A. D. lyii- 23: 



To what difEculties, and even diftrefles, have we very lately been re- 

 duced, from a real want of men for our fleets and armies ? Yet it ftill 

 appears, from the difpofition of even great numbers ofperfons ofknow- 

 lege and abilities in our own days, that the old prejudices, if we may be 

 allowed to call them fo, againfl a general naturalization are not as yet 

 eafily to be overcome. 



A fpirit of gaming prevailed at this time in fmaller private and un- 

 lawful lotteries, under the denomination of fales of gloves, fans, cards, 

 plate, &c. alfo offices for infurances on marriages, births, chriflenings, 

 fervices, &c. and dayly advertifements for fuch were published in the 

 newfpapers ; and alfo, for the improvement of fmall fums of money : 

 a claufe therefor was infertedin an a6l of the 10th year of Queen Anne, 

 (intitled, an act for laying additional duties on hides, Ikins, &c.) 

 whereby a penalty of L500 was enacled on any perfons fetting up fuch 

 offices, lotteries, &c. 



The African company's affairs being much in diforder, an adl was' 

 now pafled ' for making effedual fuch agreement as ffiould be made 

 ' between the royal African company of England and their creditors.' 

 ' For the benefit of their creditors, it was enaded, ' that two-thirds or 

 ' more of them, in number and value, might on or before the 20th of 

 •^ December 171 2, under hand and feal, confent to allow them a fpacc 

 ' of time for payment of their debts, or to make any other agreements- 

 ' with them refpeding their debts ; which agreements by two thirds, &c. 

 ' as above, fhould bind all the reft of thofe creditors, faving always the 



* queen's duties.' On this occafion, there were feveral refolutions oi^- 

 the houfe of commons, which in part teftify the great importance of 

 this trade, for fupplying our fugar and other American colonies ; as. 

 tliat this trade ought to be free for all the queen's fubjeds, in a regulated 

 company ; that forts and fettlements on that coaft are necellliry, which 

 forts fliould be maintained out of the trade; that contracts and alliances 

 are neceflary to be maintained with the natives; that the ])lantations 

 Ihould be fupplied with a fufficient quantity of negroes at reafonable 

 rates ; that a confiderable ftock is neceflary for carrying on that trade ; 

 and, that it is neceflary that an exportation of at leaft Li 00,000 in 

 merchandize, be annually made trom Great Britain thither. The firfl: 

 fix of thofe refolutions were confirmed, but the feventh was rejected, 

 and a bill was thereupon ordered into the houfe, yet it did not fucceed. 



An acft of parliament was ixdled, ' for continuing the trade a!'\d cor- 

 ' poration capacity of the United Eaft-ladia company, although their 

 ' fund fliould be redeemed.' It having been enaded by the flatute of 

 the 6th of (^icen Anne, ' that upon payment to the company of the 

 ' L3, 200,000 due by the public, upon tliree years notice after ladv-day 

 ' I 726, the benefit of iheir trade fliould ceafe and determine ; yet, upon- 



* the company's humble petition, and to the intent that they and their: 



