MISCELLANEOUS. 1119 



It was deemed expedient, however, to depart in some measure from 

 the severity of these laws, by permitting the exportation of most of 

 the enumerated commodities, from the sugar colonies direct to Malta 

 and Gibralter, and allowing the exportation of a great variety of 

 European articles from Malta and Gibralter, direct to the said sugar 

 plantations, and to Newfoundland, Bermuda, and the colonies in 

 North America, To extend also the trade of the North American 

 colonies, and encourage the fisheries ; the lading of other articles was 

 permitted in ports of Europe, south of Cape Finisterre, on board 

 ships arriving from the said colonies, either with articles the produc- 

 tion thereof, or with British American fish. Such was the nature of 

 the law and policy regarding the trade with Europe ; and as none of 

 the countries south of Cape Finisterre were manufacturing countries, 

 it was not considered that any injury could arise, in consequence of a 

 departure from the colonial system in their favour. 



Secondly. With respect to the trade between the Colonies them- 

 selves, both in the enumerated and non-enumerated commodities, it 

 was perfectly free, except as to hats, wool and woolen manufactures, 

 the exportation of which was wholly prohibited to any place. This 



Erohibition was intended to prevent the establishment of any manu- 

 ictories of such commodities in the British colonies, to the injury of 

 the export trade of the mother country. 



Fourthly [sic']. Ever since the Independence of the " United 

 States " the Trade of the British Colonies has been subject to pecul- 

 iar limitations and restrictions with respect to its intercourse with 

 that Country. Having broke off their political connection with 

 Great Britain, and become the rivals of England in trade and manu- 

 factures, it was thought necessary to confine the imports to Tobacco, 

 Naval Stores, and such articles as the British Colonies did not pro- 

 duce in sufficient quantities for their own use and consumption, and 

 which could not be obtained elsewhere; and to confine the exports 

 to some enumerated commodities and goods, not prohibited to For- 

 eign countries in Europe; such articles and goods being imported 

 and exported by British subjects and in British ships, except as to 

 importations into Bermuda, of the articles first mentioned, and ex- 

 portations from the Bahamas of the article of Salt. 



To prevent a circuitous trade in the articles permitted to be im- 

 ported direct, articles of the like description were prohibited to be 

 imported from the islands and Colonies under the dominion of 

 " Foreign European Sovereigns or States," except in cases of emer- 



Smcy, for the supply of the inhabitants, or from the " Portuguese 

 olonies," but such importations were directed to be made by British 

 subjects and in British ships. Such are the leading features of the 

 old commercial monopoly of the Colonies, which ran through no less 

 than twenty-nine Acts of Parliament, from the year 1660, to the un- 

 fortunate period of 1764; but the liberal and enlightened policy of 

 modern times has questioned the propriety and utility of these re- 

 strictive measures; and the late administrations have, by several Acts 

 of Parliament, left the trade of the colonies as unfettered as is con- 

 sistent with the true interests of England, and the proper dependancy 

 of these distant parts of the Empire. 



After some experiments, not essential to be detailed, made by the 

 means of free ports, the celebrated " new navigation laws, 4 Geo. 4, 

 Chap. 44 and 45," were passed. The first regulated the trade of the 

 Colonies in America or the West Indies, with other parts of America 



