Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/8

 headlong in a Life of o much Peril to themelves, and o detructive to the Navigation of the trading World; to remedy which Evil there eems to be but two Ways, either to find Employment for the great Numbers of Seamen turn’d adrift at the Concluion of a War, and thereby prevent their running into uch Undertakings, or to guard ufficiently the Coat of Africa, the Wet-Indies, and other Places whereto Pyrates reort.

I cannot but take Notice in this Place, that during this long Peace, I have not o much as heard of a Dutch Pyrate: It is not that I take them to be honeter than their Neighbours; but when we account for it, it will, perhaps, be a Reproach to our elves for our want of Indutry: The Reaon I take to be, that after a War, when the Dutch Ships are laid up, they have a Fihery, where their Seamen find immediate Buines, and as comfortable Bread as they had before. Had ours the ame Recoure in their Neceities, I’m certain we hould find the fame Effect from it; for a Fihery is a Trade that cannot be overtock’d; the Sea is wide enough for us all, we need not quarrel for Elbow-room: Its Stores are infinite, and will ever reward the Labourer. Bsides, our own Coast, for the mot Part, upply the Dutch, who employ everal hundred Sail contantly in the Trade, and o ell to us our own Fih. I call it our own, for the Sovereignty of the Britih Seas, are to this Day acknowledged us by the Dutch, and all the neighbouring Nations; wherefore, if there was a publick Spirit among us, it would be well worth our while to etablih a National Fihery, which would be the best Means in the World to prevent Pyracy, employ a Number of the Poor, sand eae the Nation of a great Burthen, by lowering the Price of Proviion in general, as well as of everal other Commodities.

I need not bring any Proofs of what I advance, viz. that there are Multitudes of Seamen at this Day unemploy'd, it as but too evident by their traggling, and begging all over the Kingdom. Nor is it o much their Inclination to Idlenes, as their own hard Fate, in being cast off after their Work is done, to tarve or teal. I have not known a Man of Rh