1796. | Monthly | Commercial Repert. 423 
and the fuits in the admiralty court, as might lead to the difcovery of the parties concerned, 
After holding feveral feeret courts on the fubject, the Directors on the fifth of March laft, 
refolved, that it appeared by documents before the court, that enterprizes of a very confide- 
rable magnitude have been fet on foot, to convey to Europe, under the falfe cover of neutral 
papers and flags, the property of his Majetty’s enemies from Batavia; in which enterprize 
many Britith fubjeéts have been concerned, either as principals or agents, and alfg feveral 
members of the Danith college of commerce at Copenhagen, and ether perfons. That it alfo ap- 
pears, that fhips and Britifh feamen have been engaged in India, by Mefirs. Faislic, Glimore, ‘and 
Co, Lambert, and Rofs, and others, to proceed to Batavia, for the purpole of being engaged in 
this clandeftine commerce. And, on the following day, the court of DireCtors refolved, that a 
bill be filed againft the houfe of David Scott, and Co. to difcover their concerns in the fhip 
Helfingoer, and cargo, or in any other illicit trade within the limits of the company’s charter ; by 
a fubfequent refolution however, it appears to be the intention of the Directors to praceed only 
againft the a€tual partners in the houfe, which Mr. David Scott, fen. quitted in December 17945 
although his name continued in the firm till December 1797'—In the prefent ftage of the bufi- 
mefs, any obfervations affecting the parties concerned in it would be highly improper, but it 
may be confidered as an additional proof that Britifh capital might be employed with advantage 
in the Eaft India trade, to a confiderable ameunt, beyond the prefent extenfive concerns of the 
company 5 and it will probably become a fubject of parliamentary confideration to devife fome 
modc of bringing into the country iu a legal manmer, the profits that at prefent are an allure~ 
ment to attempt evafion, and other improper praétices, 
The prefent ftate of the commerce of Europe, ftrongly thews how fuddenly and cemplete- 
iy, in many inftances, it may be turned out of its former courfe, and transferred to ether 
countries, or to the different ports of a ftate, which the fluctuation of public affairs may 
render more eligible in point of fecurity; or which, in confequence of judicious regulations 
and improvements, offer new advantages, or better accommodations. This fituation of things 
fhould induce the inhabitants of every place, that has obtained an increafe of trade by it, to 
concur readily in any meafure that may appear neceflary to preferve it; and we hope that 
private intereft will no longer be permitted to impede the attainment of the public benefit, 
which would certainly be derived from rendering the accommodations-of the port of Londam 
adequate to the prefent vaft extent of its trade. 
None of the ports of this country, exhibit a more ftriking inftance of the verfality 
of commerce than Hurt, which, from one of the meaneft maritime towns in Eng- 
Zand, has rifen to the firft importance. The tonnage of its fhipping is at prefent inferior 
only to London, Liverpool, Newcaftle, and Briftol; and its cuftoms only to thofe of the 
two fermer. It fends as great a number of fhips to Greenland as London does, and, ex< 
clufive of that port, more than all the others. Liverpool has unqueltionably a greater in- 
sercourfe with the Baltic, which is chiefly owing to its Weft-India connestions ; fame 
attempts, however, have been made at Hull, to bring thither, im like manner, the pro~ 
duce of our colonies ; which, if accomplifhed on an extentive fegle, will enable this port, 
from its local fituation, to rival, and probably get beforehand of Liverpool, in the North. 
The Hans-towns formerly, and afterwards the Dutch, who wese long the carriers of Eu 
rope, fupplied Hull with foreign manufactures; at prefent, this port imports German and 
Ruffian articles for our manufa€tures, and exports them to thofe very countries in a manu- 
factured ftate. Holland ufually fupplied the town of Hull with different oils, and allo 
furnifhed this country with various kinds of pottery toa confiderable amount ; but Holland 
is now fupplied with thefe articles from the port of Hull. The internal communication ef 
Hull is fuch, that it may be deemed the emporium of at lea(t five counties: the majority 
_ of its merchants are extenfively connected with Sweden, Ruffia, Portugal, and Italy, om 
- the binding conditions of reciprocal advantage ; and though war is ever unfavourable to 
commercial intercourfe, it does not appear, at prefent, to have diminifhed the trade of this 
port, but merely to have checked, in fome meafure, the f{peculations of its commercial- 
fpirited inhabitants, which, by imprefling them with a ufeful degree of precaution, may 
prove.an ultimate benefit, and enable them, on the return of peace, to extend their con- 
nections with greater fafety and advantage. 
Statement of the receipt of the cuftoms of Hull for April laft:—~ 


On general good inwards - ella 35a A 3 
Wine ditto - > 1268 14 3% 
tee 1 $ 
On goods outwards - > > - $34 17 
On wine coaftwife - “ - May ed 
Coals, ditto - - ate ie CA * 
Slate, ditto ~ - - 46 BR a OO 
a 4% 0 1% 
Tonnage duty - - : - “ 236.35. °o 

