Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 2]
Mr. Cawthorne
Undertaking, among various other great & good Effects may be made to answer, that of repelling the alarming Temerity of the Americans, And rectifying that grand political faux pas of Administration in restraining their Trade, by the New Custom-House regulations &c, which immediately affecting their Interests, would naturally excite their Resentment, and by contracting their Industry fernish them with leisure to render it as mortifying as possible; for to this unfortunate Mistake has been principally owing the late detrimental Disturbances in those parts :-- And tho' this may be the least of the Important Benefits deduceable from your discoveries, I mention it as a matter that might not so soon occur to every one, And as an object, which in all probability the Ministry have very much at heart: --
A permanent Establishment in the Southern Latitudes would also in some measure repair the present decaying Situation of Commercial affairs at home, which have lately been rather too little considered, and which at all times should engross the principal attention of Administration, Commerce bring indisputably the vital part of the Riches & Importance of this Country, and the Rudder by which we should be govern'd in all our political determinations; for whatever is repugnant to our Commercial Interests, is so, to the very essence of our respectability & Opulence; & This in it's very nature is so subject to Reverses & Fluctuations, That it behoveth us perpetually to devise new Channels & Resources, for the preservation & Enlargement of it, that we may universally retain the same Weight & Authority in the grand Scale of foreign Connexions, we have so long, And the same domestic Affluence & Happiness we have hitherto so largely, enjoy'd: All which it is absolutely impossible to do by any other means, -
Should these coincide with your's, and the Ideas of the Right Honorable Encouragers of the Expedition, neither will be displeas'd at my venturing to Suggest, that your present plan might be made to answer the Greatness of your desires, much more amply, as to the National & general Advantages of it, by including in your Suite a person appointed by the Board of Trade under the Character of Commercial Intelligencer, whose province should be (leaving You to pursue Your philosophical Disquisitions) to consider & digest the Errors & Deficiencies in the System of Commerce now Subsisting between this Country & the various places & Nations you will necessarily visit, w.th the alterations & Improvements requisite for the Enlargement of the Same, - Explore new Sources of Trade every where, and particularly to investigate & display the Commercial Benefits, that may