The Pedlars CASE Stated; OR, Some Remarks upon the PEDLARS, and all their Carrying of Goods abroad to proffer to Sale in all Cities, Towns, and Places throughout England and Wales, &c. in order to the prevention thereof.  
OUR Ancestors have formerly been so sensible of the great Mischiefs done by Pedlars and Petty-Chapmen, carrying about, and proffering any Goods, except Provisions, to Sale( otherwise than in open Fairs and Markets) that several very severe Statutes have been made against all such Wanderers abroad.  
Yet for all that, whether it be for want of the due Execution, or else through the defect of those Laws, or by reason of a late Dispensing Patent, obtained by them, and granted by King James the Second, viz. To Pay, &c. So it is now, that our Pedlars and Petty-Chapmen are most of them become great and strong Horse-Men, and so Formidable and Insolent, that they have rendered all Laws unto themselves; indeed but as mere Cobwebs, and fit only to restrain some few of their weaker Brethren, who are but yet able to go on Foot only.  
And though of late Years divers Applications have been made to several Parliaments, to make the Laws for Redress of such Grievances more effectual. And we in London have now, in Common Council, also sufficiently represented the same. Yet, such a mighty Opposition thereunto hath always been raised by the United Purse, and Interest of all the English and Scotch Offenders, and such Stratagems used, whereby to discourage, delay and baffle the generous Attemptors thereof, that nothing at all could hitherto be obtained, but only a bare reference to our Former Laws, which are Defective.  
But in this more Happy and Auspicious Juncture, after so good a Foundation is laid for the Liberty, Ease, and Improvement of Their Majesties good Subjects, and all contrary Designs are vanished, we may reasonably hope that if due Methods be taken, and seasonable Applications made, This Honourable House of Commons will condescend to pass such a Bill, as may in due time be prepared and brought in for the Redress of this great and growing Grievance, as may effectually answer the humble and just Desires of so many of their Country-Men, and that for several good Reasons; some of which are as follow, viz. Because,  
I. In all times of public Charge( as especially at present) a very considerable burden lies upon the Diligent and Industrious Shop-keepers, and Trading-Inhabitants of this Kingdom, whilst wandring and uncertain Persons, bear but little or none of the Charge, viz. of great Rents, Servants Wages, Taxes and L●vies, and public Offices, &c. But yet for all this, do carry away the greatest part of the Ready-Money-Trade( which is the Life of all Trade) and so keep themselves always in a Posture to escape and avoid the Laws, and to shift from one part or place to another, as they find occasion, and see their unlawful Practices discovered and detected.  
II. Such wandring vagrant Persons, not valluing Reputation, generally live Discomposed, Lewd, and Vicious Lives themselves; and make also, but too common a practise to Corrupt and Debauch others wheresoever they come; and either quiter leave, or disown their Children, or abandon them to Ignorance, profaneness, and ill Habits, to the great Mischief and Scandal of the public Justice in many places.  
III. Many of them having no Religion at all, or good Principles, do secretly carry counterfeit and deceitful Goods, false News and pernicious Books, and Phamplets, to the cheating and perverting the King's Subjects; and sometimes secret Intelligence between Ill-designing Parties and Rebels unsuspected, or undiscovered.  
IV. All carrying abroad of Goods( otherwise than as before excepted) and proffering them about to Sale, as it is Beggarly and against the true Interest of all Trading-Countries; so it hinders and spoils all ordinary and common Fairs, and impoverishes and ruins all the Markets, and consequently all the Market-Towns in England, by taking away from thence the substantial part of Trade, and preventing recourse of People thither, and by turning the Trade out of the right Channel( where apprenticeships have been served) into the Hands of Taylors, Brokers, and such like Petty-Chapmen, &c.  
V. As such wandring Persons in several parts in this Kingdom( and as they only) have the greatest opportunities, so they do actually promote the Stealing of Custom, and the carrying away and Vending of Stolen, Smugled, and Prohibited Goods, such as linens, Silks and Spices of all sorts, Tobacco, Brandy, Tea, Coffee, Chocolate; and also French Goods, or any sorts whatsoever, that are either Prohibited, or Pay a high Custom Inwards.  
VI. The greater▪ and more considerable these Horse-Pedlars, or Travailing Chap-Men are, so much the more harm and mischief they do to the public▪ and to all other Fair-Traders whatsoever; their Rambling Designs being generally at best, but Covetous and Boundless, and consequently nought and Wicked: And yet these are the Men that pretend themselves wholly unconcerned in all the Statutes made against them.  
But though these, and many other Reasons in this Case are so plain and obvious, yet some Persons who see no further, will perhaps make such Objections as these that follow, viz.  
Obj. 1. That these Pedlars are some of them Honest, Industrious, and Thriving Men; and that they bring us what Goods we want home to our own Houses, and there Sell cheaper than the Shop-keepers; and this is an accommodation to us, and promotes Trade, &c. And why should either they, or we, be restrained from what is for our own particular Advantages, &c.  
To all which may be answered; That if all this were granted( though no great reason for it) yet it's to be hoped that no Person of Quality, or Estate, or good Understanding, would much insist on his own private Interest in small Matters, where it thwarts so much the Interest of the public, in which perhaps( if he pleases but to consider) he will find himself abundantly more concerned, than all those Trifles which are ever bought at his House can amount unto: And also, that by reason of these Pedlars, the more Substantial Shop-keepers cannot invest their Stocks in such Goods, as might otherwise tend to the far greater accommodation and Improvement of Trade, &c. in the particular Places where they dwell.  
