In asserting those privileges, immunities, free- A.D. 1668. doms, and exemptions of any kind, which, by the wisdom and vigilance of any former age, have been gained or capitulated for: In taking care of the just dealings of our merchants abroad, that the manufactures exported be without fraud, merchantable, and good; that the credit of them may be as current as our coin: In endeavouring, as much as possible, to exonerate our own commodities of and from all such taxes and impositions abroad as are discouraging to the trade of them; and in watching, and vigorously opposing, any new tax to be laid on them, different either from ancient custom, or from the articles of commerce in force between any respective State and England: In considering how and by what means we may, with most prudence, discourage and prevent any manufactures of our neighbours which may be a prejudice to England; especially, if any part of those manufactures be dependent upon us, or upon any neighbouring state or prince in amity with us: In considering how to increase our own manufactures, and how to invite or reward the bring A.D. 1668. ing in or inventing of others; particularly such as are most necessary for us, or with which we may supply our neighbours: In keeping a vigilant and constant correspondence abroad for carrying on the aforesaid ends: Lastly. In giving all encouragement to the promoting of our fishery and advancing our plantations, the increase of our shipping and multiplying our seamen. He told the king, that many of these things did not lie within the prospect of the merchant, much less within his power, care, or consideration; and, therefore, (the distinction being made between the magistrate's and the merchant's duty,) he proposed that, instead of a committee of the privy council, a select council might be established, whose employment should be to take care of the welfare of our colonies, and the trade and navigation of the kingdom; to receive and consider all propositions offered them for the benefit and improvement of commerce and navigation; and to present their opinion and advice upon the same to the king: that the council should consist of such gentlemen as would be more concerned in the generality of the trade of the nation, and the right management of it, than in the profit of any particular trade, which might A.D. 1668. possibly have too much sway with private merchants that their commission should be probationary, and that the powers of it should not be continued above twelve months; by which the members might know, that unless they gave some evidence of their regard to the commission, and of their prosecuting with diligence the design of the trust, they must not expect to be continued. He drew up many regulations for this council, and delivered to the king a list of the persons whom he thought best qualified for being members of it. Accordingly, from these persons a Council of choice was made of a president, vice-president, pointed. and nine other counsellors. Lord Ashley's friend, the Earl of Sandwich, was appointed president, with a salary of eight hundred pounds; the vice-president had six hundred pounds; and the others five hundred pounds each. The commis- · sions were renewed from year to year, and the Earl of Sandwich continued president. trade ap of French The French ambassador, about this time, de- Memorial livered a memorial to the king, signed by several merchants. French merchants, complaining that the custom * The list, with the aforesaid reasons, is still remaining among his papers. A.D. 1668. house officers entered their houses, and seized their silks and other goods for want of having paid duties at their importation; and that the officers were countenanced and protected in their conduct by Lord Ashley, chancellor of the exchequer. The merchants insisted that, when the goods were once lodged in their houses, they should be privileged from a search or seizure; but, this being contrary to the laws, such a partiality could not be openly showed them. The memorial, therefore, had no effect to the prejudice of Lord Ashley. Whatever secret offence his conduct might give to the English court, it durst not openly blame him for enforcing the laws; especially as the French fashions were becoming very prevalent, to the great expense of the nation, the increase of luxury, and the prejudice of our manufactures. A.D. 1669. ner of en It may not be improper here to relate a cirley's man- cumstance which shows how far Lord Ashley was from imitating the French customs. In this of Tuscany. year Cosmo de Medici, the Prince of Tuscany, tertaining the Prince came into England. He was received with all possible marks of distinction, and entertained by the principal nobility, particularly those who belonged to the court. As many of them were great admirers of the French taste, as well as A.D. 1669. friends to the interest of France, they had, with the servile maxims of that country, imbibed its luxury; and this especially appeared in their tables. When Lord Ashley invited the prince, he gave him a splendid, but a truly English entertainment. His dinner was dressed entirely in the English manner, and he told his highness that he would not trouble him with any apologies: others might treat him like a Frenchman, his desire was to entertain him like an Englishman. The prince politely answered, "it was the greatest compliment he could make him ;" and, after he returned into Italy, he sent Lord Ashley, every year, a present of wine, as a testimony of his regard. In the session of parliament at the latter end Committee of the year 1669, Lord Ashley moved the house of lords to take into consideration the reasons and grounds of the fall of rents and decay of trade; the points upon which he had before delivered *The prince was so well pleased, that be desired Lord Ashley to give him the bill of fare, which he kept by him so long, that, when the late Lord Shaftesbury was at Florence in 1711, and Mr. Molesworth, the British minister there, went of lords on the state of rents and trade. |