A. D.I 774' 557 



fide of the Gulf of St. Laurence, which had then been detached from 

 it, and annexed to the government of Newfoundland, that the admi- 

 nifl:ration of civil government might extend to the numerous native- 

 French fettlers in the former, and that the fifhers in the laicr might 

 no longer be fubjeded to the Newfoundland regulations, which they 

 rcprefenred as inconfiflent with the nature of their fifhery. The Ro- 

 man-catholic fubjeds, faid to be in number about 65,000, were in- 

 dulged with the free exercife of their religion, fubject to the king's 

 fupremacy ; their clergy were authorized to receive their accuftomed 

 emoluments from their flocks ; and the antient French laws and cuf- 

 toms were reftored, except in criminal cafes. Several duties were alfo 

 laid by parliament upon licjuoi-s and melaffes, imported into the pro- 

 vince, for the fupport of the civil government of it. [14 Geo. Ill, cc. 

 83, 88.] 



The privilege of naturalization having been abufed by many fo- 

 reigners, who obtained it merely for the fake of enjoying commercial ad- 

 vantages in foreign countries, which by treaties belong only to Britifh 

 fubjecls, it was provided by law, that henceforth no foreigner fhould 

 be entitled to fuch advantai^es, unlefs he has refided in Britain feveii 

 years after his naturalization. [14 Geo. Ill, c. 84.] 



Among the ufual articles of expenditure voted by parliament this 

 year, there is the furri of /?2,50o to David Hartley Efq. to aflifl: him in 

 his experiments upon an invention for fecuring buildings and lliips 

 frorn fire. [14 G^o. Ill, c. 85.] 



An ad was palTed for prolonging a confiderable number of commer- 

 cial laws relative to importation and exportation. [i/\.Geo. Ill, c. 86.] 



The mayor and corporation of the city of London, whofe fupremacy 

 and confervancy of the River Thames is recognized to extend from the 

 city ftone above Staines bridge to a place called Kendall, Yenland, or 

 Yenlcet, in Kent, were empowered to improve the important inland 

 navigation of the river above London bridge. [14 Geo. Ill, c. 91. J 



A number of ads, as ufual, were alio pafTed for the improvement of 

 feveral parts of London and other towns, for canals, drainings, and 

 other improvements. 



Some merchants of Stockholm having entered into a company for 

 carrying on the whale filhery, the king of Sweden, in order to promote 

 an undertaking fo nfeful to his dominions, allifted them with an ::d- 

 vance of 500,000 dollars at an interell of three per cent. 



The Eaft-India company received advice, that the Spanifli governor 

 of Manila had lent a melHige to Mr. Harbord to ditfire him to depart 

 from the new fettlement at Balambangan, and threatening, if he did 

 not immediately comply, that he would fend a fulficicnc force to dif- 

 lodge him, and dertroy his works. Jjulambangan is a fmall iHand ai 

 the north end of the great ifland of Borneo, which the company .k- 



