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Indiana University Studies 
act was expressed in general and indefinite terms. This bill 
was quickly passed by both Houses before the final adjourn- 
ment, and the United States stood expectantly ready to recip- 
rocate the long-awaited action of the British Government.^^® 
Meanwhile the West India petitions had been securing re- 
sults in England. They had not fallen on ears altogether deaf 
to their demands, for, during the preceding two years, a move- 
ment had gained considerable headway in that country look- 
ing toward a simplification and relaxation of the general navi- 
gation system. In the preceding year three bills had been intro- 
duced by the ministry — the Commercial Statutes Repeal bill, 
the Importation of Goods bill, and the Navigation Act Amend- 
ment bill — which were to complete the revision of the British 
navigation law and the statutes relative to the foreign trade. 
Action was to be taken on these bills during the session of 
1822^“^ The West India petitions but added pressure to this 
general movement and necessitated the drafting of two new 
bills to cover their particular case. 
The first definite step was taken on April 1, 1822, when 
Mr. Robinson of the Board of Trade asked leave to bring in 
two bills regarding the British West India intercourse. The 
first of these bills was to regulate the trade of the British 
possessions in America and the West Indies with other places 
in America and the West Indies ; the second, the trade between 
these possessions and other parts of the world. The former 
bill had two purposes: to prepare for the admission into the 
West Indies of products of the Spanish colonies in America 
after they should be recognized as independent, and to relieve 
the stress which at that time prevailed in those islands, by 
opening a trade with the United States. Its purpose was 
“simply this — to substitute a direct intercourse for one which’’ 
was “circuitous, dilatory, and expensive”. The second bill 
was to aid in alleviating the West India distress by opening 
to them direct access to a wider world market. Mr. Robin- 
son’s request was granted, and two bills were introduced 
known as the West Indian and American Trade bill and the 
Colonial Trade bill.^^^ 
This movement to relax the colonial system, however, en- 
Annals of Cong., 11 Cong., 1 Sess., I, 434, 435, 440, 447 ; II, 1777,1783, 1787. Public 
Statutes at Large, III, 681. 
^2»See Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, (2d series), I. 165, 197, 333, 338, 424, 432, 
478, 565-594, 599, 861, 863; II, 546-548; V, 1290-1299. 
121 /6id., VI, 1420-1430. 
