A. D. 1780. 657 



May 4'" — The diuies upon pot-a(hes and other aflies, imported from 

 the continent of Europe, and ufed in manufadures, being found to be 

 a difcouragement to fome manufactures, were reduced to 2f. on pot- 

 afhes and pearl-afhes, and Gd. on wood and weed afhes, per hundred- 

 weight of 1 1 2 pounds. The a6l to continue in force till 31'' May 1783. 

 [20 Geo. Ill, c. 25.] 



The trade of Aberyftwyth being confiderably increafed, and larger 

 veflels being employed in it than formerly, a number of gentlemen of 

 the neighbourhood were incorporated for the purpofe of deepening and 

 improving the harbour. [20 Geo. Ill, c. 26.] 



The iflands of Grenada and the Grenadines being now under the 

 dominion of the French, an act was pafled, proteding the property of 

 the Britilh fubjeds of thofe iflands, fhipped onboard neutral veflels for 

 neutral ports, againfl: being taken by Britifii fliips of war or privateers, 

 provided the whole cargo was taken in at the iflands, and the certificate 

 aitefled by any five of a number of gentlemen named in the ad. 

 [20 Geo. Ill, c. 29.] 



An additional duty of eight guineas was laid on every tun of French 

 wine or vinegar, and of four guineas on the wines and vinegars of other 

 countries. [20 Geo. Ill, c. 30.] 



A great proportion of the Britifli mercantile fliipping being at this 

 time withdrawn from the purpofes of trade by being converted into 

 tranfports or privateers, it became almofl; impoflible to find veflels fuf- 

 ficient to export the corn, which was now very plentiful, that were legally 

 qualified to receive the bounty allowed on the exportation of it. It was 

 therefor enaded, that half the bounty fliould be allowed on the ex- 

 portation of corn in neutral veflels preceding the 25''' of March 1781. 

 [20 Geo. Ill, c. 31.] 



When the American colonics withdrew their allegiance from Great 

 Britain, and the eflabliflied form of government was confequcntly dif- 

 folved, thofe, who fucceeded to the adminiflration of affairs, either 

 wanted fu/Hcient energy, or were uiawilling to run the rilk of givin-^- 

 offence to the people by enforcing the colledion of taxes fufficient to 

 defray the public charges, and provide for the redemption of their bills 

 of credit. Thefe by the extraordinary charges of the war increaled to 

 an amount fo difproportionate to the funds for their redemption, that a 

 depretiation of their value foon took place, which, though fmall at the 

 beginning, increafed with fuch alarming rapidity, that at this time yor/y 

 paper dollars were given for one filver one. Indeed, it was dillicult, or 

 rather impoflible, to fix any flandiu'd of value for them ; fo that no man 

 could know what he was doing in money matters, or could carry on 

 trade with any certainty or regularity, fuch money being no longer 

 a ftandard, whereby the value of any property or labour could be 

 afcertained. 



Vol. III. 4 O ' 



