372 A. D. 1796. 



great fountain of the vaft wealth and power of the Dutch Eaft-Tndia 

 company, and the caufe of much animofity and of many enormities in 

 India, has of late fallen off fo much, that the monopoly of the trade is 

 no longer worth preferving at the enormous expenfe of keeping the 

 iflands, every one of which cofl the Dutch company much more for its 

 eftablifliment, than it has for many years produced. 



April 22'' — The Dutch colonies of Demararay and Iflequibo on the 

 continent of South America were furrendered without any refiftance to 

 the Britifli forces under General Whyte and a few fhips commanded 

 by Captain Parr. They contained at this time 156 plantations, and 

 20,600 negroes : but the cultivation was foon carried to a much greater 

 extent by the capital and enterprife of Britifh planters. 



May 25'^' — The ifland of S'. Lucie in the Weft-Indies, which was 

 taken from the French in the year 1794, and i"etaken by the French 

 inhabitants in 1795, was now again reduced to the Britifh dominion, 

 after a ftrenuous refiftance on the part of the French, by the forces un- 

 der General Sir Ralph Abercromby and Admiral Chriftian. 



March 24"" — The following ads of parliament were continued for 

 limited times, viz. 



The adt permitting the importation of lumber from the Britifli pro- 

 vinces in America, free from duty, to continue till 29"' September 1 802. 



So much of the ad; 8 Geo. I, c. 15, as relates to the encouragement 

 of the filk manufadure, and to taking off" feveral duties on merchandize 

 exported, continued till 24"" June 1802. 



The adl 8 Geo. I, c. 18 to prevent the clandeftine running of goods, 

 and the danger of infection thereby, &c. to continue till 29"' Septem- 

 ber 1802. 



The a6t for encouraging the cultivation of coffee, except that part of 

 it relating to the importation and exportation of foreign coffee in the 

 Britifli colonies in America, continued till 24"" June 1802. 



The ad for the free importation of cochineal and indigo, continued 

 till 29'" September 1802. 



The ad for granting bounties on certain fpecies of Britifli and Irifli 

 linens exported, and taking off" the duties on the importation of foreign 

 yarn made of flax, continued till 24"" June 1797. 



The ad for importing fait from Europe into the province of Quebec, 

 continued- till 24'" June 1802. 



The ad for encouraging the manufadure of leather by lowering the 

 duties on the importation of oak bark, when it is above a certain price, 

 continued for feven years more. 



The ad for encouraging the manufadures of flax and cotton by al- 

 lowing drawbacks of the duties on foap, &c. ufed in them, continued 

 till 24'" June 1797. 



