01 8 T11K N.U'UltF. AND CAUSKS OK

upon exportation was reduced to five shillings the hundred-weight.

In the book of rates, according to which the old subsidywas levied, beaver skins were estimated at six shillings andeight-pence a piece, and the different subsidies and imposts,which before the year 1722 had been laid upon their impor-tation, amounted to one-fifth part of the rate, or to sixteen-pence upon each skin; all of which, except half the old sub-sidy, amounting only to two-pence, was drawn back upon ex-portation. This duty upon the importation of so importanta material of manufacture had been thought too high, and, inthe year 1722, the rate was reduced to two shillings and six-pence, which reduced the duty upon importation to sixpence,and of this only one half was to be drawn back upon ex-portation. The same successful war put the country mostproductive of beaver under the dominion of Great Britain ,and beaver skins being among the enumerated commodities,their exportation from America was consequently confined tothe market of Great Britain . Our manufacturers soon be-thought themselves of the advantage which they might makeof this circumstance, and in the year 17G4, the duty upon theimportation of beaver-skin was reduced to one penny, but theduty upon exportation was raised to seven-pence each skin,without any drawback of the duty upon importation. By thesame law, a duty of eighteen-pence the pound was imposedupon the exportation of beaver-wool or wombs, without mak-ing any alteration in the duty upon the importation of thatcommodity, which, when imported by British and in British shipping, amounted at that time to between four-pence andfive-pence the piece.

Coals may be considered both as a material of manufactureand as an instrument of trade. Heavy duties, accordingly,have been imposed upon their exportation, amounting at pre-sent (1783) to more than five shillings the ton, or to more thanfifteen shillings the chaldron, Newcastle measure; which isin most cases more than the original value of the commodityat the coal-pit, or even at the shipping port for exportation.)

The exportation, however, of the iastru merits of trade,properly so called, is commonly restrained, not by high duties,but by absolute prohibitions. Thus by the 7th and 8th ot William III . chap. 20. sect. 8., the exportation ot trames orengiues for knitting gloves or stockings is prohibited underthe penalty, not only of the forfeiture of such trames or en-