REASONS most humbly offered by the po●● tradesman, for Passing the Salt-petre Bill.  
WHereas in a printed Paper, against passing the said Bill, delivered at this most Honourable House, it is most falsely( and self-interestedly) asserted, by some Engroslers of that small quantity of Salt petre now in England, That the Pretences of the poor tradesman, who solicit the passing the said Bill, are frivolous and inconsiderable, the said Engrossers well knowing, if the East-India Company's Salt-petre should arrive safe, the same must be kept for Their Majesties use, and the poor tradesman must be forced to buy of them at their extravagant Prizes; which the passing the said Bill will prevent.  
The Refiners, Glass-makers, and Dyers, do attend, and are ready to make out, to the full satisfaction of this most Honourable House,  
That without Salt-petre, the said Trades cannot be carried on.  
That in these Trades, upwards of 300 Tons is yearly expended.  
That if Salt-petre bears the intolerable high Price it now doth and hath done, for a long time past, the said tradesman and their Families must inevitably be ruined.  
For by the dearness of Salt-petre in England, Scarlet and Bow Dyers cannot die so cheap as the Dutch, therefore Merchants sand Cloths to Holland to be Dyed. And they also have a great Advantage of us, by Dying their own Cloths cheap for the Turkey Trade, to the prejudice of the Woollen Manufacture of this Nation.  
For the same Reason the Refiners are forced to sand their Silver to Holland to be separated.  
And for the like Reason the Glass-makers cannot make Glass to sell at Reasonable Rates, as formerly, by which the Nation suffers in general.  
By these Advantages the Dutch are enriched, and the poor tradesman impoverished. As also the Gunpowder-makers, Merchants, and Masters of Ships; for when Salt-petre was cheap in England, there was upwards of 900 tons used yearly, for Gunpowder to Export, besides what Their Majesties and the tradesman expended.  
But by reason of the dearness of Salt-petre now in England, we lose the benefit of manufacturing so much Salt-petre yearly, which will make 1200 Tons of Gunpowder, and also lose the Exporting of the said 1200 Tons of Gunpowder. And Ireland, and our Plantations in the West Indies, cannot be supplied by us, when gunpowder is above 5 l. the Barrel; for by Law it cannot be then Exported. And at the Price Salt-petre now bears, and hath done for a long time past, gunpowder cannot be made under 6 l. the Barrel; but the Dutch find ways to supply them.  
And whereas the East-India Company, in their Petition to this most Honourable House, desire, if leave be given to Import Salt-petre, it may be to them only. If so, they may choose if they will Import any or no: And so do, as has been done, make no public Sale for three or four Years together, but impose upon the tradesman, by Selling by private Contracts.  
And it is not yet certain, whether they shall continue a Company or no.  
Their Case is most humbly recommended to the Compassion of this most Honourable House.   

REASONS Most humbly offered by the poor tradesman, For passing the Salt-petre Bill.