COM
( 274 )
COM
modern Commerce founded on the Ruins of that of the an- cient Greeks and Romans to the fame Places : And thus did thofe famous Republics acquire their Luftre.
The Germans, however, had a long time carried on a ie- parate Commerce ; which was not borrowed from the Ro- mans, nor did it fall with theirs. Towards the End of the Xllth Century, the German Cities fituate on the Coafts or the Baltic, and the Rivers that run into it, had a confuta- ble Traffick with the neighbouring States.
As their Commerce was much interrupted by J. irates, jz of them united together for their mutual Defence 5 and were thence called Hanfeatic, or Hans Towns. See Hans
Thus they flourifh'd till the Beginning of the XVIth or End of the XVth Century ; when a Divifion anfing among them and about the fame time a new Paffage to the Indies, by the Cape of Good Hope, being difcover'd by the Portu- guese ; and Settlements made on the Coafts of Africa, Ara- bia and the Indies ; the antient Italian and Hanfeatic Com- merce funk ; and the chief Trade came into the Hands of the 'Portuguese. ,
The 'Portuguese had not pofTefs'd thofe different 1 rades above 100 Years, when, about the Eeginning of the XVIIth Century, the 'Dutch began to (hare it with 'cm ; and in a little time difpoffefs'd 'em of almoft the whole. The En- glijlj, French, Danes, and Hamhurghers, excited by their Succefs, have likewife made Settlements in the Indies, and on the Coafts of Africa ; tho much lefs confiderable ones, excepting thofe of the Engliflj.
Laifly, America, difcover'd by the Spaniards foon after the Portuguese had difcover'd the new Way to the Indies, likewife became the Objefl of a new, vaft, and important Commerce, for all the Nations of Europe ; whereof Cadiz, and Sevil were made the Centre.
'Tis true, the firft Conquerors of this new World ftill pof- fefs the greateff and richeft Part of it ; and prcferve the Com- merce thereof to themfelves with a world of Jealoufy : yet, befides that, the Englijh, French, Portuguese, and Dutch, have fevcral rich and flouriming Colonies, both in the I- ilands and the Continent ; 'tis certain, that 'tis as much for other Nations as themfelves, that the Spaniards every Tear fend their Flota's for the Treafures of Peru and Mexico. See Colony, Flota, and Gallion.
The Trade of Europe was no Sufferer by this new one of America ; the North and South have ftill the fame mutual occafion for each other as before.
The Navigation from the Baltic to the Mediterranean was tedious and difficult : The Situation of Flanders, and the Manufactures which there flourifh'd from the Xth Cen- tury, together with the free Fairs of that Country, engag'd the Merchants, both of the North and South, to effablifh their Magazines firft in "Bruges, and then in Antwerp. See Fair, £5^.
The Eftablifhment of the Republic of Holland, the fa- vourable Reception it gave to Sttangers, and the Refuge it afforded to Religionaries, drew ftore of Manufacturers to it, as well as Manufactures ; and foon funk the Commerce of Antwerp.
And the fame Reafons, the Convenience and Multitude of the Pons of England, the Goodnefs of the Wools, and the Induflry of the Workmen, have brought thither a confi- derable Part of the Commerce of Europe. See Woollen ManufaBure.
In France, the Nobility are allow'd to exercife Commerce, without derogating from their Nobility : By an Ordonnance of Louis XIII. Merchants are allow'd to take on 'cm the Quality of Nobles ; and by another of Louis XIV. are de- clared capable of being Secretaries of State, without laying_ afide their Commerce. It may be added, for the honour of Commerce, that fome of the Italian Princes, looking on them- felves as the chief Merchants of their States, don't difdain to make their own Palaces ferve as Magazines : And there are feveral Kings in AJia, as well as moll of thofe on the Coafts of Africa and Guinea, who negotiate with the Euro- peans by their Factors, and frequently by themfelves. See Mercantile ProfcJJion.
Commerce, on the foot it now ftands, is divided into Com- merce by Land, and by Sea ; that by long Voyages, and by Jbort ; Inland or Domejiick, and Foreign ; by Wholcfale and Retail.
A °reat part of the Foreign Commerce of England is now carried on by Companies : fome incorporated by the King's Charters, with an exclufive Privilege, as the Eafl-India and South-Sea Companies 5 others only private Affociations, as the Turky and Hamburgh Companies. See Company.
COMMINATORY, a Claufe infetted in a Law, Edict, Patent, tfc. importing a Punifhment wherewith Delinquents are menae'd ; which, however, is not executed in its rigour. See Clause.
Thus, in fome Countries, when an Exile is enjoin'd not to return on Pain of Death, it is deem'd a Comminatory Pe- nalty ; fince, if he do return, it is not ftrictly executed 5
but a fecond Inju
which i
iction is laid on him, Which is more A Comminatory, and from the Day of the Date thereof i m ports Death without remedy.
