It is ordered by his Majesty in Council, That the said Petition (a Copy whereof is hereunto annexed) be, and it is hereby referred to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, to examine into the same, and report to his Majesty, at this Board, what they conceive fit to be done therein. Signed, _James Vernon_. * * * * * _Extract of the Minutes of the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, the_ 7_th of_ July, 1724. Mr. _Sharp_ attending, as he had been desired, with several _New-York_ Merchants, their Lordships took again into Consideration the Order of Council of the 30th of _April_, mentioned in the Minutes of the first of _May_ last, referring to the Board their Petition against the Renewing an Act passed in _New-York_, in _November_, 1720, entitled, _An Act for the Encouragement of the_ Indian _Trade_, _and rendering of it more effectual to the Inhabitants of this Province, and for prohibiting the selling of_ Indian _Goods to the_ French. And Mr. _Sharp_, in behalf of the several Merchants, acquainted their Lordships, That he conceived this Act, tho' its Intention of gaining the _Indians_ to the _English_ Interest might be good, would have quite a contrary Effect, because, if the Trade with the _French_ was prevented, and the Merchants should discontinue that with the _Indians_, (as he was informed they would) the _French_ might lay hold of this Opportunity to furnish themselves with Goods from _Europe_, and supply the Five Nations of _Indians_, and thereby gain them to their Interest: And this, by reason of their Situation, would not be in the Power of the _English_ to prevent: That they were two or three hundred Leagues distant from _Albany_, and that they could not come to trade with the _English_ but by going down the River _St. Laurence_, and from thence through a Lake, which brought them within eighteen Leagues of _Albany_. And that the _French_ having made Settlements along the said River, it would be in their Power, whenever they pleased, to cut off that Communication. That this Act had been so great a Discouragement to the _British Trade_, in general, that there had not been, by far, so great a Quantity of Beaver, and other Furs, imported into _Great-Britain_ since the passing the said Act, as there was before; nor half the Quantity of _European Goods_ exported. That several Merchants who had sent over to _New-York_ considerable Quantities of _European Goods_, had received Advice from their Correspondents, That should another Act of the like Nature be passed, they could not find a vent for them, and desired they would send no more. Upon the whole, Mr. _Sharp_ desired, in behalf of the Merchants, that Mr. _Burnet_ might be directed not to pass any Act of the like Nature for the future. To the K i n g's Most Excellent Majesty. _May it please your Majesty_;