British Committees, Commissions, and Councils of Trade and Plantations , 1622-1675 Part 2

[Footnote 1: Among others, The Advancement of Merchandize or certain propositions for the improvement of the trade of this Commonwealth, humbly presented to the Right Honorable the Council of State by Thomas Viollet, of London, Goldsmith, 1651. This rare pamphlet was drawn up by Viollet when connected with the Mint in the Tower and sent to the Council of State, evidently in ma.n.u.script form. Most of the papers composing this pamphlet were transmitted by the Council of State to the Council of Trade. For Viollet see Cal. State Papers, Domestic, 1650-1651, 1659-1660.]

[Footnote 2: The Council of Trade acc.u.mulated in this and other ways a considerable ma.s.s of books and papers, but this material for its history has entirely disappeared.]

[Footnote 3: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1650, p. 399; 1651, pp. 16, 29, 38, 107, 230; 1651-1652, pp. 87. The first suggestion of this committee was as early as January 1650, Commons' Journal, VI, p. 347.]

[Footnote 4: Guildhall, Journal of the Proceedings of the Common Council, Vol. 41, ff. 45, 55; Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1651, pp. 198, 247-249, 270-271; Inderwick, The Interregnum, ch. II.]

[Footnote 5: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1651-1652, pp. 470-472, 479-481.]

[Footnote 6: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1652-1653, p. 282.]

[Footnote 7: British Museum, Add. MSS., 5138, f. 145.]

[Footnote 8: Guildhall, Repertories of the Court of Aldermen, 61, p.

152^{b}.]

[Footnote 9: Guildhall, Journal of the Proceedings of the Common Council, Vol. 41, pp. 67^{b}, 68.]

[Footnote 10: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1651-1652, pp. 232, 235. The question was as to whether or not the Turkey trade could best be carried on by a company "as now," or by free trade, as in the case of Portugal and Spain. Able arguments in favor of free trade were brought forward, and when later the question of a monopoly of the Greenland whale fis.h.i.+ng came up, the Council of State admitted free adventurers to a share in the business. Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1653-1654, p. 379; 1654, p. 16.]

[Footnote 11: Commons' Journal, VI, p. 140.]

[Footnote 12: Commons' Journal, VI, p. 361.]

[Footnote 13: Commons' Journal, VII, p. 41.]

[Footnote 14: Commons' Journal, VII, p. 220.]

[Footnote 15: Commons' Journal, VII, pp. 283, 284, 285.]

[Footnote 16: Commons' Journal, VII, pp. 343-344; Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1653-1654, pp. 297-298.]

[Footnote 17: Commons' Journal, VII, pp. 652, 654, 655; Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1658-1659, p. 349.]

[Footnote 18: Commons' Journal, VII, pp. 800, 849.]

[Footnote 19: P.C.R., Charles II, Vol. I, May 3/13, 1649--September 28, 1660. Meetings of Privy Councils during the Interregnum were held at Castle Elizabeth, St. Hillary, Breda (1649-1650), Bruges (1656, 1658), Brussels (1659), Breda (1660), Canterbury (May 27, 1660), Whitehall (May 31, 1660).]

[Footnote 20: Cal. State Papers, Col., 1574-1660, pp. 335, 352, 366; Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1651-1652, p. 43.]

[Footnote 21: Cal. State Papers, Col., 1574-1660, p. 394; Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1651-1652, pp. 67, 232, 235, 426; 1652-1653, pp. 18-27.]

[Footnote 22: Cal. State Papers, Col., 1574-1660, pp. 373-402, _pa.s.sim_.]

[Footnote 23: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1651-1652, pp. 266, 350, 396, 472; 1652-1653, pp. 18, 27, 160, 171.]

[Footnote 24: Commons' Journal, VII, pp. 19, 287. On May 6, 1653, a new commission of trade was proposed by the Council of State but no appointments are given. Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1653-1654, pp. 310, 344.]

[Footnote 25: Commons' Journal, VII, pp. 308, 319, 341, 375.]

[Footnote 26: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1654, pp. 61, 285, 316.]

[Footnote 27: Brit. Mus. Add. MSS., 11411, ff. 11^{b}-12^{b}.]

[Footnote 28: That such an outcome was antic.i.p.ated is evident from the concluding words of the "Overture." "If his Highness shall think fit to const.i.tute a council for the general Trade of these Nations and the several Interests relating thereunto, these seaven may properly be of that number, the employment being of the same nature and therefore will rather informe then divert them who ought indeed to be busyed or conversant in no other Affaires than the matters of Trade."]

[Footnote 29: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1655, pp. 27, 133, 240.]

[Footnote 30: Thurloe, State Papers, IV, p. 177; British Museum, Add.

MSS., 12438, iii; Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1655, p. 240, 1655-1656, pp.

1, 2, 54, 73, 100, 114, 115, 141, 156, 162, 188, 252, 275, 297, 327, 382. "We might speak also of the famed 'Committee of Trade' which has now begun its sessions 'in the old House of Lords.' An a.s.sembly of Dignitaries, Chief Merchants, Political Economists, convened by summons of his Highness; consulting zealously how the Trade of this country may be improved. A great concernment of this commonwealth 'which his Highness is eagerly set upon.' They consulted of 'Swedish copperas' and such like; doing faithfully what they could." Cromwell's Letters and Speeches, II, p. 202.]

[Footnote 31: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1655-1656, p. 113; 1656-1657, p. 556; 1657-1658, pp. 308, 589; 1657-1658, p. 69.]

[Footnote 32: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1655-1656, p. 318.]

[Footnote 33: Commons' Journal, VII, pp. 442, 452, 460.]

[Footnote 34: Cal. State Papers, Col., 1574-1660, pp. 436, 439, 440 (2), 441, 443, 447, 453.]

[Footnote 35: Brit. Mus., Add. MSS., 12438, iii.]

[Footnote 36: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1658-1659, p. 349.]

[Footnote 37: Commons' Journal, VII, pp. 442, 452.]

[Footnote 38: Commons' Journal, VII, p. 596.]

[Footnote 39: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1655-1656, pp. 46, 65, 318, 351.]

[Footnote 40: Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1657-1658, pp. 51, 66.]

[Footnote 41: Cal. State Papers, Col., 1574, 1660, pp. 445, 447, 448, 449, 450, 452, 453, 455, 456, 458, 459, 460, 461, 464, 465, 468, 470, 477; Brit. Mus. Egerton, 2395, ff. 123, 136, 142, 148-151, 157; Add.

MSS., 18986, f. 258.]

[Footnote 42: Note to the report of May 11, 1660, is as follows: "By order of the Councill of State sitting and taking care of the government in the interval between the suppression of the Rump of the Parliament and the return of his Majesty which was not many days before the date of this report." Egerton MSS., 2395, f. 263. Probably the recall not the actual landing at Dover is meant.]

CHAPTER III.

The Proposals of the Merchants: Noell and Povey.

Between the colonial and commercial activities of the later years of the Interregnum and the corresponding activities during the early years of the Restoration no hard and fast line can be drawn. The policy of control adopted by Charles II can be traced to the agitation of men, chiefly merchants of London and others familiar with the colonies, who since 1655 had become impressed with the possibilities of the New World as a field for profitable ventures in trade and commerce, and desired, whether under a republic or a monarchy, the cooperation and aid of the government. Among the leaders of this movement were Martin Noell and Thomas Povey.