The discrepancies between the motivations that propelled individuals and groups toward colonial enterprise and the theories on the utility of colonies have been suggested in the preface. Colonial theories, as has been stated, are composed of arguments regarding the respective advantages or disadvantages attending the foundation of colonies. The argument that the English were called to colonize in order to propagate the Gospel played an important part during the first decades of British colonial enterprise. The search for a northwest passage to Asia and the South Sea was an integral part of English exploratory voyages and colonizing adventures as was its discussion in British theorizing on the merits of colonization. The transportation idea proper springs from a different train of reasoning. At the time in question, the problem of important raw materials frequently carried great political significance.