A. D, 16^59. /i^jcj 



* and recoined all the debafed filver coin of the three preceding reigns, 

 ' but, by varying the ftandard, there were frefh fabrications occafioned, 

 ' fo that the fame bullion was coined over and over.' And this able 

 author conjedures, that in the year 1600 our whole gold and filver 

 coin together did not exceed 4 millions ; and that at the time he wrote 

 (1711) there might be 12 millions of gold and filver coin in being. 

 [New dialogues on the prefent pojlure of affairs, p. 71, ed. 171 1, 8t'o.] 



This very curious account is well worth our obiervation : and as our 

 commerce is allowed by all men to be very confiderably increafed fince 

 the year 171 1, being the fpace of fifty-one years, I conceive we may 

 ipeafonably conclude, that the prefent gold and filver coin of Great Bri- 

 tain adually exifting cannot be lefs than 16 millions: although it be not 

 fo eafy to determine the proportion between the quantity of the gold 

 and the filver coin. 



Having nothing firther to add of the times preceding the reftoration 

 of King Charles II, we mufi: do the rump parliament and Cromwell the 

 jufi:ice to remark, by way of recapitulation, that they certainly made" 

 fundry very good and fuccefsful regulations and laws for the improve- 

 ment and increafe of commerce and fifipping, moll of which were con- 

 firmed by the parliament immediately after the reftoration: which plain- 

 ly evinced the public fenfe of their utility, viz. 



1} The reduction of the legal interefi: of money from 8 to 6 per cent, 

 greatly to the advantage of the landed and trading interefls. 



II) The navigation ad, whereby not only the trade to and from our 

 American plantations was fecured to ourfelves alone, but likewife our 

 mercantile fliipping was confiderably increafed, as was alfo the number 

 of our failors, and of- all trades depending on fhipping. 



III) Tenures by knights-fervice, wardlhips, and all other kinds of 

 fervile tenures, were for ever aboliflied in England. 



IV) All kinds of monopolies were likewife quite aboliflied. 



V) Their granting full liberty of confcience to all peaceable people, 

 inviting multitudes of fuch to return with their families and fortunes- 

 from New-England, Holland, Germany, &c. whither they had. been 

 driven by Laud's unchriftian and mad perfecution, &c. and hereby not 

 only the number of indufl:rious people was increafed, which is the moft 

 folid wealth of any nation, but likewife new manufadurcs were intro- 

 duced, and the old improved and increafed. 



This meafure was, however, not agreeable to the zealous royalifts, 

 and therefor it was not confirmed till the acceffion ot William and 

 Mary, when the nation's eyes were fully opened to fee the prejudice and 

 folly, as well as wickednefs, of denying that freedom of confcience to 

 others which we ourfelves would think we had a right to in like cir- 

 cumftances. 



VI) Vaflalage was aboliihed in Scotland, and better order was efia- 