COMMINUTION, the Act of grinding, or breaking any Matter into fmaller Particles. Thus, we fay, the Effect of' chewing, or mafticating our Food, is the Comminution there of. See Mastication, $£c.
COMMISSARY, an Officer of the Bilriop, who exercifcs Ecclefiaftical Jurifdiction in thofe Parts of the Diocefs which are fo far remote from the See, that the Chancellor cannot call the Subjects thereof to the Bifliop's principal Condi- tory, without their too great Moleftation. See Bishop's Court, Chancellor, l$c.
This Officer, call'd by the Canonifts Commiffarius, or Of- ficialis foraneus, is appointed to iupply the Bifhop's Oifice in the Out-parts of the Diocefs, and in fuch Parifhes as are peculiar to the Bilriop, and exempted from the Jtmiaictien of the Archdeacon : for where the Archdeacons have Turif. diction, as in moft Places they have, either by Preicription or Compofition, the CommiJJary is fuperfluous, and frequent- ly vexatious. See Archdeacon.
Commissary, in an Army. There are two forts of Com- miffarics : The Commijfary-Gcneral of the Mufters, or Muf- ter-Mafter General ; who takes an account of the Strength of every Regiment, reviews them, fees that the Horfe ate well mounted, and all the Men well arm'd and accouter'd. See Muster.
And the Commijfary-General of Provijions, who hath the Charge of furnifhing the Army with all Things of that kind.
COMMISSION, in our common Law, is the fame with Delegation among the Civilians; and is taken for the War- rant, or Patent which any Man exetcifing Jurifdiction, either ordinary or extraordinary, hath to authorize him to hear or determine any Caufe or Action.
The Term, however, is fometimes extended further than to Matters of Judgment ; as in the CommiJJion of Purveyors and Takers, which feems to be null by the Statute, for taking away Purveyance, 12 Car. II. and the Commijfion- Court, which was founded on the Statute x Q Elis. and is alfo abolifh'd by Act of Parliament 17 Car. I.
The Perfons charged with a CommiJJion are hence call'd CommiJJioners j fometimes, Committees. See Commissioner, and Committee.
Commission of Anticipation, was antiently a Commiffitm under the Great Seal, to collect a Subfidy before the Day. See Anticipation.
Commission of AJfociation, is a CommiJJion under the Great Seal, to aftbeiate two, or more learned Perfons, with the feveral Juftices in the leveral Circuits and Counties in Wales. See Association.
Commission of Bankruptcy, a Commifjlon under the Great Seal, directed to five or more CommiJJioners, to in- quire into the Particulars of a Man's Circumffances, who hath failed, or broke ; and to act according to certain Sta- tutes made in that behalf. See Bankrupt.
Commission of Peace. See Justice of Peace.
Commission of Rebellion, or Writ of Rebellion, is iffu'd out when a Man, after Proclamation iffu'd out of the Chan- cety, or the Exchequer, and made by the Sheriff, to prefent himfelf, under Pain of his Allegiance, to the Court by a certain Day ; does not appear. See Rebellion.
This CommiJJion is directed, by way of Command, to cer- tain Perfons ; three, two, or one ot 'em, to apprehend, or caufe to be apprehended, the Party as a Rebel, and to bring him to the Court on a Day affign'd. See Outlawry.
Commission, in Commerce. See Factorage.
COMMISSIONER, he who has a CommiJJion, Patent, or other legal Warrant, to execute any Office.
Such are, CommiJJioners of the Office of Licences, < Jioncrs of Alienation, &c. See Alienation, &c.
Commissioners of the Ctlftoms.\ c ^Customs.
Commissioners of Excife. S cExcise.
Lords Commissioners of the Treafury. See Treasuey, and Exchequer.
COMMISSURE, CommiJJura, a Term ufed by !*■ Boyle, and fome other Authors, for the fmall Meatus s, or Interfaces of Bodies ; or the little Clefts between thePat- ticles ; efpecialiy when thofe Particles are broadifh and flat, and lie contiguous to one another, like thin Plates, or Lc- mell<£. See Pore.
The Word literally fignifies a ]o'niing.
Commissure, in Architecture, l$c. the Joint of two Stones ; or, the Application of the Surface of the one to that of the other. See Masonry.
Among Anatomifts, CommiJJure is fometimes ufed for a Suture of the Cranium, or Skull. See Suture.
COMMITTEE, in Law, one or more Perfons, to whom the Confederation of any Matter is rcferr'd, either by a Courr, or by Confent of the Patties concern'd. _ f
Committee of Parliament, is a Board confiding »' * certain Number of Members, appointed by the whole Houe
e.gr. a publick
