580 A. D. 1775. 



called it the I/Iand of Defolntion, but that he would not rob Mr. de Ker- 

 guelcn of the honour of giving his name to it*. 



Auguft 23** — In conlcquence of the war broke out in America, the 

 king in council prohibited gun-powder, arms, and ammunition, to be 

 exported, or even to be carried along the coaft, till the flrideft; inquiries 

 were gone through, and ample fecurity given for the true delivery of 

 them according to the profeffed intention of the fhippersf. 



The prohibition immediately gave birth to a vaft number of ap- 

 plications, efpecially from the merchants concerned in the African 

 trade. 



October 30''' — The board of trade having obferved, in confequence of 

 a petition from Liverpool, ' that gun-powder, arms, and ammunition, 

 ''are eflential and commanding articles in the African trade,' and ' that 

 ' both policy and juiHce require, that no reftridions fhould be put 

 ' upon this trade, which are not eflentially necelTary for public fafety,' 

 propofed, ' that each {hip clearing out for the coafl of Africa for the 

 ' purpofe of carrying on the trade for flaves, ivory, and gold, may be 

 ' allowed to take onboard, as an aflbrted part of her cargo, as much 

 ' gun-powder, and as large a quantity of trading guns if, piftols, cut- 

 ' lafles, flinis, and lead balls, bars, and fhot, as the exporters fhall think 

 ' necellary, provided that fecurity be given to the principal officers of 

 ' the cuftoms of the port in which (he is fitted out, before the fliip pro- 

 ' ceeds on her voyage, in treble the value of the articles fo exported, 

 ' that the fame fhall be expended in trade upon the coaft.' 



December 1 2^^ — The government of Grenada (or the Ceded iflands) 

 was again divided ; and Valentine Morris Efq. was appointed the firft 

 governor of S'. Vincents, now a feparate government ; Sir George 

 Macartney being appointed governor of Grenada, and the Grenadines 

 together with Tobago. 



December 23'' — An act of parliament was pafled, whereby all inter- 

 courfe with the revolted colonies, (comprehending the whole extent of 

 the coafl from New Hampfhire to Georgia inclufive) was flridly pro- 

 hibited ; and all veffels, whether belonging to the revolted colonies or 

 to neutral nations, found trading to the coafts of America, were declared 

 lawful prizes to any fhip of war or privateer which fhould feize them ; 

 excepting only veflels in the fervice of government, or velTels duely 

 authorized to fail to fuch ports as were in the king's allegiance. [t6 

 Geo. Ill, c. s-} 



' Whereas many advantages both to commerce and fcience may be 



* See Cjoh's Third voyage, cc. v, vi. — Peroufc's ture, to be in force for fix months, had been ifTued 



I'uyage, V. \, p. 259 of Englijh iranJlaUon, 1799. — 19"' October 1774. 



I have not feeii the accou:iis piibliilKd by Kergue- J I'hefc guns are dated in the petitions to colt 



Icn and his lientenant De Pages. from 5/6 to ifd, and are faid to be fit for no 



t A precautionary proclamation of a fimilar na- other trade. » 



