The proposals for promoting the woollen-manufactory, promoted Further making it appear, that the nation will thereby increase in wealth, at least 5000 l. per day, for every day in the year on which it is lawful to labour. And that the strength and safety of the king and kingdom, together with a most happy reformation will be accomplished therein. All which is most plainly demonstrated, by several well-wisheres thereunto, inhabitants and citizens of London. Licensed, April 29. 1679. Ro. L'Estrange.

The proposals for promoting the woollen-manufactory, promoted Further making it appear, that the nation will thereby increase in wealth, at least 5000 l. per day, for every day in the year on which it is lawful to labour. And that the strength and safety of the king and kingdom, together with a most happy reformation will be accomplished therein. All which is most plainly demonstrated, by several well-wisheres thereunto, inhabitants and citizens of London. Licensed, April 29. 1679. Ro. L'Estrange.

Table of contents

Title page

The Propoſals for Promoting the Woollen-Manufactory, promoted.

The Propoſals for Promoting the Woollen-Manufactory, promoted.

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NExt to being the Authors of profitable Inventions our ſelves, 'tis certainly moſt commendable to Incourage them in others, and endeavour, That what is happily found out, may be advantageouſly proſecuted. Men are grown to a wretched paſs indeed, when, as Cicero complained, they leave off, Non ſolum laudanda facere, ſed etiam laudare; Not only to do Praiſe-worthy Acts, but even to Commend them; Let us at leaſt ſpeak well of good Expedients, give the Labouring Promoters of Publick Weal our good word, and afford Induſtry a Tribute from our Tongues, though we are ſomewhat loth to allow her much from our Hands; To improve ſuch effectual Expedients as will moſt reclaim Vice, and bring all Idle hands to Induſtry. To increaſe our richeſt Manufactories for Exportation, and eſpecially to reſtore and advance that of Woollen, the Grand Staple Commodity of this Kingdom, which heretofore made the ſame to abound with Wealth, Power, and Honour, beyond any of its Neighbour Nations. Theſe are things not to be Contemned or Neglected, but rather with the greater Diligence and Zeal to be Promoted and Encouraged to the utmoſt; For, ſince this golden Manufactory hath Decreaſed amongſt us, ſeveral Offers and Eſſayes have been made for Remedy, and many who are concerned therein have been very Impatient; and not ſufficiently conſidering the Cauſe of the Diſtemper, ſome have moved the Parliament for the Exportation of Unwrought Wool, becauſe little more than half what grows in the Nation is Converted. Others have Oppoſed them, and obtained an Act whereby to render the Exportation thereof Unwrought, a Capital Offence, and hang all thoſe that ſhould do it; yet are not able to Manufacture it themſelves.

[Page]If Wool be Exported, the ſame will deſtroy our Markets abroad, and make People Beggars at home, ſaith the Clothier; But if it be kept at home, and not Converted, it will do us no good, ſaith Reaſon, with whom Experience and Poverty both joyn their Voices; the out-cries of the latter being heard, not only in every Street, but almoſt at every Door.

The laſt Parliament hath almoſt every Seſſion made it a great part of their Buſineſs to Hear and Encourage thoſe who had any thing to offer for the Recovery of this Trade; and yet, till the late Breviat of Propoſals publiſhed by one Mr. Richard Haines came out, it muſt be acknowledged, That neither the Exporter of Wool, nor Oppoſer of the ſame, or any others, have offered any certain Expedients for bringing all Idle hands to Induſtry, whereby the Wool may be Converted as faſt as it grows and ariſes, on ſuch terms, that the Cloth we have to ſpare may be Exported as faſt as 'tis made.

Wherefore, we cannot think it unſeaſonable, to joyn our Suffrages with him, and ſtir up all Active Publick Spirits, to promote and encourage that which will beſt accompliſh this good Deſign: namely,

Work-houſes to be Erected, and Stock raiſed in every County, in which, poor People, Beggars, &c. ſhall be Employed in this Manufactory, with ſuch Method of Government as may prevent all ſuch Miſcarriages, as have formerly rendred ſuch Houſes unſucceſsful in our Nation; which he hath, in ſuch his Breviat, declared to make good, and to Anſwer all Objections in that Caſe, in his Propoſals at large, which undoubtedly may be done with little Difficulty, becauſe 'tis done and practiſed in other Nations, and may here as well as there.

The greatneſs of the Profits, namely, thirty or forty hundred thouſand Pounds per Annum, we confeſs at firſt ſtarted us, but on deliberate Conſideration we are ſatisfied with the Verity of it. And therefore judge it our parts to recommend it as aforeſaid, with the Reaſons and Grounds which have fully convinced us why ſuch vaſt Wealth cannot but neceſſarily ariſe thereby to the Nation as thus.

