erty.
Interest in 1650 was reduced to six per cent.

The customs in England, before the civil wars, are said to have amounted
to five hundred thousand pounds a year;[****] a sum ten times greater
than during the best period in Queen Elizabeth's reign: but there is
probably some exaggeration in this matter.

The post-house, in 1653, was farmed at ten thousand pounds a year, which
was deemed a considerable sum for the three kingdoms. Letters paid only
about half the present postage.

From 1619 to 1638, there had been coined six millions nine hundred
thousand and forty-two pounds. From 1638 to 1657, the coinage amounted
to seven millions seven hundred and thirty-three thousand five hundred
and twenty-one pounds.[v]

* Journal, 7th April, 1659.

** Strafford's Letters, vol. i. p. 421, 423, 430, 467.

*** Clarendon.

**** Lewis Roberts's Treasure of Traffick.

v Happy Future State of England

Dr. Davenant has told us, from the registers of the mint, that, between
1558 and 1659, there had been coined nineteen millions eight hundred
and thirty-two thousand four hundred and seventy-six pounds in gold and
silver.

The first mention of tea, coffee, and chocolate, is about 1660.[*]
Asparagus, artichokes, cauliflower, and a variety of salads, were about
the same time introduced into England.[**]

The colony of New England increased by means of the Puritans, who fled
thither in order to free themselves from the constraint which Laud and
the church party had imposed upon them; and, before the commencement of
the civil wars, it is supposed to have contained twenty-five thousand
souls.[***] For a like reason, the Catholics, afterwards, who found
themselves exposed to many hardships, and dreaded still worse treatment
went over to America in great numbers, and settled the colony of
Maryland.

Before the civil wars, learning and the fine arts were favored at
court, and a good taste began to prevail in the nation. The king loved
pictures, sometimes handled the pencil himself, and was a good judge of
the art. The pieces of foreign masters were bought up at a vast price;
and the value of pictures doubled in Europe by the emulation between
Charles and Philip IV. of Spain, who were touched with the same elegant
passion. Vandyke was caressed and enriched at court. Inigo Jones was
master of the king's buildings; though afterwards persecuted by the
parliament, on account of the part which he had in rebuild