Incomplete report on foreign tin trade John Drummond (Commission agent in Amsterdam) c. 353 words The Newton Project Oxford 2017 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 Before 23 September 1706, c. 353 words. Mint

[Writer and approximate date deduced from an obvious reference to this report in Newton's letter to Treasurer Godolphin of 23 September 1706 in T. 1/99.97, MINT00949 (NC, 4: 478-80).]

The production of German tin has been much reduced by the conscription of miners for the war. Imports from Asia have also dropped considerably. Strongly advises against raising the price, however, as this will only be an incentive to the Germans and Dutch to revive production. Cites the example of artificially high sugar prices maintained by the English 1695-1703, which moved the Dutch to a massive increase in sugar importation from Surinam at a lower price, and to plant Java with sugar, with such success that they now look set to ruin the English plantations. The [Dutch-controlled] tin mines of Siam and Malacca are larger than the Cornish ones and yield better tin, so it would be unwise to risk a repetition.

 MINT 19/3/577, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/3/577 Before 23 September 1706 English Clerical Hand MintTin Trade Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott
577

The quantity of German Tin is uncertain, the Mines yeildingyielding OOne yeare more then Another, and at present many workmen being pressed to the Warr, the quantity hath not been of late years so great as formerly, and Concerning East India Tin, Some yeares agoe above 300 Tun came home in One year, Whereas Last year there Came home but 80 Tun and this year as yet only 50 Tun, what may Come in a great ship yet Expected from Batavia is yet uncertain, but I don't belivebelieve it will be must the Price I was ordered at the Treasury to keep at, was £4412 to £45 ꝑper 100ll pounds states Weighouse Weight and if wee Drive the price higher, it will both be an Incouragement to the East India Company, to bring home. Large parcells, and for the Mines in Germany to work faster. The Driveing of Goods (which severall Different Nations of the World afford) up to a high price at one place, proves Generally the Ruin of that place where the price is drove so high of which a Clear Evidence has happen'd in my time, for from the year 1695 to 1703 the English Plantation sugars were kept up generally above 40 to 56sh shillings ꝑper 100li in England, and above 10d ꝑper lpound here this has made the Dutch at Surinam whenever made above 5000 hh:s sugar yearly, bring home, 12 to 15000hh:s for severall Late years, and what has and is Like to prooveprove more fatall to the English Plantations, is our Dutch E:East I:India Company upon these high prices have planted a great part of the Island of Iava with sugar and have brought home the 3 years past. 14 to 1600 Tuns yearly of fine Blanco sugars, where not many years ago they used to carry Loafe sugar from this to Batavia, and the East India Company is resolved so to Enlarge and Encourage the sugar Plantations that it must prove very Disadvantageous to the to the English Plantations, for this Excellent Blanco sugar does not Cost the Company free on Board at

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