400 " A. D. 1637. 



The king gave a patent to Thonaas earl of Berkftiire, for the fole ufe 

 of his newly invented kiln for drying malt and hops, with fea-coal, turf, 

 pear, or any other cheap fuel : with power to him to compound for a 

 lum of money to be paid by fuch as fhall defire to ufe his invention. 

 [Fa'dcra, F. xx, p. 191.] 



Private letter carriers between England and France were ftill in ufe, 

 notwitftanding King Charles's proclamation in 1636, and alfo King 

 Louis's in the fame y-ear, both prohibiting the fame. In confequence 

 of an agreement between thofe two princes, the route of the public 

 pods was from Dover to Calais, and thence to Paris by Bologne, Abbe- 

 ville, and Amiens ; whereas the private pofts failed from Rye to Dieppe, 

 and thence to Paris. Wherefor King Charles, by proclamation, prohi- 

 bited any letters being fent from Rye to Dieppe, or any other way what- 

 ever, but from his polbnafler-general, by the way of Calais, as above. 

 He alio again prohibited all private pofts at home ; hereby renewing his 

 former declaration of the feveral rates of poftage, as exhibited, under the 

 year 1635. [Fa'dcra, V. xx, p. 192.] 



In England, gentlemen, merchants, and traders, not long before this 

 .time, were forced to employ lefs certain carriers, or to be at the ex- 

 penfe of fpecial meifengers with their letters. Univerlities and great 

 towns had their own particular pofts ; and the fame horfe or foot poft 

 went quite through the journey, and returned with other letters, with- 

 out having different ftages, as at prefent. It was thus pra(^l:iled later in 

 Scotland, as having lefs commerce than in England. 



In the lift of oftlces, filled up in England for the year 1657, we meet 

 with the following ones, viz. 



I) The agency for the fole making and felling of all counterpoifes, 

 or weights and grains; and the approving and allowing of all balances 

 for his majefty's coins or money of gold within England and Ire- 

 land. 



II) The office of meafurer of all foreigfi balks and timber. 



III) The office of agency, for his majefty to grant licences to fell to- 

 bacco by retail. 



IV) The office of intelligence ; and of entering the names of all maf- 

 ters, mlftrefles, and fervants ; and of all goods loft and found, &c. in 

 London, Weftmlnfter, and three miles diftant. 



V) The office of fealer of all playing cards and dice. [Fcede/a, V. xx, 

 p. 199.] 



In the fame year we find a monopoly granted to Sir Thomas Tem- 

 peft, and others, uotwitliftanding the former exclufive and perpetual 

 right, by charter, of tlie hoaftmen of Newcaftle, of the fole power of 

 fcJUng coals exported out of the river Tine, for twenty-one years. 

 [England's grievance difcovered in relation to the coal trade, cb. 21, \to. 



