British Committees, Commissions, and Councils of Trade and Plantations , 1622-1675 - Part 11
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Part 11

13. And you are to receive and Consider all Propositions or Overtures concerning new Inventions or Improvements in any Art, Trade or Manufacture, or concerning the regulating or Securing of Trade, and Improoving of Navigation that shall be offered unto you by any person whatsoever.

[Sidenote: To enquire into the State of his Ma^{ts} forreigne Plantacons.]

14. You are strictly to enquire, and informe yourselves by the best wayes and Meanes you can of the State and Condition of Our said Forreigne Collonyes and Plantations. By whome they are Governed and what Commissions, Powers and Instruccons have been granted by Us, or by any of Our Royall Predecessors to that End, and how the same have been Executed and observed.

[Sidenote: To enquire What Councills a.s.semblies and Courts of Indicature there are in them.]

15. You are likewise to enquire and informe yourselves. What Councills, a.s.semblyes and Courts of Indicature for Civill and Criminall Causes there are within the said Collonyes and Plantations, and of what Nature and Kind.

[Sidenote: What Courts of Admiralty.]

16. What Courts of Indicature they have relating to the Admiralty.

[Sidenote: What their Legislative and Executive Powers are.]

17. Where the Legislative and Executive Powers of their Governments are seated.

[Sidenote: What Statutes and Lawes they have.]

18. What Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances they have made, and are now in force.

[Sidenote: What number of Horse and Foot.]

19. What number of Horse and Foot they have and whether Trayned Bands, Bands, or Standing Forces.

[Sidenote: What Castles and Forts and how provided.]

20. What Castles or Forts they have, how situated and what Stores and Provisions they are furnished with.

[Sidenote: What strength their Neighbours have.]

21. What strength their Bordering Neighbours have by Sea and Land.

[Sidenote: What Correspondency they keep with them.]

22. What Correspondency they keep with their Neighbours.

[Sidenote: What Armes Ammunition &c. have been sent unto them.]

23. What Armes, Ammunition, and Stores have been sent unto the said Collonyes and Plantations upon our Accompt, when received, how Employed, and what part of them is there remayning and where.

[Sidenote: What Moneys have been paid for Armes &c. and Fortifications.]

24. What Moneys have been paid or appointed to be paid by Us, or Leavyed within the said severall Collonys, and Plantacons for and towards the buying of Armes, or making and Mayntaining of any Fortifications, or Castles, And how the said Moneys have been expended.

[Sidenote: The Boundaryes and Contents of their Lands.]

25. What the Boundaryes, and Contents of their Lands are.

[Sidenote: What Mynes, Commodityes and Manufactures they have.]

26. What Mynes they have of Gold, Silver, Copper, Tynne, Ledd, or Iron.

What Commodityes there are of their production, growth, or Manufacture.

What Materialls for Shipping and whether Salt-petre is or may be produced in any of the said Collonyes or Plantations. And if so, At what Rates it may be delivered in England.

[Sidenote: Whether Spices, Gumms, Drugs if Planted will not thrive.]

27. Whether Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Cloves, Pepper, and other Spices, and Gumms, Druggs and Dying Stuffs which now grow in the East Indyes, and are brought from thence may not be planted and come to perfection in some of Our Collonyes, and Plantations in the West Indyes.

[Sidenote: What Rivers, Harbours &c. they have.]

28. What Rivers, Harbours, and Roads they have, and of What Depths, and Soundings.

[Sidenote: What Banks or Shoales for Fishing.]

29. What Banks, or Shoales they have upon, or neare their Coasts for Fishing.

[Sidenote: What number of Planters and Parishes.]

30. What number of Planters, Servants, and Slaves, and how many Parishes they have.

[Sidenote: What number of Whites and Blacks doe yearly come.]

31. What Number of English, Scotch, or Irish doe yearely come, and what Blacks, or Slaves, are brought unto them.

[Sidenote: What number of People dye yearely.]

32. What Number of People doe yearely dye within the said Collonyes and Plantations both Whites, and Blacks.

33. What Number of Shipps doe Yearely Trade to and from the said Collonyes and Plantations, and of what Burthen they are.

[Sidenote: What number of Ships Trade yearely.]

[Sidenote: What obstructions they have and Advantages may be gained to their Trade.]

34. What Obstructions there are, and What advantages may be gained to the Improovement of their Trade and Navigation.

[Sidenote: What Dutyes are Charged upon Goods imported, or exported.]

35. What Rates and Dutyes are charged and payable upon any Goods or Commodityes exported out of the said Collonyes and Plantations, whether of their owne Growth and Manufacture or otherwyse. As also upon Goods imported.

[Sidenote: What Publick Revenues doe arise among them.]

36. What Revenues doe or may arise unto Us within the said Collynes and Plantations, and of what nature they are. By whome Collected, and how answered and Accompted unto Us.

[Sidenote: How they instruct the People in Religion, and pay their Ministry.]

37. And what Course they take about Instructing of their People in the Christian Religion. And what Provision is made for the Maintenance of their Ministers.