believed to be a contributor to the twice-weekly issues of the journal from 1713-1714, where he postulated a mercantile system that emphasized the necessity of government directing and encouraging England's commerce. The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain Consider’d (1729) In 1729, Gee published The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain Consider’d, in London. This book gives an overview of British trade both historically and by national areas, and also comments on trade problems (for example devoting chapter 12 to “French fashions pernicious to England”). Most of this work focused on labour shortages in the American colonies Gee suggested that England transport domestic convicts, the poor and unemployed to work in the colonies. He also recommended creating free ports at Gibraltar and Port Mahon. Gee also encouraged foreign import-replacing production in the plantations. Between 1729 and 1780, at least 20 editions of the book were published. There are English editions published in London, Glasgow, and Dublin, French translations (the first in 1749), published in London, Amsterdam and Geneva, Dutch (1750), Spanish (1753), and German (in Copenhagen, 1757). Historians say that the main reason behind the book's popularity was Gee's honesty explaining the policies which were actually carried out by the English. References External links 1667 births 1730 deaths English merchants English economics writers 18th-century English non-fiction writers 18th-century English male writers