_COD E Feb. , 1672-3 . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.3) May it please your Lop. In pursuance of your Lop. reference signifyed to us by S=r= Rob=t= Howard , wee have considered of y=e= Letter of his Excellency y=e= Lord L=t= of Ireland & y=e= Paper annent to it ; (COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.4) and having fully weigh'd y=e= matters therein contained , wee doe humbly present your Lop. w=th= y=e= following state thereof . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.5) The severall Plantac~ons in America having been first Planted from this Kingdome of England w=th= the losse of y=e= Lives of many men , & a vast Expence of Treasure , the trade therefore of those plantac~ons hath been by severall Lawes & Acts of Parliam=t= appropriated to England alone . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.6) And this is also y=e= practice of other Nations to keep their plantac~ons enter'd to themselves . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.7) That w=ch= is now proposed on behalfe of y=e= Irish nation , That they may have Liberty for a certain number of ships during the present warre or his Ma=ts= Pleasure to trade to y=e= Plantac~ons and unlade in Ireland , paying his Ma=tie= there the halfe penny p~ pound , notw=th=standing y=e= Lawes in force to y=e= contrary , because of y=e= want of trade in that kingdome by reason of y=e= warrs , $will $be {TEXT:wilbe} very prejudiciall to y=e= trade & interest of this nation . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,54.8) For by such an allowance y=e= Kingdome of Ireland will have y=e= oportunity of vending not only their owne manufactures , but those also of other parts of Europe in y=e= Plantac~ons , where only those of England were before sold . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.10) And their navigating cheaper then y=e= English because of their plenty of Provisions will at least put them in a condition to undersell y=e= English , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.11) and so y=e= manufacture of England must necessarily ly upon their hands , and y=e= navigation thereof be much obstructed . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.12) This will unavoydably create y=e= setting up of Ireland in Trade and Wealth on y=e= basis of y=e= Ruine of this nation w=th=out any increas of Revenue or advantage to his Ma=tie= , but very much y=e= contrary . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.13) For all traders to y=e= Plantac~ons will more readily goe for Ireland where they may expect better advantages by Bills of Store & otherwise from y=e= farmers of y=e= Revenue there , then y=e= Constituc~on of y=e= present management of y=e= Customes in England will allow of , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.14) & consequently will much lessen his Ma=ts= Customes heer in Linnen , Brandyes & other Comodityes w=ch= pay great duty in importac~on , & are hence exported to y=e= Plantac~ons , & make Ireland y=e= staple of all Plantac~on Comodityes . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.15) As to what is alledged on behalfe of y=e= sd~ Kingdome of Ireland in relac~on to y=e= present warre , as an argum=t= for granting them y=e= Liberty desired during y=e= Warre , will easily be answered when it is considered that the whole burden of y=e= warre lyes on y=e= Kingdome of England , & that it partakes more of y=e= effects of y=e= warre by hindrance of trade than Ireland can doe . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.16) The danger w=ch= is intimated in y=e= paper , of ships coming from y=e= plantac~ons to Ireland , and from thence hither according as they are obliged by their bonds , being chiefly attested on account of Privateers infesting y=e= Irish Coast , wee doe for that $matter {TEXT:matter_matter} humbly present to your Lop. That no Ship goeing from England to y=e= Plantac~on , or coming from thence , can be any wayes directly bound for Ireland w=th=out absolute forfeiture of their bonds , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.17) & therefore it may be supposed that no ship puts into Ireland but upon some extrordinary necessity , or in expectac~on of more then ordinary advantages . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,55.18) Besides all this , If y=e= Liberty of twenty ships should be granted w=ch= is insinuated as ships of small Burden , they would easily be furnish=t= w=th= ships of Greater Burden from y=e= New England men , & others who have found y=e= encouragem=t= from y=e= farm=rs= of Ireland to y=e= ruin of y=e= fair Trader here . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.20) Nor can it be duly kept to a Limited number of Ships considering y=e= convenience & number of their Ports , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.21) but it would in time amount to a gen=ll= Liberty . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.22) At least y=e= charge of collecting y=e= halfe-penny per pound in Ireland will neer ballance y=e= Revenue that will arise to his Ma=tie= thereby , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.23) and will certainly be a great losse in y=e= Customes heer . All w=ch= w=e= humbly submit to your Lo=p= . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.24) Rich. Temple . Will. Thomson . W=m=. Garway . F. Millington . John Ipton . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.25) Custome House , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.26) London , (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.27) February , 1672 . (COMMISS-E3-H,I,56.28)