaſion'd by the Convulſions of their Trade, from the In⯑vaſions of thoſe very People that Com⯑plain; for that before there were any In⯑telopers, or that they went on with Impu⯑nity, the Company had no need to run into Debt.

It is true, That during the Reign of thoſe very Princes, the juſt Protectors of this Trade, ſome Attempts were made by [11] Interlopers and clandeſtine Traders, to break in upon their Trade: And the Com⯑pany ſuffer'd always by thoſe Attempts, of which large Accounts have already been given by the Company in Print; but their Right being clear, and that Right be⯑ing always ſupported by the Publick Good, and the Juſtice of the Government, the Company were enabled to do themſelves Juſtice upon the ſaid Interlopers; and they met with ſuch frequent Diſcouragements, by the Legal Proſecutions of the Company in Defence of Right, that the Interloping Trade gain'd but little Ground of them for many Years.

It was very hard, that when the Revo⯑lution happen'd in England, which was eſteem'd a general Deliverance of the Na⯑tion from Oppreſſion and Injuſtice, and Men rejoyc'd every where for the more free and Legal Poſſeſſion of their Rights and Properties, that the African Company ſhould be the Only Sufferer; the only Peo⯑ple that were left in a worſe Condition than before; the only People that ſeem'd to have leſs Security for the Poſſeſſion of their Pro⯑perties, and to feel more Oppreſſion than they did before; and that they, of all the Nation, ſhould have the true Cauſe of Re⯑joycing at that Great Affair taken from 'em.

But then it was, that from the Revoluti⯑on to the Year 1700, or thereabouts, the [12] Interloper, as if the Liberty of doing Wrong was reſtor'd among the other Freedoms of the Nation, by the Revolution, began from that Time to appear openly; Fit out Ships here in the Face of Goverment; and appear on the Coaſt of Africa in Defiance of the Company's Forts, carrying on an open Trade without Regard to the Laws of the Land or the Lawful Privileges of the Company.

It could not be, but that ſuch an Open Invaſion of their Trade muſt be a great Diſcouragement, as well as a great Loſs to the Company: Eſpecially, conſidering two great Things that attended it, 1. The ſubtle but unfair and diſhonourable Me⯑thods which theſe Interlopers took, to car⯑ry on their Trade to Africa. Such as Bri⯑bing the Company's Officers and Factors Abroad; confederating and correſponding with the Company's Enemies in Africa, whether Natives or Europeans; running down the Price of their Goods to the Negroes, teaching them the Craft and Knowledge of the Trade, and how to Buy and Sell to their Advantage; raiſing the Rates of the Slaves they buy; and thus in every Article rendring the Company's Trade more difficult to manage, and leſs profitable than it was before. 2. The Dif⯑ficulty, and, as it appear'd at laſt, the Im⯑poſſibility of obtaining Redreſs of theſe Grievances, or Gaining any New Confir⯑mation [13] of the excluſive Privileges, on the Foot of which their Trade had flouriſh'd for ſo many Years before.

Nay, ſo far was the Company from re⯑ceiving Aſſiſtance at Home, againſt thoſe People who daily made Havock of their Trade, and grew Rich upon the Spoil of the Company; that on the contrary, the Impunity of the Times hardened the ſaid Interlopers to go on, and claim that for a Right, which they had nothing but their own Practice to juſtify; as if the long break⯑ing in upon a legal Conſtitution had di⯑veſted that Conſtitution of its Foundation.

Theſe Things running to a height, In⯑terloping became Popular, and the Com⯑pany had a juſt Alarm, from having ſeen the Books for a New Subſcription to the India Trade laid open, and the Interlopers of that Trade Incorporated in a diſtinct Society: Tho' the Neceſſity of their re⯑turning into the Hands of the Old Compa⯑ny, ſoon brought them into a Coallition. Of which by it ſelf.

But if the African Company were al⯑larm'd with this Precedent, if they ap⯑pear'd apprehenſive of the like Invaſion of their Trade, and expected every Day when their Interlopers would be alſo Incorporated into a New Company: The ſaid Interlopers themſelves deliver'd them from that Fear when they ſoon let them [14] ſee, that it was not the Setting up againſt the Company, but an utter Diſſolution of the Company, and laying open, Anglicè blowing up the Trade, was in their View.

Not to enter into a Detail of their Pra⯑ctices to this Purpoſe, which yet are many and very viſible, the Variety of which would very well bear a Hiſtory, and long Accounts of which have been already made Publick; it ſhall ſuffice to note, that the Company languiſhing under the Inſolence and Oppreſſion of theſe In⯑vaſions, and at the ſame time lying under many diſcouraging Loſſes by the War, reſolved (that they might rather ſave the Trade to the Nation, than enjoy the Profits of it) to take them into, what they could not keep them out of; and ra⯑ther grant ſomething upon Conditions of ſaving the reſt, than ſee the whole de⯑voured by the Dutch, who in a ſhort time would effectually deſtroy both.

Upon this Principle the Company ap⯑ply'd themſelves to the Parliament about the Year 1698, and obtained an Act to permit all People who thought fit to Adventure, to Trade to Africa, and from thence to the Engliſh Colonies, paying only to the Com⯑pany the rate of 10 l. per Cent. beſides the ordinary Duties to the Crown: Which Ten per Cent. was of the [15] Forts, Caſtles, &c. and for receiving the Protection of them in their Trade.