[Page]In England we may reaſonably conclude there are of Beggers petty Felons, Pariſh-Poor, and other idle People, which do little or nothing for their Living, 200 Thouſand; whereof many who do nothing may earn ſix Pence per day, and thoſe that earn ſix pence might earn twelve pence, when placed together in view of each other, where Correction and Encouragement are duely adminiſtred.

It may alſo be reaſonably concluded, that each Perſon, one with another, may (with the help of ſome Clothiers) work as much Wool as will make fifteen pounds worth of Cloth in one Year, which, if ſo, then there will be thirty hundred thouſand pounds worth to be Exported more than now is, as the Author of the Propoſals does inſert. But ſuppoſe the quantity fall ſhort, yet we may reaſonably conclude, that our Merchants in their courſe of Trade will near the matter double the Value in the returns of what they Export, ſo that ſtill the Wealth of the Nation will be more, rather than leſs, increaſed, than what is propoſed. But if we take no other meaſures than this, viz. that each Perſon, one with another, earns ſix pence per day, and that which is wrought by their Labour ſhall be Exported, 'tis a certain truth, the Nation will gain by their Labour 5000 l. for every day in the year that they work, as by Calculation doth appear; which, if doubled by the Merchants courſe of Trade, as aforeſaid, it will then amount to no leſs than 10000 l. per day, clear gain to the Nation. And put caſe we allow 80 dayes in the year for Holy dayes, there remains 285 dayes to work in, which, by this modeſt Calculation, will bring in 2850000 l. in one year clear gain by their Labour, beſides the Value of the Wool, and other things which add to the Value of all the Cloth they make. Nor is it to be doubted, but the Work of each Perſon, one with another, may amount to 8 d. per day, after ſome time of practice, ſo that for the future, by the Expedients propoſed, all people, as aforeſaid, being brought up to ſuch habit of Induſtry, the Wealth of the Nation cannot but increaſe to the Value propoſed. The Caſe is plain, and an ordinary Capacity, whoſe Judgment is not ſway'd by corrupt Affection, may be well ſatisfied.

[Page]That we have Wool enough, Fullers Earth enough, poor People enough, Vagrants, petty Felons, Nurſes of Debauchery &c. ſufficiently enough to make Cloth enough to revive the Glory, Wealth, Strength, and Safety of the whole Nation is moſt certain, and may as certainly be effected with good Succeſs; if inſtead of Houſes of Debauchery, ſuch Houſes of Induſtry were erected. It being that which not only is practicable, but de facto hath been and now is practiſed on the ſame Conſideration, by the means whereof there is not a Begger in the Country where 'tis uſed, and by which that overgrown and innumerable Multitude of leud People may moſt profitably be reſtrained.

All which conſidered, we can ſee no Reaſon why any People ſhould oppoſe theſe Work-houſes, unleſs it be thoſe that do the greateſt Miſchief to the Perſons, Eſtates, and Souls of Mankind, namely, the before mentioned Idle lewd Nurſes of Debauchery, whom nothing can reſtrain ſo effectually as theſe houſes, in which they would be held in Durance with great Advantage. Therefore it concerns them and their Abettors to obſtruct the Building; and look how much a man is an Enemy to the one ſo much he is the greater Friend to the other.

1. This we dare aſſert and maintatin againſt all Oppoſers that ſhall put Pen to Paper againſt it, that if ſuch a Gold or Silver Mine ſhould be found in England as might afford five thouſand Pounds per day throughout the year, it would not do the Nation near ſo much good, as theſe Expedients, if proſecuted.

2. That it is the greateſt thing of ſuch a kind, and eaſieſt to be accompliſht that hath been offered to the King and Parliament, to promote the Wealth, Strength, and Safety of the Kingdom; ſince in it the Woollen Manufacture hath been encouraged.

3. That the ſaid Expedients are feiſible and practicable; which being ſo, it muſt needs be ſome extraordinary and inordinate Affection that muſt force any man to oppoſe it.

4. That 'tis in vain to endeavour to ſuppreſs and deſtroy the Houſes or Schooles of Debauchery, whilſt the major part are Oppoſers and Enemies to the Houſes of Induſtry, which may [Page] afford a better Imployment and honeſter life to the Inhabitants, who ought to be removed from one to the other. And certainly if ſuch publick Labours and Endeavours as will thus promote the greateſt Happineſs of a Nation be contemned and diſcouraged, it will be enough to diſhearten all noble and publick Spirits, and render them Objects for the Scorn and Deriſion of the baſeſt of Men.

Wherefore, to prevent this deſtructive Evil, we ſhall with all hearty Affection and Zeal to the publick recommend the ſaid Expedients to all good People in the Nation, of what Eſtate or Quality ſoever, viz.

