N° IV.

INSTRUCTIONS for the COUNCIL of TRADE.

[From Mr. LAWRENCE's Papers, who was Agent to the Duke of ORMOND.]

FIRST, You are to take into your confi

deration all the native commodities of the

growth and production of this his majesty's kingdom of Ireland; and how they may be ordered, nourished, increased, and manufactured, to the employment of his majesty's people, and to the best advantage of the public; and to confider by what way, any of the manufactures in the faid kingdom are corrupted, debased, and disparaged; and by what probable means, they may be restored and maintained in their ancient goodnefs and reputation.

Secondly, You are to confider whether in the faid kingdom of Ireland the importation of foreign commodities doth not overbalance the exportation of fuch as are native; and how to advife and propound the most effectual means, that in the faid kingdom the importations may not exceed the exportations.

Thirdly,

Thirdly, You are to confider, how a manufacture of linen cloth and linen yarn may be advanced and settled in this kingdom, with most advantage to his majesty and his people.

Fourthly, You are to confider by what means the fishing trade may be most improved, in the faid kingdom of Ireland.

Fifthly, You are to confider of all other matters relating to navigation, and the increase and fecurity thereof.

lar

Sixthly, You are to confider by what particumeans, bullion may be best drawn into Ireland, from the countries of foreign princes.

Seventhly, You are to confider how the trade of his majesty's liege people is provided for by his majesty's leagues with any of his confederates and allies, and to advise and propound from time to time what is expedient for his majefty by his ministers in foreign parts; or otherwise to take care that his majesty's fubjects may (as justice requires) reap the benefit intended to them by fuch leagues, in relation to their trade in foreign parts.

Eighthly, You are to confider how there may be, that equal diftribution of trade and manufacture in the kingdom, which will moft conduce to the general good of his majefty's loving fubjects therein.

Ninthly,

Ninthly, You are to confider how convenient and practicable any thing propounded to you may be concerning new inventions, and improvements in any art, trade, or manufacture; and thereof, as occafion may be, to make report unto us the lord lieutenant, or other chief governor or governors of this kingdom, and to the council.

Tenthly, You are to confider, by what means sturdy vagrants and beggars may be compelled* to earn their living, by fome lawful calling.

Eleventhly, You are to confider by what ways and means commerce may be promoted, by the conftant employment of fome perfons in the mending highways and bridges: and by making rivers navigable, and in draining bogs and lakes, and recovering land from the fea.

Twelfthly, You are diligently to enquire into the abuses of weights and measures practifed throughout the faid kingdom, and to confider how the fame may be effectually remedied.

Thirteenthly, You are to confider how correfpondence may be settled in all places of great commerce abroad, that it may be better known

* This instruction probably related to building houses of induftry in each county; a measure which was in contemplation about this period.

with

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with what profit or lofs the native commodities of this kingdom are there vented, and what laws are made, and trades newly erected there, to the advantage of his majesty's subjects of this kingdom.

Fourteenthly, You are faithfully and with speed to deliver your opinions in writing, and fo to make reports thereof to us the lord lieutenant, or other chief governor or governors of this kingdom and council, concerning the premises; as likewise concerning fuch other matters as shall be occafionally at any time referred to your confideration.

Given at his majesty's caftle of Dublin the 18th day of May one thousand fix hundred and fixty-four.

FIRST MEETING, May 26, 1664.

PRESENT,

LORD Primate, lord chancellor, lord archbishop of Dublin, lord bishop of Meath, lord chief justice Donellan, lord Massareene, fir Paul Davies, fir John Percivall, fir Robert Meredith, fir Robert Forth, fir John Temple mafter of the rolls, fir Edward Maffey, all the privy council, befides the mayor and recorder of Dublin, with seven or eight aldermen, fir Audley Mervin, fir John Temple the king's folicitor general, ferjeant Griffith, and feveral chief lawyers, and other gentlemen and principal merchants, who, after reading the commiffion and inftructions, chose committees to prepare bufinefs, appointed time and place for the weekly meeting, and adjourned:

And fo continued their conftant weekly meetings for several years in debate of these general heads of inftruction, and their branches; and after the greatest deliberation, fometimes two or three months upon one instruction, agreed and refolved feveral of them into Reports to the Council Board; the particular heads of the faid Reports, as they are registered in their books, as followeth :