CHAP. LXXIV. A View of Leghorn, the Trade, Cu∣stom, Weights, Measures, and Coyns, &c.

LEghorn the Principal Port, and Scale of Trade in the Mediterranean Sea, is Si∣tuated on a large Plain, and accomodated with a good Harbour for the reception of Shipping, so that almost the whole Scale of Trade is removed from the City of Ve∣nice thither; it is now a part of the Floren∣tine Dominion, having some time past been purchased by the Duke of Tuscany for 120000 Ducats of the Genoese, and from him received large Priviledges and Immuni∣ties, being inlarged by a new City Build∣ed to the old, and by Reason of the small Customs taken there; it is of a Nest of Pirates, Murtherers, &c. who formerly In∣habited it, become famous throughout the World; in this Port the great Duke keeps his Gallies, and here are found all the sorts of Commodities Italy yields, the Trade of it being as aforesaid regulated by Florence and Pisa, and to this Port are brought the Page  226 Commodities of England, Spain, France, Holland, India, Arabia, Persia, Egypt, and other Countries.

The Accounts of Merchants in Leghorn, are kept in Livers, Solds, Deniers, 12 Deniers being a Sold, and 20 Solds a Li∣ver, and their other monies are the same with Florence, except Quadrins and Cra∣ches, 8 Craches being accounted worth 6 pence Sterling, and of Quadrins 60 to a Liver, tho sometimes a different value is fixed upon the Mony of either place, but it continues not long.

The Weights are the same with Flo∣rence, viz. the pound of 12 Ounce, 100 of which make a Quintal, which is compu∣ted to make 75 pound English, and by this they weigh their Gross Commodities. An other Quintal they have of 150 pound, which makes of London Weight 113 pound, as also an other of 160 pound making with us 121 pound, by which they weigh Fish, woolls, &c. The Kintar of Allum is at Leghorn 150 pound, but in England found to make but 143 ⅞ pound, the Kintar of Sugar 15•, the Kintar of Fish 160 pound, and make Eng∣lish Weight proportionably.

The Measures are the Brace and Cane, 4 of the former making one of the latter, each Brace being 23 Inches English, 100 Page  227 Braces making 60 Yards or 48 Ells.

The Concave Measures for Corn and Salt, are the Stare, the Sack, and the Sal∣mo, 3 of the first making one of the second, and 3 ⅔ of the second making one of the third, which is a London Quarter; they have a Measure likewise called a Maggio, which contains 8 Sacks.

The Custom of this Port is, that any Merchant may Land his Goods without paying any Custom, so be they are sold with∣in a Year; but if not, he must pay Custom; but if for the better disposal of Commo∣dities, they are sent into any other part of Tuscany, they must pay Custom at Pisa.