A. D. 1787. 121 



1787 — Jamaica had been remarkably afflided by hurricanes for fome 

 years paft. No fooner were the provision grounds fomewhat recovered 

 from the defolation of the hurricane of the year 1784, than they were 

 again laid wafte by a fourth vifitation in Augufl 1785 ; and the deftruc- 

 tion of the weftern part of the ifland was completed by a fifth hurricane 

 on the 20''' of Odtober 1786. As no importation of provifions in Ame- 

 rican veflels was allowed upon thefe occafions, and the vefTels belongino- 

 to the ifland were too few to import a fufhcient fupply, the real want 

 fuffered in the year 1786 proved fatal to great numbers of the miferable 

 flaves. A report of the aflembly ftates, that fifteen thoufand neo-roes 

 periftied by famine, or the difeafes contraded by fcanty and unwhole- 

 fome diet, between the later end of the year 1780 and the beginning of 

 1787. 



January 15"* — A fupplementary treaty, called a convention, was fet- 

 tled between Great Britain and France for explaining certain articles of 

 the commercial treaty. By the firft article the duties on cabinet ware 

 and turnery of all forts, including mufical inftruments, are fixed at 10 

 per cent ad valorem ; on all articles of iron and fleel, either unmixed or 

 mixed with other fub fiances, not exceeding in value 5o/'fterling (or 60 

 livres) per quintal, at 5 per cent ; and on all other hardware and cut- 

 lery at 10 per cent. Iron, fteel, copper, and brafs, in the ftate of raw 

 materials, are not included in this regulation. And it is agreed, that if 

 thefe articles fhall at any time be admitted from any other country on 

 lower duties, the above duties fhall immediately be reciprocally reduced 

 to a level with the lowefl;. 



3) To prevent frauds in rating the goods ad valorem, the revenue of- 

 ficer, if he is not fatisfied with the valuation contained in the declaration 

 or invoice, produced by the importer, may take them for the cuftom- 

 houfe on paying an advance of 10 per cent upon the declared price. 



3) In order to prevent the introdudion of Eafl-India, or other foreign, 

 calicoes, inf!ead of the manufactures of Great Britain or France the 

 calicoes manufadured in either country for exportation to the other 

 are to have a certain mark woven in at each end; and, till that can be 

 effeded, they mufl be accompanied with fatisfadory certificates. 



4) It is agreed, that cambrics fhall not exceed feven-eighths of a yard, 

 nor lawns one yard and a quarter, Enghfli meafure, in breadth. 



7) The fubjeds of either power have full liberty to fue for debts in 

 the territories of the other. 



Along with the zeal for commerce, now fo generally prevalent in 

 France, there fprung up an itch for ftockjobbing, that fpecies of gamb- 

 ling which has fome degree of connedion with commerce : and the 

 cailfe d'efcompte (or bank of difcount)of Paris, though not immediate- 

 ly concerned in that unwarrantable kind of fpeculation, was in confe- 

 quence of the effeds of it brought almoft to the verge of bankruptcy. 



Vol. IV. <1 » 



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