Duties on certain goods in colonies repealed.-All duties imposed upon the importation into any of the British possessions in America of drugs-or of gums or resins,-or of dye wood,-or of cabinet-maker's wood, or of tortoise-shell,- -or of hemp,-flax,-or tow, are hereby repealed. § 52.

Free Ports for limited purposes.—And whereas certain places in the British possessions in America are enumerated and declared to be Free Ports, and Free Warehousing Ports† for the purpose of warehousing goods without payment of duty upon the first entry thereof: And whereas his Majesty is empowered to appoint other places to be free ports and free warehousing ports respectively. (See page 689.) And whereas there are in the said possessions many places situated in rivers and in bays at which it may be necessary to establish ports for particular and limited purposes only;-be it therefore enacted, that it shall be lawful for his Majesty, in any order in council made for the appointment of any free port or of any free warehousing port, to limit and confine such appointments respectively to any and such purposes only as shall be expressed in such order. § 53.

Coals may be re-exported from possessions abroad.-Whereas by the last-mentioned act (see page 650) it is enacted, that it shall not be lawful to re-export from any of his Majesty's possessions abroad to any foreign place coals the produce of the United Kingdom; be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for any person to re-export coals, the produce of the United Kingdom, in a British ship, from any British possession to any foreign state,-upon payment of the duty to which such coals are liable upon exportation from the United Kingdom to such foreign state, § 54.

All British vessels shall be subject to equal duties in the colonies.— Whereas in some of his Majesty's possessions abroad certain duties of tonnage are, by acts of the local legislators of such possessions, made payable in respect of or are levied upon British vessels, to which duties the like vessels built within such possessions, or owned by persons resident there, are not subject; be it further enacted, that there shall be levied and paid at the several British possessions abroad, upon all vessels built in any such possessions, or owned by any person or persons there resident, other than coasting or drogueing vessels employed in coasting or drogueing, all such and the like duties of tonnage and shipping dues as are or shall be payable in any such possessions upon the like British vessels built in other parts of his Majesty's dominions, or owned by persons not resident in such possessions. § 55.

Spirits imported into Newfoundland from the United Kingdom, duly 6d. per gallon only.-Spirits the produce of the British possessions in South America or the West Indies, imported into Newfoundland from the United Kingdom, shall be chargeable with a duty of sixpence per gallon in lieu of the duty of one shilling and sixpence per gallon now payable. § 56.

Disposal of seized goods.-All things seized in any of the British possessions abroad, under any act made for the prevention of smuggling, or relating to the revenue of customs,-or to trade or navigation, -shall be taken forthwith and delivered into the custody of the collector and comptroller of the customs, at the custom-house next to the place where the same were seized, (who shall secure the same by such means and in such manner as any things would have been secured under the See page 640.

• See page 629.

provisions and directions of the above-recited act;)—and after condemnation shall cause all such things to be sold by public auction to the best bidder :-Provided, that it shall be lawful for the commissioners of the customs to direct in what manner the produce of such sale shall be applied, or, in lieu of such sale, to direct that any of such things shall be destroyed, or shall be reserved for the public service. § 57.

Security to abide an appeal from decree of vice-admiralty court.In any case in which proceedings shall be instituted in any court of Vice-Admiralty or other competent court in any of his Majesty's possessions abroad, against any Ship, Vessel, Boat, Goods, or effects, for the recovery of any penalty or forfeiture under any act for the prevention of smuggling, or relating to the Revenue of Customs, or to the Trade or Navigation of the United Kingdom, or of any of his Majesty's possessions abroad, the execution of any sentence or decree restoring such ship, &c. to the claimant thereof, (which shall be pronounced by the said vice-admiralty court in which such proceedings shall have been had,) shall not be suspended by reason of any appeal which shall be prayed and allowed from such sentence,-provided that the party appellate shall give sufficient security, (to be approved of by the court,) to render and deliver the ship, &c. or the full value thereof, (to be ascertained either by agreement between the parties, or in case the said parties cannot agree, then by appraisement under the authority of the said court,) to the appellant, in case the sentence or decree so appealed from shall be reversed, and such ship, &c. be ultimately condemned. § 58.

