Sheweth,

THAT whereas in the Year 1695, there was an unprinted Act past, im­posing Four Shilling Scots yearly upon the Tunn of all Ships belonging to this Kingdom, and Sixteen Shilling Scots upon the Tun of Forraign Ships, coming within the Rivers and Harbours belonging to this Nation; and that in order to the defraying of of Mr. Adair's Charges in making up of Maps of the Coasts, and Mr. Slezer's Charges for making Maps and Prospects of the Castles and Forts within this Kingdom; which Four Shilling of Tunnage has been strictly exacted off us, for all Years preceeding August last. As to which we humbly Represent, That the exacting of the said Tunnage is a very heavy Bur­den upon us, and if continued, will absolutely destroy our Trade and Shipping: And whatever is in use to be exacted from Forraign Ships, yet it is the Practice of all Nations to free their own Ships of such Tunnage, for encouraging of their Shipping. And therefore it is, that albeit in France they exact 50 Souce per Tun; in Denmark a Rix Dollar and six Stivers, in Holland fifteen Stivers per Laste of all Forraign Ships, and so in many other Places; yet they exact no­thing upon the account of Tunnage of their own Ships. And our Loss and Pre­judice by the said Tunnage is so much the greater, that our Ships being pretty large, our principal Trade being to carry Coals, and such other bulkish Commo­dities Abroad; a good part of our Profit is exhausted by the said Tunnage, and Tunnage and Last-money which is exacted from us Abroad, which is very consi­derable. And we having had great Loss of our Shipping the time of the War, and rather than made any Gain, have brought a Debt upon our Ships: And now in the time of Peace when we may expect to have some Trade, if the said Tunnage be not taken off, we will be necessitate to lay up our Ships, or other ways dispose of them. And seing there nothing tends more to the Thriving and Promoting of Trade in a Nation, than the encouraging of Shipping, without which Forraign Trade, which is that, That principally enriches a Kingdom, cannot be carried on.

It is therefore humbly craved, That his Grace His Majesty's High Commissioner, and the Right Honourable the Estates of Parliament, may take the Premisses to their Consideration, and altogether to Discharge the foresaid Imposition of 4 sh upon the Tun of Scots Ships since August last, and in time-comming, and to lay the samen wholy upon Forraign Ships, for whose use principally the Maps of the Coasts are Designed to be made for their Trade and Security; the Scots Masters and Mariners being sufficiently acquainted with their own Coast, and having Maps thereof whereby they have directed their Courses of a longtime, and as yet have none other: So that the saids Maps can be of litle or no use or benefit to them; and it seems Reasonable, that seing Forraigners, who are not acquaint with our Coast, does principally reap the Benefit of these Maps, whereof the Expences were to be de­frayed by that Imposition, that they should only bear the Burden, and they cannot complain that it is too high, seing it is a third part less than the Scots Ships pays in any place abroad. And Your Petitioners shall ever pray.