It would be worth while here, and in the purſuit of theſe Papers We ſhall not fail, in order to let indifferent People judge of the Pretences on both ſides, to examine the Dimenſions of the Trade, the Export and Import from and to England, the Num⯑ber of Negroes ſent to the Colonies in the Weſt-Indies, and the Price which is given there now for them; and comparing theſe with the like Article of the Trade during the Company's free Enjoyment of their excluſive Privileges, draw a State of the Difference; that it may be plain to every Man's Eye, who are or are not the beſt qualify'd to carry on this great and advan⯑tageous Trade for the Good of the Nation. But We adjourn this for a little.

The Act of Parliament for Granting this Liberty of Commerce, upon the Payment of the Sum aforeſaid, has done the Inter⯑lopers one Favour, (viz.) That it has le⯑gitimated them under a New Name, diſ⯑daining the ſcandalous Title of Interlopers, which are indeed but the Raparees or Highway-men of Trade; They have chri⯑ſtened themſelves by the Name or Title of 10 per Cent. Men, alias Separate Traders, and by this new Dignity we are to under⯑ſtand them.

The Company, as it may well be ima⯑gin'd, [16] under the Torture of this growing Evil, like a Body under the Weight of a cruel and incurable Diſeaſe, has ſenſibly waſted and decay'd, ſuffer'd innumerable Inconveniences and Diſcouragements, e⯑nough to ſink them far lower than they are yet fallen.

Firſt, The Decay of their Trade has made the Charge of maintaining their Set⯑tlement be an Article that has continually fed upon their Dead Stock, and eaten long upon their Capital; the Charge being the ſame as when their Trade was moſt Flou⯑riſhing; the 10 per Cent. which was allow'd them by Act of Parliament go⯑ing but a very little way to defray the Charge.

2dly, As they have grown weaker and leſs able to protect their Trade, ſo that Weakneſs has happened at a time when their Strength was moſt needful; having not only the Natives on Shore to reſiſt, but the Enemies of England to contend with, (viz.) the French.

And here it is humbly noted, in behalf of the Company, That their Forts and Caſtles indeed were built for the Defence and Protection of their Com⯑merce, either againſt the Inſults of the African Natives, or the Encroach⯑ments of the Trading Force of other Nations; ſuch as the Dutch, French, [17] Danes, Pruſſians and Portugueſe. And they are able and ſufficient to defend themſelves and their Trade againſt any or all of them, as Traders. But it is own'd, if the Dutch or French, or any other come to make War with us, and ſend regular Forces, Squa⯑drons and Armies, we are not pre⯑par'd for ſuch Work as that. It can⯑not be expected, a private Society of Merchants can be at an Expence for it, or Maintain Garriſons to defend ſuch Forts as might reſiſt in ſuch a Caſe; nor could any of thoſe Nations reſiſt ours in like Circumſtances.

And therefore they have ſuffered irrepa⯑rable Damage and Loſſes by the Attacks which the French have made upon them during this War; by which ſeveral of their Forts and Settlements have been deſtry'd, their Effects plundred, their Servants and Factors carried away, and the Charges laid out, as well as the Trade it ſelf, loſt together.

3dly, They have ſuſtained other Great Loſſes, both at Sea and Land, unuſual; and they believe to any Society of Men in Trade, intollerable; ſuch as

Taking their Ships by the Enemy, the Hurricane at Barbadoes, &c. the Deſcent of the French upon the Iſlands of Mevis and St. Chriſto⯑phers, [18] and by Shipwreck; all which put together, as they have repreſent⯑ed it to the Government, amount to above 400000 l. Sterling.

The Company's being reduc'd to great Difficulties and Extremities under all this, can be ſtrange to no Body; nor is it to be wondred, that to keep themſelves up, and to preſerve a Trade in it ſelf ſo benefical, in hopes at one time or other to recover them⯑ſelves by the Favour and Aſſiſtance of the Government, they have call'd in great Sums of Money out of the private Eſtates of the Adventurers; and owe great Sums upon the Common Seal of their Company. Of all which things the Separate Traders make their preſent Advantage; as if the Diſtreſſes and Difficulties the Company la⯑bours under, were a good Reaſon why there ſhould be no Company at all. Where⯑as, were the Company ſet free from the Aſſaults and Encroachments of theſe Py⯑rates, and reſtor'd to the legal Privileges of their Charter, they would ſoon both re⯑ſtore themſelves by the Trade, and reſtore the Trade to the Nation.

If we were permitted to Argue for the Company, by the uſual Topicks which en⯑force things in other Caſes; the Heavy Loſſes, the Difficulty and Diſſaſters, which the Adventurers and Creditors have had in all theſe Particulars; the ſeveral Sums of [19] Money call'd in, the long time they have been out of both Principal and Intereſt, would be of ſome weight to move thoſe in whoſe Power it lies to re-eſtabliſh them, that by a fair honeſt Application to the Trade they might reſtore their Affairs and make up their Loſſes again; Eſpecially when the giving them ſuch Preferences, conſiſts with the preſerving and ſecuring the Trade, to the Advantage of the Na⯑tion. But on the contrary, the Clamours of theſe People, have made the very Miſ⯑fortunes of the Company Arguments to ruin them; as if the Creditors of a Tradſe⯑man ſhould be excited to be more ſevere upon him than they would be, becauſe he has had his Houſe Burnt, or becauſe Thieves have Broke up his Shop and Robb'd him, which Diſtaſter would move Men of Reaſon to Forbear and Encourage him.

But much ſtronger will this Argument be, when it ſhall appear in the Company's Favour, that private Intereſt, Plunder of the Company's Effects, and violent taking away the Property of other Men, appears to be the chief View of the Separate Tra⯑ders; and that they are ſo far from aim⯑ing at the Publick Advantage, by ſecuring the Trade to the Nation, that on the con⯑trary, they do not pretend to give, nor are they able to offer any Security that [20] can be Depended upon to that purpoſe, and by the Nature of the thing, it ſeems morrally Impoſſible, but the Trade muſt dye in their Hands, and be Irrecoverably Loſt to the Nation.

