| Description | (2 pcs.) [The MS. includes a number of cancelled words and passages, which are not transcribed here.]
“Mr. Simcox’s arguments upon the subject of the Copper Act.” (Paragraphs 1-13 are in Simcox’s hand, 14 and 15 in Boulton’s.)
1st That Copper as a raw material is essential to the manufactures of Birmm.
2nd That about the year 1792 the consumption of that article in Birmm was from 1500 to
2000 Tons being nearly equal to one third of what was then raised in the Kingdom. It is
now diminished to about £1000.
3rd That Copper in ore in the year 1790 was sold in Cornwall at about £67 Pr Ton.
4 That in Octr. in the same year it was admitted by the Miners that all the Mines of
Cornwall could be wrought to great profit at £76.
5 That in the month of March last Copper was sold in the Ore as high as £126 Pr Ton—
being nearly double what it was sold for in the year 1790. And that since the Month of
Decr. last it has risen Pr Cent through the purchases of the Agent of the Compy deeply
interested in the high price of Copper.
6 That the effect of such violent fluctuations on the manufactories of Birmm not only
stagnates their trade at the time, but leaves them no data to calculate upon for the future.
7 That when Copper was sold at £67 Pr Ton in Cornwall there is reason to believe that it
could have been purchased abroad cheaper than in this Country.
8 That manufacturers in the leading articles of Birmm were & are established upon the
continent, which did even previous to the advance which took place in 1792 undersell us
in some of those articles.
9 That foreign states have assiduously endeavoured to extend these manufactures, by
alluring artisans from this country by the offer of considerable pecuniary advantages to
settle in those countries.
10 That prohibitory laws as respects our manufacturies have been enacted by those states
where similar ones have been established.
11 That the Copper Trade of the Kingdom lies in so small a number of hands as to render it
perfectly easy on their part to cause very sudden & extravagant fluctuations in the price
of that article.
12 That these sudden fluctuations are attended with trouble & vexations to the manufacturer
& merchant, equal to the loss which they suffer by it—which in the present instance is
very great—they not having made any advance in the price of their leading articles since
1792 under the apprehension that such an advance might endanger the sale of their goods.
13 That finding the very existence of their manufactures threaten’d by the present alarming
state of the Copper Trade, & seeing that a Bill was brought into Parliament for regulating
the importation & exportation of Copper—The Merchants & manufacturers of the Town
of Birmm are desirous that clauses may be introduced into the same to permit the
importation & prevent the exportation when the price of english Copper [a word such as exceeds appears to be wanting here]
that which on a fair examination shall prove adequate to the support of the English Mines.
14th That all the Europian States have layd a considerable duty upon the Exportation of
Copper in Cakes except England from whence it is exported without duty or restraint in a
raw unmanufactd state.
15th That in the Reign of Henry 8th an Act was passd to prohibit the Exportation of Copper &
Brass because (ye Act says) this Country was like to lack but afterwards in the reign of
Willm & Mary the prohibition upon the Exportation of Copper was repeald but that upon
Brass remains to this day although it is 2/3 parts Copper in a further advanced State of
Manufactory.
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