THE
CASE
of
SALT-PETRE
.
The
Bill
now
depending
is
for
the
free
Importation
of
Salt-petre
from
all
parts
in
Amity
with
their
Majesties
for
the
Term
of
_____
for
the
Vse
of
their
Majesties
Ships
and
Army
,
and
that
the
Merchants
may
be
furnished
with
Gun-powder
for
their
Ships
at
reasonable
Rates
.
IN
case
their
Majesties
had
a
Necessity
for
Petre
,
this
Bill
(
being
for
the
free
Importation
without
Custom
)
would
be
prejudicial
to
them
,
by
raising
the
Price
in
Holland
,
and
so
the
Dutch
would
receive
the
Benefit
of
this
Bill
.
But
if
there
were
a
Custom
Imposed
of
Sixty
pounds
per
Tun
,
this
would
fall
the
Price
in
Holland
,
so
that
their
Majesties
might
buy
it
cheap
there
for
their
own
Use
,
and
receive
a
Benefit
by
the
Customs
of
what
is
Imported
by
Merchants
.
As
to
the
furnishing
Merchants
Cheap
,
there
is
the
same
Reason
for
the
free
Importation
of
all
Commodities
from
Holland
,
which
are
cheaper
there
than
in
England
,
and
thereby
to
give
the
Dutch
the
Monopoly
,
for
the
Interest
of
their
Money
and
Pay
of
their
Sea-men
being
so
much
less
than
ours
,
they
will
alwayes
undersell
us
.
But
it
is
suspected
that
this
Bill
is
promoted
by
private
Merchants
who
(
on
Confidence
thereof
)
have
bought
Petre
at
the
last
Sale
at
Amsterdam
,
which
began
13
Novemb.
last
,
and
intend
to
Import
and
sell
it
here
,
before
the
Arrival
of
the
East-India
Ships
,
which
are
Expected
in
two
or
three
Months
with
Petre
sufficient
to
supply
their
Majesties
Stores
for
next
Winter
:
And
in
the
mean
Time
there
will
be
great
Quantities
made
in
England
,
and
the
Stores
are
already
provided
to
furnish
the
Fleet
and
Army
for
next
Summer
;
and
in
Case
there
were
no
Salt-Petre
in
England
,
the
King
may
be
,
and
is
yearly
furnished
with
what
Powder
he
wants
from
Holland
.