This ſhort Abſtract of the Company's Affairs brings us down to the preſent Times; and this is the true Deſign of making it thus Public; alſo it gives any one that pleaſes impartially to conſider it, a clear View of the true Riſe and Founda⯑tion of all the Diſeaſes of the African Trade, with the Capacity the Companies Ene⯑mies are in to hurt them, and by Conſe⯑quence a View of the proper Remedy for thoſe Diſaſters.

From this brief Account alſo Anſwers will indeed form themſelves to moſt of the Cavils of the preſent Oppoſers of the Company; as to the Uſefulneſs, the Ne⯑ceſſity, and the Right of Property which the Company have in the Forts in Africa; it will convince the impartial Reader, as to the ſeveral Circumſtances of the Com⯑pany, and their Incapacity either to carry on the Trade, or to ſatisfie their Creditors; alſo as to the Nature of the Trade, and whether laying it open, or limiting it, is the beſt Method to preſerve it; of which the Separate Traders themſelves have made woful Experiments; and as to ſeveral o⯑ther Objections, to which we ſhall ſpeak their Turn.

[21] The Company languiſhing under theſe Difficulties, finding it in vain to ſtruggle any longer with their Misfortunes, and re⯑ſolved to put it to the trial, whether they or the Separate Traders had moſt Right to, and the beſt Plea for the Trade; and very loth both the Trade it ſelf ſhould ſink and be loſt to the Nation, Humbly ap⯑ply'd themſelves to the Parliament in the Year 1709. by their Petition ſetting forth their Circumſtances, Praying a Confir⯑mation of their Priviledges, and an Eſta⯑bliſhment of their Company, as then de⯑ſign'd for a New Subſcription.

In the Purſuit of this Petition, the Com⯑mons having referr'd it to a Committee of the whole Houſe, and the Separate Tra⯑ders having alſo petition'd to be heard a⯑gainſt them, ſeveral Hearings were ob⯑tain'd on both Sides; wherein the Perſons who appear'd for the Separate Traders, treated the Company with all the Indigni⯑ty and Indecency that they could poſſibly beftow, conſiſtent with the Place they were in; bringing their own Servants to betray the Secrets committed to them, when un⯑der Pay and Employment; betraying the Privacies of Converſation, and Letters of Friendſhip; and all poſſible Methods were us'd to blacken the Company's Proceedings of which nothing more need be ſaid than, this, That they had the full Satisfaction of [22] doing the Company's Reputation ſome Harm, and convincing the World they had no Regard at all to their own; ſome of their Witneſſes not ſticking to own the greateſt Villanies, upon a Suppoſition that they ſhould have it believ'd, that the Com⯑pany had approv'd of them, as done in their Service. But failing in producing either Authority from, or Approbation of the Company in ſuch Things, they effectually branded themſelves firſt, and yet failed in the main Deſign of Reproach⯑ing their Maſters.

The Pleadings, or rather Scoldings, on both Sides being over, and the Separate Traders having, as they thought, brought their Buſineſs to an Iſſue; in the Midſt of their Triumphs, they run themſelves upon a Rock which ſplit their Cauſe; And be⯑ing Shipwreck'd to all Intents and Purpo⯑ſes, the Parliament broke up, without be⯑ing able to do any thing for them, or in⯑deed without their putting themſelves into a Condition to make it poſſible for that Parliament to do any thing for them, or they to expect it; unleſs they had expected the Houſe ſhould have acted againſt their own Judgment, againſt the Senſe of the People, againſt the Nature of the Thing, and againſt the Intereſt of the Whole Na⯑tion; and thus like the Duke of Anjou at [23] Villa Vitioſa, they got the Victory, but they loſt the Day.

It is true nevertheleſs, that how much Reproach ſoever their Cauſe obtain'd, and how ill ſoever they lookt in the Eyes of in⯑different Men; And tho' their Failing at laſt overthrew them, and cauſed the Houſe to drop their propoſed Chimaera of a Com⯑pany and no Company, of which we may ſpeak hereafter: Yet the Negative this Delay gave the Company in their propos'd Eſtabliſhment, left them and the Trade with them in the ſame languiſhing Condi⯑tion they were in before, or rather worſe.

The Rock which as is ſaid Shipwreckt the whole Project, and in midſt of their Tri⯑umph ſplit all their Cauſe, was this; the Want of being able to propoſe a real and ſubſtantial Security for the Preſervation of the Trade, to the Nation. This was al⯑low'd to be neceſſary, as without which the Houſe could not make any Thing that was to be done for them rational: But when all their Propoſals were lookt into, not the Security it ſelf only was miſſing; but no Foundation or poſſible Foot upon which any ſuch Security could be form'd was to be found; at which ſome of their beſt Friends grew very much aſham'd of their Cauſe, and appear'd no more in their Be⯑half, for Fear of being oblig'd to bluſh for them.

[24] Nor was this Rock an Error of Pilotage, which with better Conduct they might have avoieed: It was not a Rock under Water, or in the Dark: It was an open Plain and Mountain-Difficulty. They ſaw it clearly; every Body told them of it; the publick Prints warn'd them of it; the Au⯑thor of the Review banter'd them with it, and challeng'd them to avoid it if they could. But their Cauſe would ſteer no other Courſe; it was built upon Poſſibili⯑ties hardly poſſible, and ſplit upon the Pro⯑babilities hardly probable.

