A. D. 1715. 45 



Yet, notwiihftandiug the provifion hereby made for the year 1715, 

 rhe company might ftill proceed to receive the duties arifing by lalt, 

 candles, clerks, apprentices, &c. by virtue of the act of the 9th of Queen 

 Anne, wliereby they were enabled to make their dividends tor this year 

 1 715 in money; and that we may end this point here, though fomewhat 

 out of its place, the company's general court in May 171 6, made the two 

 half-years dividends for the year 17 16, in the flock aforefaid ; the divi- 

 dends for both half-years being made at midfummer 1716, by add- 

 ing 6 yyev cent in flock to each proprietor's account, for the two half- 

 years dividends, (9th and loth) to chriflmas 1716. 



In this fame year, the South-fea company's firfl annual fhip was 

 launched, and named the Royal Prince, in honotir of the prince of 

 Wales, (fince King George II) governor of that company, who, on 

 that occafion, was magnificently entertained on board her, with all his 

 court. This fhip's firfl voyage was in 171 7, and her fecond voyage, 



1723- 



A printed paper now appeared, giving the net amount of the cufloms 

 of England, for the fifteen immediately preceding years ; which was as 

 follows, leaving out the odd fhillings and pence, viz. 



Anno 1700, _____ Li ,379,460 



1 701, - - - - 1,637,809 



■ 1702, - _ - - ^ _ 1,285,605 



1703, _____ 1,206,349 



1704, 1,401,390 



1705, - _ - - - 1,139,277 



1706, -__._-_ 1,311,856 



1707, - - _ . _ 1,192,081 



J 708, - _ - - ^,35^,53^ 



1809, _ - _ - . 1,353,483 



1710, _ _ _ . 1,208,292 



17H, - - _ _ - _ 1,253,598 



1712, - - - - - 1,315,423 



1713. - - - - 1,541,170 



1714, - _ _ - 1,714,139 



Total in 15 years, L20,29i,468 



The cufloms, on a medium, for one year, - Li, 352,764 



Here we may naturally obferve, that the years 1701, 1713, and 1714, 

 confiderably exceeded any of the other eleven ; and yet 1704, aprotper- 

 ous year of war, fomewhat exceeded the year 1700, a year of peace, 

 but an vuifcttled and threatening one. And, lafily, that the net amount 

 of the year 1709, exadlly correfponds with that given in to the houfe of 

 commons in that year, which fo far confirms the authenticity of the 

 account. 



