A. D. 1714. 41 



fonr times yearly in all the parifli churches and chapels of all fea-port 

 towns on the fea-coafts of the kingdom. 



As we have formerly obferved, that the pofl-office revenue is, in 

 feme fort, a kind of politico-commercial pulfe or teft of a nation's prof- 

 perity, we (hall here exhibit a flate thereof for fome years part, as the 

 materials have fallen in our way. 



The author of the Royal treafury of England, {oBavo, 1725, p. 307), 

 fays, ' that, when an aft of parliament paffed in 1660, for eftalDHlhing a 

 ' general pofl-office in England, it then brought in a revenue of L2 1 ,000 

 * per annum *.' 



The rates of portage continued the fame till the end of 1 710 : we have 

 noted, under the year 1711, that on a medium of three years, 1708-10, 

 the net income was 1.56,664, (according to D'Avcnant's New dialogues,) 

 but, by the printed report of the comraifiioners of the equivalent, 1718, 

 to the houfe of commons, that medium then amounted to L62,ooo for 

 England, and L2000 for Scotland. 



From lady-day, or the beginning of 1711, an addition of one third 

 to the pgrtage of home letters was made by aft of parliament, as it re- 

 mains to this day ; and, on a medium of four years, to lady-day 171 5, 

 the net revenue was _ _ . _ 1.90,223 



Now dedufting the revenue at the reftoration, - 21,000 



69,223 

 Alfo one third for the increafe in 171 1 , by the additional port- 

 age. -_-___ 23,000 



And the net increafe of this revenue, fince the reftoration, is L46,ooo 



Only dedufting about L2000 for Scotland ; which deduftion is proba- 

 bly more than compenliited by the additional expenfe arifen from the 

 great increafe of franked letters. 



About this time the emperor Charles VI firrt granted commiflions 

 "to rtiips fitted out at Oftend, for trading to Eaft-lndia, whereby great 

 quantities of India goods were brought to Europe, which very much 

 interfered with the commerce of the Englirti and Dutch companies ; 

 moft of which Interloping iliips, as well as their commanders and fecret 

 projeftors, were, nevertiielefs, procured from England and Holland. 

 Some fliips, under that prince's comrniflion, were fitted ovit from Lif- 

 bon and Leghorn. All which moved the Englifli and Dutch compa- 

 nies to make loud complaints at the court of Vienna, though for fome 

 years without any rcdreis. 



* ! prtluir.c, lii^ nK3n,t, net icv,ciiucv 



Vol. IIT. 



