encouragement, to the Trading people, to bring them upon the same foundation, as they bring other Commodities from other parts vizt
Hopes of making proffit, by trading & dealing in them which cannot be, unless these Comodities be eased of the great burthen, which lyes on them, by the great wages paid to labouring men on the Plantations, and the high freights given to Ship Masters, for Goods brought from those parts, which being farr above the rates which are paid for the same Sorts of Goods if they come from Norway or the Baltick, deprives the traders of making proffit by these Goods from the Plantations, and gives a priority to those from the North.
4ly The Northern Crownes are our Competitors in this Case, the advantages they have cannot be overcome, by a Charter, in which most of the proposalls that have been made do center, Corporations must have Governours, Directors, book keepers & Agents, the Charges will amount to at least ten P Cent, which must be added to the Cost, and other necessary Charges, and give a Further advantage to our Competitors, by which they will be enabled to undersell our Traders in these Commodities, and yet Subsist & make profit, because they will be eased in these Several Charges & outgoings : Charters cannot remove, nor decrease the Cloggs that lye on this Trade, but rather increase them unless the Swedes & Danes and all others could be excluded from bringing those Goods into England.
Therefore
Unless these Comodities from the North can be Charged with a great Custome, and those from the Plantations be eased from all Custome : or her Majesty be graciously pleased to cause these goods to be brought freight free to the Planters or owners, or to give to them some recompense at a Certain rate P Tunn for what they may bring, as may equallize the Charge of freight.
The Naval Stores from the North will always hinder their being brought from the Plantations, as Comodities in the way of Trade, which only can cause a large importation of them for the use of our Navigation in General, hinder the Exportation of our Coyne to the North and prevent the inconveniencies that may happen, by our dependance upon these Crownes.
William L. Saunders, editor, The Colonial Records of North Carolina (Raleigh, 1886), I, 598-599.
