headlong in a Life of ſo much Peril to themſelves, and ſo deſtructive to the Navigation of the trading World; to remedy which Evil there ſeems to be but two Ways, either to find Employment for the great Numbers of Seamen turn’d adrift at the Concluſion of a War, and thereby prevent their running into ſuch Undertakings, or to guard ſufficiently the Coaſt of Africa, the Weſt-Indies, and other Places whereto Pyrates reſort.
I cannot but take Notice in this Place, that during this long Peace, I have not ſo much as heard of a Dutch Pyrate: It is not that I take them to be honeſter than their Neighbours; but when we account for it, it will, perhaps, be a Reproach to our ſelves for our want of Induſtry: The Reaſon I take to be, that after a War, when the Dutch Ships are laid up, they have a Fiſhery, where their Seamen find immediate Buſineſs, and as comfortable Bread as they had before. Had ours the ſame Recourſe in their Neceſſities, I’m certain we ſhould find the fame Effect from it; for a Fiſhery is a Trade that cannot be overſtock’d; the Sea is wide enough for us all, we need not quarrel for Elbow-room: Its Stores are infinite, and will ever reward the Labourer. Bsſides, our own Coast, for the moſt Part, ſupply the Dutch, who employ ſeveral hundred Sail conſtantly in the Trade, and ſo ſell to us our own Fiſh. I call it our own, for the Sovereignty of the Britiſh Seas, are to this Day acknowledged us by the Dutch, and all the neighbouring Nations; wherefore, if there was a publick Spirit among us, it would be well worth our while to eſtabliſh a National Fiſhery, which would be the best Means in the World to prevent Pyracy, employ a Number of the Poor, sand eaſe the Nation of a great Burthen, by lowering the Price of Proviſion in general, as well as of ſeveral other Commodities.
I need not bring any Proofs of what I advance, viz. that there are Multitudes of Seamen at this Day unemploy'd, it as but too evident by their ſtraggling, and begging all over the Kingdom. Nor is it ſo much their Inclination to Idleneſs, as their own hard Fate, in being cast off after their Work is done, to ſtarve or ſteal. I have not known a Man of