STATE PAPERS. 155
ds.tna^e exceeded what you could but that not one merchant had as have believed : That your royal yet reaped the fm a Ueft fruit from hitfhnefs, in your aftonifhment, this negociation. aJded, in terms full of cordial af- That with grief they behold
fcclion, that if things fhould conti- their hopes of protcftion diminifli nue as they were, your dear coun- daily, rather than increafe : That iry, in whofe welfare you tcolc To it is to be feared the evil will much concern, having adopted it grow worfe and vvorfe, and rife to alone for your country, would be the utmoft height: That feveral ruined : That you would employ fliips of war, which have returned your utmoft endeavours to obtain to the ports of the republic from reparation of pad lolfes, and would their voyages, have been difarmed immediately take fuch means for and laid up without being re- that end, as (hould be confillent placed by others : That it is evi- withthchonour of the republic, and dent to a demondration, that the the advantage of commerce, which aforefaid illicit pr<.£lices mull give fhould always haveyour protedtion; a mortal blow to commerce iii and (hat you would juftify the fin- general, and to our country iq. cerity of your promifes by fafts. particular: That thoufands of per-
That the deputies, on their re- fons, who were pofiefTed of great turn home, made a report of the wealth, or in eafy circumftances, fuccefs of their coramiflion to their are thereby fallen to decay; and principals, who were equally pleaf- if a fpcedy remedy be not ap- ed, and certain of feeing the face of plied, not only eminent merchants, affairs foon changed ; but their joy but fwarms of retail traders, will and expedlation is turned into bit- infallibly be ruined: That by this ternefs, which is the more fenfibly decay of trade many hundred me- felt, as they now again find them- chanics are deprived of work, fclves underaheceffityof importun- particularly ihofe employed in the ing your royal highnefs, for the filk way, in fugar-houfe?, dying^ third time, by exhibiting a lift of &c. who confequently Janguilh ia feventy of their (hips taken by the idienefs.
Englilh fince that time, amounting That at prefent (and what to near thirteen millions of florins : will it be in the middle of winter ?) That thefe veiTi-Is have been con- agreat number of creditable tradef- demned, fome in the three king- men are forced to fubfid: on the doms, others in the Bri^afh colo- charity of their re/pedive com- nies, and elfewbere, .under the moft panies, and of the hofpitals : That frivolous pretences, in contempt of the number of thefe neceffitous ^11 law, contrary' to juftice and people increafes daily, whillT: the reafon, as well 'as. the treaties in revenues of the charitable founda- force between the two nations : tions decreafe, becaufe they are That being informed an accommo- obliged to give alms to fuch num- dation was negociating with the bers, and becaufe they are deprived Britilh minillry, the body of mer- of the contributions they ufed to chants flattered tliemfelves they received in better times: That if fhould obtain by this treaty, an iti- is natural for e^ery one, who fore- demnification of their great loiTes ; fees a threatning lofs, to atten4
rather
