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precluded from carrying his operations further。 It is not improbable
that the patentee in question was William Chamberlaine； Dud Dudley's
quondam partner in the iron manufacture。*
＇footnote。。。
Chamberlaine and Dudley's first licence was granted in 1661 for
plating steel and tinning the said plates； and Chamberlaine's sole
patent for 〃plating and tinning iron； copper； &c。；〃 was granted in
1673； probably the patent in question。
。。。＇
〃What with the patent being in our way；〃 says Yarranton； 〃and the
richest of our partners being afraid to offend great men in power；
who had their eye upon us； it caused the thing to cool； and the
making of the tin…plates was neither proceeded in by us； nor possibly
could be by him that had the patent； because neither he that hath the
patent； nor those that have countenanced him； can make one plate fit
for use。〃 Yarranton's labours were thus lost to the English public
for a time； and we continued to import all our tin…plates from
Germany until about sixty years later； when a tin…plate manufactory
was established by Capel Hanbury at Pontypool in Monmouthshire； where
it has since continued to be successfully carried on。
We can only briefly refer to the subsequent history of Andrew
Yarranton。 Shortly after his journey into Saxony； he proceeded to
Holland to examine the inland navigations of the Dutch； to inspect
their linen and other manufactures； and to inquire into the causes of
the then extraordinary prosperity of that country compared with
England。 Industry was in a very languishing state at home。 〃People
confess they are sick；〃 said Yarranton； 〃that trade is in a
consumption； and the whole nation languishes。〃 He therefore
determined to ascertain whether something useful might not be learnt
from the example of Holland。 The Dutch were then the hardest working
and the most thriving people in Europe。 They were manufacturers and
carriers for the world。 Their fleets floated on every known sea； and
their herring…busses swarmed along our coasts as far north as the
Hebrides。 The Dutch supplied our markets with fish caught within
sight of our own shores； while our coasting population stood idly
looking on。 Yarranton regarded this state of things as most
discreditable； and he urged the establishment of various branches of
home industry as the best way of out…doing the Dutch without fighting
them。
Wherever he travelled abroad； in Germany or in Holland； he saw
industry attended by wealth and comfort； and idleness by poverty and
misery。 The same pursuits； he held； would prove as beneficial to
England as they were abundantly proved to have been to Holland。 The
healthy life of work was good for allfor individuals as for the
whole nation； and if we would out…do the Dutch； he held that we must
out…do them in industry。 But all must be done honestly and by fair
means。 〃Common Honesty；〃 said Yarranton； 〃is as necessary and needful
in kingdoms and commonwealths that depend upon Trade； as discipline
is in an army； and where there is want of common Honesty in a kingdom
or commonwealth； from thence Trade shall depart。 For as the Honesty
of all governments is； so shall be their Riches； and as their Honour；
Honesty； and Riches are； so will be their Strength； and as their
Honour； Honesty； Riches； and Strength are； so will be their Trade。
These are five sisters that go hand in hand； and must not be parted。〃
Admirable sentiments； which are as true now as they were two hundred
years ago； when Yarranton urged them upon the attention of the
English public。
On his return from Holland； he accordingly set on foot various
schemes of public utility。 He stirred up a movement for the
encouragement of the British fisheries。 He made several journeys into
Ireland for the purpose of planting new manufactures there。 He
surveyed the River Slade with the object of rendering it navigable；
and proposed a plan for improving the harbour of Dublin。 He also
surveyed the Dee in England with a view to its being connected with
the Severn。 Chambers says that on the decline of his popularity in
1677； he was taken by Lord Clarendon to Salisbury to survey the River
Avon； and find out how that river might be made navigable； and also
whether a safe harbour for ships could be made at Christchurch； and
that having found where he thought safe anchorage might be obtained；
his Lordship proceeded to act upon Yarranton's recommendations。*
＇footnote。。。
JOHN CHAMBERS； Biographical Illustrations of Worcestershire。 London；
1820。
。。。＇
Another of his grand schemes was the establishment of the linen
manufacture in the central counties of England； which； he showed；
were well adapted for the growth of flax； and he calculated that if
success attended his efforts； at least two millions of money then
sent out of the country for the purchase of foreign linen would be
retained at home； besides increasing the value of the land on which
the flax was grown； and giving remunerative employment to our own
people； then emigrating for want of work。 〃 Nothing but Sloth or
Envy；〃 he said； 〃can possibly hinder my labours from being crowned
with the wished for success； our habitual fondness for the one hath
already brought us to the brink of ruin； and our proneness to the
other hath almost discouraged all pious endeavours to promote our
future happiness。〃
In 1677 he published the first part of his England's Improvement by
Sea and Landa very remarkable book； full of sagacious insight as
respected the future commercial and manufacturing greatness of
England。 Mr。 Dove says of this book that Yarranton〃 chalks out in it
the future course of Britain with as free a hand as if second…sight
had revealed to him those expansions of her industrial career which
never fail to surprise us； even when we behold them realized。〃
Besides his extensive plans for making harbours and improving
internal navigation with the object of creating new channels for
domestic industry； his schemes for extending the iron and the woollen
trades； establishing the linen manufacture； and cultivating the home
fisheries； we find him throwing out various valuable suggestions with
reference to the means of facilitating commercial transactions； some
of winch have only been carried out in our own day。 One of his
grandest ideas was the establishment of a public bank； the credit of
which； based upon the security of freehold land；*
＇footnote。。。
Yarranton's Land Bank was actually projected in 1695； and received
the sanction of Parliament； though the Bank of England （founded in
the preceding year） petitioned against it； and the scheme was
dropped。
。。。＇
should enable its paper 〃to go in trade equal with ready money。〃 A
bank of this sort formed one of the principal means by which the
Dutch had been enabled to extend their commercial transactions； and
Yarranton accordingly urged its introduction into England。 Part of
his scheme consisted of a voluntary register of real property； for
the purpose of effecting simplicity of title； and obtaining relief
from the excessive charges for law；*
＇footnote。。。
It is interesting to note in passing； that part of Yarranton's scheme
has recently been carried into effect by the Act （25 and 26 Vict。 c。
53） passed in 1862 for the Registration of Real Estate。
。。。＇
as well as enabling money to be readily raised for commercial
purposes on security of the land registered。
He pointed out very graphically the straits to which a man is put who
is possessed of real property enough； but in a time of pressure is
unable to turn himself round for want of ready cash。 〃Then；〃 says he；
〃all his creditors crowd to him as pigs do through a hole to a bean
and pease rick。〃 〃Is it not a sad thing；〃 he asks； 〃that a
goldsmith's boy in Lombard Street； who gives notes for the monies
handed him by the merchants； should take up more monies upon his
notes in one day than two lords； four knights； and