244 A' D. 1745. 



of Great Britain, it appeared, even to that great man's amazement, that 

 the whole did not amount to above three or four hundred pounds, en- 

 tirely confifting of fliop implements, and certain houfliold furniture, &c. 



Perhaps this obfervation may, in fome refpeds, be extended to moft 

 of the great commercial, as well as banking, focieties of the world ; 

 whofe internal condition, circumftances, and profits, it is by no means 

 proper too narrowly to pry into, lb long as they, to all appearances, are 

 prosperous and punduai in all their affairs ; though, like a private 

 merchant, their circumflances may not be alike profperous at all times. 



1745. — Having read in Ker of Kerfland's Memoirs, that the city of 

 Hamburgh had no fewer than 5000 (hips and boats belonging to it, and 

 that loofe way of defcribing its naval commerce not giving me fufficient 

 fatisfadhon, 1 applied in the year 1745 to a Hamburgh broker or agent, 

 then refiding .it London, concerning the truth thereof; who freely ac- 

 knowleged, that, if all the boats on the river Elbe belonging to Ham- 

 burgh, and the vaft number of vefTels which that opulent city conftantly 

 employed in carrying merchandize up and down that large river, to and 

 from the countries of Mecklenburg, Pomerania, Saxony, Brandenburg, 

 Bohemia, Silefia, &c. were to be taken into the account, he knew not 

 whether there might not be fo many of all kinds ; but that the number 

 of real fhips trading on the Ocean and belonging to Hamburgh was not 

 above 300 ; whereof 150 were from 200 to upwards of 500 tons bur- 

 den, 27 of which fliips were then adually lying in the river Thames : and 

 that the remaining ijowere what areufually called fmall craft, or coaflers, 

 trading principally to Holland. Befides thofe, they had three fhips of 

 war for the protedion of their commerce from the Barbary rovers, 

 which they keep conftantly in their pay, viz. two of 40 to 50 guns 

 each, and the third a fmalier frigate. This account, fcemingly a pro- 

 bable one, gives an high idea of the extenfive commerce and numerous 

 fhipping of that city. 



The difcovery of a north-weft pafTage to the feas of Japan and China, 

 continuing to be much the fubjetSt of converfation, an ad: of parliament 

 palfed [18 Ceo. II, c. 17] whereby it was enaded, that if any Ihip of his 

 majefty's fubjeds fliall find out, and fail through, any paflage by fea be- 

 tween Hudlon's-bay and the weftern and Ibuthern ocean of America, 

 the owner, or his alTigns, ftiall receive a reward of L2o,ooo. The com- 

 miflioners for determining this difcovery are therein named, being the 

 great officers of llate, and of the treafury, admirals, &c. Provided, 

 however, that nothing in this ad {hall anyways extend to the prejudice 

 of any part of the eftute, rights, or privileges, belonging to the governor 

 and company of adventurers of England trading into Hudfon's bay. 



To prevent the frauds committed in counterfeiting the ftamps put 

 on Britifli and Irilh linen, in order to receive the bounty allowed on 

 their exportation, a llatute palled this fame year [c. 24] for effedually 



