A True Relation of the rise and progress of the East India Company, shewing how their manufactures have been, are, and will be prejudicial, to the manufactures of England; and what endeavours have been used for and against any restriction. Together with some remarks thereon.

A true Relation of the Rise and Progress of the East-India Company , shewing how their Manufactures have been , are , and will be prejudicial , to the Manufactures of England ; and what Endeavours have been used for and against any Restriction . Together with some Remarks thereon .

THE Goods Imported from the East-Indies , for several Years after the East-India Company was first Established , were Drugs , Spices , Salt-petre , &c. and some Course Callico's , which were most Exported again : The Members of that Company being then afraid to adventure on other Manufactured Goods , because they well knew they would prejudice our own , and raise a Storm against the Company , as they oftentimes declared .

The Charter of the East-India Company was Confirmed by King Charles II. in the Thirteenth Year of his Reign : and the Law for permitting Bullion to be Exported , was made soon after , at the Solicitation of that Company ; and till then , little Silver or Gold was Exported . After that Law was made , begun the great Exportation of Bullion to India .

In Anno 72 , or 73 , several Artificers were sent over by the Company , with great quantities of English Patterns , to teach the Indians how to Manufacture Goods to make them Vendible in England , and the rest of the European Markets . After which began the great Trade in Manufactured Goods from the Indies .

This was complained of , and proved before several Lords appointed by King Charles II. in Anno 1680 , or 81. Whereupon the Company received some discouragement ; but finding great Gain by Wrought Silks , Bengals and Callico's , would not desist Trading in them : upon which great Complaints were made in Parliament , against the growth of the East-India Trade , which was grown so large , that about 500000 l. in Bullion , and but small quantities of our Manufactures were Yearly Exported ; and vast quantities of Manufactured Goods Imported , for several Years before the War , which were most spent in England , and our Plantations , in the room of our own Manufactures , viz. their Wrought Silks , Bengals , Painted and Dyed Callico's , in the room of our Silks , Half Silks , Worsted Stuffs , Say's , Perpetuano's , and divers other Commodities , not only for Vestments for both Sexes , but for Hanging of Rooms , Beds , &c.

But this was not all the Mischief these Indian Manufactures did us , for by our using Muslings , Romalls , and Callico's , they have beat out the Use of fine German Linnens , Silesia Cambricks , and Lawns , which we had in return of our own Wollen Cloth , &c. which Trade is now almost wholly lost : For the Silesians , when we would not take off their Linnens , could not take off our Cloth , but were compell'd , by Necessity , to Set up the making Woollen Manufactures , with which they now Supply both themselves and other Places , which heretofore we were wont to furnish , ( and , as we are Credibly inform'd , in Flanders they are now about doing the same thing )

By which means , the E. India Trade was encreas'd to a very great height , and their Manufactures in so great request , that they ( from being a Scandal to be worn a few years before ) soon became the general Wear of almost all sorts and degrees of Persons , while our own were neglected , and our Manufacturers thereby under great discouragements ; being not able to carry on their Trades , many were forced to give over , whereby the Poor wanted Employment , the price of Wooll reduced very low , and great quantities of Wooll could not be Manufactured : Whereupon the Parliament thought it necessary to make a Law for Burying in Woollen , thereby to consume some of the Wooll that lay heavy upon the Growers Hands .

The Indians have Provisions and Materials very cheap , and Work for a Peny a Day ; which disables us , and the rest of the European Traders , to contend with them : and for this reason , their Trade did encrease apace , until the late War ; and unless restrain'd , will most certainly encrease , to the ruining of our best Fabricks , and the vast number of People that have their Livelihood and Dependance thereupon .

