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Indiana University Studies 
whether imported in British or foreign vessels. British ships 
from foreign ports were to be subject to the same tonnage 
duties, and to be bound by the same list of ports and articles 
as foreign vessels from the same ports. But duties amounting 
to about 10 per cent ad valorem were levied on live stock, pro- 
visions, lumber, and lumber products imported from foreign 
countries either in British or foreign vessels ; such duties were 
not levied on similar products from other parts of the British 
empire. Finally, all privileges extended by the act were to be 
confined to ships of such countries only as should give like 
privileges to British ships in their ports.^^e 
According to the Edinburgh Review, this was “one of the 
very few instances, from the reign of Richard II down’^ in 
which was found “an enactment, relating either to commerce 
or navigation, bottomed on a fair principle of reciprocity”. 
It further reflected, “Had we always acted thus, we should 
never have heard of the Navigation Laws of North America 
and Russia. It was, in fact, the first legislative admission 
of a direct permanent commerce between the British West 
Indies and the United States in American vessels. This gen- 
eral concession to foreign countries of America was in effect, 
if not in words, exclusive to the United States, for it was still 
withheld from all European Powers, and the new countries of 
America had not yet been recognized by the British Govern- 
ment.^^® 
An analysis of the law reveals the fact that the British 
Government had receded in several respects from its stand 
in 1820. A definite enumerated list of ports — refused then — 
was granted. The list of articles to be exported to the British 
North American ports included — what was refused then — only 
those articles which were permitted to be sent directly to the 
West India ports in American vessels. Finally, the list of 
enumerated articles which might be carried in American ves- 
sels in the direct trade to the West Indies included some im- 
portant ones which had been refused at that time, — naval 
stores and lumber, for example. But the act, as might be ex- 
pected, said nothing about not taxing goods imported from 
foreign ports more than those imported from other British 
possessions. On the contrary, the act included a schedule of 
126 Statc Papci's, For. Rel., V, 231-236. 
Edinburgh Rev., XXVIII, 487. 
Am. State Papers, For. Rel., V, 251. 
