A, D. 1785. 71 



in Britifli veflels, navigated according to law, and fiirnifhed with licences 

 from the commiflioners of the cuftoms in Great Britain, which were to 

 be in force during feven months. And, this acT: being temporary, or 

 experimental, fuch licences were to be granted only till the 30'" of June 

 1785. [25Geo.Jir,c.i.] ' 



The ads for preventing certain inftruments from being required from 

 veflels belonging to the United ftates of America, and for veiling the 

 king with powers to regulate the commerce with them, were continued 

 in force till the 5"' of April 1786. [25 Geo. Ill, c. 5.] 



May 13"' — New regulations were enaded for the diftillery iii that part 

 of Scotland, which lies north from the Firths of Clyde and Tay. [25 

 Geo. Ill, c. 22.] But they were foon fuperfeded by newer ones. 



In the beginning of the year the manufacturers of Manchefter and 

 its neighbourhood gave in a memorial to the lords of the treafury, pray- 

 ing for a repeal of the adl of lad feflion impofing a duty on bleached 

 and dyed cotton goods. There was alfo prcfented to the houfe of com- 

 mons a ftrong petition, remonfl^rance, or memorial, by the operati.ve 

 weavers of Glafgow and its neighbourhood, * for themfelves and for 



* the advantage of after ages,' againft the lame duties, which they call- 

 ed unpopular, unwife, and ruinous. They fet forth the toil and rifk of 

 eflablifhing thofe manufidures, which, being yet in their infancy, had 

 not in mofl: cafes paid the firfl coft of providing the machinery. They 

 confidered the duties as operating in favour of the Eafl:-India company, 

 who bring their goods from a country producing the rav/ material and 

 every article ufed in the manufadure, and where labour is exceedingly 

 cheap ; whereas here feveral of the raw materials are loaded with duties, 

 and labour is already lb high, that any further burthens upon the manu- 

 facture muft produce emigration and depopulation with all their ufual 

 attendant miferies ; or the many thoufands, depending upon the linen 

 and cotton manufadtures, mufl be reduced to a ftarving condition. And 

 they called upon parliament, ' as Heaven's truflees for the nation,' and 



* the ftewards of the nation,' to redrefs grievances, and to do equal 

 juftice to all ranks and clafles of mankind. 



In compliance with thefe petitions, or for other reafons, parliament 

 repealed the duties on fluffs made of cotton, or of cotton and linen 

 mixed, and on licences for bleaching and dying them, impofed by the 

 adl c. 40 of laft feflion. [25 Geo. Ill, c. 24.] 



As it might be doubtful, whether the term of eighteen months, 

 allowed for the removal of Britifli property from the iflands ceded to 

 France by the treaty of peace, was to extend to fhips failing, but not 

 arriving, within the limited time, it was enaded, that veflels cleared out 

 from Tobago on or before the 31" of December 1785 fliould be admit- 

 ted to import the produce of that ifland into this kingdom on paying 

 the Britifli plantation duties. [25 Geo. Ill, c, 25.] 



