708 A. D. 1782. 



fquadron arrived at Demararay, and took pofleflion of that place and 

 Ilfequibo, together with feveral Britifli vellels (January 31"). 



February 31 — Jamaica, though it was not attacked by any hoftile 

 force, fuftered feverely from a fire, whereby Kingfton, the principal 

 commercial town in the Britifli Weft-hidies, loft houfes, ftores, and 

 merchandize of all kinds to the value, as was eftimated, of half a million 

 of money. 



In Europe Britain loft the ifland of Minorca, which, after a long and 

 obftinate defence by General Murray, furrendered to the united forces 

 of France and Spain (February C""). 



February — The month of February in this year may be noted for the 

 loweft price, at which the funds of this country have ever been fold, 

 prior to the great deprefllon in the prefent war with France, the three- 

 per-cents having been as low as 53I, 



March — The permiflion to import Italian organzined filk was further 

 continued till the 25'" of March 1783. [22 Geo. I//, c. 7.] 



The fum of thirteen millions and a half was raifed for the public fer- 

 vice by a loan, to which was attached a lottery for the further fum of 

 p{?405,ooo. The fubfcribers received ;^ 100 in the three-per-cent confol- 

 idated fund, and ^^50 in the four-per-cent confolidated fund, together 

 with a terminable annuity of 17/6 for feventy-eight years to be com- 

 puted from 5"" January 1782, for every /^ 1 00 fubfcribed ; and more- 

 over three lottery tickets at the price of /^lo each for every ^r,oDO fub- 

 fcribed, the number of tickets on this occafion being only 40,500. 



The following a6ls were continued for limited times, viz. 



The ad; for encouraging the manufadure of fail-cloth in Great Bri- 

 tain, continued till 29'" September 1788. 



The ad for encouraging the manufadure of filk in Great Britain, 

 •continued till 24'" June 1788. 



The ad for allowing the free importation of cochineal and indigo, 

 continued till 29'" September 1788. 



The ad prohibiting the importation of foreign editions of books, 

 originally compofed and printed in Great Britain, continued till 29"" 

 September 1788. 



The ad for fecuring the duties on foreign fail-cloth, continued till 

 24" June 1788. 



The ad for allowing the bounty on corn exported in neutral veflels, 

 continued till 25''' March 1783. 



The ad for allowing the exportation of provifions, merchandize, &c. 

 to the ports in America, which were under the protedion of the Britifh 

 army, continued till i" June 1783. 



The ad prohibiting the tranfportation by water of copper in bars or 

 flieets, contuiued till i" May 1783. 



