1,750,000
Ditto, charged on the surplus of
the funds for the lottery of 1714 1,250,000
Total due to the Bank of England 10,100,000 (pounds)
Give me leave to observe here, that most of the foreign trade of
this town is transacted by brokers, of which there are three sorts,
viz., 1st, Exchange-brokers, 2ndly, brokers for goods and
merchandise, and 3rdly, ship-brokers.
The exchange-brokers, who are versed in the course of exchange,
furnish the merchant with money or bills, as he has occasion for
either.
The broker of goods lets the merchant know where he may furnish
himself with them, and the settled price; or if he wants to sell,
where he may meet with a chapman for his effects.
The ship-broker finds ships for the merchant, when he wants to send
his goods abroad; or goods for captains and masters of vessels to
freight their ships with.
If it be demanded what share of foreign trade London hath with
respect to the rest of the kingdom; it seems to have a fourth part
of the whole, at least if we may judge by the produce of the
customs, which are as three to twelve, or thereabouts.
As to the manufactures carried on in the City of London; here
mechanics have acquired a great deal of reputation in the world, and
in many things not without reason; for they excel in clock and
cabinet-work, in making saddles, and all sorts of tools, and other
things.
