^ A. D. 1709. 



The bank to be allowed 3 per cent per ann'im for circulating the laid 

 2- millions of exchequer bills, which w -re alio to be at a like interefl 

 of 3 per cent, or 2d per Lioo per day, except when they fhall be in the 

 exchequer, or in the hands of the receivers or coUedors of any taxes, 

 cufloras, &c. payable to her majefty. The bank might make calls on 

 ^heir members for enabUng them to circulate the faid exchequer bills. 

 The bank might make dividends to their members, of their principal 

 or capital ftock, (as they afterward did of the faid Li,775,o27 : 17 : \o~), 

 which principal itock, however, fliall always remain at leaft equal to all 

 the debts they (hall owe; otherwife, the particular members receiving 

 ftich dividends flnU be aniwcrable, fo far as fuch dividends fliall ex- 

 tend. The reft of this long ad relates to the duties and taxes to be 

 railed for a fund for paying the interefl on the above principal fums. 



About this time, and probably in imitation of the bank of England, 

 the government of France projeded a royal bank for the circulation of 

 their mint bills. But the fcarcity of money in France rendered the 

 fcheme abortive. 



By a printed paper in the author's colledions, taken from a report to 

 the houfe of commons, we have the following accurate account of the 

 revenue of the cufl:oms of Great Britain for the year 1709, viz. 



The grofs amount of the cuftoms was - L2, 319, 320 o ® 



From which dedud. 



Salaries and incidents, Li52,i84 12 1 



Drawbacks on foreign goods, 717,190 17 2 



Bo"mty-money for corn export- 

 ed, - - 36,027 1 4 



Allowances for damages and over- 

 entries, - - 57'°75 15 07 



Portage paid to mafters of fliips, 3,358 19 6 



^65,837 o o 



Net amount of the cuftoms in the year 1709,* Li, 353,483 o o 

 In D' Avcnant's report to the commilfioners of accounts, [part i. p. 

 ^2. London, 1712,] he gives the importation of tobacco from America 

 into England, at a medium often years, ending in 1709, viz. 



Imported pounds weight, on a medium, yearly, 28,858,666 



Exported, on a like medium, - • - 17,598,007 



Confumed at home, (pounds weight), - - 11,260,659 



This year the Britlfli houfe of commons took the African trade into 



4heir confideration, and in a grand committee, refolved, that, as that 



trade was more efpecially neceflary for the Britifti American planta- 



aions, it ought to be free to all her majefty's fubjeds, in a regulated, 



* See the yef.r 1 7 1 f'. 



