ports in the names of double wrappers, as formerly hath been there allowed them.

XV.

Wrappers. The merchants of Exeter, and other western parts, fhall be allowed, free of fubfidy, one perpetuance in ten for a wrapper, and three Devon dozens in twenty for wrappers, the fame to be fhipped out of the ports of Exeter, Plymouth, Dartmouth, Barnstaple, Lyme Regis, or the members thereof.

XVI.

All merchants transporting any forts of woollen, wheWrappers. ther new or old drapery, as alfo bays and cottons, shall be allowed one in ten for a wrapper, free of cuftom and

fubfidy.

XVII.

3 per cent. Every merchant shall be allowed upon all other goods to be al and merchandizes appointed to pay the fubfidy of poundlowed on age, according to the rule of this book, to be imported, the fubfidy five in the hundred of all the faid fubfidies of poundage for goods fo appointed to be paid.

imported.

-XVIII.

Officers, The officers who fit above in the custom-house of the the time of port of London, fhall attend the fervice of their several their at- places from nine to twelve of the clock in the forenoon; tendance and one officer, or one able clerk shall attend with the in London, book in the afternoon, during fuch time as the officers and outare appointed to wait at the water-fide, for the better deciding of all controverfies that may happen concerning merchants warrants. All other the officers of the outports fhall attend every day in the custom-houfe of every refpective port for dispatch of merchants and fhippers, between the hours of nine of the clock and twelve in the morning, and two and four of the clock in the after

ports.

Merchants Every merchant making an entry of goods, either into be dif- wards or outwards, fhall be difpatched in fuch order as patcht in he cometh; and if any officer, or his clerk, fhall either order as for favour or reward put any merchant or his fervant, they come. duly attending, by his turn, or otherwife delay any perfon fo duly attending, and making his entries aforefaid, to draw any other reward or gratuity from him than is limited in the act for tonnage and poundage, and this book, if the mafter-off cer be found faulty herein, he fhall upon complaint to the chief officers of the cuftom-d house, be strictly admonifhed of his duty; but if the Penalty on clerk be found faulty therein, he fhall upon complaint the Offito the faid chief officers be prefently difcharged of his cers, &c. service, and not permitted to fit any more in the cuf--* tom-houfe.

XX. The

XX.

The lord mayor, commonalty, and citizens of the Duties of city of London, their officers or deputies, for and touch-package, ing the offices of package, fcavage, baleage, or port-feavage, age of any goods or merchandize of aliens, or their &c. con fons born within this kingdom, or unfreemen, import-firmed. ed or exported into, or out of the city of London, or the liberties or ports thereof, unto, or from the parts beyond the feas, for, or concerning the receiving or taking of any fees or rates heretofore usually taken, for or in respect of the faid offices, or any of them, might and may receive and take the fame, any thing in the act for tonnage or poundage, or this book, or any former act to the contrary notwithstanding.

XXI.

All ancient duties heretofore lawfully taken by any City and city, or town-corporate, their farmers, deputies, or torn duofficers, under the name of town-cuftom, or the like, ties confor the maintenance of bridges, keys, harbours, wharfs, firmed. or the like, fhall and may be received and enjoyed as formerly; any thing in the said act, or any other act or book to the contrary notwithstanding,

XXIII.

The under-fearcher, or other officers of Gravefend, Searchers having power to vifit and fearch any fhip outward bound, not to defhall not, without just and reasonable caufe, detain any tain ships fuch fhip, under colour of fearching the goods therein without laden, above three tides after her arrival at Gravefend, juft under pain of the lofs of their office, and rendring da- ground. mage to the merchant and owner of the fhip. And the fearcher or other officer of the custom-house in any of the out-ports, having power to fearch and vifit any fhip outward bound, fhall not, without just and reasonable caufe, detain any fuch fhip, under colour of fearching the goods therein laden, above one tide after the faid fhip is fully laden and ready to fet fail, under pain of lofs of the office of fuch offender, and rendring damage to the merchant and owner of the ship.

XXIII.

Note, That all timber in balks, which fhall be of Balks and eight inches fquare or upwards, that fhall be imported timber. or brought from any part beyond the feas into the realm of England, dominion of Wales, port and town of Berwick, or any of them, fhall be rated according to the measure of timber the foot fquare, three pence for the value thereof, and according to that rule fhall pay for fubfidy twelve pence in the pound accord ing to the poundage, and all under eight inches fquare, and above five inches fquare, fhall pay for fubfidy according

Officers

cording to the rates mentioned in this book of rates for middle balks, and all of five inches fquare or under, fhall pay according to the rate of fmall balks.

XXIV.

For avoiding of all oppreffion by any of the officers and Clerks of the customs in any port of this kingdom, in exacting not to take unreasonable fees from the merchant, by reason of any more than entries, or otherwife, touching the fhipping or unthe lawful shipping of any goods, wares, or merchandize; it is fees. ordered, That no officer, clerk or other, belonging to any cuftom-house whatsoever, fhall exact, require, or receive any other or greater fee of any merchant or other whatsoever, than fuch as are or shall be established by the commons in parliament assembled: if any officer or other fhall offend contrary to this order, he fhall forfeit his office and place, and be for ever after uncapable of any office in the custom-house.

Fees out ards.

Merchant to poffefs

his can

cocquet.

Officers to

All fees appointed to be paid to the customer, comp troller, furveyor, or furveyor-general in the port of London for any coquet or certificate cutwards, shall be paid altogether in one fum to that officer from whom the merchant is to have his coquet or certificate above in the custom-house; and after the merchant hath duly paid his custom and fubfidy, and other duties above in the custom-house, as is appointed by this book of rates, he is to be master of, and keep his own cocquet or certificate, until he shall ship out his goods fo entered, when he is to deliver the fame to the head fearcher, or his majesty's under-fearcher in the port of London, or other ports, together with the mark and number of his goods.

