Draft of Instructions for the Council of Trade and Foreign Plantations, 1672–1674.
The Commission and Instructions Were Issued on September 27, 1672.
To consider the Improvemt of the Commodityes of these Kingdomes.
1. You are to consider how all Goods and Commodityes of the Production or Growth of these Our Kingdomes may be best Improoved. What other usefull Commodityes or Materialls for Manufactures there are which the Nature of Our Sayle with good Husbandry will beare, or that tyme and Industry can make Native.
To consider the Setting up of Manufactures.
2. You are likewise to consider the setting up and Improoving of Manufactures within Our said Kingdomes, especially of shipping. And such others as are most for the Employment of Our people of best use, and greatest Proffit to our Kingdomes. The Establishing of Such Manufactures in Townes and places most convenient for them. And to provide that all such Manufactures (especially our Old and new Draperyas) be truely made and fully manufactured at home.
The improoving of the Fishing Trade at home & abroad.
3. You are to consider how the Fishing Trade both at home and abroad may be encouraged and improoved to the best advantage.
The opening of Rivers, Ports and Harbours.
4. How Our Rivers may be made Navigable and Our Ports and Harbours more capable of receiving Shipping.
The Distributing of Trade and Manufactures.
5. And how Trade and Manufactures may be more fitly and equally distributed through Our Kingdomes.
To examine the Burthens of Trade.
6. You are strictly to Examine what Burthens the Trade of Our sayd Kingdomes doth at present Groane under both at home and abroad, more then the Trade of Neighbouring Princes and States.
To enquire into abuses in Trade and Manufactures.
7. You are to make due Search and Inquiry into the abuses practised among Merchants, Vintners, Wyne-Coopers, Brewers, Dyers, Apothecaryes, Goldsmyths, Refyners, Wyre-Drawers, Penterers, Hatters, Clothiers and other Trades and Manufactures within these Our Kingdomes, as also concerning Weights and Measures.
To consider of the better venting of Native Commodity's.
8. You are to consider how Our Native Commodityes, and Manufactures may be vented in greater Quantetyes, and with more Honoe and profitt to Our said Kingdomes.
How forreigne Commodityes may be brought in at cheaper Rates.
9. And how forreigne Goods, and Commodityes may be brought from the severall places of their Growth or making in fitt and reasonable tymes, and at the Cheapest rates.
about building of Ships for the carriage of Bulky Commodityes.
10. You are to consider about the Building of Pinkes, Flutes, and other great Ships for the more convenient Carryage of Masts, Tymber and other Bulky Commodityes. And about setting them out (according as the place to which they are bound may allow) with fewer men and Gunns then usuall.
How Correspondencyes may be kept in places of great commerce abroad.
11. You are to consider how Correspondencyes may be settled and kept in all places of Great Commerce abroad for the better knowing with what proffit or Losse Our Native Commodityes and Manufactures are vented. And What Lawes are from tyme to tyme made or Trades new Erected in forreigne parts to the advantage, or Disadvantage of Our Trade or Commerce.
How free Ports may be opened.
12. You are to consider how Free Ports may conveniently be opened about Our Coasts for the Landing, and Storeing of Forreigne Commodityes. Giving leave to retransport them paying only some small acknowledgements. And of the severall Advantages that may arise unto these Our Kingdomes by Giving way (according to the Example of other Nations) to a more open, and free Trade then that of Companyes and Corporations.
To receive Propositions concerning Trade and Navigation.
13. And you are to receive and Consider all Propositions or Overtures concerning new Inventions or Improvements in any Art, Trade or Manufacture, or concerning the regulating or Securing of Trade, and Improoving of Navigation that shall be offered unto you by any person whatsoever.
To enquire into the State of his Mats forreigne Plantacons.
14. You are strictly to enquire, and informe yourselves by the best wayes and Meanes you can of the State and Condition of Our said Forreigne Collonyes and Plantations. By whome they are Governed and what Commissions, Powers and Instruccons have been granted by Us, or by any of Our Royall Predecessors to that End, and how the same have been Executed and observed.
