第 13 节
作者:嘟嘟      更新:2021-04-30 16:07      字数:9320
  The fine for admission into the Turkey Company was formerly
  twenty…five pounds for all persons under twenty…six years of age;
  and fifty pounds for all persons above that age。 Nobody but mere
  merchants could be admitted; a restriction which excluded all
  shopkeepers and retailers。 By a bye…law; no British manufactures
  could be exported to Turkey but in the general ships of the
  company; and as those ships sailed always from the port of
  London; this restriction confined the trade to that expensive
  port; and the traders to those who lived in London and in its
  neighbourhood。 By another bye…law; no person living within twenty
  miles of London; and not free of the city; could be admitted a
  member; another restriction which; joined to the foregoing;
  necessarily excluded all but the freemen of London。 As the time
  for the loading and sailing of those general ships depended
  altogether upon the directors; they could easily fill them with
  their own goods and those of their particular friends; to the
  exclusion of others; who; they might pretend; had made their
  proposals too late。 In this state of things; therefore; this
  company was in every respect a strict and oppressive monopoly。
  Those abuses gave occasion to the act of the 26th of George II;
  c。 18; reducing the fine for admission to twenty pounds for all
  persons; without any distinction of ages; or any restriction;
  either to mere merchants; or to the freemen of London; and
  granting to all such persons the liberty of exporting; from all
  the ports of Great Britain to any port in Turkey; all British
  goods of which the exportation was not prohibited; and of
  importing from thence all Turkish goods of which the importation
  was not prohibited; upon paying both the general duties of
  customs; and the particular duties assessed for defraying the
  necessary expenses of the company; and submitting; at the same
  time; to the lawful authority of the British ambassador and
  consuls resident in Turkey; and to the bye laws of the company
  duly enacted。 To prevent any oppression by those bye…laws; it was
  by the same act ordained; that if any seven members of the
  company conceived themselves aggrieved by any bye…law which
  should be enacted after the passing of this act; they might
  appeal to the Board of Trade and Plantations (to the authority of
  which a committee of the Privy Council has now succeeded);
  provided such appeal was brought within twelve months after the
  bye…law was enacted; and that if any seven members conceived
  themselves aggrieved by any bye…law which had been enacted before
  the passing of this act; they might bring a like appeal; provided
  it was within twelve months after the day on which this act was
  to take place。 The experience of one year; however; may not
  always be sufficient to discover to all the members of a great
  company; the pernicious tendency of a particular bye…law; and if
  several of them should afterwards discover it; neither the Board
  of Trade; nor the committee of council; can afford them any
  redress。 The object; besides; of the greater part of the bye…laws
  of all regulated companies; as well as of all other corporations;
  is not so much to oppress those who are already members; as to
  discourage others from becoming so; which may be done; not only
  by a high fine; but by many other contrivances。 The constant view
  of such companies is always to raise the rate of their own profit
  as high as they can; to keep the market; both for the goods which
  they export; and for those which they import; as much
  understocked as they can: which can be done only by restraining
  the competition; or by discouraging new adventurers from entering
  into the trade。 A fine even of twenty pounds; besides; though it
  may not perhaps be sufficient to discourage any man from entering
  into the Turkey trade with an intention to continue in it; may be
  enough to discourage a speculative merchant from hazarding a
  single adventure in it。 In all trades; the regular established
  traders; even though not incorporated; naturally combine to raise
  profits; which are noway so likely to be kept; at all times; down
  to their proper level; as by the occasional competition of
  speculative adventure。 The Turkey trade; though in some measure
  laid open by this Act of Parliament; is still considered by many
  people as very far from being altogether free。 The Turkey Company
  contribute to maintain an ambassador and two or three consuls;
  who; like other public ministers; ought to be maintained
  altogether by the state; and the trade laid open to all his
  Majesty's subjects。 The different taxes levied by the company;
  for this and other corporation purposes; might afford avenue much
  more than sufficient to enable the state to maintain such
  ministers。
  Regulated companies; it was observed by Sir Josiah Child;
  though they had frequently supported public ministers; had never
  maintained any forts or garrisons in the countries to which they
  traded; whereas joint stock companies frequently had。 And in
  reality the former seem to be much more unfit for this sort of
  service than the latter。 First; the directors of a regulated
  company have no particular interest in the prosperity of the
  general trade of the company for the sake of which such forts and
  garrisons are maintained。 The decay of that general trade may
  even frequently contribute to the advantage of their own private
  trade; as by diminishing the number of their competitors it may
  enable them both to buy cheaper; and to sell dearer。 The
  directors of a joint stock company; on the contrary; having only
  their share in the profits which are made upon the common stock
  committed to their management; have no private trade of their own
  of which the interest can be separated from that of the general
  trade of the company。 Their private interest is connected with
  the prosperity of the general trade of the company; and with the
  maintenance of the forts and garrisons which are necessary for
  its defence。 They are more likely; therefore; to have that
  continual and careful attention which that maintenance
  necessarily requires。 Secondly; the directors of a joint stock
  company have always the management of a large capital; the joint
  stock of the company; a part of which they may frequently employ;
  with propriety; in building; repairing; and maintaining such
  necessary forts and garrisons。 But the directors of a regulated
  company; having the management of no common capital; have no
  other fund to employ in this way but the casual revenue arising
  from the admission fines; and from the corporation duties imposed
  upon the trade of the company。 Though they had the same interest;
  therefore; to attend to the maintenance of such forts and
  garrisons; they can seldom have the same ability to render that
  attention effectual。 The maintenance of a public minister
  requiring scarce any attention; and but a moderate and limited
  expense; is a business much more suitable both to the temper and
  abilities of a regulated company。
  Long after the time of Sir Josiah Child; however; in 1750; a
  regulated company was established; the present company of
  merchants trading to Africa; which was expressly charged at first
  with the maintenance of all the British forts and garrisons that
  lie between Cape Blanc and the Cape of Good Hope; and afterwards
  with that of those only which lie between Cape Rouge and the Cape
  of Good Hope。 The act which establishes this company (the 23rd of
  George II; c。 3) seems to have had two distinct objects in view;
  first; to restrain effectually the oppressive and monopolizing
  spirit which is natural to the directors of a regulated company;
  and secondly; to force them; as much as possible; to give an
  attention; which is not natural to them; towards the maintenance
  of forts and garrisons。
  For the first of these purposes the fine for admission is
  limited to forty shillings。 The company is prohibited from
  trading in their corporate capacity; or upon a joint stock; from
  borrowing money upon common seal; or from laying any restraints
  upon the trade which may be carried on freely from all places;
  and by all persons being British subjects; and paying the fine。
  The government is in a committee of nine persons who meet at
  London; but who are chosen annually by the freemen of the company
  at London; Bristol; and Liverpool; three from each place。 No
  committee…man can be continued in office for more than three
  years together。 Any committee…man might be removed by the Board
  of Trade and Plantations; now by a committee council; after being
  heard in his own defence。 The committee are forbid to export
  negroes from Africa; or to import any African goods into Great
  Britain。 But as they are charged with the maintenance of forts
  and garrisons; they may; for that purpose; export from Great
  Britain to Africa goods and stores of different kinds。 Out of the
  monies which they shall receive from the company; they are