1 6 A. D. 171 1. 



as they lawfully might, fliould be deemed illegal, null, and void, to all 

 intents and purpofes. And that if any coal-owners, lighter-men, &c, 

 fhould hereafter be knowingly interefted or concerned in any fuch con- 

 tract, he fhould, if a coal-owner, forfeit Lioo, if a fitter, L50, if a fhip- 

 mafler or owner, L20, and the like fum for every officer, clerk, agent, 

 or fervant. Fitters, or other perfons vending or delivering coals, were 

 to give ample figned certificates to every fhip-mafler, every voyage, 

 containing the day and year of fuch loading, the mafter's and fliip's 

 name, and the exadl quantity of coals, with the ufual names of the fe- 

 veral collieries out of which the coals were wrought or gotten, and the 

 T)rice paid by the mafler for Cvich fort of coals that fuch fitter hath fold 

 and loaded on board fuch fhip. Such certificate, on the fhip's arrival 

 at London, to be regiflered at the cocquet-office appointed by the lord 

 mayor, or at the cuflom-houfe of any other port. And whoever fhall 

 refufe to give fuch certificate, or give a falfe one, or not regifter fuch 

 certificate in forty-eight hours after the fliip's arrival at London, or 

 other port ; or if the perfon keeping the regifler neglect for twenty- 

 four hours to make fuch regifler, or make a falfe entry thereof; or re- 

 fufe to fhew fuch entry ; in each of thofe cafes, the party offending 

 fhall forfeit Lio. Lighter-men, fhip-maflers, crimps, or coal-fadors, 

 receiving falaries or gratuities from coal-owners, either by the year or 

 chaldron, for contrading, buying, vending, or difpofing, of any particu- 

 lar fort of coals, in preference to other forts, or for the loading of any 

 fhip, or for the difpofal of the coals from any fuch fhip before other 

 fliips, or who fhall knowingly fell any fort of coals as a fort which they 

 really are not ; for every fuch offence fhall forfeit L50. Offenders dif- 

 covering within three months the coal-owners, &c. concerned in fuch 

 offences, fhall be indemnified, and receive the reward due to any other 

 dil'coverer. Any number of fhips, above 50, remaining laden in the 

 port of Newcaflle or other port, bound for London, above feven days, 

 unlefs detained by contrary winds, or want of repairs or convoys, or 

 fome other unavoidable caufe, every mafler of fuch fliip fliall forfeit 

 L50. Every crimp, hufband, and coal-agent, vending coals to his own 

 agents, partners, or fervants, &c. in trufl for his or their own benefit, 

 fliall forfeit L50. This adt to be in force only for three years, and 

 to the end of the next feflion of parliament. [9 jinn. c. 28.] 



From the judicious Mr Wood's Survey of trade, we learn, that upon 

 a medium of four years, viz. from 1707 to 1710, both included, the 

 exports of merchandize to foreign parts exceeded the imports L2, 389, 872, 

 or, in other words, England annually gained fo much by foreign con> 

 merce. 



In Dr. D' Avenant's report this year to the commiflioners of public 

 accounts, the proportion of the amount of the cufloms received at the 