To enquire What Councills Assemblies and Courts of Indicature there are in them.
15. You are likewise to enquire and informe yourselves. What Councills, Assemblyes and Courts of Indicature for Civill and Criminall Causes there are within the said Collonyes and Plantations, and of what Nature and Kind.
What Courts of Admiralty.
16. What Courts of Indicature they have relating to the Admiralty.
What their Legislative and Executive Powers are.
17. Where the Legislative and Executive Powers of their Governments are seated.
What Statutes and Lawes they have.
18. What Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances they have made, and are now in force.
What number of Horse and Foot.
19. What number of Horse and Foot they have and whether Trayned Bands, Bands, or Standing Forces.
What Castles and Forts and how provided.
20. What Castles or Forts they have, how situated and what Stores and Provisions they are furnished with.
What strength their Neighbours have.
21. What strength their Bordering Neighbours have by Sea and Land.
What Correspondency they keep with them.
22. What Correspondency they keep with their Neighbours.
What Armes Ammunition &c. have been sent unto them.
23. What Armes, Ammunition, and Stores have been sent unto the said Collonyes and Plantations upon our Accompt, when received, how Employed, and what part of them is there remayning and where.
What Moneys have been paid for Armes &c. and Fortifications.
24. What Moneys have been paid or appointed to be paid by Us, or Leavyed within the said severall Collonys, and Plantacons for and towards the buying of Armes, or making and Mayntaining of any Fortifications, or Castles, And how the said Moneys have been expended.
The Boundaryes and Contents of their Lands.
25. What the Boundaryes, and Contents of their Lands are.
What Mynes, Commodityes and Manufactures they have.
26. What Mynes they have of Gold, Silver, Copper, Tynne, Ledd, or Iron. What Commodityes there are of their production, growth, or Manufacture. What Materialls for Shipping and whether Salt-petre is or may be produced in any of the said Collonyes or Plantations. And if so, At what Rates it may be delivered in England.
Whether Spices, Gumms, Drugs if Planted will not thrive.
27. Whether Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Cloves, Pepper, and other Spices, and Gumms, Druggs and Dying Stuffs which now grow in the East Indyes, and are brought from thence may not be planted and come to perfection in some of Our Collonyes, and Plantations in the West Indyes.
What Rivers, Harbours &c. they have.
28. What Rivers, Harbours, and Roads they have, and of What Depths, and Soundings.
What Banks or Shoales for Fishing.
29. What Banks, or Shoales they have upon, or neare their Coasts for Fishing.
What number of Planters and Parishes.
30. What number of Planters, Servants, and Slaves, and how many Parishes they have.
What number of Whites and Blacks doe yearly come.
31. What Number of English, Scotch, or Irish doe yearely come, and what Blacks, or Slaves, are brought unto them.
What number of People dye yearely.
32. What Number of People doe yearely dye within the said Collonyes and Plantations both Whites, and Blacks.
33. What Number of Shipps doe Yearely Trade to and from the said Collonyes and Plantations, and of what Burthen they are.
What number of Ships Trade yearely.
What obstructions they have and Advantages may be gained to their Trade.
34. What Obstructions there are, and What advantages may be gained to the Improovement of their Trade and Navigation.
What Dutyes are Charged upon Goods imported, or exported.
35. What Rates and Dutyes are charged and payable upon any Goods or Commodityes exported out of the said Collonyes and Plantations, whether of their owne Growth and Manufacture or otherwyse. As also upon Goods imported.
What Publick Revenues doe arise among them.
36. What Revenues doe or may arise unto Us within the said Collynes and Plantations, and of what nature they are. By whome Collected, and how answered and Accompted unto Us.
How they instruct the People in Religion, and pay their Ministry.
37. And what Course they take about Instructing of their People in the Christian Religion. And what Provision is made for the Maintenance of their Ministers.
To consider which of the said Collonyes are not fully Planted.
38. You are to informe yourselves which of our said Collonyes and Plantations are not fully Planted or Inhabited, and to consider how such of them may most conveniently be supplyed from others that are overstored with people.
