628 \, A. D. 1686. 



and France ; the pofTeflions of thofe feveral potentates in America were 

 afcertained, and the freedom of commerce in thofe feas was more firm- 

 ly eftabUfhed than had hitherto been effeded. 



The Dutch being at war with the Algerines, the later were fliame- 

 fully encouraged therein by King James, who, for fome time, permitted 

 them to have the ufe of his ports, and allowed them to fell their prizes 

 in England, whereby they had opportunities, as obferved by Burchett, 

 in his Naval hiftoiy, to go out as they pleafed, and to cruile againft the 

 Hollanders, from whom, in the fpace of fix months, the Algerines took, 

 in or near the Channel, above 30 rich merchant (hips. 



According to Sir William Fetty's fourth eflTay on political arithmetic, 

 (licenced in 1686, and printed in 1687) the proportion of the eight fol- 

 lowing cities, as to their numbers of inhabitants, is as follows, viz. 



London, - 696,000 Rome, - 125,000 



* Paris, - 488,000 DubHn, - 69,000 



* Amfiierdam, - 187,000 * Rouen, - 66,000 



* Venice, - 134,000 * Briftol, - 48,000 

 N. B, He makes the medium of the annual burials at London to be 



23,212, which number, multiplied by 30, (as one out of every 30 is 

 generally fuppofed to die in London in a year) gives 696,360 *. 



1687 The commiflioners appointed by King James to treat with 



the French commifiloners for the reftitution of the forts in Hudfon's 

 bay, taken in the preceding year, reported to him, that they had clearly 

 made out his right to the whole bay and ftraits, and all the adjacent 

 lands, together with the fole right of trading within the ftraits and bay. 

 The king thereupon declared, that he would infift on full reftitution and 

 fatisfadion to the company, whofe lofs, by the invafion of the French 

 in the preceding year, amounted to Lio8,5 14 : 19 : 8, as was afterwards 

 fet forth by the company, in their petition to Queen Anne, in the year 

 171 2, though never paid to this day. The refult of this patched-up 

 treaty with France was, that Louis agreed to reftore thofe forts to the 

 company. 



This year the Dutch Eaft-India fliips imported from Ceylon 170,000 

 lb. weight of cinnamon ; which, though lefs in quantity than in fome 

 years before, does, neverthelefs, demonftrate the great importance of 

 the ifland to that company. 



We may here, once more, remark, that perfecution, and the dread 

 of the prevalency of popery in this reign, as well as towards the clofe of 



* This humour of magnifying London, and ceeds that number. This, therefor, could anfwer 

 lefiening Paris, and other foreign cities, was pro- no good end, and was only deceiving ourfelves. 

 bably plcafmg to the king, but, I conceive, was PofTibly every one of the cities marked thus *, are 

 far from being juft ; and, with refpetl to London, conliderably under-computed, but more efpecially 

 furely the prefent bills of mortality, in our time, Paris and Amfterdam, v\'hich furely could anfwer 

 mud be cgregioufly erroneous, if, after fo many no wife or folid purpofe, j1. 



thoufand heufes have been added, it fcarcely es- 