And indeed the relating this Hiſtorically, ſeems to be the moſt Convincing and the Keeneſt way of Arguing that can be made uſe of in this Caſe. The Company were ſeem⯑ingly Caſt in their Cauſe, the Stream both in the Houſe and elſewhere was againſt them; the Separate Traders cry'd Victoria, and thought the Day was their own: Why did they not then obtain the Settlement their own Way? Why did not the Parlia⯑ment do the Work as they deſired? Why were not the Schemes they offered put into a Bill and brought to the Vote? The Rea⯑ſon was Plain, and will be a Reaſon for ever, neither that Parliament did, nor any Parliament with their Eyes open ever can Eſtabliſh them, or ſet up the Trade their Way, (Viz.) Becauſe they propoſed no Foundation to make it ratio⯑nal, [25] no Subſtance to build on, nothing that look'd like a Security for the Nation, And why did they not? The Anſwer is Plain, they did not becauſe they could not, the Men were not Fools, but the Nature of the thing would not bear it, the Propoſal had nothing of that kind in it, it was impoſſi⯑ble,—and it is ſo ſtill, let them do it if they can, and no Man can be ſo Unjuſt to any Parliament as to think they will ever ſettle the Trade without ſuch a Security.

However this was, yet as above, it the left Company's Bu [...]ineſs undone, and their Affairs unſettl'd, a Thing, which, as it was fatal to them, ſo it ſeem'd to be the utmoſt that the other People ex⯑pected, as what they ſuppos'd would at laſt be the Ruin of the Company, with⯑out any Help: And no doubt they took their Aim here much righter than they did in any Thing elſe; ſome of them ha⯑ving been heard to ſay, They car'd not whether the Parliament did any Thing or no, provided they did but delay the Com⯑pany; for then they knew the Thing would fall into their Hands of Courſe, the Com⯑pany not being able to ſtand of themſelves, without ſome Act was paſſed in their Fa⯑vour, which they had nothing to do but to prevent.

It is true, This Proſpect ſeem'd more rational to them at that Time, than it has [26] done ſince; and they had but too much Reaſon for that wicked Suggeſtion.

The CASE was this:

The Company had taken in Great Sums of Money upon Bonds, under their Com⯑mon Seal at Intereſt, after the Rate of Six per Cent. the Whole amounting to near 200000l. Several Propoſals for the Sa⯑tisfying this Debt had been made by the Company; all which, however well found⯑ed, were rendred Abortive by the Practices of theſe People call'd Separate Traders; and not only ſo, but many of them bought up the Company's Bonds, that ſo becoming Cre⯑ditors, they might both by the Authority of their Bond, as well as Example, prevent the Creditors coming into any ſuch Propo⯑ſal however reaſonable.

Several of theſe Bonds were put in Suit againſt the Company, and ſome very hard Things done on thoſe Heads, which we care not to repeat, becauſe they may oblige us to deſcend to Perſonal Reflections, which ſhall be avoided as much as poſſible.

By theſe Proſecutions the Company's Af⯑fairs were ſtill farther embarraſs'd, their Commerce interrupted, their Ships ſtopt, their Effects attach'd, and all poſſible In⯑ſults offer'd them upon every Occaſion, as well to perplex and diſcourage them in their Affairs as to run down their Credit, and in [27] the End oblige them to break up and diſſolve.

To counter-act theſe wicked Deſigns and if poſſible to defeat them in their Grand Hopes, the Company ſet on Foot ſeveral Propoſals, at ſeveral Times, to their Cre⯑ditors.

1. A Propoſal of aſſigning over their Forts, Factories, and Settlements, with all their Quick and Dead Stock, into a New Subſcription, at a certain Rate, in or⯑der to have both the ſaid Stock and Im⯑provement apply'd to the Payment of their whole Debt, as well Principal as Intereſt.

2. A Propoſal of a certain Majority of their Creditors in Number and Value, be⯑ing impowered to accept ſuch Terms and Propoſals as the Company ſhould make for the Payment of their whole Debt with Intereſt, and that the reſt ſhould be bound by ſuch Agreement.

3. A Coallition or Encorporation of their Debts with the Stock of the Compa⯑ny, for the Carrying on the Trade: The Conditions of thoſe Propoſals, Eſpecially the laſt, were ſo fair, and the Deſign ſo viſibly Honeſt; ſo Calculated for the Sa⯑tisfaction of the Creditors, and the Preſer⯑vation of the Trade together, that the Town was for ſome time in hopes none could have ſtood ſo much in their own Light, as to have refuſed them, and a very [28] great Number of the Creditors came rea⯑dily into them.

But it could not be Expected that the Separate Traders, who were Creditors, whether by real Original Loan, or Politick Purchaſe as aforeſaid, and had another Game to play, would comply with theſe or any other Propoſals for the Preſervation of that, which it was manifeſt they de⯑ſign'd to Deſtroy; and therefore the Dif⯑ficulty in theſe Propoſals were many.—The Separate Traders both openly, by ſtan⯑ding out themſelves in their Bond Capacity; and underhand by their Private, but ſince known Solicitations, uſed their utmoſt Endeavours to prevent this Deſign, however fair, coming to any Head.

The Company finding that in the Con⯑cluſion their Affair in Parliament, was like either to be delay'd, the Seſſion draw⯑ing near a Cloſe, or to go againſt them in the Houſe; Preſented a moſt Humble Petition to the Houſe, tending to the Sa⯑tisfaction of their Creditors, ſetting forth the reaſonableneſs of Improving their Ef⯑fects in the beſt manner poſſible for that End, and Praying that what the Majority in Number and Value of their Creditors, might agree to, might bind the reſt; a Fa⯑vour granted to Private Traders, in caſe of their Loſſes and Diſſaſters, and thought to be much more Reaſonably expected here [29] The Separate Traders on the other hand, get ſome of themſelves, being Bond Credi⯑tors as well as Separate Traders, to Petiti⯑on againſt this, Praying to have the Com⯑pany Diveſted of their Eſtate in their Forts and Caſtles, &c. and to have thoſe Forts and Caſtles, &c. Veſted in the Cre⯑ditors, with Power to Sell them, towards Satisfaction of their Debts.

