140] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



displayed at the installation of the 

 universities, from which he ex- 

 pects the liappiest results for the 

 whole kingdom. 



His Majesty concludes his speech 

 in the following terms. 



" Thus the number of objects 

 is considerable on which we can 

 look with satisfaction ; and we 

 can witii the more tranquillity at- 

 tend to the means of extricating 

 ourselves from temporary difficul- 

 ties which were independent of 

 the human will. But the surest 

 pledge of this is sought by the 

 nation in the cordial opo-ation of 

 the King and the States General. 

 Neither I nor your High INIighti- 

 nesses, whose sentiments and ex- 

 ample have so powerful an in- 

 fluence, will disappoint its con- 

 fidence; and the further confir- 

 mation of a social system, founded 

 on principles of liberty and order, 

 will be, with the blessing of God, 

 the reward as well as the fruit, of 

 our indefatigable efforts." 



The following royal declaration 

 respecting tlie tea-trade in Holland 

 will probably be regarded as a 

 curious document, and may be 

 viewed as a dangerous inroad ui)on 

 the price of tiiat article in a neigh- 

 bouring countiy. 



DUTCH TKA-TRADE. 



We, Williaiu, by the grace of 

 God, &c. having taken into our 

 consideration the existing differ- 

 ences in the laws respecting the 

 tea-trade, as they apply to the two 

 principal divisions of the king- 

 dom, judge it expedient that the 

 same ought to be uiiform ; and 

 seeing that the law of the ^^d of 

 March, 1S1.5, for the establish- 

 ment in our northern provinces of 



an exclusive company for the 

 trade to China, has not been at- 

 tended with the results which 

 were expected ; but that, so far 

 from our mercantile or trading 

 subjects liaving subscribed for 

 shares in the said company, in the 

 books which have now been fully 

 two years open for that purpose, 

 they have expressed a general 

 wish that the trade in the article 

 of tea should be thrown open : 



So we having heard our Coun- 

 cil of State, and with the common 

 consent of the States-General, 

 have tiiought proper and resolved, 

 and by these presents do think 

 proper and resolve, 



1st. Tliat all the laws now in 

 being lelative to the tea-trade 

 shall be, and the same are hereby, 

 withdrawn and abolished. 



2d. That the holders of shares 

 in the aforesaid exclusive company 

 shall be immediately reimbursed 

 the amount paid on their respec- 

 tive subscriptions, together with 

 the interest, at the rate of five per 

 cent, per annum, from the day on 

 which they were received until 

 that of payment. 



3d. That under the following 

 regulations the geneial law of the 

 3d of October, 1816, for the levy- 

 ing of duties on imports and ex- 

 ports, shall from hencefor\wird 

 apply to tea, and that every indi- 

 vidual shall be permitted to impoit 

 tea into this kingdom, and have 

 the uncontrolled possession there- 

 of, imme(Uatc]y after the payment 

 of the duties thereon ; tliatis to say. 



On Bohca and low Congou tea, 

 florins S per lOOlb. 



On all other kinds of tea florins 

 16 per lOOlb. 



4th. That all teas of which 



proof 



