of: With such Inscription thereon, as hereafter by the Maior and Court of Aldermen, in that behalf, be directed.

NOtwithstanding the extraordinary Losses by the forementioned Fire, the devouring Pestilence in this City the Year preceding, and the chargeable War with the Dutch at that Time depending; yet, by the King's Grace, the Wisdom of the Parliament then sitting at Westminster, the Diligence and Activity of the Lord Maior, Aldermen and Commoners of the said City (who were almost the only Losers by that fatal Accident) it was in the Space of Four or Five Years well nigh rebuilded. Divers Churches, the stately Guildhall, many Halls of Companies, and other Publick Edifices; all infinitely more Uniform, more Solid, and more Magnificent than before: So that no City in Europe (nay, scarcely in the World) can stand in Competition with it, at least in Twenty Particulars; as by a Parallel between It and the most eminent of Them, to this Work subjoined, will be made to appear.

THE forementioned Alterations and Augmentations, to be made in the Rebuilding of the City of London, being by Act of Parliament enjoined; they took it then into their Considerations, By what Means Money might be raised for the carrying on of those Works, by them prescribed and enacted. And in their Session, Anno XIX. Caroli II. Regis, they enacted as followeth.

For the Enabling of the Lord Maior, Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, and their Successors, to perform and accomplish the Works in this Act mentioned; Be it enacted by the Authority hereof;

1. That all Sorts of Coals, which from and after the 24th Day of June, 1667, and before the 24th Day of June, 1677, shall be imported and brought into the Port of the City of London, or the River of Thames, within the Liberty of the said City of London, upon the same River to be sold by the Chaldron or Tun, there shall be paid by way of Imposition thereupon, (over and besides all other Impositions and Duties, due and payable for any Sort of the said Coals, by virtue of any Law or Statute now in Force) according to the Rates hereafter mentioned. That is to say, For such Sorts of Coals as are usually sold by the Chaldron, for every Chaldron thereof, containing Thirty six Bushels Winchester Measure, the Sum of Twelve Pence. And for all such Sorts of Coals as are sold by the Tun, for every Tun thereof, containing Twenty Hundred Weight, the like Sum of Twelve Pence. Which said Imposition of Twelve Pence for every Chaldron or Tun of Coals, shall, during the Time aforesaid, be answered and paid unto the Maior and Commonalty, and Citizens, or their Deputy or Deputies, by the Master, Owner or Owners, or other Persons taking Charge of the Vessel, before they shall break Bulk, or have a Meter assigned for the Measuring or Weighing of any Coals aforesaid. The which Imposition of Twelve Pence, to be paid at such Place or Places, as by the Lord Maior and Court of Aldermen shall from Time to Time be appointed for the Receipt thereof.

2. That all and every such Sum and Sums of Money, which shall be raised upon the Receipt of the said Imposition of Twelve Pence for every Chaldron or Tun of Coals, shall in the first place be applied and disposed unto, and for the Satisfaction of such Persons, whose Grounds shall be taken and employed for the Enlarging of the Streets and narrow Passages within the City. And after Satisfaction given for the same; the Residue shall be applied, and disposed unto and for the Satisfaction of such Persons, whose Grounds shall be employed for the making of Wharfs or Keys on the North Side of the River of Thames; and upon each Side of the Shore, called by the Name or Names of Bridewell Dock, Fleet Ditch, and Turn-Mill Brook. And also for the building and making of such Prisons within the said City, as shall be necessary for the safe Custody and Imprisonment of Felons, and other Malefactors.

But forasmuch as it doth and will require far greater Sums of Money, to give Satisfaction for the Ground to be taken and employed for the Enlarging of the Streets, by this and the foresaid Act appointed to be enlarged, and for Publick Market-Places, and other the Publick Uses and Purposes in this Act mentioned: Therefore,

3. For the further Enabling the said Maior, Commonalty and Citizens of the said City, and their Successors, to perform the Works in this and the said Act mentioned; and also for the Rebuilding of the Parish Churches by this Act appointed; Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That for all Sorts of Coals, which (from and after the First Day of May, 1670, and before the Twenty Ninth Day of September, which shall be in the Year of our Lord, 1687) shall be imported and brought into the said Port of the City of London, or River of Thames, within the Liberties of the said City, upon the said River; there shall be paid, by way of Imposition thereupon, according to the Rates hereafter mentioned. That is to say, For all such Coals as shall be there imported and brought in, from and after the said First Day of May, 1670, and before the Twenty Fourth Day of June, 1677, there shall be paid for every Chaldron or Tun thereof, Two Shillings, over and beside the aforesaid Imposition of Twelve Pence the Chaldron, or Tun, by the former Act appointed to be paid. - And for all such Coals which shall be there imported and brought in, from and after the 24th Day of June, 1677, and before the said 29th Day of September, 1687, there shall be paid for every Chaldron or Tun thereof, Three Shillings. And the same shall, by virtue of this Act, be collected, levied and paid, in such sort and manner, in all and every respect, as in and by the said Act is limited and appointed, for the Collecting of the Twelve Pence upon the Chaldron or Tun. All which Monies so to be received upon Account of the respective Impositions, or either of them, shall from Time to Time be paid into the Receipt of the Chamber of London; and from thence shall be issued and paid, according to the Direction and Appointment of this present Act, and not otherwise.