Theſe were certainly the firſt Creditors that ever Petitioned that they might have but part of their Debt, when they might have had the whole; but the Deſign was Evident, as for the Honeſty of it I ſhall let that alone, (Viz.) that this was the only Turn they could give to the Company, by which they might come at what they wan⯑ted, (Viz.) a Poſſeſſion of the Forts and Caſtles; for had theſe Gentlemen obtained a Power to ſell the ſaid Forts and Caſtles, as by ſuch an Act of Parliament would have been given them, they had no more to do, but to Sell them to themſelves at ſuch Sum or Price, as they ſhould think fit, and the Affair had been at an End.

We ſhall not Venture to ſay, what pro⯑bability there was; as things run at that time, of obtaining this Requeſt, however hard and Unreaſonable. But the Seſſion drawing to an End, there was no time left for theſe things, and ſo the Parliament broke up and nothing was done in it, but [30] Company was left to ſtruggle with their own Difficulties, and to languiſh another Year in the Decay it was brought to, by the Particulars aforeſaid.

Two Seſſions of Parliament paſt in this manner, the Proceedings both of the Com⯑pany, the Separate Traders, and of the Houſe being much the ſame, and the Con⯑cluſion the ſame, (Viz.) leaving the Trade unſettled and the Company weaker and weaker, drawing on, as we may ſay, to its Diſſolution.

When the Company ſaw their own Con⯑dition ſtill growing worſe and worſe, and no viſible Proſpect of Relief, by their Ap⯑plication to Parliament, they reſolve to try if they could come to ſome tollerable A⯑greement with their Creditors, that if poſ⯑ſible they might put them in a way to be paid, and at the ſame time to preſerve the Trade; and this was by making the third Propoſal mentioned, (Viz.) a Coallition or Encorporating their Debt together with the Stock of the Company; ſo that both to⯑gether making one new Fund, together with ſuch Addition as was propoſed in the Articles of Coallition for the carrying on the Trade, and this upon the Foot of their preſent Charter; that thus being at once free from the Embarſſaments of their Debt, they might carry on a clear Trade, the Profits whereof in time, might be ſuppoſed to riſe [31] high enough to Anſwer the ſaid Debt and Stock, as if paid off by the Company.

This New Birth ſuffered ſtrong Travel in its bringing Forth, and all the laſt Year was ſpent in vain to effect it; the Separate Traders having done their utmoſt to render it Abortive. But at laſt it has taken Effect and appears Perfect. The Creditors have⯑ing their Eyes open to their true Intereſt, and beginning to ſee every Day plainer than before the Deſtructive Deſigns of the Separate Traders, who conſtantly oppoſed every thing that might tend to the Settle⯑ment of the Company's Affairs, and that meerly as tending to ſuch Settlement.

And now we ſee the Creditors and the Company fully agreed, and joyning in their Applications to the Parliament, for Confirming their Agreement, and Eſta⯑bliſhing them as One Company, for the carrying on the Trade. Now the Cla⯑mour of Creditors is at an End; the Cry that they cannot pay their Debts is Over; They Owe nothing, for it is all put to one Common-Stock, and Creditors and Adven⯑turers, make now One Company. What the Separate Traders can now have to ſay againſt it, what Pretenſions they can make now to a Right in, or what Demands to a Share of the Trade, ſeparate from the Com⯑pany, what Security they can give for the Preſervation of the Trade, if they had it; [32] What Aſſurances of Supplying the Colony's with Negroes, and at what Price; what Quantity of Manufactures they will Engage to carry out of England, and what Ship⯑ping to Employ?

Theſe all as material Articles for the Proſperity of our General Commerce, and for the Encouragement of our Plantations, are very proper Queſtions to be ask'd them, and no doubt will be ask'd of them in the Houſe. If they appear then to op⯑poſe the Company's Petition, what An⯑ſwer they give to them and what Deficien⯑cies their Propoſals may have as to theſe needful Queſtions, may be conſidered in a Second Eſſay upon this Subject.

In the mean time to finiſh this Diſ⯑courſe, and that the Gentlemen who are now to take Cognizance of this Affair, may have a true Notion of the Caſe, and a full Knowledge of what has already paſs'd thereupon, the following Obſervations, 'tis hoped may be uſefully enlarged upon.

Firſt it is to be obſerved, that upon this Agreement of the Company and their Creditors, and their forming a Coallition for the Carrying on the Trade; All Room for Complaint againſt the Company, as Bankrupt, and as having Drawn in Great Sums of Money, and run into Debts they are not able to Diſcharge, is removed; and the Arguments Drawn from them [33] Turn'd with Advantage againſt the Sepa⯑rate Traders; and therefore the firſt ſtep taken upon it, was to let the Government know of this Coalition, which was done by the Creditors Joyning with the Com⯑pany in an Humble Petition to Her Ma⯑jeſty, fully ſetting forth their Circum⯑ſtances, as now United, and Humbly Praying Her Majeſty's Gracious Aſſiſtance, Encouragement and Protection, for the Enjoyment of their Trade, Privileges and Property, on the Coaſt of Africa.

Together with this Petition, the ſaid Company and their Creditors ſubjoyn'd a Scheme or Propoſal, for ſecuring and car⯑rying on the Trade, Exporting Manufa⯑ctures and ſupplying the Plantations with Negroes; ſuch Security being as they think Eſſential to the Trade of this Nati⯑tion; a Copy of the Scheme is as follows.

