The Wisdom of the Nation having RESOLVED That the EAST-INDIA-Trade is Necessary and Beneficial to the Kingdom ; That the said Trade will be best Managed by a Joynt-Stock , exclusive to all others ; and that such a Company be Established by Act of PARLIAMENT .

Those Gentlemen are answered , That urge its being an Unprofitable-Trade ; or , if it be Beneficial to the Nation , that it would be most so , it laid open .

A Company , being designed the present East-India Company , hope their Petition ( to the Honourable the House of Commons for an Establishment under such Regulations and Limitations as to their Great Wisdom shall seem meet ) will be Granted , notwithstanding the opposition made by the Subscribers for a new Joynt-Stock , upon the following , among many other Considerations , VIZ.

I. They are already Incorporated and Confirmed by divers Charters .

II. They have run great Risques , and been at vast Charges , in raising that Trade to the heighth we see it , and Capacitating themselves by Purchases , Forts , Factories , Settlements , &c. to Maintain and Promote it .

III. The Interlopers were , really , the Original cause of the War .

IV. Should this Company be dissolved , not only many Aged-Persons , Widdows and Orphans , but all new commers in upon account of the Peace , ( who are not a few , and have yet received no Benefit ) would be great Sufferers .

V. It is unreasonable the whole Company should suffer for the Miscarriages ( as is said ) of a few Members ; private-Contracts and other Proceedings of that nature objected against , have always been disapproved of by all but the concern'd in them , while it hath not been in their power to prevent them , by reason of plurality of Votes , and the small appearance of the unconcerned at General Courts .

VI. The late Dividents have proceeded from fears of a Dissolution , or a permission of Interlopers , which a timely Establishment by Act of Parliament , pursuant to their several Petitions , would ( undoubtedly ) have prevented .

VII . The Joynt-Stock hath been Charged with great Taxes , ( besides the new Duties upon East-India Goods Imported ) while want of Protection and Incouragement hath considerably interrupted their Trade .

VIII . If their remaining Stock , when the Accompts are inspected , is not thought sufficient , the Act that Establishes them may obliege them to an addition .

IX . There cannot be any Benefit Proposed that the Kingdom shall receive , by a New East-India-Company , but the old may be so regulated , as equally to afford it .

X. The Old Company , with facility , may be Established without Injury to any Man , whereas a New Company cannot be erected without Difficulty and Complaints .