THAT it being of ſo great Importance to this Nation to encourage and ſupport the Plantations, it will be of abſolute Neceſſity to have them plentifully ſupply'd with Negroes, by whoſe Labour all the Commodities of thoſe Countries are produc'd; which Production is all clear Gains to this Nation, and better than the Mines of Gold and Silver are to the Spaniards; which can never be throughly done otherwiſe, than by a free open Trade, without being confin'd to the narrow Compaſs of a few People, in a ſmall Joint-Stock.
There is not a Negro but produceth as much Commodity, either Sugar, Indigo, Tobacco, &c. as will load one Tun of Shipping; the Increaſe of which Produce will alſo largely increaſe the Conſumption of the Woollen, and other Britiſh Manufactures, and augment the Revenues of the Crown.
A great Quantity of the Product of our Plantation-Commodities will enable the Britiſh Merchants to make large Exportations to foreign Markets, and put them into a Capacity to under-ſell all other Nations, that vie with us in the ſame Commodities; which will not only diſcourage their Plantations, but greatly encourage our own.
Since the African Company do ſet forth in their Petition, That by their Charge in maintaining their Forts and Caſtles, in ſecuring that Trade on the Coaſt of Africa, the Weſtern Plantations have been furniſhed with Negroes; we the Planters do ſay, That we have paid a Duty of 10 per Cent. for the ſame, and that had it not been more for the Separate Traders than the African Company, ſince the opening of the ſaid Trade by the late Act of Parliament, the Plantations had been but poorly ſerved; for by Experience, we have found much greater Numbers of Negroes brought to our Plantations, than ever were during the time of the ſaid African Company's having that Trade in their own Hands, excluſive of all others.
Therefore ſince the Plantations have receiv'd a more viſible Advantage from the African Trade, by having greater Quantities of Negroes brought among them by the Separate Traders, ſince the ſaid Trade has been laid open, than ever were before: And as the Product of our Iſlands are largely increas'd thereby, we are humbly of Opinion, that the Intereſt of the Plantations is of infinitely greater Concern to be preſerved, than any Company with a Joint-Stock can pretend to.
Wherefore we hope, That the Honourable Houſe of Commons will free us from the heavy Burden of the Duty of 10 per Cent. which we conceive muſt be advanced on the Price of Negroes; and that the ſaid African Trade may be continu'd free and open to all People that deſire to trade thither, under ſuch Regulations as the Trade to Turky, or as ſhall be thought fit.
CONSIDERATIONS Humbly offer'd by the Planters, and Others, trading to our Britiſh Plantations, In Relation to the AFRICAN Company's PETITION.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A80363)
Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 170791)
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