FREE PORTS, THE Nature and necessity of them STATED.  
LONDON, Printed by William Du-Gard, Printer to the Council of STATE; and are to be sold by Nicolas Bourn in Cornhill, at the Corner shop, at the entrance into the Exchange. 1652.   

FREE PORTS, THE Nature and necessity of them STATED.  
UPon this certain and clear ground, that some Countries can best spare their Commodities at some seasons of the year; and that other Countries have not at the same time alike urgency or occasion for them, doth arise the wisdom of some Nations in fetching Commodities from the places of their Growth at that fit and seasonable time, and storing them up till the necessity of other Nations do call for them.  
At which time, those Countries that have this necessity, being furnished from those Magazines or Stores, both the Shipping of the said Countries are by this means prevented of their employment, and the Price, as much as the Market will bear, is raised upon them.  
As  
First, all Countries, whose commodities are Annual, such as are wines, Fruits, Grain, Fish, Oils, Tobacco, Sugars, Galls, Cottons, Silks, indigo, and many other Drugs, as many of the Commodities of Spain, France, most part of the Commodities of the East and West Indies, Canaries, straits, &c. All these have their Seasons, and Harvest for those Commodities, at which time, they are most cheap, and easiest to be had.  
Secondly, All Countries who are subject to Mounsons, or Trade-windes, to extremities of seasons for heat or cold, or to deluges of Rain, among which we may reckon many Ports of the East-Indies, many of Guiny, and Africa, some Coasts on the West-Indies, with all the more Northerly Regions of Greenland, Russia, Poland, Norwey, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, &c. all those do likewise oblige a Commerce to them, at some times of the Year only.  
Country's therefore, who have no immediate traffic with these places named, or that do neglect the going thither with ships of their own, at those fit Seasons; As such Countries as are either not well seated for Trade to those Parts, or as have not Convenient Ports, and number of Shipping to manage the Trade; or who are not expert in matters of traffic, and Navigation; or such as are at feud or war with those other Nations; All these Countries, it is certain, when they stand in need of the Commodities of any of the aforesaid places, must be beholding to the said Stores, or Magazines for them; and must be content to abide the Prices or Rates set upon them.  
Those Nations on the other side, who lie advantageously upon the Sea, and abound with good harbours, Rivers, and Shipping; whose People also are well experienced in the managing of affairs of traffic, and Navigation; and go generally secure from danger; These have likewise this Advantage further, of being able, at their own pleasure, to make themselves such a rich and general Magazine or Store as we speak of for other Nations:  
Which design scarce any People hath ever pursued with such studied industry, or made proof of the vast benefits and advantage which comes thereby, to so high a degree, as hath Holland.  
They fetching the Commodities of Russia, Norwey, Poland, Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, &c. and bringing them into their own Countries, do lay them up there at pleasure, till by advice weekly from all other parts, they are directed where to find a Market for them; And accordingly carry them into England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Portugal, Streights, or other places Southward. They on the other side go at fit Seasons to the straits, Portugal, France, Spain, West and East-Indies; and fetching the Commodities of those Southern countries, do usually disperse them again back, into the more Northerly Regions; both into those that belong unto this commonwealth, and to those others also that we speak of, placing their whole Interest in the encouragement and sagacious managery of this course and Circle of traffic.  

Arguments tendered to move this Nation to undertake the like general Mart, as hath the HOLLANDER;  
Drawn,  
First, From expectation of like benefit to us, that our neighbours have upon this account certainly gained to themselves, seeing this kind of Trade would effectually conduce  
Both to the increasing, and to the better distributing Riches to this Nation, then by that we now have; That is,  
If Ports for Landing and Storing up foreign commodities; and exporting them again upon such easy Duties, as we may hold the Market in all other countries with our neighbours the Hollanders, may in all the fittest places of this commonwealth be opened.  
Secondly, It would tend as much also to the increasing the Power and Strength of this Nation, both by Land and by Sea: as well in Guarding and plentifully planting and peopling those Maritime or Frontier-Towns, and the Countries thereabouts, which shall be appointed and allowed for free Ports; as in multiplying the Shipping of our country. A proof of which we have already had in Dover, which, after the Composition-Trade was settled there (that made it in some kind a free Port) did within Ten years' time arise from nothing to have near two hundred fail of pretty great Shipping; with an increase of Stock, Houses, and all things answerable, although, having lost it now but near as long, it is quite decayed in all again.  
More particularly, Opening of Free Ports, will conduce to the quickening of Trade; to the employment of the poor throughout the whole commonwealth: to the making of all foreign Commodities more cheap, and more plentiful; seeing every man will bring in, when he knows he may (if he find no market here) freely carry it out again. It will likewise serve to the preventing of Famine, and scarcity of Corn; to the raising the Exchange, and bringing in of Bullion: to the augmenting of the Revenue of the State: and to the making other Nations more dependent upon this.  
As a further Inducement to all which, is offered to consideration the many Advantages that this Commonwealth hath above our neighbours, the Hollanders, (how much soëver they have raised themselves by this Art) for the putting in Practice such an universal intercourse of traffic as is desired.  
As  
First, From the Largeness of this commonwealth's Dominions, and number of our Ports and harbours, above those of our neighbours.  
Secondly, From the plenty of commodity we have from within ourselves, and from our own Plantations: which alone being now restrained to our own Shipping, will afford a Stock very great to begin with.  
