294 ' A. D. 1753. 



leilles.and other conc\irring circumftances not eafily to be rurmounted, 

 had gradually given the French their prefent fuperiority. The parlia- 

 ment therefor pafled an ad: of this fame year, for enlarging and regu- 

 lating the trade into the Levant feas ; the fubftance of which fets forth 

 the patent of King James I, ftill in force at this time, dated 14th De- 

 cember 1605, (as we have recited in its proper place) and alfo that of 

 King Charles II. ' And whereas the company's trade into the Levant 

 ' feas has fince much decreafed ; the taking of lefler fines for being 

 ' made free of this company ; and the not reftraining the freedom 

 ' thereof to mere merchants, and to fuch perfons as, refiding within 

 ' twenty miles of London, are free of the faid city ; and the fccuring 

 ' to all perfons free of the company the liberty of exporting all forts of 



* goods and merchandize (not forbidden by law) to any place within 

 ' the limits of their charter, from what parts of Great Britain, at what 



* times, in what quantity, and on board what legal fhips, they fliall re- 



* fpedively think proper : and alfo of importing, in the like manner, 

 ' from any place within the limits of the faid letters patent, raw filk or 



* any other lawful merchandize purchafed within the faid limits ; are 



* the mod probable means of recovering and extending the trade for 

 ' the benefit of the nation. It was therefor enacted, 



I) That after the 24th of June 1754, inftead of the former re- 

 ftraints in the charters of L25, to be paid for the freedom by perfons 

 under twenty-fix years of age, and L50 by all above that age, the re- 

 ftridion of the freedom of the company to freemen of London, to mere 

 merchants, &c. every fubjed of Great Britain, defiringadmiflioninto the 

 Turkey company, fhall be admitted within thirty days after fuch re- 

 queft, and fliall enjoy all the liberties, privileges, &c. granted by the 

 faid letters patent, paying for fuch admiflion, to the life of the company, 

 L20, and no more. 



II) From the 24th of June 1754 all perfons, free of the company, 

 may, feparately orjointly, export any goods or merchandize (not prohi- 

 bited by law to be exported) from any place in Great Britain, to any 

 place wiihin the limits of the charter, in Britifh or plantation-built 

 fhips, (navigated according to law) at any time, and to any perfons 

 whomloever being free of the faid company, or to the fons or appren- 

 tices of freemen, (fuch freemen, fons, or apprentices of freemen, being 

 his majefly's chriflian fubjeds) fo long as they fliall remain under and 

 fubmit to the protedion and diredion of the Britifh ambaffador and 

 confuls refpedivtly, for the time being : and may alfo import, in like 

 manner, raw filk, or other conimodities purchafed within the limits of 

 the faid Utters patent (not prohibited by law to be imported) upon pay- 

 ing the king's duties and cuf^oms, and fuch impofitions as fhall be af- 

 feiled upon all merchandizes, &c. fo exported or imported, or upon 

 f^'■'>s laden therewith, for defraying the neceffary expcnfcs of the com- 

 pany. 4 



