n act prohibiting the currency of silver
hammered coin, including a clause for making out new exchequer-bills, in
lieu of those which were or might be filled up with endorsements; they
framed another to open the correspondence with France, under a variety
of provisos; a third for continuing the imprisonment of certain persons
who had been concerned in the late conspiracy; a fourth, granting
further time for administering oaths with respect to tallies and orders
in the exchequer and bank of England. These bills having received the
royal assent, they resolved to grant a supply, which, together with the
funds already settled for that purpose, should be sufficient to answer
and cancel all exchequer-bills, to the amount of two millions seven
hundred thousand pounds. Another supply was voted for the payment and
reduction of the army, including half-pay to such commission officers
as were natural born subjects of England. They granted one million four
hundred thousand pounds, to make good deficiencies. They resolved,
That the sum of two millions three hundred and forty-eight thousand one
hundred and two pounds, was necessary to pay off arrears, subsistence,
contingencies, general-officers, guards, and garrisons; of which sum
eight hundred and fifty-five thousand five hundred and two pounds,
remained in the hands of the pay-master. Then they took into
consideration the subsidies due to foreign powers, and the sums owing
to contractors for bread and forage. Examining further the debts of the
nation, they found the general debt of the navy amounted to one million
three hundred and ninety-two thousand seven hundred and forty-two
pounds. That of the ordnance was equal to two hundred and four thousand
one hundred and fifty-seven pounds. The transport debt contracted for
the reduction of Ireland and other services, did not fall short of four
hundred and sixty-six thousand four hundred and ninety-three pounds; and
they owed nine-and-forty thousand nine hundred and twenty-nine pounds,
for quartering and clothing the army which had been raised by one act of
parliament in the year 1677, and disbanded by another in the year 1679.
As this enormous load of debt could not be discharged at once, the
commons passed a number of Arotes for raising sums of money, by which it
was considerably lightened; and settled the funds for those purposes by
the continuation of the land tax, and other impositions. With respect to
the civil list, it was raised b