Consider also, That there's no Honest, Ingenious, and Industrious Man in England, of any Profession whatsoever, but he may( if he will) fix himself in some one abiding Place or other, where he may gain, at least an honest livelihood at Home, and maintain his Family too, in one degree or other, as well as his Neighbours; and this is as much as strictly the Man needs: For what Reason then should he( to get more than he needs) so Ramble, Interlope, and forestall abroad, as to hinder and deprive so many other Men of their just Gain and Improvement, who constantly abide in their own Stations, and help to Support and Improve the Community? So that this private Interest( separate from the public) is that very same Principle that leads Men to the very worst of Actions, and that many-headed-Monster that at last devours all. And wheresoever any of the English Nobility or Gentry are so unhappily inconsiderate of their own true Interest, as to neglect the encouragement of the Vicinity, as such Neglect detracts from their own Honour, so it damps and dispirits all their meaner Neighbours and dependents, so that Land-Rents fall, the Poor increase, and are unemployed; and in this and in many more Instances, as might at large be shew'd, how for want of a due Regard to, and Regulation of our Inland( as well as of our Outland) Trade our Native Commodities( tho' the best in the World) sink and fall lower and lower, and a common Consumption insensibly crawls upon us; and that this is so in Fact, is but too visible to all, tho▪ few can or will see how it comes to pass. And as it thus, impaireth the Inheritance of the Elder Sons and Heirs, so much more it defeateth the Improvement and Preferment of the Younger Children( if designed to be supported by Trade) by confounding that, and rendering it despicable and slavish.  
Obj. 2. Some particular Towns, as Manchester, and Maxfield, will Object, That if they have not liberty to carry about and proffer to sale their Manufactories as formerly, they shall be in danger to lose their Trades and be undone.  
Ans. Of which there is small danger, but more rational hopes to the contrary; that by only keeping of open Fairs and Markets ab●oad( if they please) and by fixing a firmer Correspondence with other Towns and Cities, which must have, and yet cannot imitate their Goods, a much more beneficial Home-Trade from thence would follow, and soon be settled in those places as well as others, and to their far greater Advantage. For,  
How many poor Men and their Families are constantly devoured and eaten up by those Horses with which they Hawk, and carry about their Goods? And is it not accounted at those Places a Wonder if any of those Travelers can but hold up for seven Years, without breaking? And how do those poor travelling Traders forestall one another abroad from place to place, and beat down the Prices of their Goods, until they must at last be slightly and deceitfully made, viz. Good on the out-side only, as is but too obvious to all that observe them; and is not only a Reproach to those Places, but a general Scandal to the English Manufactories beyond the Seas, even to the loss of an Exportation-Trade, which hath always justly had the greatest encouragement, by Law, of any Manufactory in all England. We mean that of Dimities and Fustians.  
Besides, if no Persons at all are permitted so to carry and proffer Goods abroad( except Provisions only) then all will be the better contented, and none will have any just Cause of Complaint. But if any Towns, Places, or Persons are permitted, others then will soon shrowd themselves under that shelter, and the Remedy will prove still ineffectual▪  
Object. 3. It will also be Objected by some, and that greatly in the favour of those traveling Chapmen; That they are of great use to the generality of the Shop-keepers, and other Home-Traders; and that very few can furnish their Shops without the Assistance of these Men; and many Persons will doubtless, now as well as formerly, be influenced and produced to justify the same, as much as possible, and by their Interest to hinder any Bill against them from passing both Houses, or the Royal Assent.  
But this and all such false Objections and other Difficulties will be the best answered by all such Persons whatsoever throughout England, as account themselves concerned in this Grievance, and do really desire an effectual Redress, and that by these Methods following, viz.  
1. By their Contributing themselves, and Collecting from others what they think fit to give towards the Charge of carrying on, and the Accomplishment of this public Good which some have formerly neither spared their own Pains or Purse to obtain. And then to sand a particular Account of Persons, Places, and Sums, in a few Lines directed to Mr. Sarjent Williams, to be left with Mr. Breez at the General Post-Office in London, and to cause the Money to be paid in unto Mr. John Sweetaple, Goldsmith, at the Black-Moor's-Head in Lombard-Street, where an Account thereof will be kept for the Authors and Undertakers hereof, that every particular Person may see that his Money is paid in, and the overplus will be employed for putting of the Laws( when obtained) into immediate Execution in all Places, especially where it shall be desired in any Letters to the said Mr. Sarjent Williams; of all which Letters, the Parties shall receive back all needful Answers. And also, those that know any of the Trading-part of the Undertakers, are desired to conceal their Names for the better prosecution thereof, and for preventing some Evil Practices of the Pedlars and their Agents against them.  
2. Every such Person that desires the good Success hereof, and hath the Honour to be Acquainted with any of their Representatives in Parliament, are desired to endeavour to make them sensible of this matter, and to entreat their Favour, whensoever it shall be first moved in the House of Commons.  
3. Any such Persons as can give any particular Account of any such misdemeanours as are mentioned or comprehended in the second, third, or fifth Reasons above-written, are desired to sand the same, per Post Directed to Thomas Colthurst Esq; at his Chamber in Grays-Inn, if in Term time, otherwise, at his House near Oundle in Northamptonshire, who will communicate the same, with some other Justices of the Peace; whose Advice and Assistance will be needful in this Undertaking.  
4. And Lastly, Whosoever is himself satisfied of the public Benefit of such a Law, let him by no means depend upon others, but readily acquit himself as above;( and especially in the first method of which every Man is capable) and endeavour also to Convince and satisfy others, so to signify their Consent, that on Occasion it may here appear how many of Their Majesties good Subjects are concerned, and desirous of such a Law, and how much in weight and number, beyond all their Opposers that can be produced.   

These Papers are to be ha● at the Three pigeons in cornhill, London▪ over against the Exchange.