POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL 63 



through the Bayonne Decree, ordering se- 

 questration of all American vessels in 

 French ports, as being under suspicion of 

 having come from England. They must 

 come from England, was his plea, as the 

 embargo forbids their coming from the 

 United States. 



The embargo was repealed Feb. 29, 1809, 

 to take effect March 15, and a Non-inter- 

 course Bill substituted. Under this act 

 French and English vessels were excluded 

 from our ports, and importations from 

 those countries were forbidden. 1 American 

 vessels sailing from our ports were under 



1 Evasions of the Non-intercourse Act were carried 

 on systematically. One curious instance of this is given 

 in the History of Eastport and Passamaquoddy, p. 156. 

 Under the law plaster of paris could not be imported into 

 the States from the Provinces. A cargo would be run 

 into Eastport, and the owner would go to the Custom 

 House and inform against himself. The cargo would be 

 seized, confiscated and sold at auction. There would be 

 no opposition and the cargo would be bid in by the owner 

 for a trifle. Half the sum realized would be returned to 

 the owner, under the law for informing. The cargo was 

 now American property and could be shipped anywhere. 



