226 A. D. 1740. 



New-England, (i. e. principally the Maffachufet's-bay) Connedicut, 

 Rhode-ifland, and New-Hamplhire, L525 currency*. For L 100 

 fterling money. 



New-York. - - 160 



The Jerfeys - - 160 



Pennfylvania - - 170 



Maryland - - - 200 



North-Carolina - - 1400 



South-Carolina - - 800 



In the month of Augufl 1740, the fale of the French Eafl -India com- 

 pany's merchandize at Port L'Orient amounted to twenty-two millions 

 of livres, or about one million fterling ; which fufficiently demonftrates 

 the vaft increafe of that company's commerce toEaft-India, in the fpace 

 of a few years paft. 



During this year there arrived at Amfterdam 1645 fhips, being 168 

 fewer than in the year 1738. 



At that city, in the fame year, there died 10,056 perfons ; being 

 above 2500 more than in the preceding year. 



At Paris, in 1739 Chriftened 19,781 — Buried 2r,989 

 1740 18,632— 25,285 



47,273 in both years. 

 Average of burials, 23,636^ in one year. * 

 The king fent out Commodore George Anfon f, an experifenced 

 commander, with one fhip of 60 guns, two of 50 guns, one of 40, and 

 one of 20 guns, a floop and two vi(5luallei-s, to diftrefs Spain as much as 

 poflible in the South fea. It is true, this expedition was rather a mat- 

 ter of war than of commercial hiftory ; yet, as it has fome relation to 



* III a letter (on this occafion) from a merchant ' lance of debt againll them : and their trading 



at Boflon in New-England to a friend in Eng- ' circiimftances continuing to decline, (as ours 



land, concerning tlie diflcrent values of paper cur- ' have) their filver would be brought to 2'j/per 



icncy ill the Britifli pUintations, we have an ex- ' ounce (as ours is) and the current money of 



plaiiation thereof, viz. ' uj on the continuance of a ' Great Britain be at the rate of 2jf per ounce, 



' favourable turn in the trading circnmflances of ' whatever the lawful money might be. This is 



' the province (of Ntw-England) the government ' evident from the fuccefs of Queen Anne's pro- 



' niiglit ftop at any rate which fiivcr (hould fall to, ' clamation, in the 3d year of her reign, and the 



' and make that rate the fixed filver pound, and ' a£l of parliament fubfequent upon it, defigned 



' make it a lawful tender ; and the common con- ' to fix the plantation pound to 2 ounces 16 



' fent or acceptance of the people would com- ' penny- weights 16 grains of filver, of the fine- 



' plcte the fcheme of filver money. And thus the ' nefs of common pieces of eight at 6/1 cf per 



• fterling pound is fixed, in England, to 3 ounces ' ounce ; which moil certainly was well iiitcnd- 



t 17 penny-weight and 10 grains of filver of a, ' ed, but fcr the afoiefaid realons could not take 



' certain fincnefs, or filver at 5^2 per ounce. But, ' cffcCl : and there is but one plantation that I 



' if that kingdom were under our unhappy cir- ' know of, viz. Barbados, where common fiivcr is 



' cumllanccs, as not having a fuffieiency in value ' received by weight, agreeable thereto : Virginia 



' of filvtr and all other exports, to difcharge the ♦ not fo high, and all the others got beyond that 



' whole demand in return for their' (i. e. Geat ' llandard, in very different degrees.' yf. 



Britain's) ' imports, it would then be next to a f Afterwards created Lord Anfon, and wor- 



' miracle if filver did not rife to above 5/2 per thily placed at tlsc head t.f the admiralty board. 



' ounce in the markets, in proportion to the ba- .<f. 



