664 A. D. 1695. 



fioners for diredingthe building and endowing of the intended hofpital, 

 and granted a large fum out of his civil lift for that end ; and his royal- 

 fcuceffors were alfo confiderable benefa<Sors to it. At length annual fums 

 were granted by parliament for finifliing this truely magnificent orna- 

 ment and glory of Great Britain, which was fully completed in the reign 

 of his late majefty King George 11. 



In the fecond edition of Gibfon's Continuation of Camden's Britannia, 

 we have an authentic view of the vaft increafe of the royal navy of 

 England, exhibited in this year 1695, by Samuel Pepys Efq. viz. 



In Camden's time, anno 1607. At this time, anno 1695. 



Number of fhips and vef- 



fels from fifty tons and 



upwards - but —40 {hips, now above 200 fliips. 



The general tonnage of 



the whole - was under 23,600 tons, nowaboveii2,400tons 



The number of men re- 

 quired for manning the 



fame - - was under 7,800 men, nowabove45,ooomen. 



The medium of its annual 



charge during the hft 



5 years of peace, under Li 5, 500 above L400,ooo 



Ditto of war, - under 96,400 above 1,620,000 



In this remarkable year, the parliament, gentry, and merchants, of 

 Scotland made a very great effort, perhaps one of the greateft that had 

 ever been eflayed at one time by any European nation in their very 

 firft attempt, for eftablifliing a colony of their own people in America;, 

 and, at the fame time, a company for commerce to Africa and Eaft- 

 India: which, however, proved ultimately very fatal to Scotland. It was 

 faid to have been underhand fet on and encouraged by the interlopers 

 in the Englifh Eaft-Tndia trade ; who, finding that both king and par- 

 liament inclined to favour the company, flattered themfelves with hopes,, 

 that, by thus encouraging the Scottilb defign, they might obtain their 

 own particular ends. 



Be that as it may, it is certain, that the Scots had long lamented their 

 being almoft the only maritime nation in Europe, without the Medi- 

 terranean and Baltic feas, who had no colony nor fettlement out of 

 Europe. This point was more efpecially in their thoughts fince the re- 

 ftoration of King Charles II •, but the violent meafures of the two royal 

 brothers prevented that harmony, which was neceilliry to reconcile 

 people of oppofite parties in fo great a national concern. Upon King 

 William's acceflion they began to think more ferioufly about fuch mer- 

 cantile fchcmes in Scotland; and in the year 1693 their parliament paffed 



