POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL 61 



both prominent merchants, in private con- 

 versation had expressed their belief that 

 the trade open to the United States free 

 from British orders in council at the time of 

 the embargo, was as large as the normal 

 trade in time of peace for the same period. 

 There is no question, too, but that many 

 of the seizures of American vessels by the 

 belligerents were such as a neutral nation 

 had no right to resent. If a merchant tried 

 to run the blockade at a port legitimately 

 guarded, or introduced colonial goods in a 

 cargo ostensibly domestic, 1 he had no right 



than it can be in time of peace. Our exports, if embargo 

 was removed, would be $66,250,000. If peace was to 

 take place, and the European nations resume their trade, 

 we should export $54,699,000." 



1 A little more care on the part of American exporters 

 would have saved much trouble and expense. "Admi- 

 rality Court of Sept. 29, Sir William Scott. Case of the 



* Minerva/ Caldwell, Master. Vessel from New York to 

 Amsterdam. Only question was on some hides brought 

 by another vessel from Central America, and put on the 



* Minerva* without landing. Court held it was not a 

 bona fide importation and confiscated the hides but re- 

 stored the ship and the rest of the cargo." Salem 

 Gazette, Nov. 20, 1807. 



