64 A. D. 1718. 



frequented by any Britifh fubjeds other than fuch as might lawfully 

 trade thither, under the penalties therein fet forth ; and that the goods 

 laden from India fliould, without breaking bulk, be brought to fome 

 port in Great Britain to be unladen. Notwithftanding which reftric- 

 tions, and the proclamation of the year 17 16, feveral Britifli fubjeds, 

 not intitled under the faid laws, have prefumed to trade to India in 

 foreign and other fliips, to the diminution of his majefty's cuftoms, and 

 the trade of this kingdom ; wherefor the contraveners are hereby de- 

 clared liable to all the penalties of the laws in being. And, moreover, 

 the Eaft-India company is hereby authorized to feize on the perfons of 

 all fuch Britifli fubjeds as fhall be found within their limits, and to fend 

 them prifoners to England : and that all or any Britifli fubjeds, ading 

 under a commifllon from any foreign potentate, fliall forfeit L500 for 

 every fuch offence. This ad was farther continued, by the 5th of Geo. 

 II, c. 29, for feven years from the ifl; of May 1732, and to the end of 

 the then next feflion of parliament. 



A bill, in the houfe of peers, for continuing a duty on the trade and 

 •navigation of this kingdom, and for repairing Dover harbour, met with 

 much oppofition. The merchants alleged, that this harbour had, for 

 many years paft, been a burthen to the trade and navigation ; although 

 its fituation was fuch, that whenever the wind blows hard from the fea, 

 i. e. from fouth-eafl to fouth-weft, the entrance of the pier is fo choak- 

 ed with fmall flones, waflied in by the wind and fea, that very often, at 

 high water, a hoy of 30 tons cannot get in or out, and the packet-boats 

 are liable to the fame misfortune. That the charges on our na\-igation, 

 called petty port-charges, were fo high, that a fliip of 250 tons paid 

 each voyage L30 fterling, of which at leafl L6 : 5 was for the repair of 

 this pier and harbour. That the mouth of the pier is but 100 feet in 

 breadth, and the channel much narrower, occafioned by a lodgment of 

 ftones : and at the pier-heads the tide runs fo flrong diredly acrofs it, 

 that it is both difficult and dangerous to get in or out, feveral fliips hav- 

 ing been loft in the attempt. That the execution of the ad for this 

 duty had already cofi: upwards of L2o,ooo, although it be much the 

 fame as before. Neither can it be made of any advantage to any but 

 ♦iflier-boats and fmall vefFels ufmg the place. Yet the fame duty was 

 continued, though hitherto to very little purpnfe. 



The pirates in the Weft-Indies, and efpecially among the Bahama 

 iflands, being at this time a great obftrudion and detriment to the 

 Britifli commerce, the king's fliips, and the proclamation for furrender- 

 ing themfelves by a limited time, had the defired efFed ; and the peace- 

 able navigation of thofe feas was reflored. 



In May 1718, new louis d'ors and new filver coins were coined in 

 France, which were to pafs for confiderably more than their intrinfic 

 value, much to the detriment of the commerce of France; and all the 