Since this late War , the East-India Company have laboured under some Discouragements , and but small quantities of their Manufactur'd Goods , in proportion to what they formerly brought in , were Imported ; by reason whereof , great Encouragement was given to the Manufactures of Silk , Half Silk , and Worsted , which have been very much improv'd in a great variety of Figur'd , Strip'd , and other sort of Stuffs , which were made not only in London , Norwich and Canterbury , in much greater quantities than ever ; but these Manufactures were spread to Bristol , Newbury , and divers other parts of the Kingdom , whereby greater numbers of Poor have been employ'd , and greater quantities of English Wooll consum'd ; so that the Price of the Wooll advanc'd , and the Labour and Wages of the Poor encreas'd , which enabled them to live comfortably , and consume the Product of the Land , to the great Advantage of the Landlords and Tenants , and Benefit of the Nation in general .

From Anno 88 ( for several Years ) there were frequent complaints in Parliament against the Old East-India Company , and very ill things proved upon them ; and extraordinary Clamours against the Trade being driven by a Joynt-Stock , exclusive of all others , by the same Men that are now some of the Directors of this New . And great indeavours were used , and , as some say , ill Practices , to obtain a new Charter from the King ; and after they had obtained a Charter with great Industry , they solicited for an Establishment by Act of Parliament , and in Anno 93. a Bill was brought in , but did not pass .

In Anno 95. the East-India Company indeavour'd again to get a Settlement by Act of Parliament ; whereupon , the Weavers of London , Norwich , Canterbury , and the Woollen Manufacturers in many other places , petitioned , That some Restraint might be laid upon the Importation or Consumption of these Indian Manufactures : Upon which , a Bill was brought in to Restrain the Wearing Wrought Silks , Bengals , and Printed Callicoes ; which Bill was soon past , almost unanimously in the House of Commons , but being strongly opposed by the East-India Company , and Linnen-Drapers , it was stopt in the House of Lords .

The next Sessions , the Manufacturers again Petitioned , and the same Bill again brought in early in the Sessions ; but by reason of more importunate business , it did not meet with so quick a dispatch as the poor London Weavers expected , ( which were at that time in great distress for want of Employment ) they grew uneasie , and by false rumours raised by those that were Enemies to the Bill , great multitudes of those poor People went to Westminster in a Tumultuous manner , to pray for the passing the Bill ; which gave such disgust , ( as in reason it must needs do ) that several Members , who were friends to it before , were now against it : so that the Bill past with some difficulty in their House , and was again stopt in the House of Lords by a very small majority .

The chief Arguments used by the East India Men were , That though they Export great quantities of our Bullion , yet they bring in more by their Goods Exported . That it 's the Interest of this Nation to wear East India Goods , because Cheap , and send our own to Forreign Markets , where they may be Sold to more Advantage . Both which Arguments were denyed , and they were challenged to prove their Assertions , which to this day they have not done , and till they do , it 's hop'd , their bare asseverations will not be taken for granted truths .

The Advocates for and against this Trade were very numerous at this time , and several other Reasons offered Pro and Con. For the East-India Trade , there was an Essay writ by a great Master of the English Style , who , with extraordinary Computations and Rhetorical flourishes , endeavoured to represent this Trade Profitable to England ; but his Computations , and Observations , being many of them not well grounded , several Answers were given thereunto ; however the Discourse was admired , and did Service at that time . But the same Gentleman since treating on another Subject , has either altered his Opinion , or else unfortunately wrote something in a late Essay ( on the probable methods of making a People Gainers in the Balance of Trade ) that makes many Men think so .

The Ladies in general , shew'd a great aversion to this Bill , whether from a dislike taken at the Word Restraining , or from a strange delight for far fetch'd and dear bought , prefer the Indian before the English Manufactures , unless the Seller will solemnly declare they are Indian made , not considering how impossible it will be for their Rents to be paid , if the English Manufactures be ruin'd , which must be the necessary consequence of such unaccountable fancies ; which if they did , we verily believe they would soon restrain their Aversion . And what force such Advocates had , we will not pretend to determine , but hope they 'll now be Advocates for this Cause .

