Holograph copy of the report of the Committee on the Treaty of Commerce with France, dated 28 November 1674 (mainly consisting of a list of imports and exports and their value)
28 Nov. 1674. A scheme of the trade as it is at present carried on between England & France in the commodities of the native product & manufacture of each Country, calculated as exactly as possible in obedience to the commands of the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for the treaty of commerce with France, & humbly tendred to the their Lordships, being the intrinsick value of Goods Exported & Imported to & from France mentioned in fol. 5 & 6 of this Book
Quantities | Commodities exported from England into France | Value of Particulars | Total value of Exports. |
354 | 1. Wollen & silk Manufactures |
lib | |
354 | ps Norwich stuffs at 22s per ps | 708 | |
5564 | ps Serges & ppetuanas at 50s | 13910 | |
2288 | ps single Bays at 50s | 5720 | |
166 | ps small munkin Bays at 6℔ | 996 | |
466 | ps of small double Bays at 4℔ | 1864 | |
2140 | dozen men's worsted Hose at 40s | 4280 | |
832 | dozen mens worsted hose at 25s | 1040 | |
1170 | dozen childrens hose at 8s | 468 | |
400 | yards of Flanel at 1s | 20 | |
1200 | cwt Goads of Cotton at 9℔ | 10800 | |
112 | Long Cloaths at 10℔ | 1120 | |
42 | Short Cloaths at 8℔ | 336 | |
829 | Spanish Cloaths at 15℔ | 12435 | |
97 | Northern dozen double at 5℔ | 485 | |
69 | single northern dozen at 40s | 138 | |
13 | Devon dozen at 2℔ | 26 | |
173 | Cloth Rasher at 5℔ | 865 | |
6 | Pennistons at 3℔ | 18 | |
3585 | Kersies at 35s | 6273 | |
960lib | English wrought silk at 40s | 1920 | |
The Summ | 63422 | ||
This is the full of what was exported according to the custome house book in the Port of London from Michaelmas 1668 to ditto 1669. And for all England we calculate part more amoutning in all to | 84563℔. 13s. 4d | ||
Since 1669 the Exports as we conceive are diminished & not encreased. | |||
2. Other Commodities | |||
2500 | Fodder of Lead at 12℔ per Fodder | 30000 | |
6000 | Weight Tinn at 4℔ | 24000 | |
100 | Tun of Allome at 24℔ | 2400 | |
Calves skins & Leather | 10000 | ||
Several sorts of skins, Glew, Lanthorn leaves, Butter, Copperas Old shoes, Sea-coales, Tobacco pipes, Gloves, Red lead, Linseed, Candles, Iron ware, Haberdashers ware & other trivial commodities which may amount to per annum | 20000 | ||
The summ | 86400. 0. 0 | ||
Summ Total | 170963. 13. 4 | ||
Quantities | Commodities imported into England from France | Value of Particulars | Total value of imports |
1 Linnen & silk manufactures. | |||
60000 | ps Lockram & Dowlas at 6li per ps | 360000 | |
5000 | cwt Ells Normandy Canvas at 7li per cwt Ells | 35000 | |
17000 | cwt Ells Villery & Royalls Canvas at 6li per cwt | 102000 | |
<465v> | |||
2500 | per {illeg} | 1250 | |
1500 | p Died Linnen at 20s | 1500 | |
7604 | Years Diaper Tabling at 2s | 7760, 8s | |
33894 | Yards ditto Napkinning at 1s | 1694, 14 | |
1376 | dozen Buckerams at 50s | 3440 | |
1200 | Bolts Pole Davis at 15s | 900 | |
2820 | ps of old sheets at 5s | 705 | |
150000 | Of Wrought Silks at 40s | 300000 | |
Note that this year 1674 there hath been Received at the Port of Dover only, as we are informed, 15000li for Custome of wrought silkes, so that considering what may be convey'd away privately & that great quantities are worth from 3 to 4li the pound we believe the wrought silks may amount to much more then the value of what is above | 807250li 2s | ||
2 Other commmodites. | |||
11000 | Tunns French Wines one year with another cost 12℔ 10s per Tunn | ||
4000 | Tuns Brandy one year with another 20li per Tunn | 80000 | 217500. 0 |
160000 | Reames of Paper at 5s per Reame | 40000 | |
1500 | ps of Pruins at 4li | 6000 | |
400 | cwt Weight of Feathers at 5li | 2000 | |
5000 | cwt Of Kid skins at 3li | 15000 | |
3000 | Wey Salt at 2li per Wey | 6000 | |
6000 | cwt Weight of 9s per cwt | 2400 | |
Vinegar Rape Syder Wadd Cork Oakham Soape Turperntine, Capers, Olives, Temgulas, Parchment, Window-glass, Tearzells, Corn Fans, Basket rods, Boxwood, Cronia, Tartar, which may amount per annum at least to | 40000 | ||
Besides all manner of Toys for children & weomen Fans, Iessamin gloves, Laces, Pointlaces, Rich embroidered Garments & Rich embroidered Beds & other Vestments which are of an incredible value | 14400. 00 | ||
Total | 1136, 150. 2 |
By the account above, your Lordships may perceive that the Linnen & silk manufactures only imported from France, amount to above 800000li, & that the manufacture of wooll & silk exported from England thither do not amount to 85000li; As also that all the other Commodities of the product & manufactures of France imported to England amount to above 320000li, besides an incredible value of Toys, Rich Apparel, Pointlace &c: So that it is apparent that the exports of our native Commodities & manufactures to France are less in value by at the least One Million of pounds sterling, then the native Commodities & manufactures of France which we receive from then. And if it please your Lordships to reflect thereupon, your Lordships will easily discern the great prejudice the English nation hath susteined & the great advantage the French have & do dayly make by holding this Treaty in suspicion. This nation being upon the matter excluded trade thither, while in the meane time the French enjoy all, & as great advantages as they can reasonably expect by any treaty.
Source
MINT 19/3/465, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UKAfter 13 April 1696, c. 872 words.