A. D. 1797. 425 



ot late, the coiners and Importers of all fuch were condemned to tranf- 

 portation for feven years. Thofe, who offer fuch counterfeit foreign 

 coins in payment, are alio punifliable by imprifonment, &c. and even 

 perfons having above five pieces of counterfeit foreign coin in their 

 pofleflion are liable to punifhnient by fines, [c. 1 26] 



July 20"" — Several new regulations were enacted refpeding the ad- 

 miniftration of juflice, and other matters of police, at Calcutta, Madras, 

 and Bombay. The pradice of Britifh fubjeds in India lending money 

 to the native princes, or negotiating loans for them, having been found 

 very pernicious, they were prohibited from taking any concern in fuch 

 tranfadions, unlefs authorized by the court of diredors, or the governor 

 in council ; and all fecurities for money, lent contrary to the true in- 

 tent of this ad, were declared null and void. [c. 142] 



The juflices were defired to appoint vifitors at their petty feflions to 

 examine the weights and balances within their diftrids, to feize falfe 

 ones, and to fine thofe who are found guilty of ufmg them. [c. 143] 



Notwithftanding the frequent renewal of fuch ads, there is reafon to 

 believe, that this crime is flill very generally committed, and for the 

 moft part with impunity. 



The rapid progrefs of the French armies towards Vienna ftruck that 

 city with fuch conflernation, that in April the Imperial treafures were 

 ordered off for Hungary to prevent their falling into the hands of the 

 enemy ; and the people ran in crowds to draw their money from the 

 bank of Vienna, which being unable to anfwer fuch numerous and 

 fudden demands, was obliged to flop payment. 



Among the extraordinary events of this year, one of the moft im- 

 portant was the temporary defedion, or mutiny, of a confiderable por- 

 tion of the navy. The feamen at Portfmouth demanded an increafe 

 of pay, proportioned to the redudion of the value of money, and a full 

 delivery of the provifions allowed them by the public, from which it 

 had been cuftomary to dedud one eight (or two ounces in the pound) 

 as an allowance for wafte. When Admiral Lord Bridport ordered the 

 fleet to prepare for fea (April 14"') the feamen, thinking their demands 

 were treated with negled, unanimoufly refufed to ftir till their griev- 

 ances fhould be redreffed, ' unlefs the enemy were known to be at fea.* 

 They then proceeded to divefl the officers of their command, and ap- 

 pointed two delegates from every fhip to conftitute a naval aflembly, 

 under whofe government the fleet at Portfmouth continued, till the 

 arrival of Lord Howe (May 14"') with an ad of parliament for an ad- 

 ditional allowance of pay and provifions, and a general pardon, pro- 

 duced an apparent return of harmony and fubordination. 



The feamen of the fliips lying at the Nore, encouraged by the ac- 

 quifitions obtained by the condud of their brethren at Portfmouth, de- 

 manded a more equitable diftribution of prize-money, and feveral 



Vol. IV. 3 H 