XXVI.

The officers of the custom-house for the time being, make good shall allow and make good unto all perfons, all fuch to all per- monies as are or fhall be due unto them for the half fons the fubfidy; and alfo the Algier duty of foreign goods forhalf fub- merly exported, now due and unpaid.

fidy.

The duties

XXVII.

The duties and fums of money appointed to be paid of tonnage by the act of fubfidy of tonnage and poundage paffed and pound- this parliament, and by the book of rates therein menage, priz- tioned, and no other, fhall be paid to his majesty's offi age, but cers, during the continuance of the faid act upon goods lerage, and imported or exported; any law, ftatute, or ufage to 12 d. per the contrary notwithstanding. Nevertheless it is: dechalder on clared, That prizage of wines, the duty called butlercoals from age, and the duty of twelve pence upon every chalder New caflecontinued.

of

of fea-coal exported from Newcastle upon Tyne, to any other port or ports of this realm, shall be continued.

HARBOTTLE GRIMSTONE, Bart.
Speaker of the house of commons.

Marks of a beneficial TRADE.

That Trade which exports manufactures made of the produc of our own country, is undoubtedly good, as it helps off the confumption of the fuperfluities of our own product.

That Trade which brings in foreign materials to be manufactur ed here, especially when the materials are procured in exchange for our own commodities; and when the goods after they are ma nufactured are mostly fent abroad, is without difpute very bene ficial.

That Trade may be called good, which exchanges manufactures for manufactures, commodities for commodities; and an importation of commodities bought partly for money, and partly for goods, may be of a national advantage, if the greatest part of the commodities thus imported are again exported.

Generally all imports of goods which are re-exported, are be-> neficial to a nation; and the carrying goods from one foreign country to another is a profitable article.

As thefe are fome marks of a beneficial Trade; I fhall now give some general maxims whereby to try the value of every particular Trade.

And, first, as we have no gold, and but very little filver of our own growth, fo that all we have may be well enough faid to be imported from abroad, in exchange for the product and manufactures of our own country; and as we gain gold and filver from those countries, which do not fell us fo great a value of manufactures as they take from us, but pay the balance in money; fo we must pay a balance in money to fuch countries as fell us more. manufactures than they take from us, and that the capital stock of bullion is diminished by fuch a commerce, unlefs the goods we import from an overbalancing country be re-exported.

That we are most enriched by thofe countries which pay us the greatest fums upon the balance, and most impoverished by those which carry off the greatest balance from us.

That the Trade of that country, which contributes most to the employment and fubfiftence of our people, and to the improvement of our lands, is moft valuable.

That the Trade which leffens moft the fubfiftence of our people, and the value of our lands, is moft detrimental to the nation.

That, that country, which does not fell us fo many manufactures as it buys from us, contributes the whole of the balance to the employment and fubfiftence of our people, and to the product of our lands.

That

That the country, which fells us more than it buys from us, takes the whole value of the balance from the fubfiftence of the people, and the landed interest.

That therefore the balance, which is either paid or received by means of our Trade with any particular country, is one certain medium, to judge of the value of that Trade; for every particular Trade contributes fo much to the fubfiftence of our people, and the improvement of our lands, as the balance it pays to us, for the greater quantity of manufactures we fell than buy: and it deducts fo much from both, for the greater quantity of manufactures we buy than fell, as the balance we are to pay amounts to.

And, laftly, That every country which takes off our finished manufactures, and returns us unwrought materials to be manufactured here, contributes fo far to the employment and fubfiftnce of our people, as the whole cost of manufacturing thofe materials.

Having here laid down these general maxims, which are obvious to any who have the least knowledge in Trade; I fhall proceed to particularize our prefent feveral branches of commerce, by thefe marks; whereby the value of them may be judged of, and the intereft of the nation upon the whole, in encouraging or difcouraging particular Trades, manifest.

And, first, our Trade to Portugal: the goods we send to that country, are, viz. long and thort cloths, bays, fays, perpets, various kinds of worfted ftuffs, filk and worfted hofe, hats, &c. fifh, corn, &c. and our returns are, wine, oil, and fome other things for our own use and consumption, and the balance is paid us in gold and filver.

Secondly, our Trade to Spain: the goods we send to that country are bays, fays, perpets, cloth, ftuffs, cotton, worsted and filk hofe, &c. fish, &c. and our returns, wine, oil, wool, cochineal, fruit, iron, &c. many of which are confumed in England, and many used in the manufactures we export, and the balance in bullion: it is certain that the over-balance paid us in bullion was very great formerly, if not now; and 'tis to be hoped may be so again in time to come, when the affairs of the Spaniards are better fettled.

Thirdly, our Trade to Italy: the goods we fend to that country, are, viz. ferges, bays, perpets, fays, kerfies, Spanish cloth, long cloths, ftuffs, flannels, and lead, tin, fish, &c. and our returns are, oil, wine, thrown and raw filk, wrought filks, currants, paper, and fome drugs, &c. and the reft in money.

Fourthly, our Trade to Turkey: the goods we fend to that country, are chiefly woollen manufactures, viz. cloth dyed in colours, ferges, &c. and our returns are, raw filks, grogram yarn, cotton wool, and cotton yarn, goat's hair, coffee, dying goods, drugs, &c. the whole value almoft, either materials, or fuch things as are neceffary and useful in our manufactures.

Fifthly,