r. Barnard, a merchant of
London, who perfectly understood trade in all its branches, spoke with
judgment and precision, and upon all occasions steadily adhered to
the interest and liberties of his country. After having explained his
reasons, he declared he should never consent to a bill which he deemed
a violation of our fundamental laws, a breach of our dearest
liberties, and a very terrible hardship on mankind. Sir William Wyndham
distinguished himself on the same side of the question: the bill was
vindicated by sir Robert Walpole, Mr. Pelham, and sir Philip Yorke,
attorney-general; and being supported by the whole weight of ministerial
influence, not only passed through the house, but was afterwards enacted
into a law.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

CHARTER OF THE EAST-INDIA COMPANY.

The subsidies were continued to the landgrave of Hesse-Cassel and the
duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttle, in spite of all that could be urged
against these extraneous incumbrances; and the supply for the ensuing
year was granted according to the estimates which the ministry thought
proper to produce, amounting to about two millions two hundred and
eighty thousand pounds. It must be owned, however, for the credit of the
session, that the house appropriated one million of the surplusses
arising from the sinking fund towards the discharge of the national
debt; and by another act extinguished the duties upon salt, by which
expedient the subject was eased of a heavy burden, not only in being
freed from the duty, but also from a considerable charge of salaries
given to a great number of officers employed to collect this imposition.
They likewise encouraged the colony of Carolina with an act, allowing
the planters and traders of that province to export rice directly to any
part of Europe southward of Cape Finisterre; and they permitted salt
from Europe to be imported into the colony of New York. The term of the
exclusive trade granted by act of parliament to the East India company
drawing towards a period, many considerable merchants and others made
application forbeing incorporated and vested with the privilege of
trading to those countries, proposing to lay that branch of trade open
to all the subjects of Great Britain on certain conditions. In
consideration of an act of parliament for this purpose, they offered to
advance three millions two hundred thousand pounds, for redeeming the
fund and trade of the present East India company. This pro