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04 A. D. 1754. 



ly fum not lefs tlian two guineas : yet all noblemen, and alio feme gen- 

 tlemen, fubl'cribe five guineas each, and others four, or three guineas 

 yearly. They have now no fingle trcafurer, all their money being 

 lodged at the bank of England, to be drawn out as wanted. All quef- 

 tions are determined either by holding up of hands, or by ballot, if in- 

 fixed on. They generoufly invite all mankind to propofe fubjecls for 

 their encouragement, and when approved of by a committee, and con- 

 firmed by a general meeting, the matters propofed, with their premiums, 

 are annually publilhed in newfpapers, 6ic. and all poflible partiality 

 in the diftribution of premiums is carefully obviated, by concealing the 

 claimants names, and appointing committees for the ftrift examination 

 of their merits, and occafionally confulting the mofl; fkilful artifis. Their 

 meetings are well attended, a laudable zeal being by all exerted for the 

 improvement of the fine arts, as well as of manufidtures and commerce. 

 From fuch truely noble and difinterefted intentions, and fuch an exten- 

 five plan for the advancement of the wealth, power, and glory, of their 

 country, what may not reafonably be hoped for. May they increafe 

 more and more, both in the number of their members, and in their 

 revenue ; in which all lovers of their country will furely cordially join 

 their ardent wifhes. 



A mercantile author, under the year 1754, juftly enough remarks 

 the uncertainty of exadlly computing the number of the trading fliip- 

 ping of England : but when he conjectures they may be about 2000 

 {hips in foreign trade, amounting in tonnage to about 170,000 tons, 

 And about the like number of coafi:ing velTels, which may 



contain in tonnage about - - 1 50,000 



Total tonnage, by his account, - 320,000 

 he is furely fliort of the mark in both refpecfls, more efpecially in the 

 coafting tonnage, confidering the great number of colliers iTiips, large 

 and fmall. 



When I was at Briflol in the year i 743, I took fome pains in inquir- 

 ing at their cuftom-houfe concerning their foreign and coafting trades, 

 and the general anfvver was, that Briflol had upwards of 400 fliips, 

 greater and lefler, employed in foreign trade, including their trade to 

 Ireland ; but the number of coafters they could not afcertain, but only 

 faid, that they were undoubtedly very many. Since that time, it is 

 faid, that Liverpool has gained ground, in fome trades, of Brillol, and 

 may probably have about 300 fhips in foreign trade, befide their coaft- 

 ers. Now, if the number of fliips trading beyond i'ea, from all the . 

 other ports of Great Britain, or even of England alone, were exactly 

 knov. n, the whole may very probably amount to confiderably, perliaps 

 one ':^alf more than 2000 fhips trading beyond fea, more efpecially if 

 the account given of London's fhipping, which iVIaitland, in his Survey 



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