56q a. D. 1774. 



directing that the duty of four and a half per cent, which had been 

 granted under particular circumfbinces by the alTembly of Barbados *, 

 and had afterwards been extended to ihe neighbouring Brilifh iflands, 

 iliould be levied on the e>q5orted produce of the ceded iflands. This 

 was done upon the principle, that the crown poirefled an abfolute do- 

 minion over conquered territories. But the demand was oppofed by 

 the planters, who infifted, that, if any fuch dominion ever exifted, it 

 was relinquiflied by the proclamation, which invited Britifli fubjeds to 

 fettle the iflands, with the aflurance of enjoying the Britifli conftitution. 

 The difpute was at length carried to the court of King's bench, where 

 judgement was given againfl the crown ; and thenceforth thofe iflands are 

 exempted from a burthen, which lies hard upon all the other Britifli 

 Well-India iflands except Jamaica. 



December 23'' — An act was pafled for permitting the importation of 

 Indian corn (or maize) on paying a duty of one penny per quarter, at 

 anv time when barley may be lawfully imported on paj-ing a duty of 

 twopence. [1 5 Geo. Ill, c. i .] 



It was efl:imated that the poor's rate for England and "Wales, which 

 about the year 1685 was ;^665.362, and in Queen Anne's reign flood 

 about j^" 1 ,000,000, rofe to ;(r3, 000,000 about the year 1750, and was 

 the fame this year f. 



About this time there was much talk of the flourifliing Itate of fome 

 manufadures lately eftabliflied in Spain, whereby fome millions of 

 piaflres were faid to be annually faved to that country. The horrible 

 power of the inquifition was greatly abridged in Spain this year, which 

 might render a refidence in that country more tolerable to foreigners, 

 who might be infl:rumental in promoting ufeful manufadtures ; but it 

 requires the experience of many years to alcertain whether the new 

 manufadtures of Spain will have much influence on the general com- 

 merce of Europe. 



The king of Sweden this year impofed heavy duties on woollen cloths, 

 watches, and feveral other articles, which the Swedes ufed to get chiefly 

 from Great Britain. And he propofed thofe duties as a fund for efla- 

 blifliing and encouraging fimilar manufadtures in his own coimtry. 



The king of Denmark went farther ; for he totally prohibited the 

 importation of woollen goods, giving as a reafon, that the manufadtures 

 of his own country were fully fufficient to anfwer the demand. 



The trade with Portugal, ufually fo highly extolled, was now funk 

 down to lefs th in half of what it ufed to be formerly. 



By the report of the Britifli conful at Hamburgh the merchandize 

 imported into that city from Great Britain, Ireland, and the Britifli 



• For an account of the manner in which the f For the preceding years fee the elaborate 



duty of four and a half per cent was impofed or work of Sir Frcderii: Morton Eden on The Jlate of 



cjjt-iiiied, kc Ediuarclj's Hijh of the Wejl-Ind'us, the poor, V .\, fp. 2Z^, H^. 

 V.'\,l>-lll,fcconded. 3 



