62 A. D. 1718. 



company was completely ruined in its infancy by the war with Spain, 

 which began this year: and their effe6ls,fa61:ors,and fervants, in the Spanifh 

 Weft-Indies were feized and detained, contrary to the afliento-contrad, 

 whereby they ought to have had eighteen months time allowed them for 

 the removal of their effeds, &c. which the company's agent at Madrid 

 reprefented in very ftrong terms to the cardinal minifter, whole anfwer 

 was, that the company fhould be indemnified whenever peace fhould be 

 concluded ; yet the fame was never effedually performed : and though 

 this war was but of a fhort duration, the company, neverthelefs, fufFered 

 confiderably by it ; and toward the clofe of this year, reprefented to his 

 Britannic majefty their various grievances, which were in fubftance, viz. 



I) That whereas in refped to the queen's two fhips, the Bedford and 

 Elizabeth, laden for the company's account, by virtue of two cedulas 

 granted by the king of Spain in the year 171 4, the former to Cartha- 

 gena, and the later to Vera Cruz, yet the Bedford's cargo was confifcat- 

 ed, on the pretext of over-tonnage, though it afterward appeared upon 

 remeafurement, that its cargo was under the ftipulated tonnage. Yet 

 the obtaining a fufpenfion of the fale of that cargo, till the company 

 could appeal to Europe, coft an exceflive fum to the Spanifh officers, be- 

 fides the lofs of their market, &c. 



II) That the cargo of the Elizabeth had an alcavala (or duty) laid on 

 it at Vera Cruz, to a very great amount, though the king of Spain had 

 expreisly fpecified that it fhould pay no duty whatever, on condition that 

 he fljiould enjoy 10 per cent out of the profits thereof : which impofition 

 he afterward confirmed and extended to all the company's future annual 

 fliips, though contrary to the 42d article of the affiento contrad. 



III) The king of Spain's fufpending the company's new fhip the Royal ' 

 George from failing this year, after having on board a cargo of near 

 L30o,ooo value, which was thereby much damaged, was a very great 

 lofs to the company. 



IV) By laying exorbitant duties on the company's {hip permitted to 

 load fruit at the Canaries for the Spanifh Weft-Indies. 



V) By laying duties on the purchafers of the company's negroes. 



VI) By conniving at, and permitting, many negroes to be imported 

 clandeftinely by others, contrary to the affiento contrad. 



\TI) By obftruding the company's officers from loading homeward, 

 -either tobacco or cacao, likewife contrary to the affiento. 



VIII) By falfe meafuring of the company's negroes, and denying 

 juftice therein .- 



IX) In delaying juftice in law-fuits againft the Spanifta officers, for 

 extorting exorbitant fees for the negroes imported by the company. 



X) By obliging the company's fadors at Panama to pay the duties 

 on ffaves courifcated and indulted, contrary to the ufage of former 

 ^fllentifts. 



