A. D.I 755- 2>oy 



duce their dividend from eight to fix per cent per annum, to take place 

 at midfummer 1756, though twenty-one of their (hips arrived fufe from 

 India in the courfe of this year with cargoes valued above two miUions 

 llerhng. 



1756. — On Tuefday the i8th of May 1756, war was declared by the 

 king of Great Britain againfl France. 



On the agrh of June. Fort St. Philip, the only defenfible place in the 

 ifland of Minorca, furrendered to the French. 



This year feveral good laws were pafled for fupporting the war againfl 

 France, and for the encouragement and regulation of the Britifh com- 

 merce and navigation in general, viz. 



The 5ch public ad, to enable foreigners to ferve as military officers 

 in America. 



The iith, for fupplying mariners onboard fhips of war and mer- 

 chant fliips. 



The 15th, for granting bounties on Britifh and Irifh linens exported. 



The 23d, for encouraging the fifheries in Scotland. 



The 26th, for fecuring and encouraging the trade of the fugar colo- 

 nies in America. 



The 33d, for regulating the wages of workmen in the -woollen ma- 

 nufacture. 



The 34th, for the encouragement of feamen, and the more fpeedy 

 manning of the royal navy. 



All which, though of a public nature, are not fo important as to be 

 even barely abridged in fo general a work as ours. 



1757. — By an authentic account of the amount of the linen cloth, 

 flamped for falc in Scotland from the ifi: of November 1756 to the ift 

 of November 1757, it amounts to 9,764,408^ yards, valued at L40i,5i i -.g 

 flerling : and in the year 1757, the manufidlure had been increafed 

 1,217,255- yards, valued at L33,789 : 18 more than in the preceding 

 year. 



This was a very fcarce year all over Europe for wheat and fundry 

 other provifions, whereby the poor of Great Britain fufFered not a little 

 in their dayly fuftenance, and pcrfons of middling circumdances were 

 put to a confidcrable additional expenfc, in conre([uence of which the 

 following ftatutes were enadled, viz. 



An ad to prohibit, for a time to be limited, the exportation of corn, 

 malt, meal, flour, bread, bilcuit, and (larch. 



An ad to difcontinue, for a limited time, the duties upon corn and 

 flour imported, 8tc. 



Ai> ad to prohibit the exportation of corn, grain, meal, malt, flour, 

 beef, pork, bacon, &c. from America, unlefs to Great Britain or Ire- 

 land, and to permit the importation thereof into Great Britain and Ire- 

 land in neutral fliips, &c. 



an - 



