Spencer Compton, Esq;
SPEAKER,
And to the Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of this Present Parliament of Great-Britain, Assembled.
May it Please your Honours,
THE First Edition of this little Tract, Relating to Trade, the Poor, was Humbly Dedicated to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, when Governor of the South-Sea Company, which I then thought, as I still do, might be of Service to the Nation, by alluring the Heir to the Crown, into an Early Liking of Trade, and Setting before him the Advantages that Accrue from it, with the Methods whereby it may be Improved; and therefore I Contracted it into a Narrow Compass, to Encourage his Reading it.
THIS Second Edition, whereto I have added some Sure and Practicable Methods, for Discharging the Publick Debts of the Nation, with most Ease to the People, I humbly Present to this Honourable House; If it may be Usefull in your Debates, I shall think my self very Happy.
’TIS the Ballance of our Trade, that Supplies us with Bullion; if That be in our Favour, it brings it to us, if Otherwise, it must be Carried away.
THIS Ballance is Supported by our Manufactures, which keep our People at Work, and Enable them to Maintain themselves by their own Labour, who must else Stand still, and become a Charge on our Lands; and therefore I humbly Conceive it to be our Interest, First, to Encourage their being worn at Home, and then to give a Preference to such things, as are Purchased for them Abroad, Rather than to those, which are Bought for Bullion; And if our Trade was well Regulated, we should soon become the Richest, and consequently the Greatest, People in Europe.
I have made some Essay at such Methods, as I doubt not, being Improved by your Wisdoms, and Strengthened by your Authority, may Tend very much to the Effecting this great Work; And I humbly Offer the Six Propositions following, as so many Fundamentals, Necessary, for the better Ordering of our Trade, the Discharging of our Publick Debts, and Supporting the Credit of the Kingdom, whereby His Majesty will be Rendred more Glorious, both at Home and Abroad.
THE First is, a Committee of Trade, Made up of such Men as are well Verst in the true Principles whereon it is Founded, and thereby Enabled to make right Representations of such things, as shall be Referred to them by the Parliament; who, Holding their Places, according as they are thought Capable of Performing them, will be Carefull to Execute those Trusts with Judgment, Honour and Honesty.