Benns: British West India Carrying-Trade 53 
proved it as a “proper measure”/^® The New York Evening 
Post considered no measure of the Government since its or- 
ganization more truly characteristic of a great and intelligent, 
and independent nation.^^^ The Providence Gazette even 
waxed poetical in its belief that countervailing regulations 
would bring Great Britain to time, while “softly expedients” 
were worse than useless : 
Tender handed press a nettle, 
And it stings you for your pains; 
Grasp it, like a man of mettle. 
And it soft as silk remains.^^ 
With great reluctance, because he believed the act could 
not but be of an irritating character to British interests, and 
because he earnestly desired to preserve harmonious relations 
between the two countries, the President gave his assent to 
the measure which enacted that after September 30, 1818, the 
ports of the United States should be closed against British 
vessels arriving from a colony which by the ordinary laws was 
closed against vessels of American citizens; and touching at 
a port which by the ordinary laws was open to American ves- 
sels did not alter the restriction. Further, British vessels 
sailing with cargoes from American ports were laid under 
bonds not to land their cargoes in any port or place in a colony 
closed against American vessels.^^^ A non-intercourse in Brit- 
ish vessels was thus established with ports closed by British 
laws against American ships. 
Thus, after hesitating for two years, the United States 
Government was finally driven to adopt a measure aimed pub- 
licly at the British colonial system, a measure which, accord- 
ing to its author, constituted an epoch in American naviga- 
tion, the commencement of a struggle which would call for 
“firmness, prudence, temperance and wisdom”, but which it 
was hoped would hasten the day of American dominion on the 
ocean.^^^ 
Essex Register, April 25, 1818. Netv Hampshire Patriot, April 14, 1818. 
'^^^New York Evening Post, May 2, 1818. 
112 Providence Patriot, May 2, 1818. 
Am. State Papers, For. Rel., IV, 371. Public Statutes at Large, III, 432, 433. 
Life and Correspondence of Rufus King, VI, 138, 139. 