The beginning of the last Sessions , further Applications were made ; and the Manufacturers apprehending that the Method proposed by the former Bills would not fully Answer the Prohibition design'd , offered another Bill , by which all Silks , Bengals and Callico's , which were to be Prohibited being worn in England , should have been confin'd to certain Ware-Houses , and not thence removed till Exported ; but this Method not being well understood , or judged reasonable , was opposed , and the Bill stopt thereupon .

Towards the latter end of that Sessions , certain very rich Merchants , and others , proposed to lend the Government two Millions , upon condition to have 8 per Cent. per Annum , and liberty to Trade to the East-Indies exclusive of all others : The Necessities of the Government for Money at that time , induced a compliance , and a Settlement of that Trade was made accordingly .

The English Manufacturers , with dejected Countenances and aking Hearts , beheld this mighty Structure , ( which was raised by the help of some of their Principal Pillars ) and foreseeing the dismal consequences , complain'd ; but were told , 'T was not then time , nor must they oppose or clogg the Bill , the two Millions being absolutely necessary for Supply of the Government ; but were likewise told , That care should be taken of them . And the chief Promoters of the Bill , as Mr. Samuel Shepherd , mr. Heathcote , and many others , declared at that time , to divers Members of Parliament , London Weavers , and others , That they were as sensible as they , or the Weavers could be , that the Manufactur'd Silks , Bengals , and painted Callico's , were very prejudicial and destructive to the Manufactures of England , and promis'd , with a great deal of seeming Sincerity , That they would very readily agree to any reasonable Restraint afterwards , but nothing must be then done , for fear of disturbing the Loan so necessary to be raised by that Bill .

The Manufacturers having all along shewed their Zeal for the Support of the present Government were from these Considerations induced to be quiet , and wait a more favourable juncture ; and the London Weavers were so allured with the fair Speeches , and charming Promises of these New East-India Merchants , that upon calling this Parliament , they thought none so fit for their Representatives as they ; so that by their Interest and Industry , two of the Principal Directors were very near carrying the Election for the City of London .

But now the Tables are turned , and the New East-India Men as zealously oppose all Restrictions as the Old ; and tho' they made shew of consenting to some Restraints , and some Meetings and Discourses were had thereupon , yet they never proceeded further , but lately neglected to meet several Members of Parliament , and others , at Time and Place agreed on by their own Appointment . By which practises they plainly shew , That all East-India Traders have the same Principals and Interest , to Support and Carry on .

This New Company being thus Settled , and the Old getting in for a considerable share , are now striving hard which shall Ride on the Fore-Horse , but both agreed to drive on to our Ruine , if not Restrained by the Legislative Power of the Nation : For , if when they had a Stock but of Three hundred seventy two thousand Pounds , and no Act of Parliament to Support them , they drove so great and pernicious a Trade as is herein before recited , what can any Rational Man think will be the consequence of a Stock of Two Millions , which is more than is used by all the Manufacturers of England ? The very prospect makes many , true Lovers of their Country , Hearts ake .

The great quantities of East-India Manufactures lately Imported , and the prospect of much greater in a very short time , has been the great occasion of the ruine of the Canterbury Trade , which is reduced in less than three Years time , above Seven Parts in Eight ; And have also necessitated most of the London Silk - Weavers to give over their Trades ; many of them are gone to Ireland , and other Foreign Parts ; and a great many of those left behind are fallen to Comb , Card and Spin Wooll , and make Worsted Stuffs , Druggets , Says , Serges , and almost all other sorts of our Woollen Manufactures , which have , and must of Necessity , hinder the Weavers and Clothiers , in the several Counties and Places where these Manufactures have been for a long time made . The sad Effects whereof are already so sensibly felt in the Cities of Norwich and Canterbury , that great multitudes are there out of Imployment ; and being so , are reduced to great Necessities , and thereupon grown very uneasie and burdensome to those Cities and Neighbourhoods : And although the East-India Advocates pretend and insinuate , That the reason of the London and Canterbury Weavers leaving off , proceeds from the want of Raw Silk , which is now very scarce and dear ; this , tho in some measure is allow'd to have lessen'd their Trade , yet the principal Cause proceeds from the East-India Silks , Bengals , and fine painted Callico's : For were they not brought in , and so generally worn here , the Weavers cou'd still very well have gone on with their Trades in Slight Silks , Half Silks , and the like . And that which adds still to their misfortune , is , That there has been ( as we are told , and fear it 's too true ) above 600,000 l. in less than Ten Months , sent to the East Indies , the Returns being most in Manufactured Goods , destroys their future hopes , unless some restraint be put upon the Expense of these Indian Commodities .

