A. D. 171 1. 15 



almoft totally interrupted : and whereas their mines are fo valuable, 

 that, were they eftabliihed under good management, great profit would 

 accrue to the public, it was therefor enacted, that all grants, contrads, 

 bargains, &c. to any pcrfons by that company, fnice they firft flopt 

 payment in the year 1707 of their bills or bonds, be declared void; 

 and that all new fhares in their flock, above the 601 2 allowed by their 

 charter, be alio made null and void, and the proprietors of them be 

 only deemed creditors of the company for the value thereof. The mo- 

 ney advanced on the call made in the year 1708, to be allowed in the 

 prefent call, and the furplus to be turned into flock. All bargains for 

 ore or lead, &c. fince the company ftopt payment, to remain good. 

 The creditors of the company are hereby made members of, and part- 

 ners with, the company's 6012 fliares. A deputy-governor and 12 di- 

 recftors to be annually ele6ted for managing the company's affairs. 

 Shares to be transferable. After the death of the duke of Leeds, the 

 prefent governor for life, a governor to be annually elected agreeable to 

 the charter : and no member to be eleded governor above one year 

 iii four. The company may call in 40/ per fhare, for carrying on the 

 bufmefs of the mines. [9 yinn. c. 24.] This flatute was made in con- 

 fequence of the union between the creditors of this company and the 

 proprietors of tlie fhares, agreed at a general meeting, which, however, 

 was not fufficient to keep this ill-condudcd company from fmking, 

 though frefli propofals were afterwards publiflied for farther payments 

 on each fliare, in order to carry on the mines vigoroully. To fay all 

 in one word, Sir Humphrey Mackworth and his alTociates carried their 

 artifices to the very utmofl ; and inftead of hurting the oppofites in 

 party, drew in all the zealots of the party difaft'eded to the eftabliflied 

 conftituiion, to the undoing of many innocent perfons and families. 

 * The cities of London and Weflminfter, and parts adjacent, being 

 principally fupplied with coals by fea, from the counties of Durham 

 and Northumberland, and the town of Newcaftie upon Tine ; and in 

 confidcration that the having them cheap tends greatly to the improve- 

 ment of the luanufaclures, and to the increafe of the commerce and 

 navigation of the kingdom, by breeding many thoufands of Ikilful ma- 

 riners, the parliam.ent paficd an act to diflolve the prefent, and prevent 

 the future, combination of coal-owners,, lighter-men, marters of fliips, 

 and others, to advance the price of coals, in prejudice of the navigation, 

 trade, and manufactures, of this kingdom, and for the farther encoui- 

 agement ot the coal-trade. And, as for the relief of the poor, and ad- 

 vancing the duties on coals, it is neceflary the lame Ihould not be mo- 

 nopolized, it was enaded, that all contrads betv;een coal-owners, light- 

 ermen, fitters, mafters of fliips, crimps, coal-fadors, &.c. for engrolling 

 of coals, or tor reftraining any whomfoever from freely lelllng, buying,, 

 loading, or unloading, navigating or difpofing of coals, in fuch maunet 



