Philadelphia.
[The system of paying seamen with tickets instead of cash caused great
discontent during the reign of Charles II., and, from the frequent
notices respecting it in Pepys's _Diary_, seems to have given our
Diarist great trouble. On November 30, 1660, he says: "Sir G. Carteret
did give us an account how Mr. Holland do intend to prevail with the
parliament to try his project of discharging the seamen all at present
by ticket, and so promise interest to all men that will lend money upon
them at eight per cent. for so long as they are unpaid, whereby he do
think to take away the growing debt which do now lie upon the kingdom
for lack of present money to discharge the seamen." These tickets the
poor fellows sold at half price to usurers, mostly Jews; and to so
great an extent was the system carried, that in the year 1710 there was
a floating debt due to these usurers of ten millions paid by Harley
from a fictitious fund formed by the government.]
_Bruce, Robert._--Can you tell me the name of the author of the following
little work? It is small, and contains 342 pages, and is entitled:
"The Acts and Life of the most Victorious Conqueror Robert Bruce, King
of Scotland. Wherein also are contained the Martial Deeds of the
Valiant Princes Edward Bruce, Sir James Douglas, Earl Thomas Randal,
Walter Stewart, and sundry others. To which is added a Glossary,
explaining the difficult {453} Words contained in this Book, and that
of Wallace. Glasgow: printed by Mr. A. Carmichael and A. Miller.
MDCCXXXVII."