538 A. D. 1773- 



thirds of the crews Britifh fubjeds, when, and where, Britifli corns arc 

 iinder thofe prices, viz. 



on wheat, and malt made of wheat, 5/; rye 3/; barley, beer, or bigg, 

 and malt made of them, 2/6 ; oats 2/, per quarter ; and oat meal 2/6 

 per quarter of 276 pounds avoirdupois. [13 Geo. Ill, c. 43.] 



By this law the legiflature endeavoured to limit the fluduation of 

 prices nearly between 44/ and 48/ for wheat, and proportionally for 

 other grains. The new regulations were fomewhat more favourable 

 than the preceding ones to the Britifh confumers of every fpecies of 

 grain, except oats, the exportation of which is encouraged by it, where- 

 as formerly there was no bounty for the exportation of oats, any more 

 than of peas and beans. 



Inftead of the drawback of two fifths of the duty on teas exported, 

 allowed by the former ad, \\^ Geo. Ill, c. 60.] the whole duty of cuf- 

 tom was now allowed to be drawn back on all teas fold at the Eafl-India 

 company's fales after the 10'" of May 1773, and exported as merchan- 

 dize to the Britiih colonies in America. The Eaft-India company were 

 alfo empowered to export teas diredl from their warehoufcs on their 

 own account, on obtaining a licence for the quantity from the lords of 

 the treafury, to the Britifli colonies in America, notwithftanding a for- 

 mer law obliging them to fell all their goods at home. But fuch ex- 

 portation was only to be permitted, when the quantity of tea to be left 

 in the company's warehoufes fhould be at leaft ten millions of pounds. 

 [13 Geo. Ill, c. 44.] 



The bank of England gave notice, that after the 24'" of June they 

 would no longer dilcaunt bills at a lower rate of difcount t\\:w\Jive per cent. 



May 28'" The manufadurers of filver plate in Birmingham and 



Sheffield labouring under great difficulties and hardfliips for want of a 

 proper eflablifhment of affayers to certify the quality of their goods, 

 guardians of the Jlandard of xvr ought plate were appointed for each town ; 

 and it was enaded, that after the 29'" of September 1773 every piece 

 of plate, of fufficient fize to bear the touch, made in, or within twenty 

 miles of, either of thofe towns, before being fold or exported fhould be 

 marked with the initials of the maker's name, the year in which it is 

 made, and the flamp of the guardians, which diflinguiflies the place 

 where it is made, and afcertains that it is of the flandard of eleven 

 ounces two pennyweights of fine filver in the Troye pound. The marks 

 are the figure of Britannia with an anchor for Birmingham, and a crown 

 for Sheffield. [13 G^o 111, f. 52.] 



June 21" — It was enaded, that the paper, ifllicd by the governments 

 of the colonies in America, as fecurity to their public creditors, fliould 

 be received by the pubUc treafurers as a lawful tender for the payment 

 of duties, taxes, &c. [13 Geo. Ill, c. 57.] 



A regulation was made for the prices of bread, containing a table of 