How the sd Collonyes may be serviceable to one another and useful to these Kingdomes.
39. You are to consider how our said Collonyes, and Plantations may be serviceable unto one another in relation to their mutuall Sustenance and Defence, and how they may be Governed to be of use and advantage likewise to these Our Kingdomes.
To Correspond by Letters with forreigne Governours.
40. You are to take care in Keeping frequent Correspondency by Letters with the severall Governours of Our said Collonyes, and Plantations.
To Charge them to preserve peace with their Neighbors and to protect ye Indians.
41. You are hereby required in Our Name strictly to charge all and every the Governours of Our said Collonyes and Plantations respectively. That they doe not Give any just Provocation unto any of their Neighbours Indians or others that are at Peace & Amity with Us. But that they doe by all just wayes and Meanes endeavours to preserve such Peace and Amity and keep a good and fayre Correspondencye with them.
And if any of the said Indians shall desire to putt themselves under the Protection of the Governours, or Governments of our said Collonyes or Plantations, That they doe receive them with respect and Kindnesse, and Give them due Protection, and Defence in their Persons, Goods, and Possessions according to Lawe. And in case any Persons shall contrary thereunto offer any Affronts or Injuryes unto them, That the said Governours doe severly punish such offenders according to Justice and Right.
To procure Coppyes of all Grants concerning the said Collonyes &c.
42. You are to endeavour the procuring Coppyes of all Letters Patents, Charters, or Grants of any of Our said Collonyes or Plantations, or of any Part of them, passed by Us or any of Our Predecessors under the Great Seale of England, to any Person, Socyety, or Corporation of Men Whatsoever. And to informe yourselves whether they have been duely putt in Execution according to the Severall Grants, Clauses and Conditions, conteyned in them respectively.
To procure Exact Mapps of the said Collonyes.
43. You are likewise to endeavour the procuring of Exact Mapps, Platts, or Charts of all Our said Collonyes and Plantations with the Descriptions of their respective Rivers, Forts, Harbours, Bayes, and Roads.
To consider of the improoving of their Trade and Commerce.
44. And when you shall have received due Information concerning the perticulars in the foregoing Instructions. You are to consider of the best wayes, and Meanes for the encourageing settling, and Improoving the Trade, and Commerce of Our sayd Collonyes, and Plantations. And accordingly to offer unto Us your Opinions, and Advice thereupon.
To Examine if the Articles of Peace and Commerce with forreigne Princes have been performed.
45. You are to consider the severall Articles of Peace and Commerce that have been heretofore made between Us or any of our Royal Predecessors, and all forreigne Princes, and States, and to Examine whether the Priviledges and Immunityes by them Granted or agreed for the Benefitt and advantage of Our Merchants, have from tyme to tyme been carefully upheld and performed, And in case you shall find any Manifest Breach of them, or any Injuryes done to Our Merchants, or any Obstructions to Our Trade thereby, You are to represent the same to Us for Our Consideration.
To enquire what Councills of Trade &c. are settled in forreigne Parts and wt Commissns Instructions and Allowances they have.
46. You are to informe yourselves the best that may be, What Councills, or Courts of Indicature are Established in any forreigne Kingdomes or States for the well Government of their Trade and Navigation, and for the Improovement Settlement, and Defence of their Collonyes and Plantations. As also What Commissions, Powers, Authorityes, Instructions, and allowances they have Given and Granted unto them for the better carrying on of those Services.
To observe such other Instructions &c as shall be sent undr his Mats Signe Manuall and to addresse to his Maty for further Instructions &c. if need be.
47. And Lastly you are required and authorized to observe and putt in Execution all such other Powers, Authorityes and Instructions (relating unto Our said Collonyes or Plantations, or unto the Trade, Commerce or Navigation of them, or of these our Kingdomes) as shall from tyme to tyme be sent unto you by Us under Our Signe Manuall.
And where you shall judge it necessary to have any further Powers, Authorityes, or Instructions for the better Carrying on of Our Service therein. You are to Addresse yourselves unto Us for Our further Pleasure and Direction.