498 



A. D, 1 66 1, 



inforced by feverer penalties. So difficult a tafk it is efFedually to 

 mafler an evil, of which immediate and confiderable gain is the ob- 

 jed. 



An adt of parliament of the 9th of King Edward III having prohibit- 

 ed the melting of any filver halfpenny or farthing for any purpofe 

 whatever, and another a6t of the 1 7th of King Richard II having pro- 

 hibited the like melting down of filver groats and half groats, thofe de- 

 nominations being the higheft filver coins then in tife, the goldfmiths 

 and refiners at this time taking advantage of the ftrift letter of thofe 

 two adls, concluded that there was no penalty for melting the filver 

 coins of an higher denomination than were then in being. A law was 

 therefor made this year [14 Car. II, c 31] againfl; melting down any 

 of our filver coins, upon the penalty of forfeiting the fame and double 

 the value. Yet in this, as well as in the laws prohibiting the exportation 

 of our wool, the temptation of immediate profit gets the better of all 

 refi:raints whatever. 



The parliament of Scotland, who in mofl; matters relating to com- 

 merce, more efpecially fince the union of the crowns, wifely followed the 

 Englifii, this year pafi^ed a navigation ad, for encouraging of fhipping 

 and navigation ; but it was not to extend to importations from Afia, 

 Africa, and America, Ruflla and Italy, till fo declared by a fubfequent 

 ad:, or by the privy council, or the council of trade, nor to corn in 

 time of dearth. Goods fhipped in foreign veflels, or belonging to ahens, 

 were to pay double duty. 



They alio pafiTed an ad for ereding companies for the improvement 

 -of the herring and white fifheries. And in this and fucceeding reigns, 

 down to the confolidating union of the two kingdoms, they granted 

 fundry bounties on the exportation of fifli of all kinds, and made fundry 

 good laws (efpecially fince the refi:oration) for the regulation of their 

 commerce, and of their linen and woollen manufadures, &c. All 

 which being now of little or no ufe, we have not thought it neceflary 

 jto enlarge on them *. 



The laws prohibiting the ufe of logwood, which was fuppofed perni- 

 cious to the goods dyed with it, were repealed, it being now found 

 (fays the ad, intitled, Frauds and abufes in his majefi.y's cufi;oms pre- 

 vented and regulated), ' that the ingenious induftry of thefe times hath 

 ' taught the dyers of England the art of fixing the colours made of 

 ' logwood, alias blockwood, fo as that by experience they are found as 

 ' lafting and ferviceable as the colours made with any other fort of 



* dying wood.' [13, 14. Car. II, c. 11.] 



* The Scottidi pniliament, at the fame time, vcductd the intcreft of money ^o Jx per cs!.t, ' fioe 



• of all retention 01 oth'.r pubh'c burdens whatfoev^r.' [P<h-/ /, Car. 11, f- 49-] M. 



I 



