A. D. 1717. 61 



titled by this (Uti-echt) treaty to the fame liberty, in as plain and 

 exprefs words as can be uled or imagined. And that your majefly 

 may be more fully apprifed of the importance of this trade, the fame 

 will be effedually demonftrated by the following account of the quan- 

 ties of logwood imported ilnce the war, viz. In the year 17 13, 2189 

 tons, 15 cwt. In 1714, 4878 tons, 14 cwt. In 1715, 5863 tons, 12 

 cwt. and in 171 6, 2032 tons, 17 cwt. being, one year with another, 

 3741 tons ; which cannot be computed at lefs than L6o,ooo per an- 

 num, though the price at prefent be reduced from L40 to L16 per 

 ton : whereas, before your majelly's fubjeds were fettled there, it was 

 worth Li 00 per ton. 



' Nor is this trade lefs necelTary than beneficial to your majefty's do- 

 minions, by reafon of the great encouragement it gives to our feamen 

 and (hipping. Upon the whole, therefor, we are humbly of opinion, 

 ijl, that the fubjedts of this your majelly's kingdom, for fome years 

 before, as well as after the American treaty of 1 670, did enjoy an un- 

 interrupted liberty of cutting logwood in thofe parts of the bay of 

 Campeachy not inhabited by Spaniards ; either through right, fuf- 

 ferance, or indulgence : 2dly, that the laid American treaty did efta- 

 blifh a right in the crown of Great Britain to the Laguna de Termi- 

 nos, &c. thofe places, at the time of the treaty, and for fome years 

 before, being adtually in pofTelTion ot the Britilh fubjeds : '^dly, 

 that the royal cedula, iffued out by the court of Spain, was a viola- 

 tion of that treaty, forafmuch as the carrying on the trade to the La- 

 guna de Terminos was thereby interpreted an invafion, and the log- 

 wood-cutters accounted pirates. And that your majefty's fubjeds 

 having been at leaft fuffered to enjoy the liberty of cutting logwood, 

 as aforel'aid, before the conclufion of the American treaty, although 

 your majefty Ihould not infift on your right to the Laguna de Termi- 

 nos, yet that the fame liberty is abfolutcly granted and confirmed by 

 the treaty of commerce made at Utrecht. And we do farther think 

 it our duty to reprefent to your majefty, that, although the faid 

 Spunifh ambaftlidor feems to declare in his memorial, that no attempt 

 fliould be made to dillodge your fubjeds, fettled on the Lagima de 

 Terminos, in a lefs time than eight months from the date of his me- 

 morial, yet ihey were diftodged and taken prifoners in the fame 

 month the memorial was delivered, as appears by feveral affidavits.' 

 All which is humblv lubmitted by 



(Signed) " Suffolk, J. Mokfwortb, 



y. Chetxvynd, D. Pulttuy, 

 Whiiehal', Sept. 25, 17 17. Cba/lts Cooke^ M. Bladen. 



171 8. — In March 171 8 the Snuth-fea company's fecond great annual 

 ftiip was launched, and named the Royal C^eorge, in honour of his majefty 

 King George I, the company's governor. But the commerce of that 