1. To the pooreſt and moſt indigent, becauſe thereby they and their Children, and their Childrens Children ſhall never want an honeſt Imployment, Food, Rayment, nor Habitation if uncharitable People do not hinder.

2. To the pious and religious, becauſe thereby an happy Reformation in the Lives and Converſations of many Thouſands will be accompliſhed, if the Friends to Debauchery do not hinder.

3. To the Breeders of Wool, becauſe thereby they will have quick Markets for their Wool as faſt as it grows and ariſes, if the neglect of practical Expedients do not hinder.

4. To the Clothiers, becauſe thereby all the Wool of England, and what Scotland and Ireland have to ſpare will be ſecured from being exported, and they may have it wrought upon cheaper Terms than before, as faſt as they need it, having their Labourers partly maintained by a publick Stock, &c.

5. To the Drapers and Merchants, becauſe they may have their Cloth, and afford it on cheaper terms than thoſe that have ſupplanted us.

6. To the Farmers, &c. becauſe they may ſave ſix pence in every twelve pence of what they now Contribute to the Livelyhood of the Poor, and may have better Markets for what they have to ſpare, ſince ſo many thouſands will near the matter Earn, and Pay for all they Eat, and Drink, and Wear, which before had all for Begging, Lying, and Diſſembling.

[Page]7. To the City of London in particular, whoſe Trade and Treaſure will be near doubled, by reaſon of that double quantity of Cloth that will be Exported, by means whereof, the Returns will be of double value in Commodity or Treaſure, &c.

8. To the Kings moſt Excellent Majeſty, whoſe Revenue by the Increaſe of Cuſtomes will be proportionably increaſed, if want of Encouragement do not hinder.

9. And to the whole Kingdom in general, becauſe, beſides the Increaſe of Seamen and Navies of Ships, for its Defence Strength, and Safety; Wealth and Treaſure will Increaſe therein, at leaſt thirty or forty hundred thouſand pounds every year more than it did; if thoſe that are regardleſs of the Nations Weal, do not hinder, with a baſe intention to promote their own Private and Particular Lucre.

Wherefore, with ſubmiſſion to better Judgments, we will conclude with the Words of St. Paul, upon the whole Matter; Whatſoever things are true, whatſoever things are honeſt, whatſoever things are juſt, whatſoever things are pure, whatſoever things are lovely, whatſoever things are of good Report; if there be any Vertue, and if there be any Praiſe, think on theſe things.

FINIS.

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§

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THE PROPOSALS FOR PROMOTING THE WOOLLEN-MANUFACTORY, PROMOTED.

Further making it appear, that the Nation will thereby Increaſe in Wealth, at leaſt 5000 l. per day, for every day in the year on which it is lawful to Labour.

And that the Strength and Safety of the King and Kingdom, together with a moſt happy Reformation will be accompliſhed therein.

All which is moſt plainly demonſtrated,

By ſeveral Well-wiſhers thereunto, Inhabitants and Citizens of London.

Licenſed, April 29. 1679. RO. L'ESTRANGE.

LONDON, Printed for Langley Curtis on Ludgate-Hill, MDCLXXIX.

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Title statement

The proposals for promoting the woollen-manufactory, promoted Further making it appear, that the nation will thereby increase in wealth, at least 5000 l. per day, for every day in the year on which it is lawful to labour. And that the strength and safety of the king and kingdom, together with a most happy reformation will be accomplished therein. All which is most plainly demonstrated, by several well-wisheres thereunto, inhabitants and citizens of London. Licensed, April 29. 1679. Ro. L'Estrange.

Haines, Richard, 1633-1685.

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1679

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2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

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A70234

ID [STC]

Wing H205A

ID [STC]

Wing P3737

ID [STC]

ESTC R177704

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99827619

ID [PROQUEST]

99827619

ID [VID]

32041

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— The proposals for promoting the woollen-manufactory, promoted Further making it appear, that the nation will thereby increase in wealth, at least 5000 l. per day, for every day in the year on which it is lawful to labour. And that the strength and safety of the king and kingdom, together with a most happy reformation will be accomplished therein. All which is most plainly demonstrated, by several well-wisheres thereunto, inhabitants and citizens of London. Licensed, April 29. 1679. Ro. L'Estrange., Haines, Richard, 1633-1685..

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[2], 6 p.

printed for Langley Curtis on Ludgate-Hill,. London :: MDCLXXIX. [1679]. (By Richard Haines.) (Identified on UMI microfilm "Early English books, 1641-1700" reel 1849 as Wing H205A, and on reel 1957 as Wing P3737.) (Reproductions of the originals in the British Library ("Early English books, 1641-1700" reel 1849), and the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery (reel 1957).)

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