TO satisfie you that there 's such a thing as a Scotch Act , for Granting the Trade of India , Africa , and America , to a Company Settled or to be Settled in Scotland , I send you the Printed Copy inclosed .

And if Reports be true , and we may believe what we hear , the Subscription of the said Company is already perfected for the full Sum of 600000 l. half whereof is Subscribed by English Merchants , and others . And some say , That the Designs of that Company are framed and carryed on here in London ; and Ships are building and buying , and Cargoes providing here and Abroad , in order to a Vigorous carrying on of their Trade ; others say , That the Interlopers here , are very good Friends with the Managers of the Scotch Company , which some take to be the Reason , why they are not heard to find fault with it ; which , whether it be , that they are all one , or , that they intend to shelter their Interloping Ships gone to India , and now going thither by Licence under that Company , and so to come for Scotland , for these or some other Important Reasons to themselves best known ; the Interlopers , who are Men that love to Fish in troubled Waters , and hate all Establishments of Company's for Trade , are reconcil'd to this Company , at least so far , as to make no Noise or any Complaint against it .

Now as to the Opinions of Men about this Company , which you desire to know , they differ so much therein , that I am at a loss how to give you any Account of them .

Some say , That by this Act , Scotland is made a free Port for the Trade of Three Parts of the World .

Some say , That if it be so , in little time they will draw in the other Quarter .

Some say , That the Riches of England have been Purchased by Selling the Overplus of what we do Import from all Parts of the World , more than what we do Consume our Selves to Foreign Nations .

Some say , That Foreigners will buy none of those Goods of us which we bring home from India , Africa , and America , so long as they can be supplied with such Goods from Scotland ; because they shall certainly buy them Cheaper there , seeing the Scotch will Pay no Duties upon them , which are very high in England , and by Consequence will make our Goods so much the dearer .

Some say , That the Retailers in England will buy few or no Goods , neither brought into England by the Traders to India , Africa , and America , because they will buy them Cheaper in Scotland , the Duties being to be Paid upon such Goods which remain in England , to the full , nothing being re-paid again but upon the Exportation .

Some say , That it will be impossible to hinder the bringing in of Goods by Land from Scotland , by those Pedlars and others , althô the Pict's-Wall were re-built much higher than before .

Some say , They will be brought in by Sea also , and some say , that this Scotch Company will in a short time , for these and many other Reasons , destroy the whole Trade and Navigation of England , and carry it to Scotland .

Now , Sir , if these will be the Consequences of this Scotch Act , it appears very formidable , and should require a speedy Remedy ; but it may be , some Men may be of another Mind , and I am always for submitting to better Judgments , and am ,