20 RELIGION, COLONISING AND TRADE
His breadth of view is illustrated by the statement in
the essay ‘ Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and
Estates,’ that ¢ all states that are liberal of naturalisation
towards strangers ate fit for Empire,’ 1
His views on colonising are contained mote
especially in the well-known essay ¢ Of Plantations,’ 2
and in the letter of advice which he wrote in 1616 to
the Duke of Buckingham when the latter became
favourite to King James.3 It may be presumed that
in the letter of advice he paid more attention to what
would be palatable to the King’s man and the King
than would be required in the essay. In the letter he
suggested that Commissioners should be appointed in
the nature of a2 Council to ¢ regulate what concerns the
colonies and give an account thereof to the King or
to his Council of State.” In 1616 there can only have
been three English colonies in existence, Virginia,
Bermuda and Newfoundland ; and a Council for
Virginia had been constituted before the colony was
actually started. Bacon, therefore, was commendably
early in suggesting a Council for English colonies
generally. Colonies and foreign plantations he con-
sidered ‘very Necessary, as outlets to a populous
nation.” Both in the letter and in the essay he
denounces the wickedness of sending out criminals to
be the material wherewith to plant a colony. We
think, as he thought, that it is a shameful and un-
blessed thing to take the scum of people, and wicked
condemned men, to be the people with whom you
1 The Works of Francis Bacon, ut sup., vol. vi, p. 447.
2 Ibid., pp. 457-60.
3 Letters and Life of Francis Bacon (1872), #t sup., vol. vi, pp. 21-2,
10-52.