Fines, &c. to be paid to collector.-All fines and penalties recovered in any such possessions under any act or acts made for the prevention of smuggling, or relating to the revenue of customs, or to trade or navigation, shall be paid into the hands of the collector or comptroller of the colony or place where the same shall have been recovered, to be distributed by them according to law. § 59.

Penalty for using forged documents.-If any person shall, in any of his Majesty's possessions abroad,-counterfeit or falsify, or wilfully use when counterfeited or falsified,—any entry,-warrant,—cocket,— transire, or other document,—for the unlading,-lading,-entering, reporting, or clearing any ship or vessel,-or for the landing, shipping, or removing of any goods, stores, baggage, or article whatever-or shall by any false statement procure any writing or document to be made for any such purposes, or shall falsely make any oath or affirmation required by any act for regulating the trade of the British possessions abroad, or shall forge or counterfeit a certificate of the said oath or affirmation,—or shall publish such certificate knowing the same to be so forged or counterfeited,-every person so offending shall forfeit the sum of two hundred pounds;-and such penalty shall and may be prosecuted, sued for, and recovered in like manner and by such ways and means as any penalty may be prosecuted, sued for, and recovered under the provisions and directions of the said last-mentioned act. § 60.

TREASURY CHAMBERS, 28th March, 1826.

GENTLEMEN,-I herewith transmit, by command of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, a copy of a convention of commerce recently entered into by his Majesty and the King of France, whereby it is stipulated, that from and after the 5th of April next, French ships, and the cargoes imported or exported in them, under the circumstances stated in the said convention, shall be treated as British ships and cargoes. And I am to desire, that from and after the 5th April next, you will charge French vessels, and the cargoes legally imported or exported on board the same, according to the terms of the convention, with such and the like duties only, of whatever kind they may be, that are charged on British vessels and similar cargoes laden onboard thereof; and that you will in like manner pay the same bounties, drawbacks, and allowances on articles exported in French vessels, that are paid, granted, or allowed on similar articles exported in British vessels. And I am further to desire, that you will transmit the necessary instructions to your officers in the colonies, for carrying into effect the stipulations contained in the two additional articles of the said convention, respecting French vessels and their cargoes, from and after the 1st day of October next. I am, gentlemen,

The KING'S most EXCELLENT MAJESTY in Council.

Whereas by a certain act of Parliament passed in the 6th year of the reign of his present Majesty, intituled, " An Act to regulate the trade of the British possessions abroad," after reciting that " by the law of navigation, foreign ships are permitted to import into any of the British possessions abroad, from the countries to which they belong, goods the produce of those countries, and to export goods from such possessions, to be carried to any foreign country whatever; and that it is expedient that such permission should be subject to certain conditions," it is enacted" that the privileges thereby granted to foreign ships shall be limited to the ships of those countries which having colonial possessions shall grant the like privileges of trading with those possessions to British ships, or which not having colonial possessions shall place the commerce and navigation of this country, and of its possessions abroad, upon the footing of the most favoured nation, unless his Majesty by his Order in Council shall in any case deem it expedient to grant the whole or any of such privileges to the ships of any foreign country, although the conditions aforesaid shall not in all respects be fulfilled by such foreign country."

Prussia-And whereas by an Order of his Majesty in Council, bearing date the 3d day of May, 1826, after reciting that " within the dominions of his Majesty the King of Prussia, the commerce and navigation of this country, and of its possessions abroad, have been placed upon the footing of the most favoured nation," his Majesty was pleased, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, to declare that the ships of and belonging to the dominions of his Majesty the King of Prussia were entitled to the privileges so granted as aforesaid by the law of navigation, and might import from such the dominions of his Majesty the King of Prussia, into any of the British posses

sions abroad, goods the produce of such dominions, and might export goods from such British possessions abroad to be carried to any foreign country whatever.

