6 A. D. 1709. 



and adjudged to be natural-born fubjeds of this kingdom to all intents, 

 conftrudions, and purpofes whatfoever. And, 



III) The like naturalization of foreign proteftants (hall take place in 

 Ireland.* This law was faid to have been made with a particular view 

 to the proteftant Palatines brought this year into England. 



For, in May in this Umie year, near 7000 of the poor Palatines and 

 Swabians, who had been utterly ruined, and driven from their habita- 

 tions near the Rhine by the French, were, in compallion of their mife- 

 ry, brought over to England, and were foon after followed by more : 

 but without any fettled or concerted plan for their eftablifhment any 

 where. Had they been all immediately tranfportcd to fome of our A- 

 merican continental colonies, as fome propofed, they would before now 

 have proved a conliderable addition to our llrength in thofe parts. 

 Others propofed to fettle them in the New forcft of Hampfliire, where 

 land might be parcelled out for them by fliares or lots. It was doubt- 

 lefs an ill-conduded, though well-meant affair. However, being land- 

 ed, there was a neceflity of keeping them from perifliing. A fufficient 

 number of tents was eredted for them on Blackheath, and near Camber- 

 well, and a brief was granted for a colledion for them throughout 

 Great Britain. Some of them were taken into private families ; 500 

 families of them were fent into Ireland, where L24,coo was granted by 

 parliament for their fupport ; ■^coo of them were at length fent over to 

 New-York, and fettled upon Hudfon's river ; many of whom being 

 badly received there, removed to Pennfylvania, where they were mofl 

 kindly entertained by the quakers, which afterwards proved the means 

 of drawing thither many thoufmds of German and Switz proteftants, 

 whereby Pennfylvania is fince become by far the moft populous and 

 flourilhing colony (for its ftanding) of any in Britifh America. 



During all this reign, the bank of England was found extremely con- 

 venient and ufeful in fupporting the national credit : the better, there- 

 for, to enable that corporation to be farther beneficial to the public, as 

 well as to themfelves, by aflifting in raifing the fupplies for the current 

 fervice of the year 1709, the bank was encouraged to propofe to the 

 houfe of commons a Icheme for circulating L2, 500,000 of exchequer 

 bills : in which year, the whole fupply voted, amounted to above feven 

 millions. An ad of parliament, therefor, palled in this year, ' for en- 

 larging the capital Hock of the bank of England, and for raifing a far- 

 ther fupply to her majefly for the fervice of the year 1 709 ; wherein 

 the ad for the firfl eftabliftiment of the bank, and all the fubfequent 

 ftatutes are in part recited. And that the bank continues to permit new 

 fubfcriptions for the doubling of their prefent ftock of L2, 201, 171 : 10, 

 by felling their faid additional ftock at the rate of Lii5 for every Lioo 

 •fubfcribed.' [7 jinn. c. 7.] The whole was fubfcribed for between the 



• This claufe is farther explained by the aft 4 Geo. II, c. z i. yl. 



