A. D. 1749. 275 



of the value of the exports of Petcrfburgh to all the world in the year 

 1749, being 3,184,322 rubles; and of tlie imports 2,942,242; where- 

 by Rullia, or rather Peterfburgh, had a balance in its favour of 242,080 

 only; but with refpecl to Great Britain alone, it flood thus, viz. 



Exports thither from PeterlTjurgh, - 2,245,573 rubles. 



Imports from Great Britain, - 1,012,209 



Balance againfl: Great Britain, and in favour 



ofRuflia, was - - 1,233,264 



Or, at 4/2 llerling per ruble, L256,950 : 16 .• 8 flerUng. 



Hereby, if that author was rightly inforrned, it appears, that Ruflia's 

 commerce with Britain was not only more gainful to the former than 

 all the reft of Europe, but that Rullia was this year a lofer by all the 

 reft of Europe, of no lei's than 991,284 rubles, being the difference be- 

 tween what they gained from Britain alone and the 242,080 gained 

 from all Europe, Britain included. We hereby learn, how much it is 

 Ruflia's intereft to cultivate the frienddiip of Great Britain ; and we 

 may add, how much it is the intereft of the later to leften the balance 

 as loon as poflible, as well as that with the other northern countries ; of 

 which we wifti we had an equally diftind and adequate accoimt. 



1750.— At the opening of the fellion of the Britifli parliament at the 

 clofe of the year 1749, the king in his fpeech having recommended to 

 their confideration the improvement of the filhery, the houfe of commons 

 thereupon appointed a committee to inquire into the ftate, and to con- 

 fider of means for in:iproving the fiihery of herring, cod, &c. And a 

 meeting being held in the city, of many eminent gentlemen and mer- 

 chants, in the beginning of the year 1750 (new ftile), it was propofed 

 to form a joint ftock of L500,ooo, provided the Icgiflature would grant 

 an encouragement of 4 per cent per annum on that capital, when em- 

 ployed in the following manner, viz. 



I) Upon the payment of L300,ooo thereof into the bank of England, 

 the intereft thereon fliould commence, but fliould not be payable until 

 Li 00,000 thereof ihould be actually employed in the liflicry. 



II) Upon the payment of the remaining L200,ooo into the bank, the 

 intereft thereon fliould commence in like mannei", but fliould not be 

 payable until another Li 00,000 fliould be farther employed in the fifli- 

 ery. On this occafion, fundry pamphlets and newfpapers attempted to 

 demonftrate the pradicability of Great Britain gaining from the Dutch 

 the bulk of the white-herring fifliery. Hereupon an ad of parliament 

 jxifled in the fame fellion for the encouragement of the white herring 

 iilhery ; the preamble whereof lets forth, that the carrying on and im- 

 provement thereof are of great importance to thefe kingdoms, tending 

 to great advantage to our trade and navigation, and for employing, and 

 providing for, great numbers of induftrious poor; provided the lame 



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