682 



A. D. 1696. 



The king of France this year ereded a new exclufive company, call- 

 ed the Royal Senegal company, on the refignation of the old one. Their 

 limits were from Cape Blanco to Sierra Leona, including the fort at the 

 mouth of the river Gambia, formerly belonging to Englarid. They 

 were authorized to deal in Haves, leather, gums, wax, gold, 8cc. to have 

 florehoufes for their negroes in the Weft-Indies, and to refine their fu- 

 gars, and, in Ihort, to enjoy all the privileges enjoyed by the French 

 Weft-India company before their abolition ; but they were not to in- 

 terfere with the Guinea company eftablifhed in the year 1685. 



The Eddyftone rock, lying off the port of Plymouth, being very dan- 

 gerous, and many fhips having been caft away thereon, the corporation 

 of the trinity-houfe this year began a light-houfe upon it, and complet- 

 ed it in three years ; great numbers of mafters and owners of Englilh 

 fhipping agreeing, in confideration thereof, to pay 1 d per ton outwards, 

 and the like inwards, &c. ; and it has proved a very great benefit to 

 iliipping palling that way, till the dreadful ftorm in the year 1703, 

 which deftroyed it. It was again direifted to be rebuilt, and the fame 

 duty for its fupport was granted to the corporation of the trinity-houfe 

 by two ads of parliament [4 Anne, c. 20; 8 Anne, c. 16] ; yet it has 

 once more been lately demolifhed by a ftorm, and is again reftored by 

 the like means to its former ufefulnefs, to the great benefit of not only 

 the Britifti trade and navigation, but of the numerous fhipping of other 

 nations pafling that way *. 



• of May 1696, appointed the keeper of the great 



• feal or chancellor, the prelideiit of the council, 



• the keeper of the privy feal, the firft commifion- 



• er of the treafury, the firll coiTmniiTioner of the 

 ' admiralty, the principal fecrctaries of ilate, and 

 ' the chancellor of the exchequer, who were to 

 ' attend occafionally ; and alfo the earl of Bridge- 



• water, the carl of Tankerville, Sir Philip Mea- 

 ' dows, William Blathwayte, John Pollexfcn, 



• John Locke, Abraham Hiil, and John Methven, 



• Efquires, who were to attend more conflantly, 

 ' to be commiffioners for promoting the trade of 



• this kingdom, and for inipeding and improving 

 ' the plantations in America and elfewhere, with 

 ' feveral dirtdtions and inflruAious, the chief 

 ' whereof are as follows : 



' To examine into, and take an account of the 

 ' ftate and condition of the general trade of Eng- 

 ' land, and of the feveral particular trades into 

 ' foreign parts. 



' To examine what trades are, or may prove, 

 ' hurtful, and what beneficial, to this kingdom ; 



• and by what means the advantageous trades 



• may be improved, and thofe that are prejudicial 

 ' difcouragcd. 



' To confider by what means profitable manu- 



• failures, already fettled, may be further improv- 

 ' ed, and how other new and profitable manufac- 

 ' tures may be introduced. 



' To confider of proper methods for fetting on 

 ' work and employing the poor, and making them 

 ' nfeful to the public. 



' To inquire* into the condition of the planta» 

 ' tions, as well with regard to the adminiitration 



* of government there, as in relation to commerce, 



• and how thofe colonies may be rendered moft 

 ' beneficial to this kingdom. 



' To inquire what naval ftores may be furnifhed 

 ' from the plantations, and how the fame may be 

 ' beft procured. 



' To prepare inftruftions for governors, and to 

 ' take an account of their adminillration. 



' To examine the journals of the councils, and 

 ' the afts or laws made by the refpedlive general 

 ' aflemblies, in order to his majeily's approbation 



* or difallowance thereof. 



' To require an account of all monies given by 

 ' the afiemblies for public ufes, and how the fame 

 ' is expended. 



' And to make reprefentations and reports to 

 ' his majefty, or the privy council, in writing, as 



• there ihall be occafion.' M. 



* And to the great credit of Mr. Smeaton, the 

 judicious engineer, who has eredled it in a firmer 

 manner of conftruftion than ever was feen in any 

 fuch building before. M. 



