ABSTRACT
Five documentary selections reveal significant relationships between the imperial objectives of the British mercantilists and the colonial ports they established in America. New Plymouth’s chief products were fish and provisions of all sorts—beef, pork, mutton, and some grain. According to Governor Sanford's statement made in 1680, there were no merchants in Rhode Island "but the most of our Colloney live comfortably by improvinge the wildernesse". With the exception of a few sloops, the colony had no shipping, nor was there any trade with foreigners or Indians. The harbor is more than sufficient for the great number of vessels, which carry on the extensive trade of Boston. The commodities which the country yields are principally masts and yards, for which they contract largely with the royal navy; pitch, tar, and turpentine, staves, lumber, boards, all sorts of provisions, beef, pork, butter and cheese, in large quantities; horses and live cattle; Indian corn and pease; cyder, apples, hemp and flax.