As the Company had always inſiſted that their Trade, being a great Truſt from the Nation, ought not to be commit⯑ted to any Hands that could not give a firm and unqueſtionable Security, to Pre⯑ſerve and Maintain it for the Good of the whole Body; and as they had always in⯑ſiſted upon the Impoſſibility of any ſuch Security being given by Separate Traders, with an open Trade, in which every Man [35] was at Liberty to Export or not Export to Trade or not to Trade, as his own Af⯑fairs Directed; ſo they thought it reaſona⯑ble to lay before Her Majeſty their Rea⯑dineſs to give ſuch Security themſelves.

This Petition and Scheme being Graci⯑ouſly received by Her Majeſty, and refer'd to the Lords Commiſſioners of Trade and Plantations; and their Lordſhips having alſo received a Scheme from the Separate Truders; the Company received the fol⯑lowing Order to attend their Lordſhips thereupon, with a Paper of Queries hap⯑pily ſtated by their Lordſhips to the Sepa⯑rate Traders, and given them to Anſwer, which Queries alſo are as follow.

To theſe Queries the Company humbly Preſented, by way of Anſwer, ſeveral Heads of Obſervation, and then prepared to Petition the Parliament once more, in or⯑der to obtain ſuch an Act as may Effectu⯑ally Unite the ſaid Company and Credi⯑tors, and Confirm to them the Antient Priviledges of their Charter, which Petiti⯑on is now depending before the Houſe, and all the Reports and Proceedings of the Lords Commiſſioners of Trade, and Pa⯑pers relating thereto, are Ordered to be laid before the Houſe.

This ſhort Re-capitulation of the Af⯑fair ſeems to carry with it a clear Vindi⯑cation of the African Company, and an An⯑ſwer to all the Objections of their Enemies; for it is obſervable, that in moſt Caſes where Truth is on the Side, a clear rela⯑tion of Matter of Fact is the beſt Vindica⯑tion; for Truth is always moſt clearly ex⯑plain'd by it ſelf, and Hiſtory, rather than Argument, pleads an Honeſt Cauſe beſt.

The Impartial Reader therefore is re⯑ferr'd to the Matter of Fact, which is thus faithfully related, and is made Judge of [38] the Merits of the Cauſe, by being made Maſter of the Story. The Company ſeeks no better Vindication than the Judgment of Impartial Men, when thoſe Impartial Men ſhall be rightly inform'd; and they are perſwaded that moſt of the Gentlemen in England, who have appear'd in their Opinion againſt them, have done ſo more for want of right Information, than any other Defect.

The Weakneſs of the Anſwers, the Cla⯑mour and the Noiſe, which the Separate Traders have made, tho' they may have amuſed the World a little, have hitherto a⯑mounted to ſo little, that they have not been able to obtain One Reſolution in fa⯑vour of their particular Schemes; nor have they been ever able to give One direct Anſwer to the firſt Query before-men⯑tion'd, viz. How they can ſecure the Trade to this Kingdom, which all Sides agree, muſt not be loſt?

If, after this, they will proceed to oppoſe ſuch clear Arguments, if they have any thing to alledge againſt the preſerving the Trade in a Company, and the paying Two Thouſand Families of Creditors a juſt Debt, many of whom wou'd be utterly ruin'd in the Loſs. If they have any more Suggeſtions, Poſſibilities and Probabilities to offer, inſtead of real Securities, it's hoped the Houſe will give them their due Cen⯑ſure, ſince there ſeems nothing to be ask'd [39] but this ſhort Queſtion, Who can ſecure the Trade, and who cannot?

This Queſtion the Separate Traders could never yet be brought to ſpeak directly to; in all their Anſwers, and in all their Papers, they ſhift and ſhuffle it off, they run out to Clamour at the Company, and cry out of Monopoly; examine the Defect of Exportations, and the Decay of the Trade, and reflect upon the Companies bad Succeſs; the Reaſons of which are all in themſelves, as appears by what has been ſaid. But not a word appears in all their Papers given in, or in all their Pleadings in the Houſe of Commons to ſecure the Trade; all their Schemes are empty of this main Point, tho' this is the only Que⯑ſtion upon which the whole matter turns.

They have ſometimes mention'd it when it has been put ſo cloſe to them that they could no longer ſhift it off; and then they tell the World, there is no doubt but the Mony to be raiſed will be ſufficient; and it is highly probable, and the like. But it is humbly referr'd to all Impartial Judg⯑ments, whether theſe are things for a Na⯑tion to be ſatisfy'd with, and for a Parlia⯑ment to grant an Eſtabliſhment upon? Whether the Government in their juſt re⯑gard for the preſervation of the Trade, ought to depend upon Probabilities and Poſſibilities, without a real Security, in a thing of this Conſequence.

[40] All the Foundation upon which the Se⯑parate Traders have ſuggeſted the Trade ſhould be maintain'd, is, That it being left Open and Free to all Men to Trade, the Merchants will launch out into Trade, and ſend a great number of Ships and Goods every Year to Africa, out of which a cer⯑tain Mulct, or Fine, ſhall be laid to raiſe Money for the ſupport of their Trade, and maintaining ſuch Forts and Factories as they think needful; and this they call a Security, and indeed this is all the Security they can propoſe.

If then this Security be duly examin'd, and the Uncertainties and Weakneſs of the Pretences laid open, it cannot be doubted but the Honourable Members of Parlia⯑ment, who are not to be ſuppoſed eaſie to be Impoſed upon, will ſee thro' the Fallacy, and reject ſuch an Attempt to a⯑buſe the Nation, with the juſt Contempt that it deſerves.

