Benns: British West India Carrying-Trade 67 
dies of tobacco, rice, grain, peas, beans, and flour from any 
colony or possession in the West Indies or on the continent of 
America under the dominion of any foreign European sov- 
ereign or state, provided the importation was in British ves- 
sels.^^ The purpose of this act was to secure thru the Danish 
and Swedish West Indies a few of the most essential articles 
of food which were needed in the British islands. These arti- 
cles, it was expected, American vessels would bring to the 
foreign islands, whence they would be carried to the British 
planters in British ships. Thus a third avenue was opened 
for the importation of American supplies. 
There is no doubt that American goods to a considerable 
amount found their way to the British West Indies by one or 
the other of these indirect routes. By comparing the exporta- 
tion to each for the years 1818 and 1819 an approximate total 
of the amount which was passed on to the British West Indies 
can be reached.®^ 
For years ending September 30 
1818 
1819 
British West Indies, including Bermuda 
British North American provinces. 
Swedish West Indies 
Danish West Indies 
$3,488,653 
2,355,700 
278,846 
983,583 
$843,312 
3,038,995 
345,793 
1,120,857 
$7,106,782 
$5,348,957 
Allowing that all the increases in exports to the British North 
American provinces and the Swedish and Danish West Indies 
were passed on to the British West Indies, the latter in 1819 
secured $1,757,825 in American goods, or approximately 50 
per cent of what they had received in 1818. In addition, there 
was, no doubt, an increased exportation to them during 1819 
from other parts of the British Empire. The British Govern- 
ment would probably make a special effort to provide for them, 
at least during the first year. 
Nevertheless, in spite of all this neutralizing of the Ameri- 
can navigation act, the British West Indies were compelled 
to send out pleas for assistance. Within a month after the 
American act went into effect, the General Assembly of the 
island of Jamaica voted a memorial to the British Prince 
Regent, representing “the dreadful 'evils which they were 
Annual Register, 1818, LX, Appendix, 353. Am. State Papers, For. Bel., IV, 411, 
Figures from tables in Am. State Papers, Commerce and Navigation, II, 158, 388. 
