Charged
On The Duty On Coals Since
Lady Day, 1719.
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. The door and gun locks, and fire-arms, are nowhere to be
paralleled; the silk manufacture is equal to that of France, or any
other country, and is prodigiously enlarged of late years. Dyers
also are very numerous in and about London, and are not exceeded by
any foreigners in the beauty or durableness of their colours: and
those that print and stain cottons and linens have brought that art
to great perfection. Printers of books, also, may equal those
abroad; but the best paper is imported from other countries.
The manufacture of glass here is equal to that of Venice, or any
other country in Europe, whether we regard the coach or looking-
glasses, perspective, drinking-glasses, or any other kind of glass,
whatever. The making of pins and needles is another great
manufacture in this town, as is that of wire-drawings of silver,
gold, and other metals. The goldsmiths and silversmiths excel in
their way. The pewterers and brasiers furnish all manner of vessels
and implements for the kitchen, which are as neatly and
substantially made and furnished here as in any country in Europe.
The trades of hat-making and shoe-making employ multitudes of
mechanics; and the tailors are equally numerous. The cabinet,
screen, and chair-makers contribute also considerably to the
adorning and furnishing the dwelling-house. The common smiths,
bricklayers, and carpenters are no inconsiderable branch of
mechanics; as may well be imagined in a town of this magnitude,
where so many churches, palaces, and private buildings are
continually repairing, and so many more daily erecting upon new
foundations.
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