THE following Sheets are the Work of a Gentleman, a very considerable Merchant at _Bristol_, whose extensive Knowledge of, and Judgment in Trade, induced some Gentlemen who were well acquainted with his Capacity, to desire him to give them his Opinion on Trade in general, and ours in particular; he did, without any Design of being an Author, or the least Intention of printing it; but having shewn his Papers to those Gentlemen, they desired he would publish them, which he at last consented to, and had a small Number printed in Bristol, at his own Expence. The Book having met with its deserved success, he re-printed it, with some considerable Additions; but that Edition having been sold of, and himself dying soon after, it was with much Difficulty I obtained that Copy from which this is printed, nor should I as yet have thought of getting it re-printed, but, The many Prizes taken by our Ships of War, as well as Privateers, since the Commencement of the War with _France_, being a sufficient Proof of the Increase of her Trade, and the Decay of ours, I imagined any Work that might tend to the promoting our Trade, would meet with due Encouragement; and I am apt to believe no Book on the Subject deserves it more than this. There is annexed to it, the Act of Parliament made in the 7th and 8th of King _William_, in favour of the City of _Bristol_, for regulating their Poor; and by way of Appendix, the Proceedings of the Magistrates in consequence of that Act, worthy of Imitation. Our Streets being daily infested by swarms of Beggars, perhaps the Publishing these Proceedings may furnish some Hints to those Gentlemen, who are daily seeking after a Method of preventing the many Robberies, Cruelties, and Outrages committed in our Streets every Night of late, and no doubt but many of those who are Beggars in the Day-time, are the very People who do so much Mischief at Night; could they therefore be brought under proper Regulations, it would undoubtedly in some Measure be a Remedy to that Evil, and at the same time encrease the Riches of these Kingdoms, by keeping so many idle Persons of both Sexes employed. I shall not trouble the Reader any further concerning this Work, whose Merit will I hope speak for itself. A DISCOURSE ON TRADE, &c. [Sidenote: Of Trade in general.] IN Order to discover, whether a Nation gets or loses by its Trade, ’tis necessary first to enquire into the Principles whereon it is built; for Trade hath its Principles, as other Sciences have, and as difficult to be understood; but when they are, ’tis easy to discover whether a Nation gets or loses by its Management, and without this, we are not capable of making any true Judgment, it being possible for the Public to grow Poor, whilst private Persons encrease their Fortunes.