REASONS Against the General naturalisation of ALIENS.  
IT has been the Prudence of the Princes of this Nation, always to take care to make a Distinction between Natural born Subjects, and Aliens of other Kingdoms, and have never encouraged, nor indeed tolerated them in any thing further than that which might directly or collaterally be judged and esteemed for the Interest of their Natives. Neither were Aliens, in any Age, for any proposed Advantages, favoured and eased in any thing, but Experience immediately discovered many great Mischiefs to attend. Some of which are ennumerated in an Act made for redressing these Grievances, Anno Henrici Septimi, Cap. 2. and are hereafter mentioned.  
●… st and Principally, The advancing Aliens in Riches and Honour, and impoverishing the Native Subjects.  
●… ondly, The exhausting the Treasure of the Nation, and remitting the same into foreign Nations.  
●… irdly, The great hurt in impairing and lessening the King's Customs, the public Revenue of the Nation.  
●… rthly, That Merchants Aliens colour the Goods and Mirchandizes of other Strangers( not naturalised, or made denizens) ●… Export great and considerable Substance in their Names.  
●… rewith agree the Statutes of 11 Hen. 7. cap. 14. and 22 H. 8. cap. 8. pursuant to the design of which Laws, few or no Aliens were ●… alized during the Reigns of King Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and King James. And how greatly the Trade ●… Wealth of the Nation were thereby increased, during the prosperous Reigns of the two latter of the said Princes, none that are conver●… History can be ignorant of.  
●… ides when Mischiefs, Experience hath discovered further Inconveniencies in Admitting Aliens and Strangers to have and enjoy a free 〈…〉 upon equal Terms with His Majesties Native Subjects. As,  
●… at the Trade, by Commission would be by Aliens taken out of the Hands of His Majesties Subjects, both at home and abroad, ●… he English Merchants would be undersold in the Prices of their Commodities by Aliens, who can live more hardly and at less Char●… Lodgings, &c, than the King's Subjects, to the Discouragement of the Gentry, in training up their younger Sons ●… ade, which was formerly esteemed and proved a good Provision for them, and many arrived thereby to great Estates and Prefer●… which few now do.  
〈…〉 the second Rule in the Book of Rates, annexed to the Act of Tonnage and Poundage, Goods Imported, and again Exported by 〈…〉 in Twelve Months, and Aliens in Nine Months, draw back from Their Majesties half the Customs paid by them on the Importati●… d in some Cases more than half.  
〈…〉 the Act of Tonnage and Poundage, Merchants English sustaining loss in their Goods Exported, by Enemies, Pirates, or perishing in 〈…〉, draw back the whole Custom from His Majesty, which Prejudice His Majesty will sustain from Aliens naturalised.  
〈…〉 the Act of Navigation for the increase of Mariners and Shipping, its provided, That sundry Commodities, such as Masts, ●… e● boards, Foreign Salt, Pitch Tar, &c. imported in any other Ship or Vessel than what is English Built, or truly, and ●… ut fraud, belonging to the People of England, and which is otherwise Navigated and Manned than the said Act directs, viz. ●… astex and three Fourths of the Mariners( not being English) shall be deemed Aliens Goods, and pay Customs, and City, 〈…〉, and Port Duties, as the Goods of Aliens.  
〈…〉 if Aliens be naturalised, the true Intent of this Act is frustrated, the Mariners discouraged, and driven into Foreign Parts for a ●… hood, and the Building of Shipping( the Strength of the Nation) made of little or no advantage.  
Increasing the Importation of Commodities, and thereby His Majesties Customs, the only Advantage proposed by the Naturali●… liens, will in half a Years time, at furthest, be frustrated; Insomuch as this Nation cannot consume all the Commodities Imported, 〈…〉 will occasion the Price to fall, and so the Importation by consequence to cease. For it is evident, that no Commodity bears a Price ●… rns to account, but the supplies are so considerable in three Months, that the same becomes a Drug.  
〈…〉 moreover, its not to be forgotten, That even in Holland, where for Reasons inconsistent with the Nature and Constitution of this ●… m, they have admitted Foreigners to a free Trade with them, yet even there a very 〈…〉 difference is made between Aliens ●… tives: For Aliens pay there, upon Importation and Exportation of their Commodities, considerable Duties and Tolls to the City, and Port, where they unlade their Goods, which are not paid by Natives.  
In fine, It is conceived to be great Prudence for all English Subjects, for the Benefit of themselves and their Posterity, to use all discreet and lawful means to prevent the general naturalisation of Aliens, as well for keeping up and increase of their Majesties Revenue, for preserving and maintaining the Honour and Interest of the English and Native Merchants, and preferring the younger Sons of the English Gentry, as generally for advancing the good of all His Majesties Subjects, and keeping up the Magistracy in all Corporations in its due Honour and Reputation by preserving their Tolls, City, Town, and Port Duties.  
●… f it shall be thought fit still to continue this Great Favour to Strangers, it is Humbly desired, that it may be with a proviso ●… they may not be in better Circumstances than our Natives Freemen, viz.)  
●… ded always, That nothing therein contained, shall or may Exempt, or be construed to Exem●t any Foreigner from the payment 〈…〉 or Duties, heretofore Lawfully enjoyed or received by any Body Corporate or Pol 〈…〉 the same shall still be paid as ●… paid to such Body Corpo●●te, &c.