THAT it being of so great Importance to this Nation to Encourage and Support the Plantations, it will be of ab­solute Necessity to have them plentifully supplied with Ne­groes, by whose Labour and Strength all the Commo­dities of those Countries are produced, which Producti­on is all clear Gains to this Nation, and better than the Mines of Gold and Silver are to the Spaniards.

There is not a Negro but produces as much Commodity, either Su­gar, Indigo, Tobacco, &c. as will load one Tun of Shipping, the In­crease of which Product will also largely encrease the Consumption of the English Woollen Manufacture, and augment the Revenue of the Crown.

A great Quantity of the Product of our Plantation-Commodities, will enable the English Merchant to make large Exportations to Forreign Markets, and put them into a Capacity to undersell all other Nations that vye with us in the same Commodities, which will not only discou­rage their Plantations, but greatly encourage our own.

Since the African Company are so very desirous to be Establisht, the better, as they say, to preserve the Gold Trade, and demand a Duty to maintain their Forts and Castles at Gambio, and on the Gold Coast: We the Planters do say, that we are willing to pay such a Duty as this Honourable House shall deem necessary for the Trade to Gambio and the Gold Coast; viz. from Cape Blanco to the River Vultus.

Therefore since the Plantations are not against paying a Duty for that Trade, they Humbly hope, that what is of undoubted Necessity for their Support, may be had cheap, plentiful and easie; desiring only that the Coast from River Vultus to Angola, and Cape Good-hope, may be free and open for all the Planters and Merchants of this Nation to trade to, without any Duty or Incumbrances laid on them by the Company, in regard, in those Places there are no Forts, nor will the Natives suffer any to be built, nor are they needful, as hath been found true by a long Experience of Trade with the Natives of those Countries, who always treat civilly, and deal honestly with all Persons that come amongst them to Trade.

The Company not being at any charge to maintain Forts or Castles in the Places, from River Vultus to Cape Good-hope, it will be a great Hard­ship, and a heavy Tax on the Plantations, to pay a Duty to their Preju­dice, only to assist and help maintain the African Company in their Trade.

The Planters being humbly of Opinion, that the Interest of the Plan­tations are of infinitely greater concern to be preserved, than any Com­pany with a Joint-stock can pretend to.