France. And whereas by an Order of his Majesty in Council, bearing date the 1st day of June, 1826, after reciting that the conditions mentioned and referred to in and by the said act of Parliament, had not in all respects been fulfilled by the Goversment of France; (but that nevertheless his Majesty, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, did deem it expedient to grant certain of the privileges aforesaid to the ships of France;) his Majesty did therefore, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, and in pursuance and exercise of the powers and authority in him vested by the said act of Parliament, declare and grant, that it should and might be lawful for French ships to import into any of the British possessions in the West Indies and America, from the dominions of his most Christian Majesty, such goods being the produce of those dominions, as were mentioned and enumerated in the table subjoined to the said Order, and to export goods from such British possessions to be carried to any foreign country whatever; and the table referred to in the said Order was as fullows; that is to say, wheat, flour, biscuit, bread, meal, peas, beans, rye, calavances, oats, barley, Indian corn, rice, shingles, red oak staves or headings, white oak staves or headings, wood, lumber, wood hoops, live stock, hay and straw, coin and bullion, diamonds, salt, fruit, and vegetables fresh, cotton wool, and all articles subject on importation to a duty ad valorem, on which articles the amount of such duty should not at the time of importation exceed seven pounds ten shillings for every hundred pounds of the value of the same. And whereas by an Order in Council, bearing date the 16th of December, 1826, after reciting the said last-mentioned Order of the 1st day of June, 1826, his Majesty, by and with the advice aforesaid, and in pursuance and exercise of the powers and authority in him vested by the said act, did declare and grant that it should be lawful for French ships to import into the island of Mauritius, from the dominions of his most Christian Majesty, such goods, being the produce of those dominions, as are mentioned and enumerated in the table subjoined to the said Order in Council, of the 1st day of June, 1826; and for the prevention of any doubts respecting the true meaning and effect of the said Order in Council of the 1st day of June, 1826, and of the said Order of the 16th day of December, 1826, his Majesty was further pleased to order and declare that neither the said Order in Council of the 1st day of June, 18:26, nor the said Order of the 16th day of December, 1826, should extend, or be construed to extend, to authorize the importation by French ships into any of the British possessions in the West Indies and America, or into the island of Mauritius, from the dominions of his most Christian Majesty, of any wine being the produce of those dominions.

America. And whereas by an Order in Council, bearing date the 27th day of July, 1826.

And whereas by an act passed in the 7th and 8th years of his Majesty's reign, intituled, “ An Act to amend the Laws relating to the Customs," after reciting or taking notice of the said act so passed as aforesaid, in the 6th year of His Majesty's reign, and after reciting that unless some period were limited for the fulfilment by foreign countries of the conditions mentioned and referred to in the said recited act, the trade and navigation of the United Kingdom, and of the British possessions abroad, could not be regulated by fixed and certain rules, but would continue subject to changes dependent upon the laws from time to time made in such foreign countries: it is therefore enacted, that no foreign country shall hereafter be deemed to have fulfilled the conditions so prescribed as aforesaid, in and by the said act, as to be entitled to the privileges therein mentioned, unless such foreign country had in all respects fulfilled those conditions within twelve months next after the passing of the said act, that is to say, on or before the 5th day of July, 1826.-And for the better ascertaining what particular foreign countries are permitted by law to exercise and enjoy the said privileges, it is further enacted, that no foreign country shall hereafter be deemed to have fulfilled the beforementioned conditions, or to be entitled to the privileges aforesaid, unless and until his Majesty shall, by some Order or Orders to be by him made, by the advice of his Privy Council, have declared that such foreign country hath so fulfilled the said conditions, and is entitled to the said privileges, provided always, and it is thereby declared and enacted, that nothing therein contained extends, or shall be construed to extend to make void or annul any Order or Orders in Council theretofore issued under the authority or in pursuance of the said recited act, or to take away or abridge the powers vested in his Majesty in and by the said act, or any of those powers, any thing therein contained to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding.—

*This Order related to the United States, and has been revoked by Order, dated 5th November, 1830.

