SOME REASON'S Humbly offered for the EXPORTATION of COPPER.  
ABout 150 Years since, it was thought necessary to prohibit the Exportation of it, by reason of the scarcity at that time; since which, the great plenty abroad, and the increase of our Foreign Trade, has for these many years supplied us with quantities sufficient for our own Consumption, and to spare, and therefore necessary to have liberty to Export the Overplus.  
But Copper being now become a Manufacture of this Kingdom; and greater quantities being made here than can be Vented, (there being now above 50 Tunns lying unsold, for want of Buyers,) a Licence for Exportation is become yet more necessary.  
The want of Exportation will wholly discourage the making of Copper here; which will be a loss to their Majesties in their Customs, a great damage to the Owners of the Copper-works and Mines, prevent farther Discoveries and Improvements of this kind, take from many Thousand poor People their livelihood, make the late Act about Royal Mines in a great measure useless to the Subject, and deprive the Nation of the benefit of what is like to be one of its best Manufactures.  
So long as the liberty of Importation is allowed, 'tis most reasonable the Nation should Export the Surplus of its own Product; for what we buy is gain to other Nations, but what we sell is all profit to our own, and if Foreign Copper may be brought to our Markets 'twill be a great discouragement and loss to us, not to be permitted to send ours to Foreign Markets.  
'Tis well known, That for many Years before the present Copper-works were set up, there was no want of Copper in England; and why then should any oppose the Exportation of what is here made, unless it be that they may have it at such price as none in England can afford to make it, and little more than half what any can import it for; which is preferring a private Interest before a public Good.  
The Pewterers and Plumbers, may as well complain at the Exportation of Tin and Lead, as the Braziers and Founders at Exporting Copper.  
There is however no reason to fear that any will be Exported, whilst it can be sold here at home, since the price of Copper abroad is in no place greater, but in many less than 'tis here. Beside the duties of Exportation and other incident Charges, will be at least 16 per Ct. added to the price here, which makes it very improbable that 'twill besent abroad until it happens (as it shortly will, if the Act for Exportation of it passes) that much greater quantities be made here than will supply our own necessities, and the owners of the Copper-Works here, offer to supply the Complainants at all times with English Copper, at cheaper rates than they can buy that which is Imported from Torreign Parts.  
☞ Note, That for these two years last passed, there has been in all but 97 Tons of Copper Imported into the Port of London, as appears by the Customhouse books.  
And above 100 Tons have been made here in England out of English Oars, within these eight Months last passed.