85 



the act of 12th Charles the Second, excluding 

 foreign ships from trading with the EngUsh co- 

 lonies. Under favour of this suspension, they 

 employed an immense number of ships in this 

 trade, every ton of which was a manifest detri- 

 ment both to our provinces and our commercial 

 navy. The admission of American produce into 

 the ports of Great Britain upon paying the same 

 duties only as are charged upon the importation 

 of similar articles from our own colonies, is an- 

 other very powerful check upon their prosperity, 

 which, from these various combinations against 

 it, will experience much difficulty in rising to 

 the eminence it would speedily attain, if that 

 country, so recently ceased to be an inveterate 

 enemy, be not again placed by the liberality of 

 the British government in a situation to im- 

 pede its progress, and be hereafter viewed in 

 the same light, and put upon a par with other 

 foreign nations, in respect to restrictions and 

 countervailing duties ; then the North American 

 provinces will soon greatly improve their in- 

 ternal situation, and the mother country derive 

 such benefit from them as will render her more 

 independent of other nations for supplies of the 

 first importance than she has hitherto been. 



With this imperfect notice of the commerce 

 of Canada, 1 will close the succinct account 

 that I have deemed expedient to offer to my 

 readers, in order that they may have before 



