lted pork, or hog-meat, as
the officers of the customhouse had refused to admit hams from Ireland
to an entry. The bill likewise received another considerable alteration,
importing, That, instead of the duty of ona shilling and three-pence,
charged by the former act on every hundred weight of salted beef or pork
imported from Ireland, which was found not adequate to the duty payable
for such a quantity of salt as is requisite to be used in curing and
salting thereof; and to prevent as well the expense to the revenue, as
the detriment and loss which would accrue to the owner and importer from
opening the casks in which the provision is generally deposited,
with the pickle or brine proper for preserving the same, in order to
ascertain the net weight of the provision liable to the said duties: for
these reasons it was enacted, That from and after the twenty-fourth
day of last December, and during the continuance of this act, a duty of
three shillings and four-pence should be paid upon importation for every
barrel or cask of salted beef or pork containing thirty-two gallons;
and one shilling and three-pence for every hundred weight of salted beef
called dried beef, dried neats-tongues, or dried hog-meat, and so in
proportion for any greater or lesser quantity.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

REGULATIONS with RESPECT to PRIVATEERS.

Repeated complaints having been made to the government by neutral
nations, especially the Dutch, that their ships had been plundered,
and their crews maltreated by some of the English privateers, the
legislature resolved to provide effectually against any such outrageous
practices for the future: and with this view the commons ordered a bill
to be brought in for amending and explaining an act of the twenty-ninth
year of his late majesty's reign, intituled, "An act for the
encouragement of seamen, and more speedy and effectual manning of
his majesty's navy." While the committee was employed in perusing
commissions and papers relating to private ships of war, that they
might be fully acquainted with the nature of the subject, a considerable
number of merchants and others, inhabiting the islands of Guernsey
and Jersey, presented a petition to the house, alleging, that the
inhabitants of those islands which lie in the British channel within
sight of the French coast, had now, as well as in former wars, embarked
their fortunes in equipping small privateers, which used to run in close
with the French