, as well as by the importers and manufacturers of
raw silks, representing the evil consequences that would probably attend
the passing of such a bill, the parliament agreed to this temporary
deviation from the famous act of navigation, for a present supply to the
poor manufacturers.

The next civil regulation established in this session of parliament was
in itself judicious, and, had it been more earnestly suggested, might
have been more beneficial to the public. In order to discourage the
practice of smuggling, and prevent the desperadoes concerned therein
from enlisting in the service of the enemy, a law was passed, enacting,
that every person who had been, before the first of May in the present
year, guilty of illegally running, concealing, receiving, or carrying
any wool, or prohibited goods, or any foreign commodities liable to
duties, the same not having been paid or secured; or of aiding therein,
or had been found with fire-arms or weapons, in order to be aiding
to such offenders; or had been guilty of receiving such goods after
seizure; or of any act whatsoever, whereby persons might be deemed
runners of foreign goods; or of hindering, wounding, or beating any
officer in the execution of his duty, or assisting therein,--should be
indemnified from all such offences, concerning which no suit should then
have been commenced, or composition made, on condition that he should,
before being apprehended or prosecuted, and before the first day of
December, enter himself with some commissioned officer of his majesty's
fleet, to serve as a common sailor; and should, for three years from
such entry, unless sooner duly discharged, actually serve and do duty in
that station, and register his name, &c, with the clerk of the peace of
the county where he resided, as the act prescribes. An attempt was
made in favour of the seamen employed in the navy, who had been very
irregularly paid, and subject to grievous hardships in consequence of
this irregularity. Mr. Grenville, brother to earl Temple, moved for
leave to bring in a bill for the encouragement of seamen employed in his
majesty's navy, and for establishing a regular method for the punctual,
speedy, and certain payment of their wages, as well as for rescuing them
from the arts and frauds of imposition. The proposal was corroborated
by divers petitions: the bill was prepared, read, printed, and, after it
had undergone some amendment, passed into the house of lords, where it