And whereaas it is expedient that, in pursuance of the powers vested in his Majesty in and by the said recited acts of parliament, his Majesty should declare what foreign powers have fulfilled the beforementioned conditions, and are entitled to the privileges aforesaid, his Majesty therefore, in pursuance and exercise of the powers vested in him in and by the said acts of parliament, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, is pleased to order and declare that the several Orders in Council, bearing date respectively the 3d day of May, 1826, the 1st day of June, 1826, and the 16th day of December, 1826, hereinbefore respectively recited, shall be and the same are hereby confirmed and continued in full force and effect.

French ships. And his Majesty doth further, in pursuance and exercise of the powers aforesaid, and with the advice aforesaid, declare and grant that it shall be lawful for French ships to import into the British possessions on the Western Coast of Africa, and into the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope,* and into the Island of Ceylon, and into his Majesty's settlements in the Island of New Holland, and into the Island of Van Dieman's Land, and into the several islands and territories dependent upon and belonging to the several settlements or colonies aforesaid, from the dominions of his most Christian Majesty, such goods, being the produce of those dominions, as are mentioned and enumerated or referred to in the table subjoined to the said Order in Council of the 1st day of June, 1826.

Hanover, &c.-And in further pursuance of the powers vested in his Majesty in and by the said acts of parliament so passed as aforesaid, in the 7th and 8th years of his Majesty's reign, his Majesty, with the advice aforesaid, is further pleased to declare that the conditions mentioned and prescribed in and by the said act so passed as aforesaid, in the 6th year of his Majesty's reign, have in all respects been fulfilled by the Government of his Majesty as King of Hanover, and by the Government of his Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway, and by the Government of his Serene Highness the Duke of Oldenburgh, and by the free Hanseatic Republics of Lubeck, Bremen, and Hamburgh, and by the State of Columbia, and by the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, and by the United States of Mexico.

And his Majesty is further pleased to declare that the ships of and belonging to the dominions of his Majesty as King of Hanover, or of his Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway, or of his Serene Highness the Duke of Oldenburgh, or of the free Hanseatic Republics of Lubeck, Bremen, and Humburgh, or of the State of Columbia, or of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, or of the United States of Mexico, are entitled to the privileges so granted as aforesaid by the laws of navigation, and may respectively import from such the dominions to which they respectively belong into the British possessions abroad goods the produce of such dominions respectively, and may export goods from the British possessions abroad to be carried into any foreign country

whatever.

And whereas his Majesty, with the advice of his Privy Council, doth deem it expedient to grant the privileges aforesaid to the ships of the dominions of his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, his Majesty doth therefore, by the advice aforesaid, and in pursuance and exercise of the powers and authority in him vested by the said last recited act of parliament, declare and grant that it shall and may be lawful for Russian ships to import into any of the British possessions abroad, from the dominions of his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, goods the produce of those dominions, and to export from such possessions to be carried to any foreign country whatever.

And his Majesty, by the advice aforesaid, is further pleased to declare and grant that it shall and may be lawful for ships of or belonging to any kingdom or state within the limits of the East India company's charter to import, from the dominions to which they respectively belong, goods, the produce of such dominions, into the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and into the Island of Ceylon, and into the Island of Mauritius, and into his Majesty's Settlements in the Island of New Holland, and into the Island of Van Dieman's Land, and into the several islands and territories dependent upon and belonging to the several settlements or colonies aforesaid, and to export goods from such several settlements or colonies, or their respective. dependencies, to be carried into any foreign country whatever :-provided always that nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to take away or abridge any power now vested in his Majesty's subjects in the last-mentioned settlements or colonies of trading with any kingdom or state within the limits of the said company's charter. And in further pursuance of the said act of parliament, his Majesty by the advice aforesaid, doth declare that no foreign country is entitled to the privileges so granted as aforesaid by the law of navigation, other than and except the foreign countries herein before particularly mentioned :-Aud that no foreign ships can or may lawfully import into or export from any of the British possessions abroad any goods,

* But see Order in Council, 22 February, 1832.