In May 1784 an act was passed, called the Commutation Act, “for repealing the several duties on Tea, and for granting to his Majesty other duties in lieu thereof; and also several duties on inhabited houses.” [21] The second edition was published under the title of Van The, Coffy, en Chocolate. Haag. 1685. 8vo. The late Baron Van Swieten censures this physician for his remarkable bias in favour of this exotic. Comment. Vol. V. p. 587. Est modus in rebus, may be as aptly applied to Dr. Bontekoe as to Dr. Duncan. [22] In this province, this shrub is called Thee, or Te; and as the Europeans first landed here, that dialect has been preserved. Le Compte’s Journey through the Empire of China, p. 227. Du Halde’s History of China, Vol. IV. p. 21. [23] The best Tea grows in a mild temperate climate; the country about Nankin producing better Tea than either Pekin or Canton, between which places it is situated. It has been asserted, that no Tea-plants have yet died in England through excess of cold; but the contrary, I know, has happened. The plant in the Princess Dowager’s garden at Kew flourished under glass windows, with the natural heat of the sun, as now do those at Mile-end, in the possession of the intelligent Botanist J. Gordon. The Tea-plant belonging to Dr. Fothergill thrives in his garden at Upton, exposed to the open air, and the plant introduced into the Botanic garden at Chelsea had one leaf which measured five inches and a quarter in length. [24] Du Halde and other authors have observed, that the degree of cold in some parts of China is very severe in winter. In the inland parts of North America, and on extensive continents, the degrees of heat and cold are found to be much more violent than in islands or places bordering on the sea in the same latitude, as the air that blows over the sea is liable to less variation in these respects, than that which blows over large tracts of land. [25] Amœnitat. Exotic. p. 618, et seq. History of Japan. Appendix to Vol. II. p. 6, et seq. [26] The same cautions are not used previous to collecting other sorts of Tea. [27] This cannot be the sort to which also the Dutch give that name, as it is sold upon the spot to the princes of the country, for much more than the common bloom Tea is sold for in Europe. Kæmpfer, Amœnit. Exotic. p. 617. History of Japan, Appendix, p. 9. Neumann’s Chemistry by Lewis, p. 373. [28] In this case the under leaves, which are harsh and less succulent, are probably left upon the trees. See Eckeberg’s Chinese Husbandry in Osbeck’s Voyage, Vol. II. p. 303. [29] Du Halde’s History of China, Vol. IV. p. 21.