5^ A. D. 1784. 



pelled by ftrefs of weather, and having onboard any fpiritous Uquors in 

 cafks of lefs than fixty gallons (except for the ufe of the feamen, and 

 that not exceeding two gallons for each), or having fix pounds of tea, 

 or twenty pounds of coffee, or any goods liable to forfeiture on importa- 

 tion ; and any veffel, not exceeding fixty tuns burthen, having onboard 

 any wine in cafks, are made liable to forfeiture ; unlefs, the quantity of 

 fmuggled goods being very fmall, it can be proved, that they were put 

 onboard without the knowlege of the owner or commander. All cut- 

 ters, luggers, fhalops, and wherries, owned in whole or in part by Britifli 

 fubjeds, and built with clench work (or clinker-built), unlefs they are 

 fquare-rigged, or, being floops, have ftanding bowfprits, and all veffels, 

 whofe length exceeds three feet and a half for every foot in breadth 

 (except lighters and barges for inland navigation), or carrying above 

 two carriage guns, not exceeding four-pounders, and two mufkets for 

 every ten men, are liable to forfeiture ; unlefs they be in the fervice of 

 the public offices, or upon voyages from the Mediterranean, America, 

 Africa, or India, or have a licence from the admiralty. Tea and fpirits, 

 removed without permit, are liable to be feized by the officers of the 

 cuftoms, as well as by thofe of the excife : and any officer ading colluf- 

 ively, or taking a bribe, is liable to a fine of £s'^o, and to be incapaci- 

 tated ; and the perfon offering a bribe is alfo liable to a fine of ;(^50o. 

 i2A, Geo. III,fej: 2, c. 47.] 



There ^was an unfettled, or floating, debt in confequence of the war, 

 due by the public, in navy and vidlualing bills and ordinance debent- 

 ures to the amount of about fourteen millions, which were circulating 

 at a heavy difcount of from 15 to 20 per cent, and confequently de- 

 prefi'ed the whole of the funds, infomuch that the three-per-cent con- 

 sols (the ftandard for all the others) which foon after the peace had 

 got up to 69A, had funk in January to 53|^, and were now about ^(i *. 

 It was therefor determined to fund thofe debts. But to avoid throwing 

 in too great a quantity of new fi.ock upon the market, which muft; have 

 a bad effedt upon the new loan, and upon the funds in general, the ium 

 was divided ; and thofe bills, which were made out before 30'" June 

 1782, were now funded on the terms of ^107 : 10 : 6 of a.new joint 

 fund, bearing an intereft of five per cent, for evei^y ^loo f . [24 Geo. 

 Ill, Jejf. 2, c. 39.] - ^ 



Additional duties were laid upon all linens, printed, painted, ftained, 

 or dyed, in Great Britain : and duties were laid upon all fiiuffs made of 

 cotton, or of cotton and linen mixed, and on licences for bleaching or 

 dying them. [24 Geo. Ill, fejjl 2, c. 40.] 



* They continued flill to fall, notwkliftandiiig f Thofe, who bought bills at 20 per cent dif- 



above fix millions being now taken from the float- count, thus received ^(^107 : 10 : 6, or an inconie 



ing debt, till Odlober 1784, when they were at of 1^5 : 7 : 6j in return for ^^80, being an intereft 



54J-. After that they gradually rofe, and never of about 6\ per cent. Or, if they fold their flock 



fell fo low again till the year 1797. at par, they had a profit of above 34-|- per cent. 



I 



