THE CASE OF THE FANN-MAKERS; Who have Petitioned the Honourable House of Commons, against the Importation of Fans from the East-Indies.  
THE Petitioners are several Tradesmen, and Artificers, who are concerned in the manufacture of Fans, in which great Numbers of Men, Women and Children, used to be constantly Employed, some in making the Sticks, Papers, Leathers, and in Ordering and Stiffning of the Silks, others in Painting, Varnishing, and Japanning, and in preparing other Materials wherewith Fans are made, by which there used to be Yearly consumed great Quantities of Silk, Paper, Leather, Wyer, and several Tunns of Whale-bone, Tortoise-shell, Ivory, Box, Ebony, and other sorts of Wood, which were Imported from Turkey, Russia, and other Foreign Parts, to the Increase of His Majesty's Customs, and to the great Benefit and Advantage of our Woollen Manufacture, for which such Foreign Goods were bought in Exchange; so that by the making of Fans here at home, not only the Woollen Manufacture, and the King's Customs are greatly advanced, but abundance of Poor People are continually kept at Work. All which Advantages to the Commonwealth are now likely to be destroyed, by the Importation of vast Quantities of Fans from the East-Indies, from whence there have been lately brought over above a 130000, tho' scarce half that Quantity hath been Entered in the Custom-house, the rest having been Fraudulently conveyed on Shoar by the Seamen and others, without paying any Duty; and as for the Duty which is paid, 'tis but inconsiderable, in comparison of the Duty which arises from the Commodities Imported from Turkey, Russia, and other Foreign Parts, which are consumed here about the Fans; and besides formerly great Quantities of our own Fans have been Exported, for which a considerable Duty used to be paid to the King; so that 'tis hoped that this Honourable House will think fit to Prohibit the Importation of Indian Fans, and Fan-sticks, as well as Silks and Calicoes; for that thereby, not only the Woollen Manufacture, and His Majesty's Customs are considerably Lessened and Impaired; but also Multitudes of Poor Artificers, and their Families will be reduced to a Deplorable Condition. And many of them for want of Work are already become a Burden to the several Parishes where they Inhabit.