A. D. 1701. 71Q 



fides therefor prepared for war, though not formally declared till after 

 King William's death. 



The great eledor of Brandenburgh and duke of Pruflia, (Frederick 

 William) for his fervices and attachment to the common interefts of 

 the German empire, and of the grand alliance juft formed againft France, 

 the common enemy of the liberties of Europe, was, by the interert; of 

 his kinfman King W^iUiam of England, recognized by moft of the princes 

 and ftates in Europe as king of Pruflia in this year 1701 ; his large do- 

 minions and revenues very well fuiting the high dignity he now af- 

 fumed. 



From a monthly Political ftate of Great Britain for November 1721 , 

 we have the value of all the merchandize imported from, and exported 

 to, the following countries of the north, from michaelmas 1697, after 

 the peace of Ryfwick, to chriftmas 1701, being yearly upon an average 

 as follows, viz. 



Imported from Exported to Annual lofs. 

 Denmark and Norway, L76,2r5 L39,543 L36,672 



Eaft country, 181,296 149,893 S^A^^S 



Ruflia, 112,252 58,884 53,368 



Sweden, 212,094 57-555 i54,539 



Total annual lofs to England on an average, L275,982 * 



On the 7th of September 1701, the grand alliance of the emperor 

 Leopold, William king of Great Britain, and the ftates-general of the 

 United Netherlands, was concluded againft France, for recovering the 

 Spanifh monarchy to the houfe of Auftria, and for the fecurity of Eng- 

 land and Holland, and of the Hanover fucceflion to the crown of Great 

 Britain, as well as for a ikfe barrier to the United Netherlands : and 

 thus all things were prepared for war prior to the death of King Wil- 

 liam f. 



1702. — King William died on the 8 th of March .(new ftile) 1702, and 



* This aecount will in fome meafiire be con- 

 firmed by comparing it with another from the fame 

 author in the year 1716. yi. 



f From the returns to the circular letters of the 

 commiiTioners of the cuftoms it appears, that in 

 January 1701-2 there belonged to all the ports of 



England 32S1 vtlfcis, meafuring (or rather cili- None of the other ports had ico veflcls ; but 



mated at) 261,222 tons, and carrying 27,196 men Newcaftle had 63 vcffcls meafuring ii.oco tons, 

 and 5660 guns. Of thefe there belonged to and Ipfwich had 39 meafuring 11,170, being on 



an average 271 tons, if, indeed, there be no mif- 

 take in the number. Of the Hull velftls 80 were 

 at this time laid up, which accounts for the fmall 

 number of men in that port. It is worth while to 

 obferve that X.\\e Jijly'ing town of Yarmouth was thej 

 third in England in the number of veflcls. M.. 



