466 A. D- 1767. 



pr6ducc duties equal in aTnount to the former ones. And ihey entreat- 

 ed parliament to confit^er the many dangers to which their pr(>periy had 

 been expnfed, and tlii'ir prodi-.'ious heavy expcnfes in India, which, not- 

 withflandin^ tht-y had loft very few (hips at fea, had for many years 

 kept their dividends very low, while the public were in the uninterrupt- 

 ed pofTcffion of an annual revenue arifnlg from ihcir trade, fully equal 

 to a third part of their whole capital. 



The parliament did not accept either of the propofitions in the terms 

 oflfercd. but didaced their own terms in two ads, which were imrnedi- 

 ately pafp d. 



By I he firft, the inland duty of one (hilling a pound was taken off 

 thole kinds ot tea called black teas, cleared out of the Eafl-India com- 

 pany's warehoufes for confumption in Great Britain, for five years after 

 the 5th of July 1767 ; and the teas exported in the original packages to 

 Ireland and the Britilli- American colonies were entitled to draw batk 

 the whole duties. This regulation being calculated to increafe the con- 

 fumption of teas legally imported, and to enlarge the Eafl-India com- 

 pany's fales. they were bound, in cafe the revenue arifing from teas dur- 

 ing thefe five years Ihould fall fhort of its amount during the five pre- 

 ceding years, to make good the deficiency. [7 Gro. Ill, c. 56.] 



By the fecond, the Eaft-India company, in confideration of their ter- 

 ritorial acquifirions, became bound to pay to the pubHc £:^ot,kQO a 

 year for t\Vo years, commencing from the ifl of February 1767. It was, 

 however, provided, that, if the company fliould be deprived of their 

 territories, or any part of them, during that period, a proportional 

 abaterhent of the payment fliould take place. [7 do. Ill, c. 57.] 



The other ads of this feffion, which concerned commerce, were the 

 following. 



' Whereas it is of the utmofl: importance to the trade and commerce 

 ' of thefe kingdoms, that all letters, packets, bank-notes, bills of ex- 

 ' change, and other things, may be fent and conveyed with the greateft 

 * fafeiy and fecurity,' any perfon in the fervice of the poft-office em- 

 bezzling or defi;roying any letter containing any valuable paper, or pick- 

 ing out fuch valuable paper, is deemed guilty of felony, and condemned 

 toiufter death without benefit of clergy. And the robbery of the :^iail, 

 or of a port-office, is alfo made felony. [7 Geo. Ill, c. 50.] 



An ad was pafliid for improving the navigation of the river Lea, and 

 extending it to the town of Hartford. The navigation of ic was declared 

 to be free to all the king's fubjeds, on paying the appointed rates and 

 duties; and manure carried upon the river was wholely exempted from 

 payftient. [7 Geo. Ill, <:. 5 1 .] 



The utility of inland navigation being dayly inore and more under- 

 flobd, feverai other ads -^ere paJTed for improving the channels of 



