THE
C
A
S
E

OF THE

JOYNERS Company,

AGAINST

*The Importation of Manufactured CABINET-WORK from the EAST-INDIES.*

WHEREAS great Numbers of Artificers, Members of the said Company, have been bred up in the said Art or Mystery of making Cabinets, Scrutores, Tables, Chefts, and all other forts of CABINET-WORK in England, in which of late Years they have arrived to so great a Perfection, as exceeds all Europe.

BUT several Merchants, and others, Trading to the East-Indies, and to several Ports and Places thereabouts, have procured to be made in London, of late Years, and sent over to the East-Indies, Patterns and Models of all forts of Cabinet Goods; and have Yearly return'd from thence such great Quantities of Cabinet-Wares, Manufactured there, after the English Fashion, by our Models, that the said Trade in England is in great Danger of being utterly Ruined, being ingrofs'd by the said Merchants, and others, that Trade to and from thofe Parts, to so great a Degree, that they not only supply thefe Kingdoms with such Commodities, to be Imported, but also spoil the EXPORTATION of the said Joyners and Cabinet-Makers Work to Foreign Parts, so that their Journey-men and Apprentices, in a manner, will be ufelesfs; which, if not timely prevented, will Reduce the said Joyners, Cabinet-Makers, and Thoufands of other Poor Artificers depending on them, as the Carvers, Turners, Copper-Smiths, Glew-makers, Sawyers, &c. to a deplorable Condition, who must perifh for want of Work, or be maintain'd by their several Parishes.

AND in lieu of abundance of Foreign Commodities, which the said Joyners and Cabinet-Makers are obliged to ufe in their Trade, the English Woollen Manufactures were Exported, so that the Kingdom in general were Gainers thereby.

AND the Youth of this Nation, that now are, and daily come to Handcraft Trades; will be under the like Misfortune, if, when their Trades are brought to Perfection, their Models are carried to India, and Manufactured there.

THE following Goods, Manufactured in India, have been Imported within thefe Four Years, viz. Two Hundred forty four Cabinets, Six Thoufand five hundred eighty two Tea-Tables, Four hundred twenty eight Chefts, Seventy Trunks, Fifty two Screens, Five hundred eighty nine Looking-Glasfs Frames, Six hundred fifty five Tops for Stands, Eight hundred eighteen Lacquer'd Boards, Five hundred ninety seven Sconces, and Four thoufand one hundred twenty Dressing, Comb, and Powder Boxes.

Besides several Sales lately made, in which were great Quantities of the said CABINET-WORK; as also in other Sales daily expected.

Wherefore *tis hoped the Wisdom of this Honourable House will Interpose for the Relief of thefe poor Artificers, &c.