To this End it is humbly recommend⯑ed to the Honourable Houſe of Commons to obſerve,

1. It is ſuggeſted, the Merchants will launch out into the Trade when it is laid Open and Free; and as long as they can carry it on to their Advantage, we may, without prejudice to the Argument, grant they will, or at leaſt may do ſo.

[41] But ſuppoſing, which alſo is very rational to ſuppoſe, that a time may come when that Gain may ſtop, or ceaſe for a Time: It is evident to all Men, that the carrying on the Trade will always depend upon the Gain of the Trade; and if by the Accident of War, any Invaſion from Neighbours, a⯑ny Difficulties with the Natives, or any other contingent Caſualties, which that Trade is ſubject to more than other Trades. The Gain of the Trade ceaſes, the Trade ceaſes of courſe; and if the Trade ceaſes, or declines, the Tax to be raiſed for the Maintenance of the Forts and Caſtles cea⯑ſes, or is proportionably reduc'd.

Again, As the Difficulties of the Trade decreaſe, it is evident the Expence of thoſe Forts and Caſtles, and Settlements always encreaſe; the carrying on Wars with the Natives, the Exorbitances of Preſents, and Expences among ſuch of them as are to be kept in Friendſhip, encreaſe. If then the Expences encreaſe by the ſame Caſualty that makes the Tax to maintain it decline; It is a moſt rational Conſequence, that thoſe two Circumſtances tend to a Diſſolution of the Trade.

2. It is ſuggeſted, that there is no doubt but the Money to be raiſed, will exceed the Charge of maintaing the Forts and Caſtles.

This has been ſo left to the uncertainty of a looſe Aſſertion, that it ſeems to leave the Caſe more to be doubted, and is a [42] meer begging the Queſtion of the Com⯑pany.

For if no Man is bound to Trade to any Sum, if no Man is oblig'd to Trade far⯑ther than he pleaſes, which is juſt as far as his Profit invites; if that Profit ceaſes as above, why ſhou'd we think the Man will Trade? So that inſtead of not doubting but the Trade will ſupport it ſelf, it is out of doubt that it will not, in caſe of Accident as aforeſaid.

3. As there is no Obligation to any Man to Trade longer than Advantage prompts him to it; ſo the Separate Traders never yet offer'd, nor can they bring in a Num⯑ber of Men that would be perſonally bound, even tho' the Advantages of the Trade ſhould continue, that they would Trade to ſuch or ſuch a degree. This leaves the Trade in ſuch an Uncertainty, that no dependance can be propoſed, either for the Encourage⯑ment of our Manufactures, or the Supply of Negroes to our Colonies. Nor is this an Omiſſion of the Separate Traders; a thing forgotten by them, or which they may make up when it is demanded of them. The Houſe may ſoon put them to the Teſt in theſe things; they cannot bring a Num⯑ber of Men together that will be bound in their ſeparate Capacities to do theſe things, either to Trade at all, in caſe of Loſs, or War, or to a certain degree in times of Peace, and Currency of Commerce.

[43] If theſe things are ſo, it is humbly left to any indifferent Judgement to obſerve, upon what Foundation the Trade, if laid Open, is like to ſtand. How the Nation ſhall be Treated, if by any Accident of War, or otherwiſe, the Traders ſhall de⯑cline, or diſcontinue their Exports; and what Condition our Colonies ſhall be like to fall into, when no Men are oblig'd by Authority to ſupply them with Negroes.

4. By the ſame Rule there can be no Security obtain'd from theſe Free Traders, as to the Quantity of Goods of the Growth and Manufacture of Britain they will Ex⯑port, or as to the Number of Negroes they ſhall carry Yearly for the ſupply of our Plantations. Upon both which Articles the Uſefulneſs of the Trade does depend; and which is ſtill more, they cannot eaſily be brought to ſtated and certain Prices for which thoſe Negroes ſhall be Deliver'd; but as by their Means the Price of Negroes has been brought from 20 to 40, and 45 l. per Head, to the great Oppreſſion and Diſ⯑couragement of the Plantations; ſo they ſtill will be at Liberty by the Scarcity of their Number, to Extort from the Planters what Exorbitant Price they think fit.

Theſe things are ſo Evident, and have appear'd hitherto ſo Unanſwerable, none of the Separate Traders, in their Nume⯑rous Papers, having offer'd the leaſt ſatis⯑factory Reply to them, that there ſeems [44] no occaſion to enlarge upon them. Only here it may not be amiſs to obſerve,

That in a ſettled Excluſive Company, all theſe Objections are fairly Anſwer'd; the Difficulties of the other Trade are all Re⯑duced here to a Certainty, and to a meer Demonſtration. An Eſtabliſt'd Company under Privileges and Charters, are Enabled by their very Conſtitution, to bring all theſe things to a Head.

They Engage to ſupport the Factories and Settlements; to Carry on the Trade, whether Loſs or Gain; to Defend and Maintain the Forts and Caſtles; and tho' an Inverval of Trade, or Ceſſation of Pro⯑fits for a Year or Years, were to happen, they go on; Depending on being better Gainers heareafter; if Twenty Thouſand Pound Loſs falls at a time, they cannot be Diſcourag'd; the Trade is ſure to be kept up till better Times return; the Forts and Caſtles, tho' Cut off from their Trade by the Inſurrections and Wars with the Na⯑tives, receive their Conſtant Support and Supply. This has been the Company's Caſe frequently, yet they have never A⯑bandon'd the Settlements; whereas, had Free Traders been left to have Supported them, they had long ago been Loſt and Forſaken.

