We Shall Conclude Our Account Of The State Of English Commerce During The Sixteenth And Seventeenth Centuries, With Some More General And Miscellaneous Topics.

I. Exports.

In the year 1534, the total value of our exports did not exceed 900,000_l_. of the present value of our money: the balance of trade was estimated at 700,000_l_.: this arose principally from the very great exportation of woollen goods, tin, leather, &c., on which an export duty was laid, bringing in 246,000_l_.; whereas, the duty on imports did not produce more than 1700_l_. In the year 1612, according to Missenden, in his Circle of Commerce, the exports to all the world amounted to 2,090,640_l_., and the imports to 2,141,151_l_.; on the latter, however, the custom duties are charged; the custom duties on the exports were 86,794_l_.; the impost paid outwards on woollen goods, tin, lead, pewter, &c. 10,000_l_.; and the merchants' gains, freight, and other charges, to 300,000_l_.: - if these be added to the value of the exports, the total amount will be 2,487,435_l_, - from which the imports, including custom duty on them, being deducted, leaves 346,283_l_., - which Missenden regards as the balance gained that year by the nation. The principal articles of export have been enumerated: the principal articles of import were silks, Venice gold and silver stuffs, Spanish wines, linen, &c. At this time, London paid nearly three times as much for custom duties as all the rest of England together.

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