UNTO HIS GRACE. HIS MAJESTY'S HIGH COMMISSIONER And the Right Honourable, The ESTATES of PARLIAMENT. The OWNERS and MASTERS of the SHIPS belonging in the Town of BORROWSTOUNNESS, GRANGE-PANNS, and QUEENSFERRIE.  
Shows,  
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 Foreign 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 Tonnage has been strictly exacted off us, for all Years preceding August last. As to which we humbly Represent, That the exacting of the said Tonnage 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 Foreign Ships, yet it is the Practice of all Nations to free their own Ships of such Tonnage, for encouraging of their Shipping. And therefore it is, that albeit in France they exact 50 Souse per Tun; in Denmark a Rix Dollar and six Stivers, in Holland fifteen Stivers per Laste of all Foreign Ships, and so in many other Places; yet they exact nothing upon the account of Tonnage of their own Ships. And our Loss and Prejudice by the said Tonnage 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 Tonnage, and Tonnage 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 Tonnage be not taken off, we will be necessitate to lay up our Ships, or other ways dispose of them. And seeing there nothing tends more to the Thriving and Promoting of Trade in a Nation, than the encouraging of Shipping, without which Foreign 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 Premises 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 wholly upon Foreign 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 said's Maps can be of little or no use or benefit to them; and it seems Reasonable, that seeing Foreigners, who are not acquaint with our Coast, does principally reap the Benefit of these Maps, whereof the Expenses were to be defrayed by that Imposition, that they should only bear the Burden, and they cannot complain that it is too high, seeing it is a third part less than the Scots Ships pays in any place abroad. And Your Petitioners shall ever pray.