TREFACE. XV 



to public fupport and encouragement ; and alio to Sir John Mitford 

 (now Lord Redefdale), who repeated the order for my admilTion to 

 the office for the journals and papers, where, during my refearches, 

 I met with every accommodation and attention from the politenefs 

 of Mr. Benfon and Mr. Whittam. For fuch of the cuftom-houfe ac- 

 counts as I had not previoufly obtained, I have to acknowlege the 

 kindnefs of Mr. Vanfittart, the fecretary of the Treafury, who, be- 

 fides fome important communications, favoured me with a proper 

 introdudlion to the cuftom-houfe, where I drew from the fountain- 

 head the moft authentic and important accounts of the commerce, 

 fliipping, and commercial revenue, of the Britilh empire : and I am 

 much indebted to the polite attention of Mr. Irving, Mr. Glover, 

 and, indeed, of every other gentleman to whom my numerous in-p 

 quiries led me to apply. — The accounts of the coinage are derived 

 from thofe made up for parliament by the proper officers of the 

 Mint, and the later part from perfonal inquiry. — Mr. Chalmers, in 

 whofe keeping the books and papers of the late Board of trade are, 

 w^as fo kind as to give me unreftrained accefs to them for the benefit 

 of this work. — Lord Avickland and Lord Charles Spencer, the poft- 

 mafters-general, were.fo good as to grant me accefs to fuch accounts 

 of their office as might be illuftrative of the commerce of the coun- 

 try : and Mr. Church, in whofe department thofe accounts are, moft 



obligingly gave me every information and accommodation The di- 



re(5lors of the Eaft-India company liberally permitted me to obtain 

 from their offices fuch articles of information as were proper to be 

 made public in a work entirely devoted to the purpofe of conveying 

 commercial information : and Mr. WifTett, the chief clerk to the 

 Committee of warehoiifes, whofe office contains the greateft part of 

 the accounts ufefu^l for my work, gave the moft obliging attention 

 to my inqiiiries. — The accounts illuftrative of the affairs of the Bank 

 of England are chiefly taken from the official papers prepared for 

 the infpedjon of parliament. — Much ufeful matter has been procurr- 