The Company have often, in their Schemes and Propoſals, offer'd, and they now offer to give real and ſufficient Se⯑curity to the Nation to preſerve the Trade, [45] by obliging themſelves in the Forfeiture of their Charter, or ſuch Penalties as the Go⯑vernment ſhall think reaſonable, to carry on the Trade, ſupport the Settlements, and ſupply the Colonies, &c.

They have frequently offer'd to enter in⯑to Stipulations, for Exporting Yearly, a certain and very conſiderable Quantity of Manufactures of the Growth and Produce of Great Britain, and to ſupply the Plan⯑tations with a certain Number of Negroes; and not only ſo, but to come to a Reaſon⯑able Stated Price for the ſaid Negroes, as well in Times of War as Peace; that ſo the Colonies may not only be brought to a Cer⯑tainty, as to the Number, but may be ſure not to be Impoſed upon in Price.

This very Part of their Propoſal ſeems a direct Anſwer to Two Things, and after what has been ſaid, it ſeems ſomething Wonderful to ſee them Inſiſted upon.

1. The Pretence of a Monopoly: All the Grievance of a Monopoly lies in the Engroſſers of a Trade, being in a Condition to Impoſe a Price upon either Buyer or Seller; which in this Caſe is effectually Anſwer'd; for if they are bound to Export a certain Quantity of Manufactures, they are under a Neceſſity of Buying, and ſo cannot Command the Price of the Seller.

If they are Ty'd to a Price of their Negroes, they cannot Impoſe upon the Market where they Sell; and ſo all Pre⯑tence of a Monopoly ceaſes of Courſe.

[46] And this ſeems to make the Petitions from the Merchants and Planters of the Colonies the more unaccountably ſtrange; for tho' it is True, that the ſaid Petitions are Sign'd by but few, and thoſe none of the moſt Conſiderable of either Merchants or Planters; yet that any ſhould be found among thoſe who have an Intereſt in the Colonies, who ſhou'd be ſo Weak thus to Join in a Petition againſt themſelves, is really one of the moſt unaccountable things in the World.

The Dearneſs of Negroes is their Grie⯑vance, and the Uncertainty of their Sup⯑ply: For them then to Petition againſt a Company who offers Security to bring in their Full Number, and at ſuch Seaſons as they ſhall propoſe, and to lower the Price to ſuch a Reaſonable Rate as they ſhall a⯑gree to; and this in Behalf of a Set of Men, who have not only been already the Occaſion of their Scarcity, and of raiſing the Prices, but in whoſe Schemes their Supply, as well as the Price too, is ſtill left Precarious and Uncertain.

This is indeed the greateſt Diſcovery of Infatuation that was ever ſeen in any thing that bears the Title of a Merchant, and makes it Edvident, that the power of Pre⯑judice may ſometimes prevail upon Man⯑kind, to blind their Eyes againſt their own Intereſt, and make them Felo deſe in mat⯑ters of Trade.

[47] But this is indeed beſt Anſwered, by re⯑preſenting to the Members in Parliament, that this Blindneſs is not a Judgment from Heaven, upon the whole Body of the Plan⯑ters and Merchants in the Colonies; but on the contrary, the Company have an Humble Petition from the greateſt Part and the moſt Conſiderable for Intereſt, of all the Planters in the Weſt-Indies, to the Honour⯑able Houſe of Commons, humbly repreſent⯑ing the Neceſſity of Eſtabliſhing the ſaid Trade in an Excluſive Company, under ſuch Limitations as ſhall be neceſſary, as being the only way to ſecure and preſerve the ſaid Trade to the Nation, and to reduce the Ex⯑orbitant Rates of Negroes in the Colonies, which is now impoſed upon them by the Separate Traders.

By all which Arguments it ſeems beyond Contradiction, that the only way to ſecure and preſerve this Beneficial Trade to this Nation, is to ſettle it upon a firm Founda⯑tion, in a Company with Excluſive Privi⯑ledges, and yet to have thoſe Excluſive Priviledges under ſuch Limitations and Re⯑gulations as may remove all the Scandal and Suggeſtions of Monopolies, Engroſſ⯑ſings and Unfair Trading; that the Trade may be once more reſtor'd to its former flouriſhing Circumſtances, and both the Nation at home and the Colonies abroad, may be made Eaſy and be Gainers by the Trade, which can never be as it now ſtands.

[48] The Juſtice in this to the Company who have ſuffer'd ſo Deeply in the long Contention with their Supplanters.

The Juſtice in this to the Creditors, who have now Voluntarily and Unanimouſly Come in, and Given up all their Debts to be formed into a Stock, and that Stock to be Encourag'd by a New and a Large Sub⯑ſcription; and who have, as 'tis hoped, a Right of Preference to the Advantages [...] a Trade they have been ſuch Loſers by.

The Anſwers to the Weak Shifts of the Separate Traders, Drawn from the Articles of the Union, and Privileges of the Roya [...] Burghs in Scotland, both which, as wil [...] appear, are againſt them.

Alſo that Weak and Far-fetch'd Ab⯑ſurdity, mention'd in their Printed Papers given about to the Members about the Greenland Company, and a Company En⯑groſſing the Trades to Spain, Portugal▪ France, &c. as quite Foreign to the Pur⯑poſe.

The Reaſonableneſs of Eſtabliſhing the preſent Company, and the Right of Pro⯑perty they have in their Settlements in Africa.

The Fatal Conſequences, both to the Trade, to the Colonies, and to the Com⯑pany, of Adjourning the Determining thi [...] Affair to another Seſſion.

Theſe All, and ſome farther Obſervation [...] on the Whole, are Reſerv'd to be farthe [...] ſpoken to as Occaſion requires.