and we find the common people, the nerves, as it were, of this political body, exerting themselves with unremiting diligence for the benefit of the whole.

It is a flattering circumstance to our town, that Dr. Campbell holds out to us the example of Liverpool. And though we have no hope from the greatest exertions, speedily to equal the celebrity of that rich and still increasing mart of commerce, yet it is some satisfaction to afford a distant resemblance; and the consideration of being noticed in this manner, may excite us, in our present state of progressive trade, to pursue so laudable an end, and exert a spirit of emulation, which will induce us by means of industry and integrity, to rise to a superior degree of honour and prosperity.

"As Liverpool is a port of prodigious commerce, raised to its present flourishing condition since traffic was thought a point worthy of being considered in history; so Stockton-upon-Tees is a port of no despicable trade, that has started up almost within memory. At the restoration it was a village so despicable that the best house in it could hardly boast of any thing better than clay walls and a thatched roof; and yet near thirty years ago (1744) there came in one year to the port of London, as appears from the custom-house books, 75 vessels from thence, and the trade is much increased since. might add a great many other examples, to shew the unexpected effects of industry, as excited, encouraged, and rewarded by the almost innumerable conveniences, afforded from this natural advantage of so many navigable rivers, and which notwithstanding were so long before they were improved at all, and are perhaps very little improved, in comparison of what they may be, even in our times."*

* Campbell, vol. 1, p. 167, published in 1774,

We

There are other analogies between Stockton and Liverpool, which are here deserving of notice. Liverpool had been chartered by Henry I., confirmed by Henry II. and John. In 1272, it contained 168 burgages, that is, houses and cottages, which had decreased to 138 in 1650, when it was called "the poor decayed towne of Leverpoole." In 1574, a gentleman was mayor, who is described as one of the only six residents at Leverpoole that paid towards the defence of the kingdom. In 1566, he petitioned Queen Elizabeth to remit the taxes and subsidies which were levied, which she did. In 1700, when it became a parish, the population amounted to 5,7 14; in 1821, the population was 118,972.* Liverpool, therefore, a little more than a century ago, did not exceed the present population of Stockton.

CHAPTER XVII.

Of the Port of Stockton-Receipts of the Customs.

Y the permission of the Commissioners of the Customs, and the attention of the collector and officers then belonging to the port of Stockton (particularly Joseph Grey, Esq., Mr. Luke Elstob, and Mr. John Ayers) I was enabled to give

an authentic and accurate account (errors excepted) of the trade of this port. It is preserved here for the purposes of comparison.

* Gregson's Fragments relative to the Hist. and Antiq. of the county palatine of Lancaster.

Total Receipts of the Customs at this Port for
three periods of ten Years each.

£. S. d. 1785---6471 12 5 1786---6245 13 61 1787---6096 8 7 1788---6327 7 49 1789---4978 15 11

1756---6240 14 1

1790---7132 13 11

1757---4579 6 10

1791---6701 10 2

1721---3462 2 91 1722---4175 12 8 1723---3319 8 31 41741 10 72

1758---4613 12 2/1/

1792---7460 5 4

Exports, at different periods, to Foreign parts,

Of late years great quantities of lead, from the mines in the north-riding of Yorkshire, have been sent to Hull; the produce of which mines was formerly brought to this port.*

* It will appear from the returns that the lead trade has been restored to this port.

Complete account of Goods exported from this Port to foreign ports in 1792.

Ale, 29 barrels, 2 firkins. Alum, 16 tons. Bricks, 15000. Butter, 10 firkins. Calico, printed, 967 yards. Cloth, linen, 800 yards. Cloth, woollen, 714 yards. Flannel, 398 yards. Fustian, 43 yards. Haberdashery, 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 14lb. wt. Handkerchiefs, cotton, 4 dozen. Do. British silk, 2 dozen. Do. foreign silk, 371 yards. Hats, men's, 9 doz. Lead, 339 tons, 14 cwt. 3 qrs. wt. Lint, 47 tons, 2 cwt. 24lb. Pantiles, 1000. Sail-cloth, 2280 ells. Shag, worsted, 36 yards. Stockings, cotton, 7 dozen pairs. Do. woollen 5825 dozen pairs. Stuffs, woollen, 953 yards. Tow, 83 cwt. Wheat, British, 1956 qrs. Wheat, foreign, 518 qrs. 3 bush.

Complete account of Goods imported from foreign
Parts into this Port in the year 1792.

Bottles, glass, 2 quarts 3lb. wt.

doz. Bristles, undressed, 546 doz. lb.

Bottles, stone, 12

Bullrushes, 1 load,

6 bundles. Calves' skins, undressed, 77 dozen and 3. Canvas, packing, 21 ells. Clover-seed, 270 cwt. 3 qrs. 19lb. Cordage, 36 cwt. 1 qr. Cotton wool, 627lb. Flax, rough, 7672 cwt. 2 qrs. 3lb. Geneva, 9904 gallons. Gravestones, marble, unpolished, 78 feet super. Hemp, rough, 1962 cwt. 2 qrs. 16lb. Hides, horse in the hair, 348. Hides, ox and cow in the hair, 591. Iron, in bars, 853 tons, 7 cwt. 1 qr. 27lb. Linen, Russia, 19 cwt. 1 qr. Linseed, 4160 bush. Linseed cakes, S tons. Mats, Russia, 600. Matting, Holland, 72 yards. Millstones, 2. Oakham, 3 cwt. Oak bark, 1843 cwt. 2 qrs. 21lb. Oats, 138 qrs. 4 bush. Oil, (produce of two whales) 28 tons, 197 gallons. Onions, 22 bush.

Onion-seed, 1 cwt. 10lb. Pantiles, 1100. Plums, dried, 2016. Pots, chamber, 10 doz. Rags and ropes, old, 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 17lb. Sail, foreign made, 1. Sail-cloth, 2 qrs. 16 ells. Seal skins, undressed, 50. Seltzer water, 8 doz. 4 bottles. Sheep skins, undressed, 6. Do. pieces of, undressed, 10 cwt. Smalts, 1553lb. Tar, 1 last. Tarras, 8 bush. Tow, 35 cwt. 1 qr. 18lb. Trees, 6 bundles. Vinegar, 5 gallons. Whale-fins, 29 cwt. 1 qr. 16lb. Wine, Portugal, 51 tons, 56 gallons. Wine, Rhenish, 74 gallons. Yarn, linen, 258449lb.

WOOD, viz.-Axle-trees, 1 cwt. 1 qr. 16lb. Balcoons, oak, 2 qr. 12lb. Balks, fir, 4 cwt. 16lb. Battens, 52 cwt. 3 qrs. 10lb. Deals, 371 cwt, 2 qrs. 23lb. Deal ends, 19 cwt. 13lb. Fir timber, 2825 loads 1 foot.

Handspikes, 8 cwt. 2 qrs. Jointing laths, 90 bundles. 6 inches and under 8,-8. Do. 12 and upwards, 5. 5 cwt. 16lb. Spars, 2 cwt. 8lb. Staves, 28 cwt. 2 qrs, Treenails, 4000. Wainscot logs, 111 loads 18 feet.

12lb. Harrow-bulls, 24lb. Lath-wood, 49 fath. Marts, Do. 8 inches and under 12, 5. Oars, 3 qrs. Paling-boards,

Imports, at different periods, from foreign Ports.