512 A. D. 1663, 



* levied in manner atbrefaid.' This ad was to continue no longer in 

 force than to the end of the firft feffion of the next parliament, but 

 has fince been made perpetual. We fliall here only remark, that the 

 nation, in the opinion of many, has often had ground to repent thofe 

 reflraints in favour of the grazing countries, and to the prejudice of 

 the refl of the kingdom. 



Two other well-intended ftatutes were made this year for the encou- 

 ragement of the linen and tapeftry manufadtures of England, and dif- 

 coLiragement of the very great importation of foreign linen and tapeftry, 

 and for regulating the packing of herrings. It was alfo thereby enad- 

 ed, that for the prefervation of the fpawn of fi(h at the ifles of Iceland 

 and Weftmony, no fliip fhould fail thither until the i oth of March in 

 any year, neither (hould any toll or other duty be taken at Newfound- 

 land for any fiflr caught there. [15 Car. II, cc. 15, 16.] 



Before we clofe this year, we cannot forget to do juflice to an excel- 

 lent little treatife on commerce, now publifhed by Samuel Fortrey, Efq. 

 intitled England's intereft and improvement ; which, in only 43 fmall 

 i2mo pages, treats moft judicioufly of all the principal branches of our 

 foreign and domeflic commerce ; of the benefit of increafmg our in- 

 duftrious people by naturalization; the improvement of our lands by 

 inclofures, and the breeding of cattle; of the exportation of horfes ; the 

 improvement of mines ; our manufadures ; our fiflieries ; ofdifcourag- 

 ing the wear of foi-eign manufactures, more efpecially French ones, 

 whereby that country gets fo great a balance from us ; of the benefit of 

 the ad of navigation, and of our foreign plantations ; the regulation of 

 pur coin ; lowering the intereft of money, &c. : a treatife which, though 

 written 100 years ago, will well bear reading over even at this day. 



Rhode-ifland and Providence plantation, two provinces of New-Eng- 

 land, had this year a charter to the whole freemen or inhabitants of 

 each colony, who are empowered to eled their own reprefentatives; and 

 thofe of the later alfo eled their governor and council. The report of 

 the board of trade to the houie of lords, in January 1733-4, obferves of 

 thefe two colonies, and of Connedicut, * that almoft the whole power of 



* the crown is delegated to the people ; and, as their charters are 

 ' worded, they can, and do, make laws, even without their governors 

 ' confent, and diredly contrary to their opinions; no negative voice 

 ' being referved to them as governors, in the faid charter.' This was 

 carelefsly granted by a very carelefs monarch ; and is what no wife mi- 

 niftry nor council would have deliberately advifed. 



1664 — In the year 1664 the Englifh again took pofiTeflion of the ifle 

 of St Lucia, having previoully treated with the native Caribs for the 

 purchafe of it (fays the author of the Britilh empire in America, whom, 

 neverthelcfs ',ve muft very cautioufly truil on many occafions). Five 



