QUERIES . ANSWERS . I. WHY should East-India Silks and Bengalls be prohibited , which to the Nation are three times as cheap as Dutch , French , and Italian Silks ? I. THE Cheaper they are , the more damage they do to our own Growth and Manufactures , and therefore the more necessary and reasonable to be prohibited . II . Why East-India Silks , Bengalls and Printed Callicoes , that pay five times the Freight , and Twenty per Cent . more Custom , than Dutch and Italian Silks ? II . The difference in Custom is not true in Fact ; and their great Freight will not recompence the Damage the Nation receives by wearing them instead of its own Manufactures . III . Why Persia Silks purchased with English Cloth and Stuffs , more then Dutch , French , and Italian Silks bought with our Money ? III . Persia Silks ( so called ) are made in the Bay of Bengall , and bought with Money : Dutch , French and Italians are almost all beat out by our own Silks . IV . Why should painted Callicoes from India be prohibited , when we must in their Room print Dutch , French , Scotch , or German Linnens , which will cost the Nation three times the price ? IV . Because Floured , Strip't and Printed Weastead and half-Silk Stuffs are now worn , ( and with English or Irish Linnen may be worn ) and supply all the uses of Callicoes , and not Dutch Linnens , &c. V. Why should we enrich our Neighbours by Prohibiting East-India Silks , and wearing of theirs , when at one time or other , they may imploy the Costs of those Silks against us ? V. This Kingdom ( and not our Neighbours ) will receive great Advantage , and be inricht thereby , and by that means the better able to support and defend our selves , both at home and abroad . VI . Why should we interrupt that Trade , which not only affords us the cheapest Commodities in the World , but likewise encourages the building large Ships , which in Cases of Necessity may be useful for the defence of this Kingdom ? VI . The first part is answered already in the Answer to the first Query ; and as to the Shipping , it may in a great measure be imployed in bringing over Raw Silk and other Commodities which may be Manufactured here , and turn to good account to the Nation . VII . What advantage will it be to England , that her Manufactures ( whether at low or high price ) are consumed within it self , the Nation being thereby never the Richer ? VII . This Nation will be the richer by consuming its own Manufactures , then it will be by consuming Forreign , purchased with out Money , though at very cheap rates . VIII . Why should we Raise up some Artists to oppress others ? For if Spinning and Weaving be English Manufactures , so is Dying , Calendring , Stiffning , Glazing and Printing ? VIII . That the Printers , &c. are very inconsiderable in number to the Spinsters and Weavers , and some of them now are , and the rest may as well be imployed in printing our own , as India Manufactures . IX . Why should we prohibit the wearing East-India Manufactures , which are so cheap , to encourage the wearing our own which are much dearer , and yet give liberty to Export them into other Countreys , where they will have the same effect upon ours there ? IX . Our own Manufactures are cheaper to the Nation than East-India Manufactures are or can be ; and as to the damage they will do us in other Countreys , we are sensible of it , but cannot prevent it ; ( for if we will not carry them thither , other Nations will ) ; and therefore the more need to hinder it at home . X. What encouragement will it be to bring hither those far fetch'd Commodities , when we have no vent for them at Home , but must send them to be blown upon in a Forreign Market ? X. As much as formerly ; when that Trade was in a flourishing Condition , Then three parts in four was Exported , as appears by their printed Books ; the Bill takes away but part of the home Consumption , which may be supplied by Raw Silks , &c. XI . Why should we Cut off this profitable Trade from the English , and let the Dutch , French , Sweeds and Scotch run away with it ? For Trade like the Sea , never loseth ground in any one place , but she gains it in another , and if checked or restrained , take its flight , and carries its Blessings to more Hospitable Countries . XI . If this Trade be profitable , it is only so to some private Persons , and not to the Nation ; so better lost than kept . But by this , neither Dutch , French , Swedes or Scotch can be benefitted ; so that the Trade loosing Ground , it will be no more than thus , the East-India Company will lose some part of their Trade in Manufactured Goods , and the Nation be great Gainers thereby .