41 6 A. D. 1765. 



by a contribution tor their immediate relief, and an engagement enter- 

 ed into by the principal lilk-mercers to countermand all their orders for 

 foreign filks. 



That the manufacflurc might not fufFer for want of materials, the par- 

 liament took oft' the old duties paid upon the importation of raw lllk, 

 and laid a new duty of 1/3 per pound of 24 ounces on raw filk, and 

 V9 P^^ fame pound on thrown lilk, to be paid on importation, without 

 any drawback on exportation, except to Ireland, in favour ot which a 

 .drawback of \f on raw lllk, and Gd on thrown filk, per pound of 24 

 ounces, was allowed, with an exprefs prohibition, however, of re-export- 

 ing the raw filk from Ireland on any account whatever- [5 Geo. Ill, c. 



29-] 



In order to provide a fufTicient fupply for the African trade, the Eaft- 



India company were empowered to import from any pfirt of Europe, in 



Britilli veflels, fuch quantities of coarfe printed calicoes, cowries, and 



arangoes, as may be necellary, when their own flores of thofe goods are 



found infafhcient, on obtaining a licence from the treafury, and on 



payment of the ufual duties. But, fliould they negled to procure a fuf- 



ticient fupply, or aflc an unreafonable price, the lords of treafury were 



empowered to grant licences to other perfons. [5 Geo. Ill, c. 30.] 



An additional duty of 4/ per chaldron was laid on all coals fhipped 

 for any foreign dominion ; and a duty of five per cent ad valorem on 

 lilks, calicoes, and other manufactures, of Perfia, China, or India, fliip- 

 ped to any foreign country, except Africa. At the fame time additional 

 duties were laid upon policies of infurance. [5 Geo. Ill, c. 35.] 



May 25'*" — An atft was pafled to confine the importation of gum fen- 

 ega to Great Britain, and laying a duty of 6^ per hundred-weight on the 

 importation, and 3c/ per hundred-weight on the exportation, of it. [5 

 Geo. Ill, c. 37.] 



The goodnefs of roads is of the greatefi: confequence to the internal 

 trade of a country, and is an objed; well deferving the attention of 

 every wife legifiature. In the preceding reign the narrow wheels, which 

 plowed up the roads, were difcouraged by exempting carts and wag- 

 gons, having wheels of nine inches in breadth, from part of the toll 

 duties paid by thofe with narrow wheels. A confiderable improvement 

 was novv' made upon that regulation, by directing that thofe who, by 

 forming their axles of dift'erent lengths, fliould make their fore and 

 hind wheels together roll upon the ground in a Une of at leaft fixceen 

 inches in breadth, fhould pay only half the toll dues payable by others. 

 In order, alio, to prevent the roads from being defl^royed by enormous 

 weight, the commilfioners of the roads were empowered to erect weigh- 

 ing engines, and to exacl 20/ per hundred-weight from all waggons 

 weighing above i\%. tuns, and all carts above three tuns. [5 Geo. Ill, 

 c. 3S.] 