Thirdly, From the Freedom and independency that our Shipping have upon the Ports of any other State, or Nation; and the sovereignty we keep and maintain in our own Channel. Whereas it is well known that our neighbours the Hollander's ships, have not only a great, but a necessary Relying upon the Ports and Protection of this commonwealth: Great Fleets of their shipping continually being forced to put in, and for the most part to Winter in our harbours, we in the mean time very seldom or rarely bearing into any foreign Port for shelter.  
Fourthly, From the Privileges many of our Ports have for being fitter outlets on any winds, than those of our neighbours, and better situated for most Trades, either Southerly or Northerly.  
Lastly, From the Boldness of our Coasts safe and excellent Road-steads; And for being at all seasons free from being frozen in and stopped; Whereas our neighbours have on the other side a flat and dangerous Coast, barred and inconvenient harbours; and such as are by reason of Ice, shut up and useless for almost a third or fourth part of the year; which singular Conveniencies or Privileges coming to this Nation so immediately from Providence, are not altogether to be neglected.  
The third Consideration (although in some regard most principal to be weighed) is, the Inconveniencies we at present lie under from the Trade we have; and the Damages that will unavoidably grow upon us, if this Trade only continue;  
For,  
First, The trade we now drive tends, or is only for Consumption; it being very little of foreign commodities that is retransported upon the present encouragement or settled rate of half Custom.  
For, though it may be objected, that look what Tonnage, subsidy, or Custom is paid upon foreign goods inwards, which are spent in the Nation, is only disbursed for a while by the Merchant, and at length really accounted for to the immediate Buyer or Spender; and that therefore this Custom inwards, though it should be great, cannot destroy the Merchant: Yet the case is howëver very different, and altogether otherwise in a Tax or Rate of half that custom set upon all the same unconsumed Goods when carried outwards, specially if there was an overvaluing (as in many there is) of those Goods inwards.  
Seeing although it be said the other was paid by the Nation (that is the custom inwards,) upon all Goods here spent; yet this custom outwards is solely taken from the purse of the Merchant, and cannot be reimbursed to him again in other countries, especially when another foreign Merchant shall carry the same commodity thither, and by paying less custom shall afford it cheaper; for then this Tax outward must eat our Merchant up by little and little, and put a discouragement upon him.  
For Example.  
The Hollander and we deal for spice, for Wines, for Sugar, indigo, Silk, Cotton, and for the Manufacture of Spanish wool: all which (with other Commodities) we fetch from the places of their Growth, or first Production, in the respective shipping of each Nation; for some of which Commodities our Merchants at coming in pay in Custom, in Impost, and by over-rating the commodity 10.15. and in some things near 20 per Cent. which if those Goods were sold here, and spent in the commonwealth, the Merchant perhaps could not so much feel it (unless in a perishable and uncertain commodity, where he oft suffers) for he then rate's his Goods accordingly when he sell's them.  
But if he shall desire to transport again those Goods into the eastlands, into the straits, or into any other places or countries where he knows they are wanted: Though of this great custom he do receive the one half back again;  
Yet if the Hollanders shall upon the same Goods pay but 2 per Cent. Custom, they have the Advantage by this means before our Merchant of 5.6. or 8. per Cent. in their Market (beyond Sea) being clean so much loss as to our Merchant, so to the Nation, and to the employment of its Shipping; this kind of outward Trade being by this means at length wholly left off and deserted.  
These two wholly differing in kind one from another; For a Nation to deal or traffic in wares and Merchandizes for its own expense and consumption, as country Gentlemen, or ordinary tradesmen; And for a Nation to make its self a shop, and to buy and sell for the furnishing and provision of other Nations; as a man that keeps a ware-house, or store-house; which latter Trade is that we speak of;  
In regard that a Nation that only buys and trades to furnish itself, is confined to a Stock, and such a Stock, as must not exceed its own expense or Consumption: And the employment of Shipping and Returns of foreign Goods must be still as confined, and limited answerably; and neither Trade, nor Shipping, nor Stock are at utmost able to exceed the value of our Native commodity exported: For if the liberty here of the Merchant and People for Trading and buying of foreign commodity, should exceed our Exportation, or the value thereof, and not rather be less than otherwise, it doth but tend more and more to the Loss of our wealth, and to our Decay and ruin.  
Wherefore all Consultations whatsoëver about Trade, if Free Ports be not opened, and this wholesale or general Trade be not encouraged, do still but terminate in some Advice or other about Regulating our Consumption; and have no other good at farthest, but preventional, that our balance of Import exceed not our Export: which to confine ourselves to alone, is, on the other side, a course so short, as it will neither serve to raise the Strength of this Nation in Shipping, or to Govern the Exchange abroad; nor yet to avoid the Damage and Mischief the subtlety of the foreign Merchant will hereby bring upon us.  
Whereas if Free Ports be opened, and Exportation of foreign Goods encouraged; not only the Mischief of the Consumption and carrying out of our Treasure; and of Lowness of Exchange, will most effectually be prevented, but both our Stock and Shipping will be indefinitely or proportionably increased.  
Lastly, A great Part of the Revenue of the State is for want of this general Trade clearly lost; for supposing Free Ports to be opened, we must grant there will be an Access of wealth to the Nation, and an increase to this commonwealth by Strangers.  
And consequently, Our Consumption of foreign Commodities will not be at all less, but more; and therefore the Incom or Custom paid upon it. Over and above which, the State may have a Custom or duty in a very short time of one per Cent. upon the value of some Millions of Goods yearly, which now (by Reason of the Discouragements aforesaid) are carrried into other Parts, and for which they yet receive not one Farthing.   
B. W.  
FINIS.