This being the true State of the CASE ,

THE Manufacturers are therefore come again , to lay before the Parliament a Representation thereof , and hope some regard will be had to the Preservation of the Manufactures of this Kingdom ; if not for their sakes , yet for the numerous Poor that have their dependance thereupon ; and for the Landlords and Tenants , whose Interests is also concern'd in this matter : For we think it will not admit of an Argument , to prove , That if the Manufacturers be discouraged and ruined , the Owners and Farmers must share in the misfortune : And that the East-India Manufactures worn in this Kingdom will do it , we think must be very plain and obvious to all that will seriously consider the Case , and that are not East-India Merchants , or otherwise concern'd in Interest , or misled by their fly Insinuations , or fallacious way of Argumentation . And for better Information of such , it 's desired they would read the Observations of the Admired Author of the Essay on the East-India Trade , in his Essay upon the Probable Methods of making a People Gainers by the Balance of Trade , p. 128. And that part of an Essay on the State of England , in relation to its Trade , its Poor , and its Taxes , which relates to the East-India Trade ( writ by Mr. John Cary ) : And if these will not satisfy their doubts , there will very shortly be farther Answers given to all material Objections that have been raised against this Restriction ; and in the mean time , we humbly conceive our Case deserves the consideration of the Parliament , as well as either the Old or New East-India Companies , and Hope , and Pray , it may be considered accordingly .

A short Abstract of the CASE , with some Remarks thereupon .

THat for several Years , after the East-India Company was Establish'd , they were afraid to bring in Manufactured Goods , which they knew were very prejudicial to our own : But now , by their great Stock and Interest , they are got over these fears , and bring in vast quantities , opposing all kind of Restraint , tho' they are convinc'd , and have declared their Manufactures are prejudicial to this Kingdom .

That as their Manufactures increas'd , our own were discouraged , and Wooll reduced so low , that an Act was made for Burying in Woollen , and the Manufacturers at the same time reduced to great necessities , and many ruin'd thereby .

That during great part of the late War , the East-India Trade was under some Discouragement , and while it was so , our English Manufactures flourished very much , and extended to several Places , where before , the People were out of Employment , Wool advanced and bore a good Price , and all other Provisions raised proportionably .

That the English Manufacturers , finding the East-India Traders endeavouring to get an Establishment by Act of Parliament , and knowing how fatal it might prove to their Manufactures , unless they were in some measure restrain'd , made their Application to the Parliament , and in Two succeeding Sessions a Restraining Bill was past in their Favour in the House of Commons , and a Third being drawn up in a different Method to the Two former , was stopt thereupon .

That the Proposal of advancing Two Millions for the Supply of the Government , was the great Inducement for the Establishment of the New Company ; and the Reasons the Manufacturers did not then so vigorously complain and sollicite against the Establishment , as formerly they had done , proceeded from the fair Promises given by the New East-India Men , and the Hope of a more favourable Opportunity ; being unwilling to disturb the Loan so necessary then to be raised .

That the Manufacturers being deceived by these East-India Traders fair Promises , and finding that the late great Importation and Wear of their Indian Manufactures are increasing , and have already , in a great measure , ruin'd the Canterbury Trade , and obliged the London Weavers to fall upon all sorts of Woollen Manufactures , to the Prejudice ( and may in a short time prove to the utter Ruin ) of several Places where these Manufactures have for a long time been established are therefore come again to represent their deplorable Case , and pray the Consideration of this Parliament , and hope they will be pleased to consider it as well as either the Old or New East-India Companies Cases .