ANNALS 



OF 



COMMERCE. 



A. D. 1708. 



1 HE old law of the firft year of King James I, for garbling fpices and 

 drugs in London, (which we did not judge worth while then to recite) 

 being in length of time found to be not only ufelefs for the moft part, 

 but often prejudicial, was now repealed : and an equivalent given to 

 the city of London for the profits formerly made by the garbler's office 

 by laying a tax of 40/yearly, to be paid to the chamberlain of London 

 by all brokers, who, if ading as fuch without regular admittance, were 

 now to forfeit \^2S- Neverthelefs, the lord mayor, aldermen, and com- 

 mon council may, if they fo judge fit, appoint a perfon to be garbler ; 

 vvho.at therequeftof theowner of any fpices, drugs, &c. garbleable,and 

 not otherwife, fhall garble the fume, for fuch fee as the lord mayor, &c. 

 fhall appoint. 



In this fame year, the Britifli revenue being under the management 

 of fo able and uprigb.t a lord-treafurer as the earl of Godolphin, the 

 credit of the juiblic was on fo good a footing, that it was judged advif- 

 able to avail the nation thereof, by reducing the rate of intereft on the 

 debt of two millions due to the Eaft-India company. This was done 

 by a flatute for alluring to the ILnglilli company trading to the Ead- 

 Indies, on account of the united llock, a longer time in the fund and 

 trade. — And for raifing thereby Li ,200,000 for her majelly's occa- 

 iions. 



Vol. Iir.- A 



