The Upper House. 189

Provisions by Way of the neutral Ports, and not to prevent his good
Subjects from transporting their Commodities from any one of his
Islands Plantations, or Colonies, to any other thereof to the best
Advantage

That the said Act obliging the Exporter of any the Commodities
therein mentioned, before the shipping, or laying on Board the same
to take out Cockets expressing the Particulars thereof to declare
the Port or Place for which the said Commodities are designed,
and to become bound with two Sureties of known Residence in the
respective Colony or Plantation, and of known Ability to answer
the Penalty mentioned in such Bond, in treble the Value of such
Commodities that they shall not be landed or sold in any Parts
whatsoever, other than the Kingdom, Island Plantation, Colony,
Port, or Place respectively, for which the same shall be so declared,
and to return a Certificate according to the Directions of the said
Act that such Commodities have been so landed deprives him of
the Advantage of altering his Voyage from Advices he may receive
while he is laying such Commodities on Board, which in our Way of

U. H. J.
Liber No. 35
Dec. 14

Trade is generally some Months be the Gain by such Alteration or
the Loss by such Restriction ever so apparent nor can he change his
Market unless he first lands his Commodities at the Port or Place,
so declared, procures a Certificate thereof, enters into new Bond
with proper Sureties as aforesaid the Difficulties in doing which
must occasion such Delay and Expence as must probably frustrate
the End proposed: By these Means every Merchant or Adventurer
Inhabitant here is greatly discouraged from exporting our Grain
and Provisions, and every Stranger deterred from coming to trade
among us, in order to export them
That by this general Discouragement to Trade his Majesty's
Islands we are informed have at Times suffered greatly through
Want of Grain and Provisions, and tho' some few Individuals among
the Adventurers in Trade may have been benefitted, yet his Majesty's
Subjects in general both in those Islands, and the Plantations on the
Continent have been and must continue to be greatly grieved and
distressed
That the great Quantities of Grain and Provisions now perishing
on Hand must be entirely lost and Multitudes of People rendered
unable to pay the Taxes necessary for affording an adequate As-
sistance towards his Majesty's Service unless their Traders are
relieved from the above Restrictions, and Hardships, and have also
Liberty to export those Commodities to Madeira, Cadiz, and Lisbon,
which we humbly apprehend will not contribute to, or be any way
instrumental in supplying his Majesty's Enemies with Provisions
but will be of great and mutual Advantage to his Subjects, and
good, and faithful Allies

p. 228